Abstract:
A method for correcting an image from defects and filtering from Gaussian noise corrects each pixel of the image when it is considered defective and filters it from Gaussian noise in one-pass. The one-pass improves the speed for performing the correcting and filtering. The drawbacks associated with choosing incompatible defect correction and filtering operations are overcome.
Abstract:
Control device for a switching converter structure comprising at least a first and a second interleaved converter, wherein the control device is configured to designate one converter as master and at least the other converter as slave, to set a time delay of the operating cycle of the slave converter and to synchronize the master and the at the least one slave converter.
Abstract:
A process for connecting two bodies forming parts of an electromechanical, fluid and optical microsystem, wherein a welding region is formed on a first body; an electrically conductive region and a spacing region are formed on a second body; the spacing region extends near the electrically conductive region and has a height smaller than the electrically conductive region. One of the first and second bodies is turned upside down on the other, and the two bodies are welded together by causing the electrically conductive region to melt so that it adheres to the welding region and collapses until its height becomes equal to that of the spacing region. Thereby it is possible to seal active parts or micromechanical structures with respect to the outside world, self-align the two bodies during bonding, obtain an electrical connection between the two bodies, and optically align two optical structures formed on the two bodies.
Abstract:
A method is provided for obtaining an image with a large dynamic range. An image is acquired such that each image pixel is represented by a plurality of values obtained at the same time but for different integration levels (effective exposures). For each pixel, a representative value is selected among those available, such that it is neither saturated nor blackened.
Abstract:
A DC-DC converter including: a switch, having a control terminal receiving a control signal, and a conduction terminal supplying a current; a load, coupled to the conduction terminal of the switch and selectively receiving the current; a control circuit, receiving a clock signal and generating the control signal in synchronism with the clock signal; an overcurrent sensor, coupled to the switch so as to monitor an electrical quantity correlated to the current and to output a protection signal in presence of overcurrent; moreover including overcurrent-protection circuitry, receiving the protection signal and the clock signal and generating a disabling signal for the control circuit if delay between an overcurrent detection and the clock signal is shorter than a detection time.
Abstract:
A digitizer for a digital receiver system includes an input terminal to receive a modulated analog input voltage signal, and an output terminal to provide an output voltage signal being a digital conversion of the input voltage signal. A comparator circuit has an output coupled to the output terminal and includes an operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the input terminal. A threshold generator circuit is between the input terminal and a second input terminal of the at least one operational amplifier, to provide a tunable voltage reference signal thereto. The threshold generator circuit includes a thresholding circuit to determine a threshold voltage value of the modulated analog input voltage signal, and a tunable voltage reference circuit coupled to the thresholding circuit to generate the tunable voltage reference signal as a function of the threshold voltage value of the modulated analog input voltage signal.
Abstract:
A latch-type charge pump circuit is provided having first and second charge pump stages interconnected by an intermediate circuit node. The charge pump circuit includes first pump capacitors respectively coupled between first and second enable terminals and respective first inner circuit nodes, second pump capacitors respectively coupled between the second and first enable terminals and respective second inner circuit nodes, latch transistors coupled between each of the first and second inner circuit nodes and the intermediate circuit node, and a stabilization circuit having at least one stabilization stage coupled between the intermediate circuit node and the first and second enable terminals and connected to control terminals of the latch transistors for supplying them with suitable control signals so as to ensure their correct turn-on and turn-off during a charge sharing period of the charge pump circuit.
Abstract:
An address counter for a nonvolatile memory device includes a cascade of cells. Each cell includes an address counting flip-flop that is updated to a value of every newly counted address bit, or latches a column address bit value input by an external user of the memory device during ALE cycles for addressing a start memory location on a selected page. Each cell further includes an additional address loading flip-flop for loading the column address bit value input during ALE cycles for addressing the start memory location on the selected page during the ALE cycles. A logic circuit updates the address counting flip flop to the address bit value during a read confirm cycle in a read sequence, and during a first data input cycle in a program sequence.
Abstract:
The method prevents oxidation or contamination phenomena of conductive interconnection structures in semiconductor devices and includes providing a layer of semiconductor or oxide base, a conductive layer or stack on the base layer, and an antireflection coating (ARC) layer on the conductive layer or stack. The method provides a thin dielectric covering layer on the antireflection coating layer to fill or cover the microfissures existing in the antireflection coating layer.
Abstract:
An asynchronous set-reset circuit device for testing activity performed by an Automatic Test Patterns Generation tool may include a pair of logic gates having at least two inputs each, and a logic gate structure coupled upstream from the pair of logic gates. The logic gate structure may be for driving one respective input of the pair of logic gates and may have inputs receiving a pair of test command signals. The asynchronous set-reset circuit device may also include a plurality of feedback connections between outputs of the pair of logic gates and respective inputs of the logic gate structure.