Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • RANGING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170176577
    Abstract: A ranging apparatus includes a first array with first light sensitive detectors configured to receive light which has been reflected by an object and generate an output. A second array, spaced apart from the first array by a spacing distance, is further included, the second array having second light sensitive detectors. The second array is configurable to either receive light which has been reflected by the object or to be a reference array and generate an output. A processor operates to determine a distance to the object in response to the outputs from the first and the second arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: William Halliday
  • Method and apparatus for improving efficiency of testing integrated circuits
    Patent number: 9664738
    Abstract: A circuit, such as an integrated circuit or a die, has a first input pad configured to receive a multiplexed signal including scan data and a clock signal, a scan chain having a scan data input and a clock input and circuitry coupled between said first input pad and said scan chain. The circuitry is configured to extract the scan data and the clock signal from the received multiplexed signal, provide the extracted scan data to the scan data input of the scan chain, and provide the extracted clock signal to the clock input of the scan chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research and Development) Limited
    Inventor: Gary Morton
  • HYBRID ANALOG-DIGITAL PIXEL IMPLEMENTED IN A STACKED CONFIGURATION
    Publication number: 20170141147
    Abstract: A hybrid analog-digital pixel circuit is fabricated on two wafers. A first wafer includes the analog pixel circuitry and a second wafer includes the digital control and processing circuitry. Externally accessible contact structures for electrically interconnecting the two wafers are arranged in groups. Each group includes externally accessible contact structures for carrying signals associated solely with operation of a corresponding pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LTD.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • On-chip circuitry for configuring peripherals of a system on a chip
    Patent number: 9645830
    Abstract: A configuration arrangement includes a first interface configured to receive configuration information from a master configuration function and a second interface configured to provide at least one output to one or more entities to be configured. Configuration circuitry operates responsive to the configuration information to provide the at least one output, wherein that output controls the configuration of the one or more entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Gavin Probyn
  • Time to digital converter and applications thereof
    Patent number: 9639063
    Abstract: A time to digital converter includes a sample module operable to sample an input signal at multiple different instances of time. A transition detection module, formed of comparison elements, processes the sampled input signal at successive time instances so as to detect transitions in the input signal in terms of time. An output module generates detected transitions in the input signal on multiple parallel outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Neale Dutton, Robert K. Henderson, Salvatore Gnecchi
  • Electronic devices
    Patent number: 9635162
    Abstract: A mobile communications device includes an antenna, a navigation pad and a signal processor. The antenna, navigation pad, and signal processor cooperate to encode and transmit motion signals from the navigation pad to a computer so that the mobile communications device functions as a pointing device for the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey Raynor
  • Proximity sensor including a photon emitter, a photon receiver and an opaque structure
    Patent number: 9612330
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to a device comprising: a body having a cavity, an opaque structure, and an aperture in the body that places the cavity in fluid communication with an environment external to the body. A photon emitter is located in the cavity below the aperture and configured to emit photons through the aperture to the environment external to the body. A photon receiver is located in the cavity below the opaque structure of the body and configured to receive photons that are each reflected from both an object that is spaced apart from the body in the environment external to the body and from a surface of the opaque structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Pierre-Jean Parodi-Keravec, Marc Drader
  • DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR THE DESIGN OF A DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20170082862
    Abstract: A diffractive optical element (DOE) is designed to implement both a collimation function with respect to an input divergent beam and a beam shaping function with respect to an output divergent beam. The phase designs of the collimation function and the beam shaping function are independently produced in the phase domain. These phase designs are then combined using a phase angle addition of the individual functions and wrapped between 0 and 2? radians. The diffractive surface of the DOE is then defined from the wrapped phase angle addition of the individual functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limite
    Inventor: James Peter Drummond Downing
  • Photosensor arrangements
    Patent number: 9602747
    Abstract: A photosensor arrangement may include an amplifier configured to receive charge from a photosensor device at a first input, and a second input configured to receive a first reference voltage. The amplifier may provide an output voltage on an output. A comparator has a first input at the output voltage, a second input at the first reference voltage and is configured to provide a compare output. A capacitor is configured to have a first plate coupled to the output of the amplifier and a second plate coupled to the first input of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Scott, Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Multiple processor system
    Patent number: 9594792
    Abstract: A method, data structure and computer program are provided. A file is stored in a first memory. A duplicate of at least a part of the file is stored in the first memory. A processor is reset based on the duplicate of at least a part of the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Hodgson, Peter Stieglitz
  • OPTICAL PULSE EMITTER
    Publication number: 20170070029
