Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Consorzio Per La Ricerca Sulla Microelettronica Nel Mezzogiorno

Roelectronics S.r.l.

Salvatore Vincenzo Capici

Filippo Marino

Francesco Pulvirenti

Angelo Maria D'Arrigo

Patrizia Milazzo

Antonio Magazzu

Antonio Magazzu'

A method of making and testing an electronic device that includes providing first and second external pins, first and second pads on the substrate connected to the first external pin by respective bonding wires, and third and fourth pads on the substrate connected to the second external pin respective bonding wires, and to a first common line by respective resistors. With a circuit configuration of this type, the intactness of the bonding wires can easily be checked by carrying out a simple resistance measurement between the first and the second external pin.

Methods of manufacturing and testing bonding wires

A switching voltage regulator includes a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) power switch and driver circuit therefor. The MOS power switch may include a plurality of n power transistors each connected in parallel with one other. In particular, the first of the plurality of power transistors may have a larger size than the other power transistors. More specifically, the respective sizes of the individual power transistors may scale down from one to the next. In this way, an equivalent size of the power switch is greatly reduced with respect to prior art switches in that the first and largest transistor may be readily turned off. This may be carried out without substantially affecting the delivered current, which continues to be supplied by the remaining transistors. Further, a transconductance of the power switch may decrease as the power transistors are turned off in order from the first through the nth power transistors.

Switching voltage regulator including a power MOS switch and driver circuit therefor

An electronic device having first and second external pins; first and second pads connected to the first external pin by respective bonding wires; and third and fourth pads connected to the second external pin respective bonding wires, and to a first common line by respective resistors. By means of a circuit configuration of this type, the intactness of the bonding wires can easily be checked by carrying out a simple resistance measurement between the first and the second external pin.

Electronic device with double-wire bonding, manufacturing method thereof, and method for checking intactness of bonding wires of this electronic device

An integrated circuit includes a first access pin and a second access pin, and an electronic circuit for trimming a portion of the integrated circuit. The electronic circuit includes a memory element, and a regulation circuit for modifying the memory element. The regulation circuit includes an error amplifier for comparing an output voltage of the portion of the integrated circuit to be trimmed with an internal voltage reference. A comparator includes a first input connected to an output of the error amplifier and to the first access pin. A first switch is connected between the output of the error amplifier and the first input of the comparator. A second comparator includes a first input connected to the second access pin, and an output connected to the first switch for control thereof. A second switch is connected to the output of the error amplifier and to the first access pin. A serial interface is connected to the second switch for receiving via the first access pin a data sequence relating to trimming the portion of the integrated circuit. A control logic circuit is connected to the serial interface for controlling the trimming based upon the received data sequence.

Electronic circuit and corresponding method for trimming an IC

The invention relates to a driver circuit for P-channel MOS switches including a power transistor having a control terminal and first and second conduction terminals, a controlled current generator connected to the control terminal for turning on the power transistor, a control circuit for controlling the turning on of the current generator, and a protection circuit coupled to the control terminal. The driver circuit may also include a second current generator connected to the control terminal of the power transistor which is in turn driven by the control circuit to control the transistor turn-off. Advantageously, the control circuit may also receive a control signal from the protection circuit at the end of the latter's action.

Driver circuit for P-channel MOS switches

A frequency translator is usable in a switching DC-DC converter of the type operating as a voltage regulator and as a battery charger. The frequency translator receives at inputs a division voltage (VFB) proportional to a present value of the output voltage (VOUT) of the DC-DC converter, a reference voltage (VREF) correlated to a nominal value of the output voltage (VOUT), and a limiting signal (VL) indicative of a normal operation or of current limitation operation of the DC-DC converter, and supplies at an output a bias current (IBIAS) which is supplied to an input of an oscillator supplying at an output a comparison signal (VC) presenting a periodic pattern with a frequency which is correlated to the bias current (IBIAS). In particular, the frequency translator operates in a way such as to regulate a frequency translation of the comparison signal (VC) as a function of the difference between the division voltage (VFB) and the reference voltage (VREF) only when the DC-DC converter is operating in the current limitation condition.

Frequency translator usable in a switching DC-DC converter of the type operating as a voltage regulator and as a battery charger, and method of frequency translation therefor

A band-gap regulator circuit produces a voltage reference having a temperature compensation for second order effects. The regulator circuit includes: a Brokaw cell for producing a first band-gap voltage reference Vbg; a circuit portion including a comparator connected to the Brokaw cell output for providing a compensation voltage value Vcorr; and a summing circuit that sums together the compensation voltage value Vcorr and the first band-gap voltage reference Vbg.

Band-gap regulator circuit for producing a voltage reference

A voltage regulator circuit produces a voltage reference with high line rejection even for low values of the supply voltage. The regulator is of the type that produces a regulated voltage value for a bandgap voltage generator and includes a regulation circuit portion and a reference circuit portion. The regulation circuit portions is supplied with the supply voltage and has an output at which the regulated voltage value is produced and an input that receives a voltage reference. The reference circuit portion produces the voltage reference and includes a first circuit leg that receives the supply voltage through a controlled switch and a second circuit leg that receives the regulated voltage value.

Voltage regulating circuit for producing a voltage reference with high

An electronic device smoothes a charge current peak in RLC output stages of switching step-up regulators, which stages include an input terminal and an output terminal with an inductance and a parasitic resistance in series therebetween, the latter corresponding to the series parasitic resistance of the inductance, and a capacitor connected between the output terminal and a ground. The device comprises a parallel of a resistor and a controlled switch connected between the inductance and the output terminal of the stage upstream of the capacitor. Advantageously, the switch would only be open during the charge transient of the capacitor.

Electronic device for smoothing a charge current peak in RLC output

A linear type of voltage regulator, having an input terminal adapted to receive a supply voltage thereon, and an output terminal adapted to deliver a regulated output voltage, includes a power transistor and a driving circuit therefor. The driving circuit includes an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current which varies proportionally with the output current of the regulator.

Low consumption linear voltage regulator with high supply line rejection

Switching and propagation delays in generating a PWM control signal by a circuit that generally includes an error amplifier, a sawtooth oscillator and a comparator for comparing the error signal with the sawtooth signal, is compensated by generating a second sawtooth signal synchronous with the master sawtooth signal but having a reduced discharge time and by applying the second synchronous sawtooth signal to the respective input of the PWM comparator.

Growing community of inventors

Barrafranca, Italy

Salvatore Vincenzo Capici