Abstract:
A phase-locked loop circuit is proposed for providing an output signal having a frequency depending on the frequency of a reference signal, the circuit including means for deriving a feedback signal from the output signal, means for providing a control signal indicative of a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal, means for controlling the frequency of the output signal according to the control signal, and means for causing the circuit to enter a lock condition when the reference signal and the feedback signal have the same frequency and a pre-defined phase difference. In the circuit of an embodiment of the invention, the means for causing the circuit to enter the lock condition includes means for conditioning the control signal to have an instantaneous value substantially zero in the lock condition by means of a conditioning signal consisting of a series of pulses each one corresponding to the pre-defined phase difference.
Abstract:
A device and method for programming an electrically programmable memory accesses a group of memory cells (MC1-MCk) of the memory to ascertain a programming state thereof (401,407;503,509a,513a); applies a programming pulse to those memory cells in the group whose programming state is not ascertained to correspond to a desired programming state (405;507a,509c,513c); and repeats the steps of accessing and applying for the memory cells in the group whose programming state is not ascertained (411;509b,513b). After the programming state of a prescribed number of memory cells in the group has been ascertained, the memory cells in the group are accessed again and the programming state of the memory cells whose programming state was previously ascertained is re-ascertained (413,415;515). At least one additional programming pulse is applied to those memory cells in the group whose programming state is not re-ascertained (405;507a,509c,513c). The method guarantees that the programming state of the memory cells is ascertained in conditions that closely resembles, or are substantially identical, to the conditions in which the memory cells will be accessed in a standard read.
Abstract:
To compensate the offset of a differential stage, the stage has at least one programmable, floating gate transistor with a programmable threshold, which is initially set to a threshold level other than the required threshold value, so that the differential stage is initially unbalanced. A balance input voltage is applied to the inputs of the differential stage. A programming voltage is applied to the programmable transistor to modify the set threshold until the differential stage switches. Upon switching, the programming voltage is cut off immediately, so that the charge required for the differential stage to be balanced with a balance input voltage is memorized in the programmable transistor.
Abstract:
A transition mode power factor correction converter comprising a boost inductor, a switch, a diode, and output tank capacitor, has circuit means of limitation of the off-time interval of the switch to a fraction of the off-time interval, “complementary” to the on-time interval that is normally controlled for regulating the output voltage, during part of a cycle of a rectified sinusoidal voltage waveform input to the converter, when the current flowing in the inductor reaches a maximum threshold, causing the mode of operation of the device to switch from transition mode to continuous current mode for a middle phase angle region of a rectified sinusoidal input voltage waveform, under high load conditions, defined by said maximum current threshold. Current peaks amplitude and ripple are effectively reduced for same output power.