Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics R&D (Shanghai) Co. 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: 8440470
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fabrication process of a biosensor on a semiconductor wafer, comprising steps of: making a central photosensitive zone comprising at least one pixel-type biological analysis device comprising a photosensitive layer, and a first peripheral zone surrounding the central photosensitive zone, comprising electronic circuits. The first peripheral zone is covered by a hydrophilic coating, and the central photosensitive zone is covered with a hydrophobic coating. A barrier of a bio-compatible resin is formed on the second peripheral zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Limited, Universite Paul Cezanne Aix Marseille III
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Michaƫl Maurin, Mitchel O'Neal Perley, Pierre-Francois Lenne, Herve Rigneault, Renaud Vincentelli
  • 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.
  • Publication number: 20130064143
    Abstract: A circuit including an initiator of a transaction, an interconnect, and a controller. The controller is configured in response to a condition in a least one first part of the circuit to send a notification via the interconnect to at least one block in a second part of the circuit. The notification includes information about the condition in the first part of the circuit, the condition preventing a response to the transaction from being received by the initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart Ryan, Andrew Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 8384412
    Abstract: A method distributes personalized circuits to one or more parties. The method distributes a generic circuit to each party, encrypts a unique personalization value using a secret encryption key, and transmits each encrypted personalization value to the corresponding party. Each party then stores the encrypted personalization value in their circuit. The stored encrypted personalization value allows a piece of software to be properly executed by the circuit. A semiconductor integrated circuit is arranged to execute a piece of software that inputs a personalization value as an input parameter. The circuit comprises a personalization memory arranged to store an encrypted personalization value; a key memory for storing a decryption key; a control unit comprising a cryptographic circuit arranged to decrypt the encrypted personalization value using the decryption key; and a processor arranged to receive the decrypted personalization value and execute the software using the decrypted personalization value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics R&D Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Dellow
  • Publication number: 20130031347
    Abstract: A first arrangement including an interface configured to receive transactions with an address from a second arrangement having a first memory space; a translator configured to translate an address of a first type of received transaction to a second memory space of the first arrangement, the second memory space being different to the first memory space; and boot logic configured to map a boot transaction of the received transactions to a boot region in the second memory space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Publication number: 20130031312
    Abstract: A cache memory controller including: a pre-fetch requester configured to issue pre-fetch requests, each pre-fetch request having one of a plurality of different quality of services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Publication number: 20130031330
    Abstract: A first arrangement including a first interface configured to receive a memory transaction having an address from a second arrangement; a second interface; an address translator configured to determine based on said address if said transaction is for said first arrangement and if so to translate said address or if said transaction is for a third arrangement to forward said transaction without modification to said address to said second interface, said second interface being configured to transmit said transaction, without modification to said address, to said third arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Publication number: 20130031313
    Abstract: A first cache arrangement including an input configured to receive a memory request from a second cache arrangement; a first cache memory for storing data; an output configured to provide a response to the memory request for the second cache arrangement; and a first cache controller; the first cache controller configured such that for the response to the memory request output by the output, the cache memory includes no allocation for data associated with the memory request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart Ryan, Andrew Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 8347258
    Abstract: A package includes a die and at least one further die. The die has an interface configured to receive a transaction request from the further die via an interconnect and to transmit a response to the transaction request to said further die via the interconnect. The die also has mapping circuitry which is configured to allocate to the received transaction a local source identity information as source identity information, the local source identity information comprising one of a set of reusable local source identity information. This ensures the order of transactions tagged with a same original source identity and target and allows transactions tagged with different source identifiers to be processed out of order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ignazio Antonino Urzi, Philippe D'Audigier, Olivier Sauvage, Stuart Ryan, Andrew Michael Jones
  • Publication number: 20120326901
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for converting an analog input value to a digital output value is disclosed. A successive approximation is performed. The analog input is quantized to a first quantized value, which is converted to a first analog value using a DAC. The first analog value is subtracted from the analog input value to form a first residue. The first residue is quantized to form a second quantized value, and a second residue is formed by converting the second quantized value to a second analog value using the DAC and subtracting the second analog value from the first residue value. The second residue is then quantized to form a third quantized value. The first, second and third quantized values are converted into a digital output value. The first, second and third quantized values each have at least three levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Hua Zhao, Yuxing Zhang
  • Patent number: 8319530
    Abstract: A buffer circuit includes a biasing circuit operable to generate first and second biasing signals. A capacitive network includes an input adapted to receive an input signal and the capacitive network is operable responsive to the input signal to generate first and second bootstrapped signals. A push-pull stage includes first and second control inputs and an output. The push-pull stage is coupled to the biasing circuit to receive the first and second biasing signals on the first and second control inputs, respectively, and is coupled to the capacitive network to receive the first and second bootstrapped signals on the first and second control inputs, respectively. The push-pull stage is operable to generate a buffered output signal on the output responsive to the first and second bootstrapped signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Jianhua Zhao, Sarah Gao
  • Patent number: 8305474
    Abstract: An image sensor has a per-column ADC arrangement including first and second capacitors allowing a comparator circuit to perform correlated double sampling. The capacitors are continuously connected to, respectively, the analog pixel signal and a ramp signal without use of a hold operation. The comparator circuit comprises a differential input being connected to the junction of the two capacitors and being biased by a reference signal. The reference signal is preferably sampled and held from a reference voltage. The use of a differential input as first stage of the comparator addresses problems arising from ground voltage bounce when a large pixel array images a scene with low contrast. Connectivity of the differential input stage allows the ramp signal to see a constant capacitive load thus reduce image artifacts referred to as smear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd., STMicroelectronics SA (Morocco), STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Matthew Purcell, Graeme Storm, Derek Tolmie, Mhamed El Hachimi, Laurent Simony, Min Qu
  • Patent number: 8279306
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a plurality of pixels. A pixel readout circuit produces a plurality of first image frames from those pixels. An image output circuit produces a plurality of second image frames and operates to produce a second image frame from more than one of the first image frames. The pixel readout circuit is enabled to produce the first images frames at a rate faster than the image output circuit produces the second image frames. Through combining first image frames, by averaging or other statistical combinations, the photon shot noise of second image frames is reduced. Photon shot noise affects images with high light levels more than those with low light levels and, as such, the system processing alters the rate of first image frames dependent on the current light levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor