Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research & Development), Limited
  • Publication number: 20230411928
    Abstract: An optical element is positioned in a holder over a laser light source. The optical element includes an electrical trace that is coupled between first and second pads. A sensing circuit that is also coupled to the first and second pads performs a voltage/current sensing operation to detect displacement of the optical element and control enablement of the laser light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Steven COLLINS, Graeme STORM, Supriya Raveendra HEGDE
  • Patent number: 11843008
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a stack of a first level having a SPAD, a second level having a quench circuit for said SPAD, and a third level having a circuit for processing data generated by said SPAD. A method for making the device includes: a) forming of the first level; b) bonding, on the first level, by molecular bonding, of a stack of layers including a semiconductor layer; and c) forming the quench circuit of the second level in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Francois Guyader, Sara Pellegrini, Bruce Rae
  • Patent number: 11830459
    Abstract: An embodiment method of measuring ambient light comprises generating, by an ambient light sensor associated with a screen which alternates between first phases in which light is emitted and second phases in which no light is emitted by the screen, a first signal representative of an intensity of light received by the ambient light sensor during the first and second phases; comparing the first signal with a threshold intensity value; and controlling a timing of an ambient light measurement by the light sensor based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Publication number: 20230375679
    Abstract: A time-of-flight system includes an emitter-circuit generating and directing pulses of light toward a target, and a receiver-circuit including a photodetector coupled between a bias node and a sensing node to detect pulses that have reflected off the target, a comparison circuit comparing a sense voltage at the sensing node to a reference, a timing measurement circuit measuring elapsed time between generation of a given pulse and detection thereof after reflection off the target, and a programmable current sink that sinks a current from the sensing node equal to a portion of a photocurrent generated by the photodetector due to detection of ambient light. A timing-generation circuit synchronizes generation of the pulses and measurement of elapsed time by the timing circuit. A processor adjusts a magnitude of the current sunk from the sensing node based upon output of the comparison circuit when the emitter circuit is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Neale DUTTON
  • Publication number: 20230375680
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a time-of-flight sensor including, on a same base substrate, a light emitter configured to emit light into an image scene, a reference sensor configured to detect light emitted by the light emitter, and a signal reception sensor array separated from the light emitter by an optical barrier. The optical barrier is configured to prevent light emitted by the light emitter from directly reaching the signal reception sensor array, with the signal reception sensor array being configured to detect light reflected by the image scene. The reference sensor and the signal reception sensor array are based on semiconductor nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Neale DUTTON, Jonathan STECKEL
  • Patent number: 11822014
    Abstract: A method can be used for controlling pixel scanning within a range detector. A spatially controllable point light source generates a first series of light source pulses associated with a first spatial direction. The first series of light source pulses are generated during a first time period. The spatially controllable point light source generates a second series of light source pulses associated with a second spatial direction. The second series of light source pulses are generated during a second time period that overlaps with the first time period so that the second series of light source pulses are started during the first series of light source pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Neale Dutton, Sarrah Moiz Patanwala
  • Patent number: 11822017
    Abstract: A ToF sensor includes an array of pixels having first and second subsets of pixels, first and second pluralities of TDCs, a routing bus having first and second pluralities of bus drivers, and a controller configured to: when the first subset of pixels is active and the second subset of pixels is not active, control the first plurality of bus drivers to route events from half of the pixels of the first subset to the first plurality of TDCs and control the first and second pluralities of bus drivers to route events from the other half of the pixels of the first subset to the second plurality of TDCs, and when the first subset of pixels is not active and the second subset of pixels is active, control the first plurality of bus drivers to route events from the second subset of pixels to the first plurality of TDCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Neale Dutton, John Kevin Moore
  • Publication number: 20230367047
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an optical lens that includes wafer level diffractive microstructures. In one embodiment, the optical lens includes a substrate, a microstructure layer having a first refractive index, and a protective layer having a second refractive index that is different from the first refractive index. The microstructure layer is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of diffractive microstructures. The protective layer is formed on the diffractive microstructures. The protective layer provides a cleanable surface and encapsulates the diffractive microstructures to prevent damage and contamination to the diffractive microstructures. In another embodiment, the optical lens includes a substrate and an anti-reflective layer. The anti-reflective layer is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of diffractive microstructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Kevin CHANNON, James Peter Drummond DOWNING, Andy PRICE
  • Publication number: 20230369359
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a stack of a first level having a SPAD, a second level having a quench circuit for said SPAD, and a third level having a circuit for processing data generated by said SPAD. A method for making the device includes: a) forming of the first level; b) bonding, on the first level, by molecular bonding, of a stack of layers including a semiconductor layer; and c) forming the quench circuit of the second level in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Francois GUYADER, Sara PELLEGRINI, Bruce RAE
  • Patent number: 11815628
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Each of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers is configured to be a source of light. The apparatus also comprises an optical arrangement configured to receive light from a plurality of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and to output a plurality of light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Townsend, Thineshwaran Gopal Krishnan, James Peter Drummond Downing, Kevin Channon
