Stmicroelectronics International N.v.

Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Valerio Gennari Santori

Valerio Bendotti

Nicola De Campo

Carlo Curina

Provided is a receiver circuit that receives a differential signal including positive and negative spikes. A first comparator produces an intermediate set signal that includes a pulse at each positive spike of the differential signal, and a second comparator produces an intermediate reset signal that includes a pulse at each negative spike of the differential signal. A sensing circuit extracts a common-mode voltage signal from the differential signal and asserts a control signal when the amplitude of the common-mode voltage signal exceeds a threshold. A logic circuit asserts a masking signal for an interval in response to asserting the control signal and de-asserts the masking signal in response to the interval elapsing. The logic circuit produces a corrected set signal. The logic circuit produces a corrected reset signal. An output circuit generates an output signal from the corrected set signal and the corrected reset signal.

Receiver circuit, corresponding isolated driver device, electronic system and method of decoding a differential signal into a digital output signal

A receiver circuit receives a differential signal that includes positive and negative spikes, and produces an output signal as a function of the differential signal. A first comparator produces an intermediate set signal that includes a pulse at each positive spike of the differential signal, and a second comparator produces an intermediate reset signal that includes a pulse at each negative spike of the differential signal. A logic circuit detects whether the digital signal switches between a first value and a second value, and whether the intermediate reset signal and the intermediate set signal include pulses lasting longer than a threshold. The logic produces a set correction signal and a reset correction signal. The logic circuit produces a corrected set signal and a corrected reset signal. An output circuit produces an output signal based on the corrected set signal and the corrected reset signal.

An isolated driver device comprises a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die galvanically isolated from each other. The second semiconductor die includes a signal modulator circuit configured to modulate a carrier signal to produce a modulated signal encoding information. A galvanically isolated communication channel implemented in the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die is configured to transmit the modulated signal from the second semiconductor die to the first semiconductor die. The second semiconductor die includes: a fault detection circuit configured to detect electrical faults in the second semiconductor die; a logic circuit coupled to the fault detection circuit and configured to assert a modulation bypass signal in response to a fault being detected by the fault detection circuit; and modulation masking circuitry configured to force the modulated signal to a steady value over a plurality of periods of the carrier signal in response to the modulation bypass signal being asserted. The first semiconductor die includes a respective logic circuit sensitive to the modulated signal and configured to detect a condition where the modulated signal has a steady value over a plurality of periods of the carrier signal, and to assert a fault detection signal in response to the condition being detected.

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Milan, Italy

Valerio Gennari Santori