Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronic S.A.
  • SINGLE-CRYSTAL SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER WITH HETEROATOMIC MACRO-NETWORK
    Publication number: 20110108801
    Abstract: A single-crystal layer of a first semiconductor material including single-crystal nanostructures of a second semiconductor material, the nanostructures being distributed in a regular crystallographic network with a centered tetragonal prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Bensahel, Yves Campidelli, Olivier Kermarrec
  • ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING A SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT INTEGRATING AN ANTENNA
    Publication number: 20110109521
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a semiconductor component having a support substrate in the form of a wafer. On one side of this substrate integrated circuits including an RF circuit and an antenna connected to this RF circuit are formed. A metal layer is situated on the other side of the substrate, facing the antenna. At least on metal via is provided in a through-hole in the substrate, this via being connected at one end to the metal layer and at the other end to the RF circuit, at the same reference potential node as the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Romain Pilard, Daniel Gloria, Frederic Gianesello, Cedric Durand
  • Regeneration of a secret quantity from an intergrated circuit identifier
    Patent number: 7941672
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for generating a secret quantity based on an identifier of an integrated circuit, including combining a first digital word derived from a physical parameter network with a second word stored in a non-volatile memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Luc Wuidart, Michel Bardouillet, Laurent Plaza
  • Active semiconductor component with a reduced surface area
    Patent number: 7939887
    Abstract: A semiconductor component in which the active junctions extend perpendicularly to the surface of a semiconductor chip substantially across the entire thickness thereof. The contacts with the regions to be connected are provided by conductive fingers substantially crossing the entire region with which a contact is desired to be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Morand
  • Protection of the execution of a program
    Patent number: 7941639
    Abstract: A method for protecting the execution of a main program against possible traps, including, on occurrence of an instruction from the main program, starting a time counter of a given count according to next instructions of the main program, and executing, once the counter has reached its count, at least one instruction of a secondary program from which the result of the main program depends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Yannick Teglia, Pierre-Yvan Liardet, Alain Pomet
  • Method for characterizing a bit detection event
    Patent number: 7941738
    Abstract: A bit detection event within a read period is characterized by sub-dividing each read period into elementary time intervals. Certain ones of the elementary intervals are selected to for a window and a counting operation for a number of bits detected during the intervals within the window is performed. The elementary time intervals are defined by a difference between a frequency corresponding to the read period and a bit detection timing frequency. The counting result for the intervals in the window over several consecutive read periods is statistically processed. A reduction of an integrated electronic circuit test duration results from limiting the counting operations performed to the selected elementary time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Hervé Le-Gall, Paul Armagnat, Jean-Christophe Pont
  • Protection of a digital quantity contained in an integrated circuit comprising a JTAG interface
    Patent number: 7936875
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for protecting a digital quantity stored in a microcontroller including a JTAG interface, including the step of making the digital quantity dependent from a value stored in non-volatile fashion in the microcontroller and made inaccessible if signals are present at the input of the JTAG interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Sozzani
  • Secure identification with biometric data
    Patent number: 7937590
    Abstract: A secure method and device of identification by biometric data in which digital biometric data obtained by a sensor are combined with an identifier of an integrated circuit chip contained in a device common to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Wuidart
  • INTERFACE PLATE BETWEEN INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
    Publication number: 20110095437
    Abstract: An interface plate capable of being mounted between first and second surface-mounted electronic chips. The plate includes a plurality of first, second, and third through openings, the first openings being filled with a conductive material and being arranged to be in front of pads of the first and second chips during the assembly, the second openings being filled with a second material, the third openings being filled with a third material, the second and third materials forming two complementary components of a thermoelectric couple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Yacine Felk, Alexis Farcy
  • Cleaning of photolithography masks
    Patent number: 7927969
    Abstract: A method and an equipment for cleaning masks used for photolithography steps, including at least one step of thermal treatment under pumping at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure and at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Christophe Martin
  • RECEIVE UNIT FOR RECEPTION OF MULTIPLE SATELLITE SIGNALS
    Publication number: 20110085626
    Abstract: A satellite receive unit for receiving a plurality of satellite signals from a plurality of satellites, the satellite receive unit including: a plurality of low noise blocks each for receiving one or more of the satellite signals and providing a received signal, at least one of the low noise blocks receiving a plurality of the satellite signals; and a satellite signal processing unit including a plurality of branches each arranged to receive a corresponding one of the received signals from the plurality of low noise blocks, each branch having a multiplier arranged to weight the received signal by multiplying by a corresponding coefficient; and an adder arranged to add the weighted signals of each branch to generate an output satellite signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Busson
