Patents by Inventor Thierry Gourbilleau
Thierry Gourbilleau 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: 10656189Abstract: A microcontroller is operable to monitor power supply levels corresponding, respectively, to a first power supply (e.g., a main power supply) and a second power supply (e.g., a battery backup power supply). In one or more modes of operation, the same brownout detector in the microcontroller alternately monitors signals corresponding, respectively, to the first and second power supply levels.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Thibault Kervaon, Régis Vix
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Patent number: 10466765Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a power management unit for controlling power in a microcontroller. The unit causes a first voltage to be provided in an active mode. In a sleep mode, the unit determines whether a supply voltage is less than an upper reference voltage and, if so, cause a second voltage greater than the first voltage to be provided. If not, the unit inhibits operation of voltage regulation of power supplied to the microcontroller. After inhibition of operation of voltage regulation, the unit determines whether the supply voltage has fallen to a lower reference voltage and, if so, applies the second voltage to the microcontroller.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Mikael Tual, Thibault Kervaon, Bernard Coloma
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Patent number: 10317978Abstract: A microcontroller is operable in a low-power mode and includes one or more I/O connectors, as well as an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors. The I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode. The microcontroller also includes I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller. The I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Romain Oddoart, Patrice Menard, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Patent number: 10296077Abstract: A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain based on whether the microcontroller system has asserted a power trigger for any module in the power domain or if any module in the power domain has asserted a power keeper.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Patent number: 10228752Abstract: A voltage scaling system can scale a supply voltage while preventing processor access of system components that are rendered unstable from the scaling. A processor receives an instruction to scale a system supply voltage to a target supply voltage. The processor executes the instruction and enters into a sleep mode. The processor can send, to a controller that saves power, an indication that the processor is in the sleep mode. When the processor is in the sleep mode, the processor becomes inactive and cannot access any components, e.g., Flash memory data, of the voltage scaling system. The controller can configure a voltage regulator to scale the system supply voltage to the target supply voltage. Once the target supply voltage is reached, the voltage regulator sends an interrupt to the processor, thereby waking up the processor from the sleep mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Romain Oddoart, Patrice Menard, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Publication number: 20190064916Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a power management unit for controlling power in a microcontroller. The unit causes a first voltage to be provided in an active mode. In a sleep mode, the unit determines whether a supply voltage is less than an upper reference voltage and, if so, cause a second voltage greater than the first voltage to be provided. If not, the unit inhibits operation of voltage regulation of power supplied to the microcontroller. After inhibition of operation of voltage regulation, the unit determines whether the supply voltage has fallen to a lower reference voltage and, if so, applies the second voltage to the microcontroller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Mikael Tual, Thibault Kervaon, Bernard Coloma
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Publication number: 20190049494Abstract: A microcontroller is operable to monitor power supply levels corresponding, respectively, to a first power supply (e.g., a main power supply) and a second power supply (e.g., a battery backup power supply). In one or more modes of operation, the same brownout detector in the microcontroller alternately monitors signals corresponding, respectively, to the first and second power supply levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Thibault Kervaon, Régis Vix
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Patent number: 10203743Abstract: A microcontroller system includes a higher power reference voltage circuit and a lower power reference voltage circuit configured to draw less power than the higher power reference voltage circuit when enabled. The system includes a power state logic controller configured to enable the lower power reference voltage circuit to provide a first regulated voltage during a power saving mode, and, on exiting the power saving mode, enable the higher power reference voltage circuit to provide a second regulated voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Patrice Menard, Olivier Husson, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau, Marc Laurent, Stefan Schabel, Ronan Barzic
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Patent number: 10126337Abstract: A microcontroller is operable to monitor power supply levels corresponding, respectively, to a first power supply (e.g., a main power supply) and a second power supply (e.g., a battery backup power supply). In one or more modes of operation, the same brownout detector in the microcontroller alternately monitors signals corresponding, respectively, to the first and second power supply levels.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Thibault Kervaon, Régis Vix
