Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics R&D Ltd.
  • Patent number: 9151829
    Abstract: A radiation sensor of the type having a packaged radiation source and detector, which includes an isolator that blocks propagation within the package of radiation from the source to the detector, in order to improve signal to noise ratio of the sensor. The isolator is formed by appropriately formed surfaces of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd
    Inventor: Colin Campbell
  • Publication number: 20140009168
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a delay line having a first delay value corresponding to first operating conditions of the apparatus and a second delay value corresponding to second operating conditions of the apparatus. A monitoring circuit may monitor a time taken for a first clock edge of a clock signal to propagate through the delay line. A determining circuit may determine whether operating conditions of the apparatus are acceptable in response to the time taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark TRIMMER
  • Patent number: 8571016
    Abstract: A plurality of inputs are configured to receive circuit switched traffic from a plurality of initiators. A plurality of outputs are configured to output said traffic to a network on chip. Each output is associated with a different quality of service traffic. A traffic controller directs the received circuit switched traffic to respective ones of the outputs in dependence on a quality of service associated with the traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd
    Inventors: Ignazio Urzi, Daniele Mangano, Claire Bonnet
  • Patent number: 8537263
    Abstract: The imaging device has an imaging surface and a sensor, wherein the imaging surface is illuminated and reflects at least some of the illumination to the sensor to detect an image. The imaging device has a width and an optical path passing therethrough, wherein the optical path exhibits distortion as a result of the width of the device and the nature of the optical path. The imaging device includes an optical element which in use compensates for the distortion by generating a magnification profile across a tangential plane of the device at the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Mathieu Reigneau
  • Patent number: 8504751
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die. The dies are connected to each other through an interface. The package includes interrupt processing for detecting interrupt information and providing a packet in response to the interrupt information detection. The packet includes an address to which data in the packet is to be written. The interface is configured to transport the packet between the dies. A data store is provided to which the data is writable. An interrupt event is determined from data received in several packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Patent number: 8493474
    Abstract: An image sensor IC may have a non-volatile memory for several functions. The functions may include storing control parameters for a camera autofocus module, part tracking data, and data for defect correction or color science. The non-volatile memory can in particular be an antifuse non-volatile memory, which may not need special light shielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Justin Richardson
  • Patent number: 8488056
    Abstract: A camera module includes a substrate with a cavity therein. A processor is located in the cavity, and wire bonding is for connecting the processor to the substrate. An imaging module is adapted to overlay the processor in the cavity and rest on at least part of the edge of the cavity. Wire bonding is for connecting the imaging module to the substrate and the processor. The cavity includes a longitudinal cutout section adapted to accommodate at least some wire bonding for connecting the processor to the substrate or associated surface mount components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd., STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventors: William Halliday, Choon Kiat Ooi
  • Patent number: 8477222
    Abstract: In a solid state image sensor having a pixel array, a first frame is imaged using varying exposure times in a series of zones. The exposure time for a subsequent frame is selected from the results of the first frame, The exposure times are controlled in a rolling blade manner by controlling the number of lines between reset and readout. The sensor is particularly suited to use in bar code readers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Justin Richardson
  • Publication number: 20130155239
    Abstract: An image sensor having improved dynamic range includes a signal that is read out for a selection of pixels which act as a calibration to govern the choice of exposure levels to be applied to the rest of the array. In this way, the sensor is operable to adapt to variations in scene intensity. The pixels in the array are vertically and horizontally addressed so as to enable accounted for small areas of intensity variation across an imaged scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd
    Inventors: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
  • Publication number: 20130155282
    Abstract: A pixel readout circuit including at least first, second and third memory locations. During an integration period of a pixel, the pixel readout circuit repeatedly samples the pixel output level during the integration period, stores the first sample in the first memory location, and stores each subsequent sample in memory locations other than the first memory location. Each sample is stored with a time corresponding to when that sample was taken, such that at any one time subsequent to the first three samples having been stored, at least the first sample and the two most recent samples are stored. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of reading out of a pixel output over an undefined integration period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130154921
    Abstract: An optical navigation device, including a radiation source capable of producing a beam of radiation; a sensor for receiving an image; and an optical element for identifying movement of an object on a first surface to thereby enable a control action to be carried out. The optical element is such that a whole of the imaged area of the first surface is substantially covered by the object in normal use. The device is operable to receive from the object on the first surface an input describing a pattern, to compare the received pattern to a stored reference pattern and to perform a predetermined function if the received pattern and stored reference pattern are substantially similar. The pattern may be a continuous line, the device being operable to store the continuous line as a set of turning points in chronological order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130151792
    Abstract: A processor module including a processor configured to share data with at least one further processor module processor; and a memory mapped peripheral configured to communicate with at least one further processor memory mapped peripheral to control the sharing of the data, wherein the memory mapped peripheral includes a sender part including a data request generator configured to output a data request indicator to the further processor module dependent on a data request register write signal from the processor; and an acknowledgement waiting signal generator configured to output an acknowledgement waiting signal to the processor dependent on a data acknowledgement signal from the further processor module, wherein the data request generator data request indicator is further dependent on the data acknowledgement signal and the acknowledgement waiting signal generator acknowledgement waiting signal is further dependent on the acknowledgement waiting register write signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8462236
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a shared memory resource, which can be selectively used by a digital filter for image scaling or by a defect correction circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Justin Richardson
  • Patent number: 8462233
    Abstract: An image sensor may selectively produce an effect, such as simulating a night vision scope, by controlling existing hardware to vary anti-vignetting and gamma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: James Kevan Gallagher
  • Patent number: 8456885
    Abstract: A random access memory circuit includes a plurality of pixels, each having a light sensitive area and a light blocking layer arranged over at least each of the light sensitive areas. In an alternative embodiment, the circuit includes a plurality of memory elements for storing data. Each memory element may comprise a bit node formed between a photodiode, having a light arranged over the photodiode, and a switching element, where data may be stored. The circuit may also include a plurality of reading and writing circuits for reading and writing data to and from the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd., STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Derek Tolmie, Arnaud Laflaquiere, Francois Roy
  • Patent number: 8456513
    Abstract: A camera is mounted in a sphere-shaped housing. The housing can be rotated within a base that permits the camera to take multiple images covering a panoramic view. Motion of the housing within the base is detected by motion sensors that provide positional information for allowing the images to be stitched together. The motion sensors are optical mice sensors. Processing circuitry and a power supply may be located within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Raynor
  • Patent number: 8446482
    Abstract: An image processing device including an encoder processor and a decoder circuit. The encoder processor receives image data from a sensor and encodes the data with padding data if a series of bytes indicative of command sequence occur within the image data. The decoder circuit receives the image data and the padding data, and removes the padding data from within the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Craig McNaughton
  • Patent number: 8432484
    Abstract: A camera module may include a mount and a barrel coupled to the mount. One of the barrel and the mount may include a polycarbonate material and the other of the barrel and the mount may include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric Christison
  • Publication number: 20130103912
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes a memory controller for accessing a memory, at least one first cache memory and a first directory. The second part includes at least one second cache memory configured to request access to said memory. The first directory is configured to use a first coherency protocol for the at least one first cache memory and a second different coherency protocol for the at least one second memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Publication number: 20130097401
    Abstract: A memory management device including a plurality of outputs, each output configured to interface to respective one of a plurality of memories; and a controller configured to cause each buffer allocated to the memories to be divided up substantially equally between each of the plurality of memories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.