Patents by Inventor Michel Ayraud
Michel Ayraud 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).
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Patent number: 11515899Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a circuit including an input terminal configured to receive a first signal at a first frequency; a demodulation chain connected to the input terminal and including a low-noise amplifier having an input coupled to the terminal; a controllable variable impedance connected between a first node and a node configured to receive a reference potential, the first node being connected to the input terminal and/or to the amplifier input; and a current source configured to deliver a current at the first frequency to the first node.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Michel Ayraud, Philippe Level
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Publication number: 20220278701Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a circuit including an input terminal configured to receive a first signal at a first frequency; a demodulation chain connected to the input terminal and including a low-noise amplifier having an input coupled to the terminal; a controllable variable impedance connected between a first node and a node configured to receive a reference potential, the first node being connected to the input terminal and/or to the amplifier input; and a current source configured to deliver a current at the first frequency to the first node.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Michel Ayraud, Philippe Level
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Patent number: 10524209Abstract: A local oscillator device includes an oscillator module including a first inductive element and a capacitive element coupled in parallel with the inductive element. A frequency divider is coupled to the oscillator module for delivering a local oscillator signal. The local oscillator device includes an autotransformer including the first inductive element and two second inductive elements respectively coupled to the terminals of the first inductive element and to two output terminals of the autotransformer, the output terminals being further coupled to input terminals of the frequency divider.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Alps) SASInventors: Michel Ayraud, Serge Ramet, Philippe Level
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Patent number: 10520554Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having a first power terminal configured to be coupled to a supply voltage and a second power terminal configured to be coupled to a reference potential. The circuit further includes a first impedance element coupled between a first input terminal of the amplifier and a first output terminal of the amplifier. The circuit additionally includes a second impedance element coupled between the first input terminal and the reference potential. The amplifier is configured to output a first voltage at a second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being greater than an output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier. The amplifier is further configured to output a second voltage at the second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being less than the output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SASInventors: Vratislav Michal, Michel Ayraud
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Patent number: 10396736Abstract: The transmission device comprising a transmit stage configured to deliver a transmission signal on an input-output node of an antenna and comprising a power transistor coupled to the input-output node and configured to amplify a signal to be transmitted. The device comprises a receive stage configured to receive a reception signal on the input-output node and comprising an attenuator circuit configured to attenuate the reception signal. The attenuator circuit comprising the power transistor and a control circuit able to place the power transistor in a triode mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLEâ‚‚SASInventors: Michel Ayraud, Serge Ramet, Serge Pontarollo
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Publication number: 20190187218Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having a first power terminal configured to be coupled to a supply voltage and a second power terminal configured to be coupled to a reference potential. The circuit further includes a first impedance element coupled between a first input terminal of the amplifier and a first output terminal of the amplifier. The circuit additionally includes a second impedance element coupled between the first input terminal and the reference potential. The amplifier is configured to output a first voltage at a second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being greater than an output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier. The amplifier is further configured to output a second voltage at the second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being less than the output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Vratislav Michal, Michel Ayraud
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Patent number: 10236842Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having a first power terminal configured to be coupled to a supply voltage and a second power terminal configured to be coupled to a reference potential. The circuit further includes a first impedance element coupled between a first input terminal of the amplifier and a first output terminal of the amplifier. The circuit additionally includes a second impedance element coupled between the first input terminal and the reference potential. The amplifier is configured to output a first voltage at a second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being greater than an output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier. The amplifier is further configured to output a second voltage at the second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being less than the output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SASInventors: Vratislav Michal, Michel Ayraud
