Abstract:
Monolithically integrated pressure sensors of outstanding quality and versatility are produced through micromechanical surface structures definition techniques. A microphonic cavity in the semiconductor substrate is monolithically formed by cutting by plasma etching the front side or the back side of the silicon wafer a plurality of trenches or holes deep enough to extend for at least part of its thickness into a purposely made doped buried layer of opposite type of conductivity of the substrate and of the epitaxial layer grown over it; electrochemically etching through such trenches, the silicon of the buried layer with an electrolytic solution suitable for selectively etching the doped silicon of said opposite type of conductivity, making the silicon of the buried layer porous; and oxidizing and leaching away the silicon so made porous. Preferably, the trenches or holes for accessing the doped buried layer are cut through the epitaxial layer and not through the rear of the monocrystalline silicon substrate thus avoiding the burden of precisely aligning the mask on the rear surface with the masks that are used on the front surface of the substrate. Moreover, the thickness of the substrate is normally much greater than that of the epitaxial layer and thus the need to cut relatively deep and narrow trenches requiring the use of special plasma etching equipment is avoided.
Abstract:
In order to protect the contents of an electronic document through an encryption system based on an initial confusing step in a scrambler and a subsequent diffusion step in a chaotic processor, both steps being of a chaotic type, initially (51) encryption keys (c j ) and an initial chaotic value (X 0 ) are acquired; input character strings (IN) are acquired (53); diffused character strings (s(t)) are calculated (54) using the input character strings, the encryption keys (C j ), and previous diffused character strings (s(t-j)). After a certain number of iterations, sets of diffused character strings (S j ) are added (63) to subsequent chaotic values (X) generated by a chaotic processor (61) to obtain encrypted words (X CR ). Decryption is obtained through two successive operations, wherein the encrypted words are added to chaotic values identical to the encryption values (X) and subtracted from previously decrypted words using an unscrambler element having a structure similar to that of the scrambler and using identical encryption keys.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an integrated cellular network structure, being programmable to solve partial derivative differential equations in order to control a phenomenon of diffusion or a propagation of electric drive pulses for robot actuators. Advantageously, such structure comprises analog and digital portions interconnected with each other; the analog portion includes a matrix array (6) of analog cells (2) arranged to receive data from an I/O interface (7), and the digital portion includes first and second memory arrays (8,9) for storing a desired configuration and the initial state of such analog matrix array (6), respectively.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a new method for the control of movement which takes its idea from the principles on which the movement of certain biological organisms are founded. The proposed approach also permits the development of robotic architecture equipped with a revolutionary analogic system of locomotion, inspired by biological walking. The circuital embodiment of such system of locomotion is made concrete with the possibility of circuitally implementing a model of equations of the reaction diffusion type capable of generating, for certain combinations of parameters, initial conditions and boundary conditions, signals of auto-wave or spatial pattern type for the control of movement.
Abstract:
Described herein is an optically readable memory device (1) comprising a molecular memory (1) obtained using carbon nanotubes (4). In particular, the molecular memory uses, as memory element, a bundle of carbon nanotubes, for which it is possible to obtain at least two stable states by modifying their geometrical configuration and, consequently, their optical transmission properties.
Abstract:
The system may be used for three-dimensional analysis of surface defects and microdefects performed by correlating two images of the surface according to the general criteria of stereoscopic vision. The system may be implemented by integrating, in a single monolithic component made using VLSI CMOS technology, an optical sensor with a cellular neural network comprising a matrix of cells configured as analog processors.
Abstract:
A DC/DC conversion circuit, adapted to convert a DC input voltage (Vin) to a DC output voltage (Vout), employs a PNP type of bipolar power transistor (7) as a synchronous rectifier element, to allow power-on through a simplified control circuitry (5) capable of sensing, automatically and at a high speed, the difference of potential across the switch. This approach allows power to be transferred from the input to the output unilaterally, while automatically controlling the depth of saturation of the power transistor and regulating its base current.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a mold for obtaining, on a substrate, an array of carbon nanotubes with a high control of their positioning wherein such mold comprises a first layer of a first preset material having a surface having in relief at least one first plurality of projections having a free end portion with a substantially pointed profile, a method for obtaining the above-mentioned mold and a method for obtaining the above-mentioned array by using such mold.
Abstract:
Described herein is an optically readable memory device (1) comprising a molecular memory (1) obtained using carbon nanotubes (4). In particular, the molecular memory uses, as memory element, a bundle of carbon nanotubes, for which it is possible to obtain at least two stable states by modifying their geometrical configuration and, consequently, their optical transmission properties.