Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • LIGHTING SYSTEM INCLUDING TIME OF FLIGHT RANGING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160128162
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a light emitting diode array, and a time of flight ranging system. A logic circuit determines a distance to an object using the time of flight ranging system and controls the light emitting diode array based upon the distance to the object. A receptacle is coupled to the logic circuit, and sized and configured to fit within and be powered from a light bulb socket. In some applications, the logic circuit may activate the light emitting diode array when the object is less than a threshold distance away from the lighting system and deactivate the light emitting diode array when the object is greater than the threshold distance away from the lighting system. In further applications, the logic circuit may activate the light emitting diode array at a duty cycle that varies based upon the distance to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LTD.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Electronic device including camera module unthreaded ends that sealingly engage prior to threaded ends engaging and related methods
    Patent number: 9332165
    Abstract: A camera assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB), an image sensor carried by the PCB, and a lens assembly carried by the PCB and having an external, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end, and an external, unthreaded lower end. The camera assembly may further include a camera body having a lens assembly opening aligned between the image sensor and the lens assembly. The lens assembly opening may have an internal, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end, and an internal unthreaded lower end. The external unthreaded lower end of the lens assembly may sealingly engage the internal, unthreaded lower end of the camera body prior to the external, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end of the lens assembly threadingly engaging the internal, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end of the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Alex Russell
  • Method and apparatus for compensating a frequency generator such as an oscillator for frequency inaccuracies
    Patent number: 9319049
    Abstract: An input receives a generated frequency having a first frequency component and a second frequency component. A filter block includes filter coefficients describing a relationship between the second frequency component and an environmental characteristic. The filter block predicts the first frequency component based on the environmental characteristic, and updates the filter coefficients based on an offset between the predicted first frequency component and a received frequency corresponding to the first frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Peter Bagnall, Philip Mattos
  • Proximity detection apparatus and associated methods having single photon avalanche diodes for determining a quality metric based upon the number of events
    Patent number: 9316735
    Abstract: A proximity detector may include an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and an illumination source. Illumination from the illumination source may be reflected by a target to the array of single photon avalanche diodes. The SPADs may be operable to detect events. A number of events detected may be dependent on a level of illumination incident on the SPADs. The proximity detector may then determine a quality metric and calculate an output when the quality metric is at a predetermined level. A related method may include regulating the quality of the data on which such a proximity detector apparatus calculates its output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • Apparatus for switching a plurality of ALUs between tree and cascade configurations
    Patent number: 9311103
    Abstract: An arrangement of at least two arithmetic logic units carries out an operation defined by a decoded instruction including at least one operand and more than one operation code. The operation codes and at least one operand are received and corresponding executions are performed by the arithmetic logic units on a single clock cycle. The result of the execution from one arithmetic logic unit is used as an operand by a further arithmetic logic unit. The decoding of the instruction is performed in an immediately preceding single clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Smith
  • Pixel circuit with capacitor discharge indicative of number of events
    Patent number: 9313434
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and a measurement circuit including a capacitance. The circuit is operable to discharge a known portion of the charge on the capacitance upon each detection of a SPAD event within a time period, such that the charge remaining on the capacitance at the end of the time period corresponds to the number of SPAD events detected within the time period. A time resolved imaging apparatus includes an array of such pixel circuits. A method of counting photon detection includes sensing photons with a SPAD device and discharging a known portion of the charge on a capacitance upon each detection of a SPAD event within a time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Neale Dutton, Robert Kerr Henderson
  • Dark current calibration for a photosensitive device
    Patent number: 9310247
    Abstract: An imaging circuit includes at least one photosensitive device that provides an output in response to at least one photon and a compensation circuit configured to provide dark current compensation for the output of said photosensitive device. The applied compensation uses temperature information and temperature dependent calibration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Andy Price
  • Cache memory system
    Patent number: 9311246
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that comprise a cache memory for storing a copy of a portion of data stored in a system memory and a cache load circuit capable of retrieving the portion of data from the system memory. The systems and methods further comprise a status memory for identifying whether or not a region of the cache memory contains data that has been accessed from the cache memory by an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Image sensor with improved dynamic range
    Patent number: 9313427
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: John Kevin Moore, Matthew Purcell, Graeme Storm, Tarek Lule
  • Detecting operating conditions
    Patent number: 9310423
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Trimmer
