Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics Ltd.
  • Patent number: 11943008
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for aligning a smartphone providing NFC wireless power for charging a battery of a device, the method comprising: emitting, with a first NFC antenna of the smartphone, an NFC field for wirelessly charging the battery of the device comprising a second NFC antenna; obtaining, with the smartphone, a measured value of a signal representative of the NFC field strength between the smartphone and the device; determining, by the smartphone, a range of values of a plurality of ranges of values the measured value belongs; and emitting, by the smartphone, at least one notification signal to a user with a frequency determined by the determined range of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Chia Hao Chen, Nicolas Cordier
  • Patent number: 11936288
    Abstract: An AC capacitor is coupled to a totem-pole type PFC circuit. In response to detection of a power input disconnection, the PFC circuit is controlled to discharge the AC capacitor. The PFC circuit includes a resistor and a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET coupled in series between DC output nodes with a common node coupled to the AC capacitor. When the disconnection event is detected, one of the first and second MOSFETs is turned on to discharge the AC capacitor with a current flowing through the resistor and the turned on MOSFET. Furthermore, a thyristor may be simultaneously turned on, with the discharge current flowing through a series coupling of the MOSFET, resistor and thyristor. Disconnection is detected by detecting a zero-crossing failure of an AC power input voltage or lack of input voltage decrease or input current increase in response to MOSFET turn on for a DC input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11887958
    Abstract: A die including a first contact with a first shape (e.g., ring-shaped) and a second contact with a second shape (e.g., cylindrical shaped) different from the first shape. The first contact has an opening that extends through a central region of a surface of the first contact. A first solder portion is coupled to the surface of the first contact and the first solder portion has the first shape. A second solder portion is coupled to a surface of the second contact and the second solder portion has the second shape. The first solder portion and the second solder portion both have respective points furthest away from a substrate of the die. These respective points of the first solder portion and the second solder portion are co-planar with each other such that a standoff height of the die remains consistent when coupled to a PCB or an electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventor: Cheng-Yang Su
  • Publication number: 20230412084
    Abstract: The present description concerns a circuit for converting from a first alternating voltage to a second voltage. The circuit includes: a first thyristor; a first control circuit of the first thyristor; a power factor correction circuit comprising a coil; and a first circuit configured to convert a third voltage into a fourth DC voltage. The third voltage corresponds to a difference between a potential at a first node connected to an output node of the coil and a reference potential. The fourth DC voltage is configured to supply the first control circuit of the first thyristor, and is referenced with respect to the same reference potential as the third voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent GONTHIER
  • Patent number: 11774834
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics LTD, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alex Domnits, Elan Roth, Davide Terzi, Luca Molinari, Marco Boschi
  • Patent number: 11775117
    Abstract: A method of operating a display includes performing a non-synchronized touch scan pattern on a display with a controller coupled to the display. The non-synchronized touch scan pattern schedules touch scans independent of a refresh rate of the display. Upon the controller detecting a first synchronization pulse from a display controller coupled to the controller and the display, a first pulse-checking timer is started. Upon detecting a second synchronization pulse from the display controller and before the first pulse-checking timer expires, a first display refresh rate for the display is obtained from an interval between the first synchronization pulse and the second synchronization pulse. A synchronized touch scan pattern is performed with the controller, and is scheduled to avoid touch scans coinciding with refreshes of the display performed at the first display refresh rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Beijing) R&D Co., Ltd., STMicroelectronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Pengcheng Wen, Yuan Yun Wang
  • Publication number: 20230307302
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a silicon substrate with an active surface and an inactive surface. A semiconductor device, such as an image, light, or optical sensor, is formed in the active surface and disposed on the substrate. A glass plate is coupled to the substrate with adhesive. The glass plate includes a sensor area that corresponds to the area of the semiconductor device and holes through the glass plate that are generally positioned around the sensor area of the glass plate. During formation of the package, the holes through the glass plate allow gas released by the adhesive to escape the package and prevent formation of a gas bubble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD
    Inventors: David GANI, Hui-Tzu Wang
  • Patent number: 11758098
    Abstract: A control system includes a mirror controller generating horizontal and vertical mirror synchronization signals for a mirror based upon a mirror clock signal. Laser modulation circuitry generates horizontal and vertical laser synchronization signals as a function of first and second laser clock signals and generates control signals for a laser that emits a laser beam that impinges on the mirror. First synchronization circuitry receives the horizontal mirror synchronization signal and the horizontal laser synchronization signal, and modifies generation of the first laser clock signal to achieve alignment between the horizontal mirror synchronization signal and horizontal laser synchronization signal. Second synchronization circuitry receives the vertical mirror synchronization signal and the vertical laser synchronization signal, and modifies generation of the second laser clock signal to achieve alignment between the vertical mirror synchronization signal and vertical laser synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Elik Haran
  • Patent number: 11749627
    Abstract: A fan-out wafer level package includes a semiconductor die with a redistribution layer on a sidewall of the semiconductor die. A redistribution layer positioned over the die includes an extended portion that extends along the sidewall. The semiconductor die is encapsulated in a molding compound layer. The molding compound layer is positioned between the extended portion of the redistribution layer and the sidewall of the semiconductor die. Solder contacts, for electrically connecting the semiconductor device to an electronic circuit board, are positioned on the redistribution layer. The solder contacts and the sidewall of the redistribution layer can provide electrical contact on two different locations. Accordingly, the package can be used to improve interconnectivity by providing vertical and horizontal connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventors: Endruw Jahja, Cheng-Yang Su
