Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronic S.r.l.
  • Publication number: 20230123235
    Abstract: An LED lighting system includes switching circuity adjustably driving a string of LEDs and being controlled by a reference current and an enable signal. A controller generates the reference current and enable signal based upon a PWM signal such that the switching circuitry: sources a first LED current to the string of LEDs that is proportional to a duty cycle of the PWM signal when the duty cycle is greater than a threshold duty cycle to thereby perform analog dimming; and sources a second LED current to the string of LEDs that has a duty cycle proportional to the duty cycle of the PWM signal when the duty cycle of the PWM signal is less than the threshold duty cycle, such that an average LED current delivered to the string of LEDs is proportional to the duty cycle of the PWM signal to thereby perform digital dimming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni GRITTI, Claudio ADRAGNA
  • Patent number: 11631376
    Abstract: A non-emissive display includes a backlight controller sending a pulse during each sub-frame of a plurality of frames to row and column drivers that drive backlight zones. The row drivers count each pulse to keep a pulse count total, and reset the pulse count total when it is equal to a first number indicating how many row drivers are present. Each row driver activates its channels and waits for a next pulse if the pulse count total is not equal to the first number and if the pulse count total is equal to a second number indicating in which sub-frame that first driver is to be activated. Each row driver waits for a next pulse if the pulse count total is not equal to the first number and the second number. Each column driver activates its channel in response to receipt of each pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gaetano L'Episcopo, Giovanni Conti, Carmelo Occhipinti, Mario Antonio Aleo
  • Patent number: 11632029
    Abstract: An energy harvester includes an elongated tubular casing extending around a longitudinal axis between opposed first and second ends. A body is arranged in the casing. A helical electrical winding is wound around the longitudinal axis. The body is arranged to move along the longitudinal axis with alternate motion away from the first end towards the second end and away from the second end towards the first end. As a result of this alternate motion, an electromotive force is produced in the at least one helical electrical winding. Furthermore, at least one of the first and second ends includes a piezoelectric transducer that is configured to co-operate in a kinetic energy transfer relationship with the at least one body to generate an electric voltage as a result of the at least one body reaching, in the alternate motion, an end-of-travel position towards the piezoelectric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto La Rosa, Salvatore Baglio, Carlo Trigona
  • Publication number: 20230114535
    Abstract: A semiconductor die and an electrically conductive ribbon are arranged on a substrate. The electrically conductive ribbon includes a roughened surface. An insulating encapsulation is molded onto the semiconductor die and the electrically conductive ribbon. The roughened surface of the electrically conductive ribbon provides a roughened coupling interface to the insulating encapsulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Matteo DE SANTA, Mauro MAZZOLA
  • Publication number: 20230110259
    Abstract: A first electronic component, such as a sensor having opposed first and second surfaces and a first thickness, is arranged on a support member with the second surface facing towards the support member. A second electronic component, such as an integrated circuit mounted on a substrate and having a second thickness less than the first thickness, is arranged on the support member with a substrate surface opposed the second electronic component facing towards the support member. A package molding material is molded onto the support member to encapsulate the second electronic component while leaving exposed the first surface of the first electronic component. The support member is then removed to expose the second surface of the first electronic component and the substrate surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (MALTA) Ltd, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Kevin FORMOSA, Marco DEL SARTO
  • Patent number: 11626799
    Abstract: A converter circuit includes first and second electronic switches coupled at an intermediate node, with an inductor coupled between the intermediate node and an output node. Switching drive control circuitry causes the first and the second electronic switch to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state. The drive control circuitry includes a first feedback signal path to control switching of the first and the second electronic switch as a function of the difference between a feedback signal indicative of the signal at the output node and a reference value. A second feedback signal path includes a low-pass filter coupled to the output node and configured to provide a low-pass filtered feedback signal resulting from low-pass filtering of the output signal. The second feedback signal path compensates the feedback signal as a function of the difference between the low-pass filtered feedback signal and a respective reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Bertolini, Alberto Cattani, Stefano Ramorini, Alessandro Gasparini
  • Patent number: 11626880
    Abstract: A circuit receives an input signal having a first level and a second level. A logic circuit includes a finite state machine circuit, an edge detector circuit, and a timer circuit. The finite state machine circuit is configured to set a mode of operation of the circuit. The edge detector circuit is configured to detect a transition between the first and second level. The timer circuit is configured to determine whether the first or second level is maintained over an interval, which starts from a transition detected by the edge detector circuit. The finite state machine circuit is configured to change the mode of operation based on the timer circuit determining that the first or second level has been maintained over the interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Liliana Arcidiacono, Alessandro Nicolosi, Valeria Bottarel