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Patent number: 9811111Abstract: A clock generation system for an integrated circuit (IC) chip (e.g., a microcontroller) is disclosed that allows digital blocks and other components in the IC chip to start and stop internal clocks dynamically on demand to reduce power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Yann Le Floch, Mohamed Aichouchi
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Publication number: 20170220093Abstract: A microcontroller system includes a higher power reference voltage circuit and a lower power reference voltage circuit configured to draw less power than the higher power reference voltage circuit when enabled. The system includes a power state logic controller configured to enable the lower power reference voltage circuit to provide a first regulated voltage during a power saving mode, and, on exiting the power saving mode, enable the higher power reference voltage circuit to provide a second regulated voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Patrice Menard, Olivier Husson, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau, Marc Laurent, Stefan Schabel, Ronan Barzic
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Publication number: 20170184642Abstract: A microcontroller is operable to monitor power supply levels corresponding, respectively, to a first power supply (e.g., a main power supply) and a second power supply (e.g., a battery backup power supply). In one or more modes of operation, the same brownout detector in the microcontroller alternately monitors signals corresponding, respectively, to the first and second power supply levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2015Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Thibault Kervaon, Régis Vix
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Patent number: 9658682Abstract: A microcontroller system includes a higher power reference voltage circuit and a lower power reference voltage circuit configured to draw less power than the higher power reference voltage circuit when enabled. The system includes a power state logic controller configured to enable the lower power reference voltage circuit to provide a first regulated voltage during a power saving mode, and, on exiting the power saving mode, enable the higher power reference voltage circuit to provide a second regulated voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Patrice Menard, Olivier Husson, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau, Marc Laurent, Stefan Schabel, Ronan Barzic
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Publication number: 20170083075Abstract: A microcontroller is operable in a low-power mode and includes one or more I/O connectors, as well as an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors. The I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode. The microcontroller also includes I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller. The I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Sebastien Jouin, Romain Oddoart, Patrice Menard, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Patent number: 9513691Abstract: A microcontroller is operable in a low-power mode and includes one or more I/O connectors, as well as an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors. The I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode. The microcontroller also includes I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller. The I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Romain Oddoart, Patrice Menard, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Patent number: 9507406Abstract: A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain in response to event from an event generating module without activating a processor of the microcontroller system.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Frode Milch Pedersen, Ronan Barzic, Patrice Menard, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau, Morten Werner Lund
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Publication number: 20160282898Abstract: A clock generation system for an integrated circuit (IC) chip (e.g., a microcontroller) is disclosed that allows digital blocks and other components in the IC chip to start and stop internal clocks dynamically on demand to reduce power consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Yann Le Floch, Mohamed Aichouchi
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Publication number: 20160274654Abstract: A voltage scaling system can scale a supply voltage while preventing processor access of system components that are rendered unstable from the scaling. A processor receives an instruction to scale a system supply voltage to a target supply voltage. The processor executes the instruction and enters into a sleep mode. The processor can send, to a controller that saves power, an indication that the processor is in the sleep mode. When the processor is in the sleep mode, the processor becomes inactive and cannot access any components, e.g., Flash memory data, of the voltage scaling system. The controller can configure a voltage regulator to scale the system supply voltage to the target supply voltage. Once the target supply voltage is reached, the voltage regulator sends an interrupt to the processor, thereby waking up the processor from the sleep mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Sebastien Jouin, Romain Oddoart, Patrice Menard, Mickael Le Dily, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Publication number: 20160274655Abstract: A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain based on whether the microcontroller system has asserted a power trigger for any module in the power domain or if any module in the power domain has asserted a power keeper.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Patent number: 9383805Abstract: A clock generation system for an integrated circuit (IC) chip (e.g., a microcontroller) is disclosed that allows digital blocks and other components in the IC chip to start and stop internal clocks dynamically on demand to reduce power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau, Yann Le Floch, Mohamed Aichouchi