Abstract:
An embodiment of a semiconductor power device provided with: a structural body made of semiconductor material with a first conductivity, having an active area housing one or more elementary electronic components and an edge area delimiting externally the active area; and charge-balance structures, constituted by regions doped with a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity, extending through the structural body both in the active area and in the edge area in order to create a substantial charge balance. The charge-balance structures are columnar walls extending in strips parallel to one another, without any mutual intersections, in the active area and in the edge area.
Abstract:
A method of testing integrated circuits, including establishing at least a first physical communication channel between a test equipment and an integrated circuit under test by having at least a first probe of the test equipment contacting a corresponding physical contact terminal of the integrated circuit under test; having the test equipment and the integrated circuit under test exchange, over said first physical communication channel, at least two signals selected from the group including at least two test stimuli and at least two test response signals, wherein said at least two signals are exchanged by means of at least one modulated carrier wave modulated by the at least two signals.
Abstract:
A thin film amorphous silicon solar cell may have front contact between a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer. The cell may include a layer of a refractory metal, chosen among the group composed of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium, of thickness adapted to ensure a light transmittance of at least 80%, interposed therebetween, before growing by PECVD a hydrogenated amorphous silicon p-i-n light absorption layer over it. A refractory metal layer of just about 1 nm thickness may effectively shield the oxide from the reactive plasma, thereby preventing a diffused defect when forming the p.i.n. layer that would favor recombination of light-generated charge carriers.
Abstract:
A control device of a driving circuit of a discharge lamp is described. The driving circuit comprises an half bridge with a high side and a low side switches and the control device comprises a first device configured to control the switching frequency of the half bridge and a second device configured to detect the saturation current condition of the choke or the over current condition by detecting, cycle by cycle, a signal representative of the current passing through the low side switch. The second device generate a signal to cause the turning off of the low side switch and the turning on of the high side switch when the saturation current or over current condition of the choke is detected.
Abstract:
An embodiment of a photomultiplier device is formed by a base substrate of insulating organic material forming a plurality of conductive paths and carrying a plurality of chips of semiconductor material. Each chip integrates a plurality of photon detecting elements, such as Geiger-mode avalanche diodes, and is bonded on a first side of the base substrate. Couplings for photon-counting and image-reconstruction units are formed on a second side of the base substrate. The first side of the base substrate is covered with a transparent encapsulating layer of silicone resin, which, together with the base substrate, bestows stiffness on the photomultiplier device, preventing warpage, and covers and protects the chips.
Abstract:
A method for carrying out nucleic acid amplification, includes providing a reaction chamber (31), accommodating an array (36) of nucleic acid probes (37) at respective locations, for hybridizing to respective target nucleic acids; and introducing a solution (50) into the reaction chamber (31), wherein the solution (50) contains primers, capable of binding to target nucleic acids, nucleotides, nucleic acid extending enzymes and a sample including nucleic acids. The a structure of the nucleic acid probes (37) and of the primers so that a hybridization temperature (TH) of the probes (37) is higher than an annealing temperature (TA) of the primers, whereby hybridization and annealing take place in respective separate temperature ranges (RH, RA).
Abstract:
A rooftop tiling system may include multi-functional roof tiles integrating photovoltaic and thermal converters for solar energy. The tiles allow a heat transfer fluid to circulate through inner flow channels of the tiles, and light concentration photovoltaic modules may be present atop the tiles together with a transmission or light reflection focusing device.
Abstract:
According to a process for manufacturing an integrated power device, projections and depressions are formed in a semiconductor body that extend in a first direction and are arranged alternated in succession in a second direction, transversely to the first direction. Further provided are a first conduction region and a second conduction region. The first conduction region and the second conduction region define a current flow direction parallel to the first direction, along the projections and the depressions. To form the projections and the depressions, portions of the semiconductor body that extend in the first direction and correspond to the depressions, are selectively oxidized.
Abstract:
An electronic device including a die-pad area, a die fixed to the die-pad area, a connection terminal, and a ribbon of conductive material. The ribbon is electrically connected to the die and to the connection terminal, and has a prevalent dimension along a first axis, a width, measured along a second axis, which is transverse to the first axis, and a thickness, which is negligible with respect to the width; the ribbon moreover has a cross section that defines a concave geometrical shape.
Abstract:
Driving a light-emitting element by a driver capable of testing at least an open or short condition of the light-emitting element. In particular, a driving signal is generated to drive the light-emitting element. It is evaluated based on the value of the driving signal whether a predetermined condition is reached. If so, a latch signal is output indicating that the testing has finished.