  • Patent number: 11620805
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic module includes providing a base substrate having a first surface, providing a first supporting element having a first portion with an inclined top surface, and affixing the first supporting element to the first surface such that the inclined top surface is inclined with respect to the base substrate. A first reflector is coupled to the inclined top surface such that a rear surface of the first reflector is in physical contact with the inclined top surface of the first portion of the first supporting element, and a spacer structure is configured to form an interface for mounting lateral walls to the base substrate. A cap is positioned over and supported by the lateral walls to thereby define a chamber. The emitter, as well as a detector, are coupled to the first surface of the base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Carminati, Fabio Bottinelli
  • Patent number: 11621670
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a total of N (N?2) class-D oscillator circuits stacked together between a supply voltage node and a reference voltage node. The output ports of adjacent class-D oscillator circuits in the disclosed oscillator circuit are coupled together by capacitors to ensure frequency and phase synchronization for the frequency signals generated by the class-D oscillator circuits. Compared with a reference oscillator circuit formed of a single class-D oscillator circuit, the oscillation amplitude of each of the class-D oscillator circuits in the disclosed oscillator circuit is 1/N of that of the reference oscillator circuit, and the current consumption of the disclosed oscillator circuit is 1/N of that of the reference oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Université degli studi di Catania
    Inventors: Simone Spataro, Salvatore Coffa, Egidio Ragonese
  • Patent number: 11621645
    Abstract: A driving circuit including a reference voltage generator to generate a reference voltage based on an operating frequency of a complementary circuit; a comparator including a first input configured to receive a drain-to-source voltage of a field effect transistor; and a second input to receive the reference voltage; and a signal generator to deliver a driving signal to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor to drive the field effect transistor to an ON state after the drain-to-source voltage of the first low side field effect transistor becomes less than the reference voltage and to an OFF state after the drain-to-source voltage of the field effect transistor becomes greater than the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics International N.V., STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Akshat Jain, Ivan Clemente Massimiani
  • Patent number: 11620077
    Abstract: An embodiment method of accessing a memory for reading and/or writing data comprises generating a memory transaction request comprising a burst of memory access requests towards a set of memory locations in the memory, the memory locations having respective memory addresses. The method further comprises transmitting via an interconnect bus to a memory controller circuit coupled to the memory a first signal conveying the memory transaction request and a second signal conveying information for mapping the burst of memory access requests onto respective memory addresses of the memory locations in the memory. The method further comprises computing, as a function of the information conveyed by the second signal, respective memory addresses of the memory locations, and accessing the memory locations to read data from the memory locations and/or to write data into the memory locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giampiero Borgonovo, Lorenzo Re Fiorentin
  • Publication number: 20230096480
    Abstract: A substrate of a lead frame is made of a first material. The substrate is covered by a barrier film made of a second material, different from the first material. The barrier film is then covered by a further film made of the first material. A first portion of the lead frame is encapsulated within an encapsulating body in a way which leaves a second portion of lead frame extending out from and not being covered by the encapsulating body. A first portion of the further film which is not covered by the encapsulating body is then stripped away to expose the barrier film at the second portion of the lead frame. A second portion of the further film is left remaining encapsulated by the encapsulating body. The exposed barrier film at the second portion of the lead frame is then covered with a tin or tin-based layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Paolo CREMA
  • Patent number: 11613918
    Abstract: A method and device for unlatching a door from a frame, using a keyless door latch system, is provided. In one embodiment, a secondary unlocking component receives a signal and derives power from the signal to provide a power source for the keyless door latch system. A microcontroller generates a control signal and an actuator, in response to receiving the control signal, actuates the secondary unlocking component, which allows an energy source, from an exterior of the door, to be transferred to the keyless door latch system for the unlatching of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Williamson Sy, Emiliano Mario Piccinelli, Keith Walters
  • Patent number: 11615820
