Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Stmicroelectronics International N.v.

Sgs-thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.

Massimo Pozzoni

Maurizio Zuffada

Giorgio Pedrazzini

Simone Erba

Giulio Ricotti

Enrico M Ravanelli

Angelo Contini

Domenico Rossi

Paola Galbiati

Augusto Andrea Rossi

Michele Palmieri

Luca Bertolini

Paolo Cordini

Emanuele Depaoli

Enrico Monaco

Giovanni Steffan

Pasquale D'Argenio

Paolo Viola

In embodiments, a clock signal calibration circuit for communication transmitters includes a multiplexer that creates a combined output pattern from input data patterns in reaction to the clock signal's edges. It uses a calibration data pattern generator, which supplies two sequential patterns—the second being a shifted copy of the first—to the multiplexer. An averaging circuit then generates two averaged signals corresponding to these patterns. Duty cycle control circuitry corrects clock signal imbalances if these averaged signals are unequal, thus adjusting the duty cycle distortion to achieve an ideal 50% duty cycle.

Duty cycle calibration circuit, corresponding transmitter, communication system and method

A frequency doubling device suitable to generate an output terminal voltage oscillating at a differential frequency double the frequency of the input differential voltage, includes a first differential pair of P-type transistors and a second differential pair of N-type transistors controlled by the differential input voltage, as well as an LC oscillator including a LC resonant dipole through which the absorbed current is forced by two differential pairs of transistors.

Frequency doubler and related method of generating an oscillating voltage

A driver circuit may include a first node, and a first circuit to generate on the first node an inverted replica of an input signal during driver switching between a first supply voltage and a first reference voltage, the inverted replica having a threshold voltage value based upon a second reference voltage greater than the first supply voltage. The driver circuit may include a cascode stage to be controlled by the second reference voltage and to be coupled between a second supply voltage and the first node, a delay circuit to generate a delayed replica of the input signal, an amplifier, and a switching network to couple the control terminal of the active load transistor to one of the first reference voltage and the first node based upon the input signal.

Integrated driver and related method

A driver circuit may include a first node (VA), and a first circuit to generate on the first node (VA) an inverted replica of an input signal (VIN) during driver switching between a first supply voltage (Vdd) and ground, the inverted replica having a threshold voltage value based upon a reference voltage (Vref) greater than the first supply voltage (Vdd). The driver circuit may include a cascode stage (M) to be controlled by the reference voltage (Vref) and to be coupled between a second supply voltage (Vdd) and the first node, a delay circuit (D) to generate a delayed replica of the input signal (VIN), an amplifier, and a switching network (M, M) to couple a control terminal of an active load transistor (M) either to one of the reference voltage (Vref) or to ground, based upon the input signal (VIN).

A decision feedback equalizer includes a correction circuit to correct a sampled value of an incoming bit based on intersymbol interference of at least one preceding bit, and to generate a received bit. The correction circuit includes a first multiplexer and a first pair of latches coupled thereto. The first multiplexer is controlled by a clock signal to generate a digital level representative of a sign of a first correction coefficient to be subtracted from the sampled value of the incoming bit for deleting the intersymbol interference. The first pair of latches receives as input the received bit and is clocked in phase opposition by the clock signal to generate respective latched replicas of the received bit during respective active phases of the clock signal. The respective latched replicas are input to the first multiplexer.

Decision feedback equalization scheme with minimum correction delay

An integrated circuit integrator includes a first transconductance amplifier having a gain adjustable based upon a first control signal, and receives, as an input, a signal to be filtered, and generates, as an output, a corresponding amplified signal. The first transconductance amplifier includes an R-C output circuit to filter components from the amplified signal, and an output resistance being adjustable based upon a second control signal. A second transconductance amplifier is matched with the first transconductance amplifier, and has a gain adjustable based upon the first control signal, and a matched output resistance adjustable based upon the second control signal. A circuit is configured to force a reference current through the matched output resistance. An error correction circuit is coupled to the second transconductance amplifier and is configured to generate the second control signal so as to keep constant a voltage on an output of the second transconductance amplifier.

Integrated circuit of an integrator with enhanced stability and related stabilization method

A decision feedback equalizer includes an input path for receiving a bitstream with inter-symbol interference, and a feedback signal path is coupled to the input path for correcting a sampled value of an incoming bit of the bitstream based on inter-symbol interference of a preceding bit. The feedback signal path includes a controllable delay circuit for receiving the preceding bit. A feedback path controller is coupled to the controllable delay circuit to regulate a delay introduced to the preceding bit. The delay is a function of an accumulated value of data of early-late events of a sampling instant of the bitstream for different data pulse patterns.

Enhancement of transition region equalization in a decision feedback equalizer

In a junction isolated integrated circuit including power DMOS transistors formed in respective well regions or in an isolated epitaxial region on a substrate of opposite type of conductivity, circuits are formed in a distinct isolated region sensitive to oversupply and/or belowground effects. These effects are caused by respective power DMOS transistors coupled to the supply rail or ground. These effects are alternatively controllable by specifically shaped layout arrangements, and may be effectively protected from both effects. This is achieved by interposing between the region of sensitive circuits and the region containing the power DMOS transistors for which the alternatively implementable circuital arrangements are not formed, the region containing the power DMOS transistors coupled to the supply rail or to a ground rail for which the alternatively implementable arrangements are formed. The special interposition separates and shields the sensitive circuits from the power device whose oversupply or belowground effect is not countered by specific circuit arrangements.

Belowground and oversupply protection of junction isolated integrated circuits

A suppression method is applied to an integrated circuit formed on a substrate of p-type material having at least one region of n-type material with junction isolation, a first electrical contact on the frontal surface of the substrate, a second electrical contact on the n-type region and a third electrical contact on the back of the substrate connected to a reference (ground) terminal of the integrated circuit. To avoid current in the substrate due to the conduction of parasitic bipolar transistors in certain operating conditions of the integrated circuit, the method provides for monitoring the potential of the second contact to detect if this potential departs from the (ground) potential of the reference terminal by an amount greater than a predetermined threshold value. If this occurs the first contact is taken to the potential of the second contact, otherwise they are held at the (ground) potential of the reference terminal. A device and an integrated circuit which utilize the method are also described.

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Pavia, Italy

Massimo Pozzoni