  • Keyboard including movement activated optical keys and related methods
    Patent number: 9264037
    Abstract: A keyboard may include a plurality of optical keys. Each optical key may include an optical module and an interaction surface. The optical key may be configured to be activated based on movement of an object on or adjacent the interaction surface. Each movement may produce a different output from the optical module to thereby generate a predetermined input for a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Laurence Stark
  • TIME OF FLIGHT DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20160033644
    Abstract: First events corresponding to detecting a reflection off a reference object are detected. Second events corresponding to detecting a reflection off a remote object are also detected. A histogram having a first peak corresponding to the first events and a second peak corresponding to the plurality of second events is generated. A distance between the remote object and the reference object is determined in dependence on a time between the first peak and the second peak of the histogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventor: John Kevin Moore
  • PIXEL ARRAY AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PIXEL ARRAY
    Publication number: 20160037105
    Abstract: A pixel array includes pixels arranged in columns. A pair of column lines is provided for each column of pixels. A current source circuit is coupled to each pair of column lines. The current source circuit provides current to the pair of column lines in a first mode of operation such that when one column line in a pair of column lines is being provided with a first current the other column line in the pair of column lines is being provided with a second current which is less than the first current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, The University Court of the University of Edinburgh
    Inventors: Shatabda Saha, John Kevin Moore
  • System and method for monitoring vibration isolators
    Patent number: 9238393
    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: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Stuart Gillies
  • Multi-path detection
    Patent number: 9236903
    Abstract: A method for detecting multi-path interference in a spread-spectrum signal. A variation of a first signal and a variation of a second signal is compared. The variation of the first signal corresponds to a correlation of the spread-spectrum signal and a spreading code having a first offset. The variation of the second signal corresponds to a correlation of the spread-spectrum signal and the spreading code having a second offset. Multi-path interference is detected in dependence on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Philip Mattos
  • Remote control with multiple pointing devices in different planes
    Patent number: 9235984
    Abstract: A remote control device includes first and second pointing devices, wherein each pointing device is provided in a different plane, for the provision of flexible and ergonomic user commands. The first pointing device may be provided on an upper surface of a remote control housing (in a first plane) while the second pointing device may be provided on a lower surface of the remote control housing (in a second plane). In this configuration, a user's thumb may engage the first pointing device which the user's finger engages the second pointing device. Combinations of thumb and finger movement are detected through the pointing devices and interpreted to generate remote control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Benjamin E. Norman
  • Cache pre-fetching responsive to data availability
    Patent number: 9208096
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-fetching data are disclosed that use a cache memory for storing a copy of data stored in a system memory and mechanism to initiate a pre-fetch of data from the system memory into the cache memory. The system further comprises an event monitor for monitoring events that is connected to a path on which signals representing an event are transmitted between one or more event generating modules and a processor. In some embodiments, the event monitor initiates a pre-fetch of a portion of data in response to the event monitor detecting an event indicating the availability of the portion of data in the system memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • Lensless optical navigation device for directing radiation via reflection by three total internal surfaces
    Patent number: 9201524
    Abstract: An optical navigation device for use with mobile telephones and the like is disclosed, which has a reduced height as compared with current designs. The navigation device comprises a laser such as a VCSEL laser, an exposed user surface and two other surfaces that provide for total internal reflection of the incident laser beam. The surfaces are constructed with shallower than normal angles, preserving the basic functionality of the device while reducing the height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Colin Campbell, Hazel McInnes, Ewan Findlay
  • System and method for performing auto-focus process
    Patent number: 9204031
    Abstract: The method includes changing a focal length of a camera device while capturing one or more frames of sensor data from a sensor array of the camera device by sequentially reading signals from different areas of the sensor array, such that different sections of each of the one or more frames corresponds to sensor data captured at different focal lengths of the camera device. The method further includes deriving focus statistics from the one or more captured frames, each focus statistic providing a measure of an extent to which a section of a frame to which the focus statistic relates is in focus at a given focal length; identifying from the focus statistics an optimal focal length at which an optimally focused image can be captured; and adapting the focal length of the camera device in accordance with the optimal focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: William Foote
  • Input device and associated method
    Patent number: 9195347
    Abstract: An input device for an electronic device includes a proximity detector and a light source. The light source transmits light to a sensing area, which is reflected back to the proximity detector in the presence of an object in the vicinity of the sensing area, such that the proximity detector can produce an output indicative of a distance of the object from the proximity detector to give rise to a control signal for controlling the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Laurence Stark, William Halliday