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Publication number: 20180270762Abstract: A local oscillator device includes an oscillator module including a first inductive element and a capacitive element coupled in parallel with the inductive element. A frequency divider is coupled to the oscillator module for delivering a local oscillator signal. The local oscillator device includes an autotransformer including the first inductive element and two second inductive elements respectively coupled to the terminals of the first inductive element and to two output terminals of the autotransformer, the output terminals being further coupled to input terminals of the frequency divider.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Michel Ayraud, Serge Ramet, Philippe Level
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Patent number: 10063189Abstract: An amplification device includes an amplification stage having a transconductance amplification transistor and an output terminal. A biasing circuit is configured to bias in common mode the output terminal to a bias potential obtained on the basis of a voltage present between the gate and the source of the amplification transistor, and to compensate for parasitic variations of the voltage present between the gate and the source of the amplification transistor.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Michel Ayraud, Sandrine Nicolas
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Publication number: 20180191318Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having a first power terminal configured to be coupled to a supply voltage and a second power terminal configured to be coupled to a reference potential. The circuit further includes a first impedance element coupled between a first input terminal of the amplifier and a first output terminal of the amplifier. The circuit additionally includes a second impedance element coupled between the first input terminal and the reference potential. The amplifier is configured to output a first voltage at a second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being greater than an output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier. The amplifier is further configured to output a second voltage at the second output terminal of the amplifier in response to the supply voltage being less than the output voltage at the first output terminal of the amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Vratislav Michal, Michel Ayraud
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Publication number: 20180152142Abstract: An amplification device includes an amplification stage having a transconductance amplification transistor and an output terminal. A biasing circuit is configured to bias in common mode the output terminal to a bias potential obtained on the basis of a voltage present between the gate and the source of the amplification transistor, and to compensate for parasitic variations of the voltage present between the gate and the source of the amplification transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Michel Ayraud, Sandrine Nicolas
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Publication number: 20180152158Abstract: The transmission device comprising a transmit stage configured to deliver a transmission signal on an input-output node of an antenna and comprising a power transistor coupled to the input-output node and configured to amplify a signal to be transmitted. The device comprises a receive stage configured to receive a reception signal on the input-output node and comprising an attenuator circuit configured to attenuate the reception signal. The attenuator circuit comprising the power transistor and a control circuit able to place the power transistor in a triode mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Michel Ayraud, Serge Ramet, Serge Pontarollo
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Patent number: 9496827Abstract: An RF amplifier includes a branch with an inductor series-connected with a capacitor between first and second power supply nodes, a junction point between the inductor and capacitor forming an output node. A further branch includes a MOS transistor series-connected with a switch between the output node and the second power supply node. The switch has a control node coupled to receive a first input signal. The MOS transistor has a gate coupled to receive a second input signal. A control circuit applies the power supply voltage as the second input signal when a frequency/phase-modulated signal is applied as the first input signal. The control circuit further applies a variable signal as the second input signal when a radio frequency signal of constant frequency, phase, and amplitude is applied as the first input signal, and in this mode the MOS transistor is constrained to operate as a current source.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventor: Michel Ayraud
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Publication number: 20160308493Abstract: An RF amplifier includes a branch with an inductor series-connected with a capacitor between first and second power supply nodes, a junction point between the inductor and capacitor forming an output node. A further branch includes a MOS transistor series-connected with a switch between the output node and the second power supply node. The switch has a control node coupled to receive a first input signal. The MOS transistor has a gate coupled to receive a second input signal. A control circuit applies the power supply voltage as the second input signal when a frequency/phase-modulated signal is applied as the first input signal. The control circuit further applies a variable signal as the second input signal when a radio frequency signal of constant frequency, phase, and amplitude is applied as the first input signal, and in this mode the MOS transistor is constrained to operate as a current source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventor: Michel Ayraud