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a memory cell is provided. A non-volatile memory storage device includes an array of memory cells of differential or single-ended type. In an embodiment, a regulator is coupled to a sense amplifier. The regulator is configured to generate a voltage to gate terminals of one or two transistors of the sense amplifier. In the differential type, the voltage is generated such that the first bias current and the second bias current have a current value equal to the sum of a maximum current flowing in a memory cell being in a RESET state and a fixed current. In the single-ended type, the regulated voltage is generated such that the first bias current and the second bias current have a current value equal to the sum of a fixed current and the reference current generated by the reference current source across temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Laura Capecchi, Marcella Carissimi, Marco Pasotti, Vikas Rana, Vivek Tyagi
  • Patent number: 11614634
    Abstract: A MEMS actuator includes a monolithic body of semiconductor material, with a supporting portion of semiconductor material, orientable with respect to a first and second rotation axes, transverse to each other. A first frame of semiconductor material is coupled to the supporting portion through first deformable elements configured to control a rotation of the supporting portion about the first rotation axis. A second frame of semiconductor material is coupled to the first frame by second deformable elements, which are coupled between the first and the second frames and configured to control a rotation of the supporting portion about the second rotation axis. The first and second deformable elements carry respective piezoelectric actuation elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Dario Paci
  • Publication number: 20230090848
    Abstract: A lead frame for an integrated electronic device includes a die pad made of a first metallic material. A top coating layer formed by a second metallic material is arranged on a top surface of the die pad. The second metallic material has an oxidation rate lower than the first metallic material. The top coating layer leaves exposed a number of corner portions of the top surface of the die pad. A subsequent heating operation, for example occurring in connection with wirebonding, causes an oxidized layer to form on the corner portions of the top surface of the die pad at a position in contact with the top coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fulvio Vittorio FONTANA
  • Publication number: 20230090636
    Abstract: A scanning laser projector includes an optical module and projection engine. The optical module includes a laser generator outputting a laser beam, and a movable mirror scanning the laser beam across an exit window defined through the housing in a scanning pattern wider than the exit window such that the laser beam is directed through the exit window in a projection pattern that is smaller than and within the scanning pattern. A first light detector is positioned about a periphery of the exit window such that as the movable mirror scans the laser beam in the scan pattern, at a point in the scan pattern where the laser beam is scanned across an interior of the housing and not through the exit window, the laser beam impinges upon the first light detector. The projection engine adjusts driving of the movable mirror based upon output from the first light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics LTD, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alex DOMNITS, Elan ROTH, Davide TERZI, Luca MOLINARI, Marco BOSCHI
  • Publication number: 20230092956
    Abstract: A scanning laser projector includes an optical module with a housing defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls extending between the top surface and bottom surface to define an interior compartment within the housing. A given one of the sidewalls has an exit window defined therein. A first light detector is positioned at an interior surface of the given one of the sidewalls about a periphery of the exit window. A second light detector positioned at the interior surface of the given one of the sidewalls about the periphery of the exit window and on a different side thereof than the first light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics LTD, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alex DOMNITS, Elan ROTH, Davide TERZI, Luca MOLINARI, Marco BOSCHI
  • Publication number: 20230090664
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method including executing, by an electronic device, a first firmware module stored in a volatile memory of the electronic device, the execution of the first firmware module causing an updated firmware key to be stored in a non-volatile memory of the electronic device, and uploading a second firmware module to the electronic device. The method also includes decrypting the second firmware module by a cryptographic processor of the electronic device based on the updated firmware key, and installing the decrypted second firmware module in the volatile memory of the electronic device at least partially overwriting the first firmware module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonino MONDELLO, Michele Alessandro CARRANO, Riccardo CONDORELLI
  • Patent number: 11609851
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method for determining, for a memory allocation, placements in a memory area of data blocks generated by a neural network, comprises a development of an initial sequence of placements of blocks, each placement being selected from several possible placements, the initial sequence being defined as a candidate sequence, a development of at least one modified sequence of placements from a replacement of a given placement of the initial sequence by a memorized unselected placement, and, if the planned size of the memory area obtained by this modified sequence is less than that of the memory area of the candidate sequence, then this modified sequence becomes the candidate sequence, the placements of the blocks for the allocation being those of the placement sequence defined as a candidate sequence once each modified sequence has been developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Folliot, Emanuele Plebani, Mirko Falchetto