Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • Image processing
    Patent number: 8717208
    Abstract: An image processor includes a readout arranged to read out an M-bit image data word from an image sensor pixel array and an adder arranged to add a noise contribution to the image data word to obtain a dithered M-bit word. A dither processor is arranged to derive correction data having a word size of M+1 bits from a combination of a plurality of M-bit reference words. The noise contribution are derived from said correction data, wherein different correction data are derived for different groups of pixels, each different group of pixels is associated with a specific pixel value DC shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: John Kevin Moore
  • OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140110564
    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: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Colin Campbell, Hazel McInnes, Ewan Findlay
  • Autofocus apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8698945
    Abstract: In automatically focusing on a subject in the field of view of a camera device, the camera device sets a focal length successively at one or more focal positions with an angle of the focus plane tilted so as not to be orthogonal to a normal optical path through the camera device. An image is taken at each of the focal positions. A comparison of data from each image is made so as to determine best focus. This comparison includes comparing data from at least two different locations along the tilted focus plane of at least one of the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: William Foote
  • Sample and hold circuit
    Patent number: 8698882
    Abstract: A sample and hold circuit includes a plurality of capacitors, a network of switches and a control circuit. The control circuit is operable to control the network of switches so as to sample an incoming signal onto at least some of the plurality of capacitors. In such an operation, each capacitor takes a sample of the incoming signal at a different time. The sample and hold circuit outputs a signal corresponding to an average of the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: John Kevin Moore
  • PACKAGE
    Publication number: 20140098617
    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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan, Alberto Scandurra
  • SIGNAL VERIFICATION
    Publication number: 20140100778
    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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Bagnall
  • CIRCUIT FOR COMBINING SIGNALS
    Publication number: 20140070867
    Abstract: Signals generated by an array of photodiodes are applied to the inputs of corresponding edge detection circuits. Each edge detection circuit generates an output that changes state in response to a detected edge of the photodiode generated signal. The edge detection circuits may be formed by toggle flip-flop circuits. The outputs of the edge detection circuits are logically combined using exclusive OR logic to generate an output. The exclusive OR logic may be formed by a cascaded tree of exclusive OR circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Neale Dutton
  • RADIATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20140061447
    Abstract: A sensor package includes a radiation source and a radiation detector provided on a substrate. A cover member is mounted on or affixed to the substrate over the source and detector. The cover member includes an opaque housing, a first transparent portion provided over the source, a second transparent portion provided over the detector and a transparent insert within the housing and positioned at one of said transparent portions. An opaque protrusion is provided on the housing separating a region associate with the first transparent portion (and radiation source) from a region associated with the second transparent portion (and detector), the protrusion attached to a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Colin Campbell, Laurent Herard
  • Generating and Processing of CDMA Signals
    Publication number: 20140056332
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a CDMA signal s(t) comprising N components involves assigning to each of the N components one unique spreading sequence an selected from a set of M spreading sequences with M?N, modulating the symbols dn of each component on the assigned unique spreading sequence an, and combining the N symbols dn each being spread with its own unique spreading sequence an to a CDMA signal s(t). The assigned spreading sequences an are selected such that all selected pairs within the set of N spreading sequences are orthogonal or very close to be orthogonal so that cross-correlation components between all spreading sequences an are close to zero or zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicants: Astrium GmbH, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventors: Francis Soualle, Jean-Jacques Floch, Philip Mattos
  • Integrated circuit package with multiple dies and bundling of control signals
    Patent number: 8653638
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die, at least one of said first and second dies being a memory. The dies are connected to each other through an interface. The interface is configured to transport a plurality of control signals. The number of control signals is greater than a width of the interface. At least one of the first and second dies performs a configurable grouping so as to provide a plurality of groups of control signals. The signals within a group are transmitted across the interface together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan
  • DETECTION OF BAD CLOCK CONDITIONS
    Publication number: 20140043064
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit and method for detecting a bad clock condition on a clock signal that includes sampling the value of the clock signal at a first plurality of time delays following a rising edge on the clock signal. This method also includes sampling the value of the clock signal at a second plurality of time delays following a falling edge on the clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Trimmer
  • MODULE FOR PROXIMITY AND GESTURE SENSING
    Publication number: 20140027606
    Abstract: A module operates in a proximity detection mode and a gesture detection mode. The module includes an illumination source, radiation sensors and a controller. When in proximity detection mode, the illumination source emits radiation, the radiation sensors measure the radiation level, and the controller adjusts the measured radiation level to substantially cancel the contribution attributable to ambient radiation to determine the presence of a proximate object by. When in the gesture recognition mode, the level of radiation incident on the sensors is individually sampled, and the controller determines object movement by comparing the changes in the measured radiation levels over a plurality of the samples. Ambient radiation contribution is not removed from the sampled radiation levels during the gesture recognition mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Andrew Scott
  • Signal verification
    Patent number: 8633852
    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. Anan 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: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Peter Bagnall
  • Integrated circuit package with multiple dies and a multiplexed communications interface
    Patent number: 8629544
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die, at least one of said first and second dies being a memory. The dies are connected to each other through an interface. The interface is configured to transport both control signals and memory transactions. A multiplexer is provided to multiplex the control signals and memory transactions onto the interface such that a plurality of connections of said interface are shared by the control signals and the memory transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan, Alberto Scandurra
  • Switching circuitry and switching system
    Patent number: 8618959
    Abstract: Switching circuitry comprising a bank of actuatable switches connected in parallel between a supply terminal and a decoding terminal, each switch being connected in series with a component which, when the switch is actuated, applies to the second terminal an analog signal having a value unique to that switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Ian Griffin
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AUTO-FOCUS PROCESS
    Publication number: 20130342750
    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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: William Foote
  • Proximity sensor having an array of single photon avalanche diodes and circuitry for switching off illumination source and associated method, computer readable medium and firmware
    Patent number: 8610043
    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: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • Integrated circuit package with multiple dies and sampled control signals
    Patent number: 8610258
    Abstract: A package includes a first die and a second die, at least one of said first and second dies being a memory. The dies are connected to each other through an interface. The interface is configured to transport both control signals and memory transactions. A sampling circuit samples the control signals before transport on the interface. The sampling circuit is controlled in dependence on at least one quality of service parameter associated with a respective control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jones, Stuart Ryan, Alberto Scandurra
  • Secure OTP using external memory
    Patent number: 8612774
    Abstract: A set-top-box has on-chip OTP memory emulated using an external flash memory and a series of on-chip fuses. The external memory is comprised of one or more regions, each having its own unique region identification. Each on-chip fuse corresponds to one of the memory regions and comprises a component which can be caused to change to a particular (blown) state irreversibly. When data first needs to be written to a region of the external memory, the identification of that region is appended to the data itself together with a parity field and a validity field. The resultant data packet is then encrypted by a cryptographic circuit using a secret key unique to the set-top-box and the encrypted data packet is written to the specified region of the external memory. Then, the on-chip fuse corresponding to the region that has been written to is irreversibly blown, effectively locking that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Dellow
  • Electronic device with an array of daisy chained image sensors and associated methods
    Patent number: 8610805
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raynor, Patrick Baxter