Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2)
  • Patent number: 10739807
    Abstract: A digital circuit includes logic circuitry formed by logic gates. Each logic gate includes a p-channel MOSFET and an n-channel MOSFET. A body bias generator circuit applies an n-body bias voltage to the n-body bias nodes of the p-channel MOSFETs and applies a p-body bias voltage to the p-body bias nodes of the n-channel MOSFETs. The body bias generator circuit operates in: a first mode to apply a ground supply voltage to the n-body bias nodes of the logic gates as the n-body bias voltage and apply a positive supply voltage to the p-body bias nodes of the logic gates as the p-body bias voltage; and a second mode to apply the positive supply voltage to the n-body bias nodes of the logic gates as the n-body bias voltage and apply the ground supply voltage to the p-body bias nodes of the logic gates as the p-body bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Guenole Lallement, Fady Abouzeid
  • Patent number: 10741565
    Abstract: The application relates to an integrated circuit with SRAM memory and provided with several superimposed levels of transistors, the integrated circuit including SRAM cells provided with a first transistor and a second transistor belonging to an upper level of transistors and each having a double gate composed of an upper electrode and a lower electrode laid out on either side of a semiconductor layer, a lower gate electrode of the first transistor being connected to a lower gate electrode of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Francois Andrieu, Remy Berthelon, Bastien Giraud
  • Publication number: 20200252059
    Abstract: A first circuit includes a first chain of identical stages defining first and second delay lines. A second circuit includes a second chain of identical stages defining third and fourth delay lines. The stages of the second chain are identical to the stages of the first chain. A third circuit selectively couples one of the third delay line, the fourth delay line, or a first input of the third circuit to an input of the first circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Capucine LECAT-MATHIEU DE BOISSAC, Fady ABOUZEID, Gilles GASIOT, Philippe ROCHE, Victor MALHERBE
  • Publication number: 20200241201
    Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic integrated structure includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. The first substrate incorporates a first waveguide and the second semiconductor substrate incorporates a second waveguide. An intermediate region located between the two substrates is formed by a one dielectric layer. The second substrate further includes an optical coupler configured for receiving a light signal. The first substrate and dielectric layer form a reflective element located below and opposite the grating coupler in order to reflect at least one part of the light signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Frederic BOEUF, Charles BAUDOT
  • Publication number: 20200233032
    Abstract: A value representative of a dispersion of a propagation delay of assemblies of electronic components is determined. A component test structure includes stages of components and a logic circuit connected in a ring. Each stage includes two assemblies of similar components configured to conduct a signal. A test device is configured to obtain values of the component test structure and to perform operations on these values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Yann CARMINATI
  • Publication number: 20200236320
    Abstract: A pixel includes a photosensitive circuit, a sense node, a first transistor and a first capacitor. A first electrode of the first capacitor is connected to a control terminal of the first transistor. A second electrode of the first capacitor is to a node of application of a first control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Frederic LALANNE, Pierre MALINGE
  • Patent number: 10714501
    Abstract: An electronic integrated circuit chip includes a first transistor arranged inside and on top of a solid substrate, a second transistor arranged inside and on top of a layer of semiconductor material on insulator having a first thickness, and a third transistor arranged inside and on top of a layer of semiconductor material on insulator having a second thickness. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The solid substrate extends underneath the layers of semiconductor material and is insulated from those layers by the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Fagot, Philippe Boivin, Franck Arnaud
  • Patent number: 10707270
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a memory cell formed in a wafer comprising a semiconductor substrate covered with a first insulating layer, the insulating layer being covered with an active layer made of a semiconductor, the memory cell comprising a selection transistor having a control gate and a first conduction terminal connected to a variable-resistance element, the gate being formed on the active layer and having a lateral flank covered with a second insulating layer, the variable-resistance element being formed by a layer of variable-resistance material, deposited on a lateral flank of the active layer in a first trench formed through the active layer along the lateral flank of the gate, a trench conductor being formed in the first trench against a lateral flank of the layer of variable-resistance material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Boivin, Simon Jeannot
  • Patent number: 10705294
    Abstract: An optical waveguide termination device includes a waveguide and metal vias surrounding an end portion of the waveguide. The end portion of the waveguide has a transverse cross-sectional area that decreases towards its distal end. The metal vias are orthogonal to a same plane, with the same plane being orthogonal to the transverse cross-section. The metal vias absorb light originating from the end portion when a light signal propagates through the waveguide, and the metal vias and the end portion provide that an effective index of an optical mode to be propagated through the waveguide progressively varies in the end portion. Additional metal vias may be present along the waveguide upstream of the end portion, with the additional metal vias bordering the waveguide upstream of the end portion providing that the effective index of an optical mode to be propagated through the waveguide varies progressively toward the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Sylvain Guerber, Charles Baudot
  • Publication number: 20200211835
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a cavity that traverses a stack of layers including a bottom layer, a first portion of which locally presents an excess thickness, the method comprising a first step of non-selective etching and a second step of selective etching vertically in line with the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Delia RISTOIU, Pierre BAR, Francois LEVERD
