Abstract: An electro-optical phase shifter to be located in an optical waveguide may include a rib of a semiconductor material extending along a length of the optical waveguide and a control structure configured to modify a concentration of carriers in the rib according to a control voltage present between first and second control terminals of the phase shifter. The control structure may include a conductive layer covering a portion of the rib and electrically connected to a first of the control terminals. An insulating layer may be configured to electrically isolate the conductive layer from the rib.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 22, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 9, 2016
Assignees:
STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS SA
Abstract: An antenna circuit includes a first antenna tuned to a first fundamental frequency and a second antenna tuned to a second fundamental frequency different from the first fundamental frequency. A first filter has a first terminal connected to the first antenna and attenuates the frequency components outside of a band defined by the first fundamental frequency or its harmonics. A second filter has a first terminal coupled to the second antenna and attenuates the frequency components outside of a band defined by the second fundamental frequency or its harmonics. A passive recombination element couples the second terminals of the two filters to a common terminal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 21, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 28, 2016
Assignees:
STMICROELECTRONICS SA, STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
Abstract: A method for forming a transistor includes defining agate structure on a top surface of a first semiconductor layer of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The gate structure includes an insulating cover. A second semiconductor layer is then conformally deposited. The deposited second semiconductor layer includes an epitaxial portion on surfaces of the first semiconductor layer and an amorphous portion on surfaces of the insulating cover. The amorphous portion is then removed using a selective etch. The remaining epitaxial portion forms faceted raised source-drain structures on either side of the transistor gate structure. A slope of the sloped surface for the facet is dependent on the process parameters used during the conformal deposition.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 19, 2014
Publication date:
June 23, 2016
Applicants:
STMICROELECTRONICS SA, STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
Abstract: A power conversion device includes an enclosure containing one or more drops of a liquid. A capacitive electret transducer is coupled to the enclosure. In response to applied heat at a heating surface, the liquid vaporizes and then condenses on a flexible membrane of the capacitive electret transducer. The flexible membrane is displaced in response to the vaporization-condensation and the capacitive electret transducer generates an output current.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 18, 2014
Publication date:
June 16, 2016
Applicants:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SA, Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
Inventors:
Stephane Monfray, Christophe Maitre, Olga Kokshagina, Thomas Skotnicki, Ulrich Soupremanien
Abstract: An assembly is made of an integrated circuit chip and a plate. At least one channel is arranged between the chip and the plate. The channel is delimited by metal sidewalls at least partially extending from one surface of the chip to an opposite surface of the plate. The assembly is encapsulated in a body that includes an opening extending to reach the channel. The plate may be one of an interposer, an integrated circuit chip, a support of surface-mount type, or a metal plate.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 17, 2015
Publication date:
June 16, 2016
Applicants:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, SOCPRA Sciences et Génie S.E.C.
Inventors:
Louis-Michel Collin, Luc Guy Frechette, Sandrine Lhostis
Abstract: An integrated circuit may include at least one MOS transistor having a sigmoid response. The at least one MOS transistor may include a substrate, a source region, a drain region, a gate region, and insulating spacer regions on either side of the gate region. The substrate may include a first region situated under the gate region between the insulating spacer regions. At least one of the source and drain regions may be separated from the first region of the substrate by a second region of the substrate situated under an insulating spacer region, which may be of a same type of conductivity as the first region of the substrate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2016
Assignees:
STMICROELECTRONICS SA, STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
Inventors:
Philippe Galy, Patrice Dehan, Boris Heitz, Jean Jimenez
Abstract: A thermo-electric generator includes a semiconductor membrane with a phononic structure containing at least one P-N junction. The membrane is suspended between a first support designed to be coupled to a cold thermal source and a second support designed to be coupled to a hot thermal source. The structure for suspending the membrane has an architecture allowing the heat flux to be redistributed within the plane of the membrane.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 11, 2015
Publication date:
June 2, 2016
Applicant:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
Inventors:
Emmanuel Dubois, Jean-Francois Robillard, Stephane Monfray, Thomas Skotnicki
Abstract: A method for making a silicon layer extending on an insulation layer, including the steps of forming a silicon-germanium layer on at least a portion of a silicon wafer; transforming portions of the silicon-germanium layer into porous silicon pads; growing a monocrystalline silicon layer on the silicon-germanium layer and on the porous silicon pads; removing the silicon-germanium layer; oxidizing the porous silicon pads; and depositing an insulation material on the silicon layer.
Abstract: A multi-mode interference device may include a body having an optical axis and configured to generate a stationary optical interference pattern from an incoming optical wave. The body may include ribs being parallel to the optical axis and being spaced apart to define a pitch and cause an optical coupling between the ribs.
