Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • Optical nagivation device
    Patent number: 9182804
    Abstract: An optical navigation device may have an adaptive sleep mode for preventing unwanted scrolling inputs. A motion indicator may move a device between a sleep mode and an active mode. According to the sleep mode, a number of different sleep states are defined which have further reduced frame rates. The device may be only woken from the deeper sleep modes once repeated motion events are detected. This may prevent the device from being woken accidentally, while preserving the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Julie M. Rankin
  • Single photon avalanche diode for CMOS circuits
    Patent number: 9178100
    Abstract: A single photon avalanche diode for use in a CMOS integrated circuit includes a deep n-well region formed above a p-type substrate and an n-well region formed above and in contact with the deep n-well region. A cathode contact is connected to the n-well region via a heavily doped n-type implant. A lightly doped region forms a guard ring around the n-well and deep n-well regions. A p-well region is adjacent to the lightly doped region. An anode contact is connected to the p-well region via a heavily doped p-type implant. The junction between the bottom of the deep n-well region and the substrate forms a multiplication region when an appropriate bias voltage is applied between the anode and cathode and the guard ring breakdown voltage is controlled with appropriate control of the lateral doping concentration gradient such that the breakdown voltage is higher than that of the multiplication region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, The University Court of the University of Edinburgh
    Inventors: Eric Alexander Garner Webster, Robert Kerr Henderson
  • Short asynchronous glitch
    Patent number: 9171596
    Abstract: A circuit receives a parameter signal at a set or reset input, a clock signal at a clock input and a constant digital value at a data input. A synchronous signal is output from the circuit: wherein when the parameter signal is in a first state, then the output synchronous signal has the digital value; wherein when the parameter signal transitions to a second state, then the output synchronous signal transitions to an inverse of the digital value at substantially the same time; and wherein when the parameter signal transitions back to the first state, then the output synchronous signal transitions to the digital value on a next clock edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Andrew James Fishleigh
  • Pixel circuit with controlled capacitor discharge time of flight measurement
    Patent number: 9171985
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and a measurement circuit including a capacitance. The SPAD detects an incident photon and the measurement circuit discharges the capacitance at a known rate during a discharge time period. The length of the discharge time period is determined by the time of detection of the photon, such that the final amount of charge on the capacitance corresponds to the time of flight of the photon. The pixel circuit may be included in a time resolved imaging apparatus. A method of measuring the time of flight of a photon includes responding to an incident photon detection by discharging a capacitance at a known rate and correlating final capacitance charge to time of flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Neale Dutton, Robert K. Henderson
  • Optical navigation device
    Patent number: 9170684
    Abstract: An optical navigation device may include an image sensor with an imaging surface, a laser, and an optical waveguide layer having an exposed user surface and a total internal reflection (TIR) surface on the underside of the exposed user surface. The waveguide layer, the laser, and the image sensor may be together arranged to direct radiation emitted by the laser onto the imaging surface at least partly by total internal reflection by the TIR surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Colin Campbell, Hazel McInnes, Jeffrey Raynor, Mathieu Reigneau
  • Memory manager
    Patent number: 9164903
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Davide Sarta
  • Memory-enhanced image sensor
    Patent number: 9160957
    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: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Justin Richardson, Keith Findlater
  • Signal verification
    Patent number: 9140561
    Abstract: A first position of a satellite is calculated at a first time in dependence on received orbit data corresponding to an orbit path of the satellite. An orbit path of the satellite is modeled from the first position at the first time to a second time to determine a second position of the satellite at the second time. A third position of the satellite is then calculated at the second time in dependence on the received orbit data. The second position and third position are compared to determine a validity of the orbit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Peter Bagnall
  • Method of providing an audio-video device to an end user
    Patent number: 9118961
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit for the processing of conditional access television signals that includes an input interface for receiving encrypted television signals and an output interface for output of decrypted television signals. The semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with some functionality restricted in some way by preventing one or more hardware circuit elements from operating, such as an MPEG decoder, display engine, IO ports or main CPU. To enable the functionality, a subscriber must pay for a service and then receives an encrypted message broadcast to the semiconductor integrated circuit that is decrypted and instructs functionality to be turned on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Peter Bennett, Paul Elliott, Andrew Dellow
  • Pulsed serial link transmitting data and timing information on a single line
    Patent number: 9118536