  • Publication number: 20200203211
    Abstract: A substrate includes a first solid semiconductor region and a second semiconductor on insulator region. First and second cavities are simultaneously formed in the first and second regions, respectively, of the substrate using etching processes in two steps which form an upper portion and a lower portion of each cavity. The first and second cavities will each have a step at a level of an upper surface of the insulator of the second semiconductor on insulator region. A further oxidation of the first cavity produces a rounded or cut-off area for the upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal GOURAUD, Delia RISTOIU
  • Patent number: 10690947
    Abstract: In one aspect, a photonic device includes a first region having a first doping type, where the first region is divided into an upper portion made of silicon-germanium and a lower portion made of silicon. The device further includes a second region having a second doping type. The first region and the second region contact to form a vertical PN junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
    Inventors: Stephane Monfray, Frédéric Boeuf
  • Patent number: 10684326
    Abstract: A chain of flip-flops is tested by passing a reference signal through the chain. The reference signal is generated from a test pattern that is cyclically fed back at the cadence of a clock signal. The reference signal propagates through the chain of flip-flops at the cadence of the clock signal to output a test signal. A comparison is carried out at the cadence of the clock signal of the test signal and the reference signal, where the reference signal is delayed by a delay time taking into account the number of flip-flops in the chain and the length of the test pattern. An output signal is produced, at the cadence of the clock signal, as a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Sylvain Clerc, Gilles Gasiot
  • Patent number: 10684251
    Abstract: A dual gate ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) includes a first bias voltage node coupled to a back gate of the ISFET and a second bias voltage node coupled to a control gate of the ISFET. A bias voltage generator circuit is configured to generate a back gate voltage having a first magnitude and a first polarity for application to the first bias voltage node. The bias voltage generator circuit is further configured to generate a control gate voltage having a second magnitude and a second polarity for application to the second bias voltage node. The second polarity is opposite the first polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Getenet Tesega Ayele, Stephane Monfray
  • Patent number: 10686297
    Abstract: A germanium waveguide is formed from a P-type silicon substrate that is coated with a heavily-doped N-type germanium layer and a first N-type doped silicon layer. Trenches are etched into the silicon substrate to form a stack of a substrate strip, a germanium strip, and a first silicon strip. This structure is then coated with a silicon nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Mathias Prost, Moustafa El Kurdi, Philippe Boucaud, Frederic Boeuf
  • Publication number: 20200185563
    Abstract: A semiconductor layer is doped with a first doping type and has an upper surface. A first electrode insulated from the semiconductor layer extending through the semiconductor layer from the upper surface. A second electrode insulated from the semiconductor layer extends through the semiconductor layer from the upper surface. The first and second electrodes are biased by a voltage to produce an electrostatic field within the semiconductor layer causing the formation of a depletion region. The depletion region responds to absorption of a photon with an avalanche multiplication that produces charges that are collected at first and second oppositely doped regions within the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Francois ROY
  • Publication number: 20200185562
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate doped with a first doping type is positioned adjacent an insulated gate electrode that is biased by a gate voltage. A first region within the semiconductor substrate is doped with the first doping type and biased with a bias voltage. A second region within the semiconductor substrate is doped with a second doping type that is opposite the first doping type. Voltage application produces an electrostatic field within the semiconductor substrate causing the formation of a fully depleted region within the semiconductor substrate. The fully depleted region responds to absorption of a photon with an avalanche multiplication that produces charges that are collected at the first and second regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Francois ROY
  • Patent number: 10677684
    Abstract: An optical testing circuit on a wafer includes an optical input configured to receive an optical test signal and photodetectors configured to generate corresponding electrical signals in response to optical processing of the optical test signal through the optical testing circuit. The electrical signals are simultaneously sensed by a probe circuit and then processed. In one process, test data from the electrical signals is simultaneously generated at each step of a sweep in wavelength of the optical test signal and output in response to a step change. In another process, the electrical signals are sequentially selected and the sweep in wavelength of the optical test signal is performed for each selected electrical signal to generate the test data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Grosse, Patrick Le Maitre, Jean-Francois Carpentier
  • Publication number: 20200168646
    Abstract: An integrated imaging device includes a pixel having a trench that extends into the substrate. The trench is coated with an insulator and filled with a stack including a first polysilicon region and a second polysilicon region. The first and second polysilicon regions are separated from each other by a layer of insulating material. The first polysilicon region may form a gate electrode of a vertical transistor and the second polysilicon region may form an electrode of a capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Andrej SULER, Francois ROY
  • Patent number: 10656331
    Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic integrated structure includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. The first substrate incorporates a first waveguide and the second semiconductor substrate incorporates a second waveguide. An intermediate region located between the two substrates is formed by a one dielectric layer. The second substrate further includes an optical coupler configured for receiving a light signal. The first substrate and dielectric layer form a reflective element located below and opposite the grating coupler in order to reflect at least one part of the light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Frederic Boeuf, Charles Baudot