  • Patent number: 11742437
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a package, such as a wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP), with a die coupled to a central portion of a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate includes a central portion having and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion. The package includes a conductive layer coupled to a contact of the die within the package that extends from the transparent substrate to an active surface of the package. The active surface is utilized to mount the package within an electronic device or to a printed circuit board (PCB) accordingly. The package includes a first insulating layer separating the die from the conductive layer, and a second insulating layer on the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD
    Inventors: David Gani, Yiying Kuo
  • Patent number: 11720205
    Abstract: A method for reporting touch on a touchscreen includes detecting first touch data from the touchscreen corresponding to a first touch on the touchscreen; determining coordinates of the first touch from the first touch data; reporting the coordinates of the first touch at a first time; determining predicted coordinates of a second touch based on a linear regression of historical touch data; and reporting the predicted coordinates of the second touch at a second time, where the second time occurs after the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD., STMICROELECTRONICS (BEIJING) R&D CO. LTD
    Inventors: Yuan Yun Wang, Pengcheng Wen, Yingying Sun, Yue Ding
  • Patent number: 11711013
    Abstract: A circuit includes two thyristors coupled in anti-series. An AC capacitor has first and second electrodes respectively coupled to two different electrodes of the two thyristors. The first and second electrodes are coupled to receive an AC voltage. A control circuit detects discontinuance of application of the AC voltage to the AC capacitor and in response thereto simultaneously applies same gate currents to the two thyristors. A current path through the two thyristors (one passing current in forward mode and the other in reverse mode) discharges a residual voltage stored on the AC capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11706392
    Abstract: A light projection system includes a MEMS mirror operating on a mirror drive signal to generate a mirror sense signal resulting from operation of the MEMS mirror based on the mirror drive signal. A mirror driver generates the mirror drive signal from a drive control signal. A controller receives the mirror sense signal from the MEMS mirror, obtains a first sample of the mirror sense signal at a first phase thereof, obtains a second sample of the mirror sense signal at a second phase thereof, wherein the first and second phases are separated by a half period of the mirror drive signal, with the second phase occurring after the first phase, and generates the drive control signal based on a difference between the first and second samples to keep the mirror drive signal separated in phase from the mirror sense signal by a desired amount of phase separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics LTD, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Massimo Ratti, Eli Yaser, Naomi Petrushevsky, Yotam Nachmias
  • Patent number: 11681140
    Abstract: Mirror control circuitry operates to control a movable mirror. The mirror control circuitry includes drive circuitry for providing a drive signal to the movable mirror, and a processor. The processor causes the drive circuitry to generate the drive signal so as to have pulses with leading edges occurring an offset period of time after a maximum opening angle of the movable mirror and trailing edges occurring an offset period of time before a zero crossing of the movable mirror. The processor may sample a mirror sense signal from the movable mirror at times at which a derivative of capacitance of the movable mirror with respect to time is zero, and then perform an action based upon the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Ltd
    Inventors: Sivan Kinstlich, Offir Duvdevany
  • Publication number: 20230170938
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for aligning a smartphone providing NFC wireless power for charging a battery of a device, the method comprising: emitting, with a first NFC antenna of the smartphone, an NFC field for wirelessly charging the battery of the device comprising a second NFC antenna; obtaining, with the smartphone, a measured value of a signal representative of the NFC field strength between the smartphone and the device; determining, by the smartphone, a range of values of a plurality of ranges of values the measured value belongs; and emitting, by the smartphone, at least one notification signal to a user with a frequency determined by the determined range of values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Chia Hao CHEN, Nicolas CORDIER
  • 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: 20230070845
    Abstract: A control system includes a mirror controller generating horizontal and vertical mirror synchronization signals for a mirror based upon a mirror clock signal. Laser modulation circuitry generates horizontal and vertical laser synchronization signals as a function of first and second laser clock signals and generates control signals for a laser that emits a laser beam that impinges on the mirror. First synchronization circuitry receives the horizontal mirror synchronization signal and the horizontal laser synchronization signal, and modifies generation of the first laser clock signal to achieve alignment between the horizontal mirror synchronization signal and horizontal laser synchronization signal. Second synchronization circuitry receives the vertical mirror synchronization signal and the vertical laser synchronization signal, and modifies generation of the second laser clock signal to achieve alignment between the vertical mirror synchronization signal and vertical laser synchronization signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Elik HARAN
  • Patent number: 11588519
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for aligning a smartphone providing NFC wireless power for charging a battery of a device, the method comprising: emitting, with a first NFC antenna of the smartphone, an NFC field for wirelessly charging the battery of the device comprising a second NFC antenna; obtaining, with the smartphone, a measured value of a signal representative of the NFC field strength between the smartphone and the device; determining, by the smartphone, a range of values of a plurality of ranges of values the measured value belongs; and emitting, by the smartphone, at least one notification signal to a user with a frequency determined by the determined range of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Chia Hao Chen, Nicolas Cordier
  • Patent number: 11553164
    Abstract: A light projection system includes a microelectromechanical (MEMS) mirror configured to operate in response to a mirror drive signal and to generate a mirror sense signal as a result of the operation. A mirror driver is configured to generate the mirror drive signal in response to a drive control signal. A zero cross detector is configured to detect zero crosses of the mirror sense signal. A controller is configured to generate the drive control signal as a function of the detected zero crosses of the mirror sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics Ltd, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Massimo Ratti, Eli Yaser, Naomi Petrushevsky, Yotam Nachmias