Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Stmicroelectronics Gmbh

Michele Tronconi

Fabio Pasolini

Giuditta Roselli

Enrico Chiesa

Alessandra Maria Rizzo Piazza Roncoroni

Ivo Binda

Wen Lin

William R Raasch

William Raasch

A sensor device for an electronic apparatus is provided with: a sensing structure generating a first detection signal; and a dedicated integrated circuit, connected to the sensing structure, detecting, as a function of the first detection signal, a first event associated to the electronic apparatus and generating a first interrupt signal upon detection of the first event. The dedicated integrated circuit detects the first event as a function of a temporal evolution of the first detection signal, and in particular as a function of values assumed by the first detection signal within one or more successive time windows, and of a relation between these values.

Sensor device provided with a circuit for detection of single or multiple events for generating corresponding interrupt signals

An inertial device that is integratable in a portable electronic device includes: an inertial sensor for generating at least one raw acceleration signal in response to accelerations caused by movements of walking and running of a user of the pedometer; and a processing unit, associated to the inertial sensor for counting a number of steps of the user of the pedometer on the basis of the raw acceleration signal. The inertial sensor and the processing unit are both encapsulated within a single package for integrated circuits, which can be coupled to a circuit board of an electronic device and is provided with at least one connection terminal for making the number of steps available to the outside world.

Inertial device with pedometer function and portable electric appliance incorporating said inertial device

A sensor device for an electronic apparatus, including a sensing structure for generating a first detection signal, and a dedicated integrated circuit connected to the sensing structure for detecting a first event associated with the electronic apparatus and for generating a first interrupt signal upon detection of the first event. The dedicated integrated circuit detects the first event as a function of changes to the first detection signal over time (i.e., temporal evolution), and in particular as a function of values assumed by the first detection signal within one or more successive time windows, and of a relation between these values.

A sensor device for an electronic apparatus, including a sensing structure for generating a first detection signal, and a dedicated integrated circuit connected to the sensing structure for detecting a first event associated with the electronic apparatus and for generating a first interrupt signal upon detection of the first event. The dedicated integrated circuit detects the first event as a function of a temporal evolution of the first detection signal, and in particular as a function of values assumed by the first detection signal within one or more successive time windows, and of a relation between the values.

A barometric-pressure-sensor device for a portable electronic device, having a pressure sensor of a MEMS type designed to supply a barometric-pressure measurement, and with a processing circuit coupled to the pressure sensor that is designed to supply an altitude measurement as a function of the barometric-pressure measurement. The pressure sensor and the processing circuit are integrated in a single chip, and the processing circuit is a dedicated circuit of a purely hardware type. The processing circuit executes altimeter-setting operations through a plurality of reference registers containing respective pressure references.

Barometric-pressure-sensor device with altimeter function and altimeter-setting function

A device for protecting an electronic apparatus includes: a motion-detection device, for supplying at least one alert signal in response to conditions of motion of the protection device; a counter; a first logic circuit, for incrementing the counter in the presence of a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and a second logic circuit, for generating a protection signal on the basis of a count value of the counter. In addition, the first logic circuit is configured for decrementing the counter in the presence of a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

Device and method for protecting an electronic appliance in critical motion conditions, in particular in case of fall

A digital high-pass filter has an input, an output, and a subtractor stage, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the subtractor stage is connected to the input of the digital high-pass filter and the output terminal is connected to the output of the digital high-pass filter. A recursive circuit branch is connected between the output of the digital high-pass filter and the second input terminal of the subtractor stage. Within the recursive circuit branch are cascaded an accumulation stage, constituted by an integrator circuit, and a divider stage. The cutoff frequency of the digital high-pass filter is variable according to a dividing factor of the divider stage.

Digital high-pass filter for a displacement detection device of a portable apparatus

In a displacement detection device, an acceleration sensor generates at least a first acceleration signal relating to an axis of detection, and a displacement detection circuit is connected to the acceleration sensor has a comparator stage for comparing the acceleration signal with a programmable acceleration threshold and generates a displacement-detection signal. A high-pass filter is arranged between the acceleration sensor and the comparator stage so as to reduce a DC component of the acceleration signal. The cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is modified according to the type of displacements that are to be detected.

Displacement detection device for a portable apparatus

In an integrated free-fall detection device for a portable apparatus an acceleration sensor generates acceleration signals correlated to the components of the acceleration of the portable apparatus along three detection axes. A dedicated purely hardware circuit connected to the acceleration sensor generates a free-fall detection signal in a continuous way and in real-time. The free-fall detection signal has a first logic value in the event that the acceleration signals are simultaneously lower than a respective acceleration threshold, and is sent to a processor unit of the portable apparatus as an interrupt signal to activate appropriate actions of protection for the portable apparatus. Preferably, the acceleration sensor and the dedicated purely hardware circuit are integrated in a single chip and the acceleration sensor is made as a MEMS.

Free-fall detection device and free-fall protection system for a portable electronic apparatus

A differential non-volatile memory device is provided that includes setting means, at least first and second OTP memory cells that are each coupled between a supply voltage and a reference voltage, and a read circuit forming a first current path between the first memory cell and the reference voltage and a second current path between the second memory cell and the reference voltage for reading the bit and the complementary bit that are stored in the first and second memory cells. The first current path includes a first circuit point that is associated with a first output terminal, and the second current path includes a second circuit point that is associated with a second output terminal. The setting means can be activated to bring the first and second circuit points to a voltage value that is substantially equal to the reference voltage, and is able to set the value of the current flowing through each of the first and second current paths. Also provided is a method for reading such a differential non-volatile memory device.

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San Martino Siccomario, Italy

Michele Tronconi