    Abstract: A method of encoding data and timing information on a single line comprising: asserting a first edge on the single line to encode said timing information; asserting a second edge on the single line a selectable time period after said first edge, said selectable time period representing said data, characterized in that: said step of asserting said first edge comprises supplying a clock signal to a clock input of a flip-flop; and the step of asserting the second edge comprises supplying the output of the flip-flop to an input of a programmable delay line having a data input connected to receive said data and an output connected to a reset input of the flip-flop, whereby an output of the flip-flop provides said encoded data and timing information on the single line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Robert G. Warren
  • Integrated circuit package with multiple dies and a multiplexed communications interface
    Patent number: 9105316
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die. An interface connects the first die and the second die. At least one of the first and second dies includes a memory. The interface is configured to transport both control signals and memory transactions. A multiplexing circuit multiplexes the control signals and the memory transactions onto the interface such that connections of the interface are shared by the control signals and the memory transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan, Alberto Scandurra
  • Digital image sensor
    Patent number: 9106850
    Abstract: A digital imaging sensor includes an array of pixels. A subset of the pixels in the array has reduced photosensitivity in comparison to other pixels in said array. A controller operates to control an integration time of the array of pixels such that a first integration time of the subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of the other pixels in the array. Such an image sensor is particularly useful for sensing light sources that are not illuminated continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: John Kevin Moore
  • Comparator implementation for processing signals output from an image sensor
    Patent number: 9106849
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an analog-to-digital converter receiving a pixel signal output. The converter includes a first inverting amplifier circuit having an input and an output, the first inverting amplifier circuit including a first bias circuit having a control node and configured to source current for first inverting amplifier circuit operation. The converter further includes a second inverting amplifier circuit having an input and an output, the second inverting amplifier circuit including a second bias circuit having a control node and configured to source current for second inverting amplifier circuit operation. The output of the first inverting amplifier circuit is coupled to the input of the second inverting amplifier circuit. A positive feedback circuit couples the output of the second inverting amplifier circuit to the control node of the first bias circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Amar Duggal, John Kevin Moore
  • Integrated circuit with secure metadata store
    Patent number: 9100684
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit for processing content data by encrypting or decrypting the data has one or more inputs to received content and metadata. A metadata store comprises two portions, a first portion for storing metadata itself and a second portion for storing an address of locations of bitfields of metadata. This arrangement allows for efficient storage of the metadata but requires certain rules to ensure that bitfields of metadata cannot be stored and used with anything other than the content with which the metadata is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Tom Ryan
  • Global shutter with dual storage
    Patent number: 9100605
    Abstract: A sensor includes an array of pixels, and a global shutter configured to expose the array of pixels. Each pixel includes storage elements configured to independently store successive frames within a predetermined time period. Each storage element is configured to be independently read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Ambient light sensing system and method
    Patent number: 9097582
    Abstract: A sensor for range finding and ambient light measurement wherein the sensor includes an array of pixels capable of sensing illumination in a plurality of wavelengths and generating a response thereto for each wavelength; the sensor including an ambient light sensing system which includes a module for adjusting the response from the ambient light sensor, such that the response for each wavelength is independent of the wavelength of the illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Stuart McLeod
  • Electromagnetic shielding for camera modules
    Patent number: 9099368
    Abstract: A camera module may include a substrate, and an image sensor mounted on the substrate. The camera module may also include a housing, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield provided around the image sensor and within the module. The camera module may be particularly suited for use in a mobile telephone, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: William Halliday
  • Circuit
    Patent number: 9086870
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Stuart Ryan, Andrew Michael Jones
  • Image sensor readout method and apparatus
    Patent number: 9087756
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Robert Golding
  • Control device
    Patent number: 9083428
    Abstract: A control device including a means for capturing an image of a display; means for determining from said captured image, information defining a desired position on said display; and means for sending a signal having the determined information. Embodiments of the present disclosure have many applications such as with television to for example select stations or control settings of the televisions, computers, DVDs, videos, MPEG players or the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used with video players or recorders. It should be noted that video player/recorders can deal with video data stored or to be recorded on tape, discs such as DVDs or CDs, removable memory such as a memory stick or a memory internal to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: David Kibble