    Abstract: An optical pulse emitter includes a light emitting device having a first node coupled to an intermediate node via a first switch. The intermediate node is coupled to a supply voltage node via a second switch. A capacitor is coupled to the intermediate node. The first, second and third switches are controlled by a control circuit. During a first phase, the second switch is actuated to couple the capacitor to the supply voltage node. During a second phase, the second switch is deactuated and the first switch is actuated to at least partially discharge the capacitor through the light emitting device. During a third phase, discharge current from the capacitor bypasses around the light emitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Nicolas Moeneclaey, Shatabda Saha
  • Pixel and an array of pixels
    Patent number: 9565375
    Abstract: A pixel has a photodiode configured to be sensitive to light. The pixel is arranged to use back side illumination. The pixel has at least one sample and hold capacitor which is arranged on the side of the photodiode remote from a side on which light impinges. The capacitor overlies at least part of the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Alexandre Balmefrezol, Laurence Stark
  • System and method for monitoring vibration isolators
    Patent number: 9562807
    Abstract: A system may monitor a vibration isolating connection between a first part and a second part. The system may include a light source, an optical sensor mounted to receive light from the light source, and a processing unit for providing an output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection based on the output of the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Stuart Gillies
  • DETERMINING REFLECTANCE OF A TARGET USING A TIME OF FLIGHT RANGING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170031007
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a ranging light source and a reflected light detector. A logic circuit causes the ranging light source to emit ranging light at a target. Reflected light from the target is detected using the reflected light detector, with the reflected light being a portion of the ranging light that reflects from the target back toward the reflected light detector. An intensity of the reflected light is determined using the reflected light detector. A distance to the target is determined based upon time elapsed between activating the ranging light source and detecting the reflected ranging light. Reflectance of the target is calculated, based upon the intensity of the reflected light and the distance to the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin K. Winterton, Sam Lee
  • Apparatus for pulse shaping
    Patent number: 9541646
    Abstract: An array of photon sensitive devices is configured to provide outputs. Pulse shaping circuits operate to shape a respective output of the array in a normal mode of operation and shape a calibration signal in a calibration mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: John Kevin Moore, Bruce Rae
  • Proximity sensor including reference detector for stray radiation detection
    Patent number: 9535157
    Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a radiation source configured to emit a primary radiation beam and a primary detector configured to pick up a reflected primary radiation beam. The radiation source is further configured to emit stray radiation. The sensor further includes a reference detector arranged to receive the stray radiation. The stray radiation may, for example, be emitted from either a side of the radiation source or a bottom of the radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Adam Caley, Pierre-Jean Parodi-Keravec, Olivier Le Briz, Sandrine Lhostis
  • Low power die
    Patent number: 9531374
    Abstract: A functional circuit includes at least one silicon on insulator (SOI) transistor and at least one output terminal. A biasing circuit controls an operational voltage supplied to the functional circuit. The biasing circuit disables the at least one output terminal by controlling a reverse body bias voltage supplied to reverse body bias the at least one SOI transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Reginald Bailey
  • READ-OUT CIRCUITRY FOR AN IMAGE SENSOR
    Publication number: 20160360140
    Abstract: An array of image sensing elements is arranged in rows and columns. A readout circuit for each column includes a circuit configured to receive a column select signal. A memory stores data indicative of a voltage of an image sensing element which is being read. An analog to digital conversion circuit provides an output to the memory to control the storing of data. The output is dependent on the voltage of the image sensing element. Power control circuitry operates to disable, at least partially, the analog to digital conversion circuit when the column has not been selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Circuit for generating direct timing histogram data in response to photon detection
    Patent number: 9502458
    Abstract: A sensor pixel detects a photon and outputs a first voltage proportional to a time of arrival of the detected photon. This voltage is converted to a multi-bit digital signal in the format of a thermometer code. A number of counter circuits, one counter circuit per bit of the multi-bit digital signal, are provided to accumulate the thermometer coded outputs. Each counter is configured to increment in response to an active logic state of the corresponding bit of the multi-bit digital signal. Accumulated count values in the counter circuits provide a timing histogram with respect to photon detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Luca Parmesan
  • OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR EXTENDED TIME OF FLIGHT RANGING
    Publication number: 20160306031
    Abstract: A time of flight detector includes an electromagnetic radiation emitter configured to emit a beam of radiation. A first optical element receives the beam of radiation and generates a collimated beam of radiation. A second optical element defines a narrow imaging field of view sufficient to capture reflected electromagnetic radiation from the collimated beam. An electromagnetic radiation sensor then senses the captured reflected electromagnetic radiation from the collimated beam in the narrow imaging field of view. Further narrowing of the imaging field of view is accomplished by selective enabling a sub-array of photosensitive elements with the electromagnetic radiation sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Adam Caley, Colin Campbell, Christopher Townsend