  • Method of transmitting data packets between two slave units and a master unit comprising two processors
    Patent number: 7924791
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data packets within a local network including a master unit and at least two slave units is adapted to a configuration according to which the master unit comprises two processors. The first processor executes an application and the second processor controls a transmission of data between the master unit and any one of the slave units. According to the method, data packets sent by a first slave unit to a second slave unit pass through the second processor and are forwarded directly in accordance with a readdressing directive obtained from addressing elements which are interassociated and communicated by the first processor to the second processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Anca-Marina Ianos
  • Image adapter with tilewise image processing, and method using such an adapter
    Patent number: 7925119
    Abstract: An image adapter transforms an input image into an output image by successively processing tiles and by changing numbers of columns and of rows of image points. The image adapter includes queue memories connected in series so as to receive values associated with the points of a tile of the input image. A module for calculating a weighted average possesses inputs connected respectively to an output of one of the memories. The module produces values sampled in a direction parallel to the columns and corresponding to the values associated with points of the input image. A sampling rate converter, connected to the output of the module, produces values associated with the points of the output image according to a sampling rate determined for a direction parallel to the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier, Yan Meroth
  • Method of producing a porous dielectric element and corresponding dielectric element
    Patent number: 7923820
    Abstract: A porous dielectric element is produced by forming a first dielectric and a second dielectric. The second dielectric is dispersed in the first dielectric. The second dielectric is then removed from the second dielectric by using a chemical dissolution. The removal of the second dielectric from the first dielectric leaves pores in the first dielectric. The pores, which are filled with air, improve the overall dielectric constant of the resulting dielectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Simon Jeannot, Laurent Favennec
  • Forming of the last metallization level of an integrated circuit
    Patent number: 7919864
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including one or several metallization levels, metal conductive strips and metal contact pads being formed on the last metallization level, the last level being covered with a passivation layer in which are formed openings above the contact pads. The thickness of the pads, at least at the level of their portions not covered by the passivation layer, is smaller than the thickness of said conductive strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Jacky Seiller, Jean-François Revel, Claude Douce
  • Frequency tuning circuit for lattice filter
    Patent number: 7920036
    Abstract: A lattice tunable filtering circuit includes a first input and a second input, and a first output and a second output. The circuit includes two series branches and two parallel branches. The first and second series branches include a Tunable Resonator Component (TRC) which presents a first series resonance frequency whereas the third and fourth parallel branches present a second series resonance frequency which has a value being lower than that of the first series resonance frequency. The first and second series resonance frequencies are tunable by one analog control quantity. The filtering circuit further includes a feedback control loop for the control of the analog quantity, which feedback is based on a criterion of equality between the modulus of impedances Zs and Zp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Andreia Cathelin, Stephane Razafimandimby, Andreas Kaiser
  • BACK-SIDE IMAGE SENSOR
    Publication number: 20110073976
    Abstract: A color back-side illuminated image sensor including, on the side of the thin semiconductor layer opposite to the illuminated surface, periodic thickness unevennesses forming an optic network having characteristics which make it capable of reflecting a given wavelength chosen within the range of the wavelengths of an illuminating incident beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Jérôme Vaillant
  • Crosstalk suppression in wireless testing of semiconductor devices
    Patent number: 7915908
    Abstract: An integrated circuit integrated on a semiconductor material die and adapted to be at least partly tested wirelessly, wherein circuitry for setting a selected radio communication frequencies to be used for the wireless test of the integrated circuit are integrated on the semiconductor material die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Pagani
  • IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20110068381
    Abstract: A pixel circuit of an image sensor includes a sense node for storing a charge transferred from one or more photodiodes, a source follower transistor having its gate coupled to the sense node and its source node coupled to an output line of the pixel circuit via a read transistor, wherein a body contact of the source follower transistor is connected to the output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.A., STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Frédéric Barbier, François Roy
  • Automatic adaptation of the supply voltage of an electroluminescent display according to the desired luminance
    Patent number: 7911424
    Abstract: A device for regulating the bias voltage of circuits for controlling columns of a matrix display capable of selecting columns to turn on the light-emitting diodes of the selected columns and of a selected line, the device including a first measurement circuit providing a first measurement signal representative of the highest voltage among the voltages of the selected columns; a second measurement circuit providing a second measurement signal representative of the lowest voltage among the voltages of the selected columns; and an adjustment circuit receiving the first and second measurement signals and capable of decreasing the bias voltage if the first measurement signal is smaller than a first comparison signal and of increasing the bias voltage if the second measurement signal is greater than a second comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Danika Chaussy, Céline Mas