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Patent number: 8884709Abstract: A phase-locked loop double-point modulator may include a frequency divider having a ratio which can be changed by a first modulation signal, and an oscillator, a frequency of which can be changed by a second modulation signal correlated to the first modulation signal. A calibration circuit may be configured, in a calibration mode, to match the gains of the first and second modulation signals based on frequency measurements of the oscillator for two different calibration values of the second modulation signal. The phase-locked double-point modulator may also include an attenuator having a constant ratio greater than 1 and placed in the path of the second modulation signal, and a selector switch configured to be controlled by the calibration circuit to reduce the ratio of the attenuator in the calibration mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Franck Badets, Serge Ramet, Michel Ayraud
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Publication number: 20130015892Abstract: A phase-locked loop double-point modulator may include a frequency divider having a ratio which can be changed by a first modulation signal, and an oscillator, a frequency of which can be changed by a second modulation signal correlated to the first modulation signal. A calibration circuit may be configured, in a calibration mode, to match the gains of the first and second modulation signals based on frequency measurements of the oscillator for two different calibration values of the second modulation signal. The phase-locked double-point modulator may also include an attenuator having a constant ratio greater than 1 and placed in the path of the second modulation signal, and a selector switch configured to be controlled by the calibration circuit to reduce the ratio of the attenuator in the calibration mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Franck Badets, Serge Ramet, Michel Ayraud
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Patent number: 8030984Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit making it possible to extract a clock signal from an incident binary data sequence arriving at a constant rate. The electronic circuit comprises an oscillator (VCO) with voltage-controlled frequency providing a sinusoidal signal, a circuit (R, Cp, RD, I1, I2) for extracting the transition edges of the binary sequence producing a brief pulse at each transition, a sampler (MLT) for tapping off the level of the sinusoidal voltage at the instant of the brief pulse, and an integrator (AOP, R1, C1) for integrating this level in tandem with the successive pulses, the output of the integrator being applied as control voltage to the oscillator with controlled frequency, the output of the oscillator being the desired clock frequency with a slaved phase passing through zero substantially in the middle of the interval between two binary data transitions.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: E2V SemiconductorsInventor: Michel Ayraud
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Patent number: 7891871Abstract: The invention relates to intraoral radiological dental image sensors, i.e. sensors placed in the mouth of a patient, an X-ray source being located outside the cheek of the patient in order to emit X-rays in the direction of the sensor. According to the invention, the image sensor is attached to a first end of a short electrical cable (22) of around 5 to 20 cm, a second end of which leaves the patient's mouth when the sensor is in the mouth, the second end carrying a light source (24) comprising light-emitting diodes that can be digitally modulated as a function of information coming from the sensor, the electrical cable being able to transmit an electrical control signal from the sensor to the diode for modulating the latter.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: E2V SemiconductorsInventor: Michel Ayraud
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Publication number: 20100332577Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement of the passband of physical systems. Use is made of a finite impulse response filter which is calculated in the following manner, on the basis of the behavior (observed or known) of the physical system: the impulse response a(t) of the physical system according to a temporal or spatial variable is determined; an impulse response b(t) of similar form but compressed according to the scale of the variable t in a ratio n and expanded in amplitude in the same ratio is calculated sample by sample, and the coefficients of a finite impulse response filter able to provide at its output the signal b(t) when the signal a(t) is applied to its input are calculated. This finite impulse response filter is incorporated into the physical system, preferably at the output, so as to improve the passband thereof in the ratio n.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: E2V SEMICONDUCTORSInventors: Michel Ayraud, Nathalie Pascal
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Publication number: 20100079649Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor comprising an integrated circuit chip incorporating a matrix of rows and columns of photosensitive pixels and a read amplifier, the amplifier supplying successive signals representing the lighting of the different pixels of the image, with a pixel reading frequency determined by a system clock. The system is powered by a general power supply voltage and the read amplifier is powered by a stabilized power supply voltage supplied by a DC/DC voltage converter receiving the general power supply voltage. The DC/DC converter comprises a switched-mode power supply that uses a switch to chop a direct current at high frequency and a rectifier to rectify and filter the chopped current. The chopping frequency is the pixel reading frequency, which eliminates certain power supply-related noises that degrade the video signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: E2V SEMICONDUCTORSInventor: Michel AYRAUD