Abstract: A substrate includes an active region oriented along a crystallographic face (100) and limited by an insulating region. A MOS transistor includes a channel oriented longitudinally along a crystallographic direction of the <110> type. A basic pattern made of metal and formed in the shape of a T is electrically inactive and situated over an area of the insulating region adjacent a transverse end of the channel. A horizontal branch of the T-shaped basic pattern is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the channel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 6, 2015
Date of Patent:
May 31, 2016
Assignees:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SA
Inventors:
Vincent Fiori, Sebastien Gallois-Garreignot, Denis Rideau, Clement Tavernier
Abstract: Fabrication of a microelectronic device on a semiconductor on insulator type substrate, the device being provided with a transistor of a given type, the channel structure of which is formed from semiconducting bar(s), a dielectric area different from the insulating layer of the substrate being provided to replace the insulating layer, facing the transistor channel structure, specifically for this given type of transistor.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 29, 2015
Publication date:
May 12, 2016
Applicants:
COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
Abstract: A process for assembling a first wafer and a second wafer each bevelled on their peripheries includes excavating the bevelled peripheral part of at least one first side of the first wafer to create a deposit bordering the region excavated in the material of the first wafer. The first side and a second side of the second wafer are then bonded together.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 3, 2016
Assignees:
STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure concerns a method of forming a stressed semiconductor layer involving: forming, in a surface of a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor layer in contact with an insulator layer, at least two first trenches in a first direction; introducing, via the at least two first trenches, a stress in the semiconductor layer and temporally decreasing, by annealing, the viscosity of the insulator layer; and extending the depth of the at least two first trenches to form first isolation trenches in the first direction delimiting a first dimension of at least one transistor to be formed in the semiconductor structure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 28, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignees:
STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Olivier Nier, Denis Rideau, Pierre Morin, Emmanuel Josse
Abstract: A back-illuminated integrated imaging device is formed from a semiconductor substrate including a zone of pixels bounded by capacitive deep trench isolations. A peripheral zone is located outside the zone of pixels. A continuous electrically conductive layer forms, in the zone of pixels, an electrode in a trench for each capacitive deep trench isolation, and forms, in the peripheral zone, a redistribution layer for electrically coupling the electrode to a biasing contact pad. The electrode is located in the trench between a trench dielectric and at least one material for filling the trench.
Abstract: The transverse mechanical stress within the active region of a MOS transistor is relaxed by forming an insulating incursion, such as an insulated trench, within the active region of the MOS transistor. The insulated incursion is provided at least in a channel region of the MOS transistor so as to separate the channel region into two parts. The insulated incursion is configured to extend in a direction of a length of the MOS transistor. The insulated incursion may further extend into one or more of a source region or drain region located adjacent the channel region of the MOS transistor.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 11, 2015
Publication date:
April 7, 2016
Applicants:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SA, Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
Abstract: A device for converting thermal energy into electric energy intended to be used in combination with a hot source including: a capacitor of variable capacitance, including two electrodes separated by an electrically-insulating material, one of these electrodes being deformable and being associated with an element forming a bimetallic strip, said bimetallic strip including at least two layers of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients, said bimetallic strip being free to deform when it is submitted to the heat of said hot source; a second capacitor having a first electrode connected to a first electrode of said capacitor of variable capacitance; a harvesting circuit electrically connected between the second electrode of the capacitor of variable capacitance and the second electrode of the second capacitor, said harvesting circuit being capable of conducting the current flowing between said second electrodes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
Inventors:
Thomas Skotnicki, Onoriu Puscasu, Stéphane Monfray
Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention concerns a method of forming a semiconductor layer having uniaxial stress including: forming, in a surface of a semiconductor structure having a stressed semiconductor layer and an insulator layer, at least two first trenches in a first direction delimiting a first dimension of at least one first transistor to be formed in the semiconductor structure; performing a first anneal to decrease the viscosity of the insulating layer; and forming, in the surface after the first anneal, at least two second trenches in a second direction delimiting a second dimension of the at least one transistor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 28, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignees:
STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
Inventors:
Denis Rideau, Emmanuel Josse, Olivier Nier
Abstract: A SPAD-type photodiode has a semiconductor substrate with a light-receiving surface. A lattice formed of interlaced strips made of a first material covers the light receiving surface. The lattice includes lattice openings with lateral walls covered by a spacer made of a second material. Then first and second materials have different optical indices, and further each optical index is less than or equal to the substrate optical index. A pitch of the lattice is of the order of a magnitude of an operating wavelength of the photodiode. The first and second materials are transparent at that operating wavelength. The lattice is made of a conductive material electrically coupled to an electrical connection node (for example, a bias voltage node).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 21, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2016
Assignees:
STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS; STMicroelectronics SA, Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
Inventors:
Michel Marty, Laurent Frey, Sebastien Jouan, Salim Boutami
Abstract: An electronic circuit for providing a voltage or a current linearly dependent on temperature within a temperature range, including at least two identical MOS transistors conducting the same drain current, each transistor having a fully depleted channel which is separated from a doped semiconductor region by an insulating layer, the conductive types of the dopants of said doped semiconductor regions being different, said voltage or said current being proportional to the difference between the gate-source/drain voltages of the two transistors.
Abstract: An electronic chip including a semiconductor substrate (1) covered with an insulating layer (4) including metal interconnection levels (3) and interconnection pillars (10) connected to said metal interconnection levels (3), said pillars (110) forming regions (111) protruding from the upper surface of said insulating layer (4) and capable of forming an electric contact, wherein said pillars (110) have a built-in portion (115) in a housing formed across the thickness of at least said insulating layer (4).