Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Stmicroelectronics International N.v.

Riccardo Condorelli

Daniele Mangano

Michele Alessandro Carrano

Antonino Mondello

Natale Aiello

Roberto Larosa

Giulio Zoppi

Salvatore Marco Rosselli

Michel Cuenca

Mirko Dondini

Luc Garcia

Alessandro Inglese

Pasquale Butta'

Gaetano Distefano

Fabien Laplace

Giovanni Auditore

The present disclosure relates to a method including executing, by an electronic device, a first firmware module stored in a volatile memory of the electronic device, the execution of the first firmware module causing an updated firmware key to be stored in a non-volatile memory of the electronic device, and uploading a second firmware module to the electronic device. The method also includes decrypting the second firmware module by a cryptographic processor of the electronic device based on the updated firmware key, and installing the decrypted second firmware module in the volatile memory of the electronic device at least partially overwriting the first firmware module.

Secure firmware upload

A circuit implemented as a System-on-Chip (SOC) circuit comprising a microcontroller configured to drive one or more hard macros via a respective communication interface and a shielded bus. The microcontroller configured to transmit over the shielded bus random numbers to the hard macro. The microcontroller and the hard macro configured to use these random numbers as cryptographic shared secret for authentication. The microcontroller configured to drive via the communication interface the hard macros authenticated via the random numbers.

Circuit with hard macro protection and corresponding method

An electronic device includes at least two electronic components. A reset circuit includes: a parity control circuit; at least two first flip-flops, wherein each first flip-flop has an output coupled to at least one of the at least two electronic components; and at least two second flip-flops, wherein each second flip-flop has at least one output coupled to an input of the parity control circuit.

Reset circuit

A system-on-chip includes a process-voltage-temperature (PVT) sensor with a filter circuit that initiates a patterned digital signal and propagates the patterned digital signal in a manner responsive to variations in semiconductor material, operating supply voltage and operating temperature of the system-on-chip. A digital comparison circuit compares the initiated patterned digital signal and the propagated patterned digital signal. A warning signal is generated in response to the comparison where there is a detection of discrepancy between the initiated patterned digital signal and the propagated patterned digital signal.

System on chip including a PVT sensor and corresponding PVT sensing method

A resettable digital stage operates when a supply voltage is higher than a threshold. A non-volatile memory stores a digital code read by a reading stage. A main power-on reset circuit generates a main reset signal controlling reset of the reading stage. A resettable volatile memory coupled to the reading stage stores a default value when reset. An auxiliary power-on reset circuit generates an auxiliary reset signal controlling reset of the volatile memory. Upon deactivation of the reset, the reading stage loads the digital code into the volatile memory. The main power-on reset circuit functions in a non-trimmed configuration response to the stored default value and in a trimmed configuration responsive to the stored digital code. The main power-on reset circuit has first and second operative thresholds which respectively fall within a first and second non-trimmed voltage range or within a first and second trimmed voltage range.

Integrated electronic system with an improved power-on reset circuit and method for controlling the integrated electronic system

A method includes providing a reference clock signal having a reference period, providing a sampling clock signal having a sampling clock period shorter than the reference period of the reference clock signal, measuring the first subperiod as a first ratio of the first subperiod to the period of the sampling clock signal, measuring the second subperiod as a second ratio of the second subperiod to the period of the sampling clock signal, detecting a starting edge of a clock signal having a clock period greater than the reference period, producing a reconstructed reference signal based on the first ratio, the second ratio, and the detected starting edge, comparing the clock period of the clock signal with a period of the reconstructed reference signal to obtain a differential signal indicating a difference therebetween, and providing the differential signal to user circuitry for calibrating the clock signal.

Method of calibrating a clock signal, and corresponding electronic device and system

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes: producing a set of delayed replicas of a reference clock signal, wherein delayed replicas in the set of delayed replicas have respective signal edges delayed in time by a mutual time delay therebetween; producing a set of edge detecting signals comprising edge detecting signals indicative of respective distances of edges of delayed replicas in the set of delayed replicas from an edge of a clock signal having a clock period; selecting based on edge detecting signals in the set of edge detecting signals a delayed replica in the set of delayed replicas having a distance from the clock signal edge that is shorter than the distance from the clock signal edge of any other delayed replica in the set of delayed replicas.

Method and system of calibrating a clock signal

An integrated circuit includes a clock control circuit coupled to a reference clock signal node and a plurality of circuits including a voltage regulator, a digital circuit, and an analog circuit. The voltage regulator, in operation, supplies a regulated voltage. The clock control circuit, in operation, generates a system clock. Input/output interface circuitry is coupled to the plurality of circuits and a common input/output node. The input/output interface circuitry, in operation, selectively couples one of the plurality of circuits to the common input/output node.

Processing system, corresponding apparatus and corresponding method

In one embodiment, an inductive/LC sensor device includes: an energy storage device for accumulating excitation energy, an LC sensor configured to oscillate using energy accumulated in the energy storage device and transferred to the LC sensor, an energy detector for detecting the energy accumulated in the energy storage device reaching a charge threshold, and at least one switch coupled with the energy detector for terminating accumulating excitation energy in the energy storage device when the charge threshold is detected having been reached by the energy detector.

Method of operating LC sensors, corresponding system and apparatus

A system for interfacing an LC sensor includes a starter configured to selectively start an oscillation of the LC sensor. The system also includes an analog peak detector configured to determine a signal being indicative of a peak voltage of the oscillation of the LC sensor and a detector configured to determine a state of the LC sensor as a function of the signal determined by the analog peak detector.

System for interfacing an LC sensor, related method and computer program product

An electronic device may include a transducer configured to generate an electrical output responsive to an input, and a data storage element configured to change state responsive to the transducer. The electronic device may include a power circuit configured to turn on and supply power responsive to the data storage element changing state, and a processing circuit configured to be powered by the power circuit.

Electronic device and sensor device with low power consumption and related methods

A method of interfacing a LC sensor with a control unit is provided. The control unit may include first and second contacts, where the LC sensor is connected between the first and the second contact. A capacitor is connected between the first contact and a ground. To start the oscillation of the LC sensor, the method may include during a first phase, connecting the first contact to a supply voltage and placing the second contact in a high impedance state such that the capacitor is charged through the supply voltage. During a second phase, the first contact may be placed in a high impedance state, and the second contact connected to the ground such that the capacitor transfers charge towards the LC sensor. During a third phase, the first contact and the second contact may be placed in a high impedance state so the LC sensor is able to oscillate.

Method of interfacing a LC sensor and related system

A system for interfacing an LC sensor includes a starter configured to selectively start an oscillation of the LC sensor. The system also includes an analog peak detector configured to determine a signal (V) being indicative of a peak voltage of the oscillation of the LC sensor and a detector configured to determine a state of the LC sensor as a function of the signal (V) determined by the analog peak detector.

Growing community of inventors

Tremestieri Etneo, Italy

Riccardo Condorelli