  • Patent number: 11815393
    Abstract: A sensor has plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns with row control circuitry for controlling which one of said rows is activated and column control circuitry for controlling which of said pixels in said activated row is to be activated. The column circuitry has memory configured to store information indication as to which of the pixels are defective, wherein each of the pixels has a photodiode and a plurality of transistors which control the activation of the photodiode. A first transistor is configured to be controlled by a column enable signal while a second transistor is configured to be controlled by a row select signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Neale Dutton
  • Patent number: 11808895
    Abstract: A method includes measuring a first set of photon-event data collected from a first crosstalk-monitoring zone of an optical receiver during a first period of time of flight ranging, measuring a second set of photon-event data collected from a second crosstalk-monitoring zone of the optical receiver during the first period of time of flight ranging, and generating a first dynamic crosstalk compensation value for a first histogram region of the optical receiver using the first set of photon-event data, the second set of photon-event data, and a native crosstalk compensation value for the first histogram region of the optical receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Stuart McLeod, Ed Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11803942
    Abstract: A method for enhancing an image and an image enhancement device are described. The method for enhancing an image including: capturing an initial image including a plurality of pixels, and performing a pixel-by-pixel dehazing operation for each of the plurality of pixels. The performing including: generating, for each of the plurality of pixels, a value for a blended gray image based on color channels of the pixel, generating, for each of the plurality of pixels, a value for a transmission map based on the blended gray image, and generating, for each of the plurality of pixels, output color channels for a processed image based on the value for the transmission map, the processed image being an enhancement of the initial image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Stewart, Réka Hegedüs
  • Patent number: 11797645
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a histogram output from a detector sensor, and calculating a median point of a pulse waveform within the histogram. The pulse waveform has an even probability distribution over at least one quantization step of the histogram around the median point. A corresponding apparatus can include a detector sensor and a co-processor coupled to the detector sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: John Kevin Moore, Sam Lee, Pascal Mellot, Donald Baxter, Stuart McLeod, Kenneth Dargan
  • Patent number: 11800224
    Abstract: A method includes dividing a field of view into a plurality of zones and sampling the field of view to generate a photon count for each zone of the plurality of zones, identifying a focal sector of the field of view and analyzing each zone to select a final focal object from a first prospective focal object and a second prospective focal object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Darin K. Winterton, Donald Baxter, Andrew Hodgson, Gordon Lunn, Olivier Pothier, Kalyan-Kumar Vadlamudi-Reddy
  • Patent number: 11796386
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector. A readout circuit performs a process over an exposure time where the photodetector is connected to a reverse bias voltage supply to reset a voltage across the photodetector, and the photodetector is disconnected from the reverse bias voltage supply until that the voltage across the photodetector decreases in response to received ambient light. An ambient light level is then determine an based on a number of times the voltage across the photodetector is reset over the exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Sophie Taupin, Jean-Jacques Rouger, Pascal Mellot
  • Publication number: 20230318619
    Abstract: An input stage circuit for a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter circuit receives a digital-to-analog converter generated feedback signal and an analog current input signal to generate a difference signal applied to an integrator circuit. A single bit quantization circuit quantizes an output of the integrator circuit to generate a bit signal that is applied to an input of the digital-to-analog converter. The input stage circuit includes a switched input capacitor controlled by first and second, non-overlapping, clock signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Ilina TODOROVA, Jeffrey M. RAYNOR
  • Publication number: 20230302683
    Abstract: In a method, substrate elements are provided wherein each substrate element has a first side and a second side meeting at a corner point. The substrate elements are picked and then placed on a support device in alignment. A cutting operation is then performed where each of the substrates elements are cut along a cut line having a common first direction which intersects the first and second sides of each of the substrate elements in order to create a third side on each substrate element. The third side of each of the substrate elements meets the first and the second sides at corresponding corner points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Melodie CHAPERON, William HALLIDAY, Jean GAGNIEUX
  • Patent number: 11762212
    Abstract: A diffuse illumination system for reducing diffusion-related illumination inhomogeneities includes an array of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) emitters and a diffusing element including a transparent substrate and an array of nanostructures. A dimension and a shape of each nanostructure is configured to retard phases of two orthogonal polarization states of light incident on each nanostructure from the emitters for reducing illumination inhomogeneities in the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: James Peter Drummond Downing
  • Patent number: 11756172
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tone mapping method for a succession of images implemented by an image processing device. The method including a) the division of the images of the succession of images in a plurality of sub-blocks of first pixels; b) for a first image (INPUT_IMAGEf) of the succession of images, the creation of a first mini-image (MPICf) comprising pixels of the first mini-image, each pixel of the first mini-image representing a corresponding sub-block of the first image, the intensity of each pixel of the first mini-image being representative of the intensity of the first pixels of the corresponding sub-block; c) the storage of the first mini-image (MPICf) in a memory; and d) for a second image (INPUT_IMAGEf+1) of the succession of images, the modification of the second image according to the first mini-image (MPICf) in order to generate an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED, STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: Héloïse Eliane Geneviève Gresset, Brian Douglas Stewart