Patents by Inventor Didier Lacroix

Didier Lacroix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9502635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device comprising an elongate resonator beam extending between first and second ends. A base is connected to the resonator beam at the first end with the second end extending from the base as a structural layer. The elongate resonator beam comprises either: (1) a first oxide layer on a first piezoelectric stack layer over a structural layer on a second oxide layer over a second piezoelectric stack layer on a third oxide layer or (2) a first oxide layer on a first piezoelectric stack layer over a second oxide layer on a structural layer over a third oxide layer on a second piezoelectric stack over a fourth oxide layer. Also disclosed is a system comprising an apparatus and the device, as well as methods of making and using the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MicroGen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Andosca, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Didier Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20150256144
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device comprising an elongate resonator beam extending between first and second ends. A base is connected to the resonator beam at the first end with the second end extending from the base as a structural layer. The elongate resonator beam comprises either: (1) a first oxide layer on a first piezoelectric stack layer over a structural layer on a second oxide layer over a second piezoelectric stack layer on a third oxide layer or (2) a first oxide layer on a first piezoelectric stack layer over a second oxide layer on a structural layer over a third oxide layer on a second piezoelectric stack over a fourth oxide layer. Also disclosed is a system comprising an apparatus and the device, as well as methods of making and using the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: MicroGen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Andosca, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Didier Lacroix
  • Patent number: 7812680
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for generating a modulated signal with a MEMS resonator, or microresonator. A bias, or polarization, voltage for activating the MEMS resonator is determined by a control signal, or input voltage, indicative of information to be carried by the modulated signal. In some cases, the MEMS resonator may be driven by an oscillator circuit to facilitate operation of the MEMS resonator. The control signal may include an amplitude modulated voltage or a digital data stream such that output signals of the MEMS resonator or oscillator circuit may carry information via frequency modulation, such as frequency shift keying modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Discera, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Brown, Wan-Thai Hsu, Kenneth R. Cioffi, Didier Lacroix
  • Patent number: 7755441
    Abstract: A signal generation technique is based on a reference frequency provided by a MEMS resonator. The signal generation technique compensates for temperature- and fabrication process-induced frequency variations collectively. In some embodiments, a device implementing the disclosed signal generation technique includes a fractional-N synthesizer, a temperature sensor, calibration data, and a sigma-delta modulator to adjust the reference frequency of the MEMS resonator to a desired frequency value while compensating for the temperature variation of the MEMS resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Discera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Cioffi, Didier Lacroix
  • Patent number: 7679466
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a timing device that includes a resonator device to generate a resonator output signal at a frequency offset from a desired frequency, a counter configured to generate an extraction signal in accordance with the frequency offset, and a timing signal generator configured to track time with a count based on the resonator output signal and modified by the extraction signal downward to reach the desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Discera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Cioffi, Michael Simoneau, Didier Lacroix, Wan-Thai Hsu
  • Patent number: 7449968
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a signal generation technique based on a reference frequency provided by a MEMS resonator. The signal generation technique compensates for temperature- and fabrication process-induced frequency variations collectively. In some embodiments, a device implementing the disclosed signal generation technique includes a fractional-N synthesizer, a temperature sensor, calibration data, and a sigma-delta modulator to adjust the reference frequency of the MEMS resonator to a desired frequency value while compensating for the temperature variation of the MEMS resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Discera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Cioffi, Didier Lacroix
  • Patent number: 7406316
    Abstract: The apparatus (D) is dedicated to managing momentarily radio link interruptions between mobile stations (MS-i) and at least one radio network controller (BSC) of a radio access network (RAN) of a communications network. The apparatus comprises firstly detector means (DM) capable of detecting a radio link interruption between a mobile station (MS-i) and a radio network controller (BSCn), and secondly control means (CM) capable, on an interruption being detected by the detector means (DM), of ordering the radio network controller (BSCn) to suspend the radio link and then to attempt reactivate the radio link in application of a selected timetable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Evolium S.A.S.
    Inventors: Didier Lacroix, Antoine Soulie
  • Publication number: 20050215257
    Abstract: The apparatus (D) is dedicated to managing momentarily radio link interruptions between mobile stations (MS-i) and at least one radio network controller (BSC) of a radio access network (RAN) of a communications network. The apparatus comprises firstly detector means (DM) capable of detecting a radio link interruption between a mobile station (MS-i) and a radio network controller (BSCn), and secondly control means (CM) capable, on an interruption being detected by the detector means (DM), of ordering the radio network controller (BSCn) to suspend the radio link and then to attempt reactivate the radio link in application of a selected timetable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: EVOLIUM S.A.S.
    Inventors: Didier Lacroix, Antoine Soulie
  • Publication number: 20050213578
    Abstract: A system (D) is dedicated to managing downlink data transfers between a radio access network (BSS) of a packet-switched communications network and mobile stations (MS-k). The system (D) comprises management means (M) adapted, when they receive a request for downlink data transfer to a mobile station (MS-k), to instruct sending of a link set-up request to that mobile station by means of the radio access network (BSS) and then setting up a downlink access, after the reception of a response to that request sent by the mobile station (MS-k).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: EVOLIUM S.A.S.
    Inventors: Francois Duhamel, Didier Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20040082337
    Abstract: A system (D) is dedicated to managing the changing of channels between a network controller (BSCn) and at least one network equipment (MS-i) in a communications network. The system includes management means (M) that are adapted, when a connection for sending and/or receiving data has been set up on a first channel (C1) between the network controller (BSCn) and the network equipment (MS-i), to instruct the network controller (BSCn), firstly, to send the network equipment (MS-i) a message on the first channel (C1) instructing it to continue the connection on a second channel (C2) and to maintain the first channel (C1) until it receives data and/or acknowledgments of data from the equipment (MS-i) on the second channel (C2), and, secondly, to release the resources associated with the first channel (C1) on receiving data and/or acknowledgments of data on the second channel (C2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: EVOLIUM S.A.S.
    Inventors: Didier Lacroix, Francois Duhamel, Antoine Soulie