Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • Image sensors including a shielded photosensitive portion for noise cancellation and associated methods
    Patent number: 8228410
    Abstract: A pixel structure includes two different photosensitive portions. One portion is shielded from incident light and the signals from both are fed into an op amp so that the differential signal is output as the pixel output, thereby cancelling dark current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeff Raynor, Mitchell Perley O'Neal
  • Method and relative device for estimating white gaussian noise that corrupts a digital image
    Patent number: 8224109
    Abstract: A method for estimating the white Gaussian noise level that corrupts a digital image by discriminating homogeneous blocks from blocks containing a textured area and skipping these last blocks when evaluating the noise standard deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventors: Angelo Bosco, Arcangelo Ranieri Bruna, Stewart Gresty Smith
  • Loading secure code into a memory
    Patent number: 8219772
    Abstract: A method and system of controlling access to a programmable memory including: allowing code to be written to the programmable memory in a first access mode; preventing execution of the code stored in the programmable memory in the first access mode; verifying the integrity of the code stored in the programmable memory; if the integrity of the code stored in the programmable memory is verified, setting a second access mode, wherein in the second access mode, further code is prevented from being written to the programmable memory, and execution of the code stored in the programmable memory is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: David Smith, Andrew Marsh
  • Single photon avalanche diodes
    Patent number: 8217436
    Abstract: A CMOS single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) design uses conventional, or at least known, CMOS processes to produce a device having a breakdown region in which the main p-n junction is formed of a deep n-well layer, and optionally on the other side, a p-add layer. The SPAD may also have a guard ring region which comprises the p-epi layer without any implant. The SPAD may have curved or circular perimeters. A CMOS chip comprises SPADs as described and other NMOS devices all sharing the same deep n-well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert K. Henderson, Justin Richardson
  • KEYBOARD
    Publication number: 20120162081
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Laurence Stark
  • Real-Time Processing Method and System
    Publication number: 20120162632
    Abstract: An optical range finder includes a light source adapted to produce illumination which impinges on a target. A detector receives a reflection of the illumination from the target, and a range code generator generates from the detected reflection a range code indicative of the range of the target from the range finder for each pulse. A signal processor receive plural range codes over a predetermined interval. A content addressable memory is used to count how many identical range codes are received during the predetermined interval. An identification is then made of the range code with the highest count, and that range code with the highest count is output as indicative of the range of the target from the range finder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Neale Dutton
  • Cache memory
    Patent number: 8209486
    Abstract: A cache memory comprises a first set of storage locations for holding syllables and addressable by a first group of addresses; a second set of storage locations for holding syllables and addressable by a second group of addresses; addressing circuitry operable to provide in each addressing cycle a pair of addresses comprising one from the first group and one from the second group, thereby accessing a plurality of syllables from each set of storage locations; and selection circuitry operable to select from said plurality of syllables to output to a processor lane based on whether a required syllable is addressable by an address in the first or second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Tariq Kurd
  • PROXIMITY SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND FIRMWARE
    Publication number: 20120153120
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • Error Correction in Thermometer Codes
    Publication number: 20120154187
    Abstract: A thermometer coded line is configured to convert a time interval to a digital code for subsequent processing in order to output a value representative of said time interval. A digital peak detector is coupled to receive output from the thermometer coded line, the detector operating for correction of an undesired code of said digital code in order to ensure a valid output of said value. A majority logic circuit is coupled between the thermometer coded line and the digital peak detector, the logic circuit operating for correction of undesired code of said digital code in order to ensure the valid output of said value. The detector functions to correct any undesired code not corrected by, or introduced by, the logic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Neale Dutton
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING 3D IMAGES
    Publication number: 20120154541
    Abstract: A camera module includes a single lens system, a sensor and an image enhancer. The image enhancer is operable to enhance a single image captured by the sensor via the single lens system. The image enhancer performs opto-algorithmic processing to extend the depth of field of the single lens system, a mapping to derive a depth map from the captured single image; and image processing to calculate suitable offsets from the depth map as is required to produce a 3-dimensional image. The calculated offsets are applied to appropriate image channels so as to obtain the 3-dimensional image from the single image capture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Iain Douglas Scott
  • Calibrated pulsed serial link
    Patent number: 8204159
    Abstract: Circuitry for decoding data from a pulsed signal received on a single line, the circuitry comprising receiving means for receiving a first edge and a second edge on the single line, the first and second edges being separated by a time period, the time period representing said data; decode circuitry comprising determining means arranged to determine a value of the time period and decoding means arranged to decode said data based on said determined value of the time period; a memory arranged to store a reference value; and calibration means for calibrating said decode circuitry based on a comparison between said determined value of the time period and said reference value, wherein the determining means comprises a plurality of sampling units for sampling said pulsed signal at different times, and selection means for selecting the output of one of said sampling units to decoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Robert Warren
  • Compact optical zoom
    Patent number: 8203627
    Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a variator lens group, a compensator lens group and a third lens group. The compensator lens group is arranged to only partially compensate for movement of the variator group. In order to provide further compensation for the zoom lens, an image enhancer implement wavefront coding and artifact reduction techniques. The compensator group may be fixed or alternatively, its movement relative to the variator may be effected by a simple cam mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd
    Inventors: Ewan Findlay, Andrew Harvey, Mads Demenikov
  • DETECTING KEY CORRUPTION
    Publication number: 20120148047
    Abstract: Corruption in a key stored in a memory is detected by reading a key from a key memory and determining if detection bits of the key read from the key memory correspond to an expected value. The expected value is a value of the detection bits of the key when the key is written to the key memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Trimmer
  • VERIFICATION
    Publication number: 20120144225
    Abstract: A circuit simulator includes at least one clock generator. The at least one clock generator is configured to generate at least one root clock signal for an associated clock domain part of the circuit under simulation. The circuit simulator also includes a clock modifier configured to generate at least one delay to be applied to at least one of the at least one root clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Robert Hindle
  • OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120138778
    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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Colin CAMPBELL, Hazel Mcinnes, Jeffrey Raynor, Mathieu Reigneau
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GLUE FLOW
    Publication number: 20120138222
    Abstract: A method for controlling a contact angle between a glue and a surface of a substrate during manufacture of microchip packages is disclosed. The method includes applying a glue to a surface of a substrate, and placing an electrode in electrical connection with the glue. A potential difference is applied between the electrode and the substrate. The potential difference is applied across the glue and causes a contact angle between the glue and the surface of the substrate to be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: William Halliday
  • SENSOR ARRAY MICROCHIP
    Publication number: 20120132806
    Abstract: A sensor array microchip apparatus includes a substrate and a lens positioned over the substrate. A plurality of radiation sensor elements are formed on the substrate in an array format and spatially separated from each other. The substrate further includes power supply circuitry (generating power for the radiation sensor elements) and processing circuitry (operable to control and process information from the radiation sensor elements). The power supply circuitry and said processing circuitry are positioned on the substrate within the array between two or more of the radiation sensor elements. The lens, in combination with the spatial separation of the radiation sensor elements in the array format, defines a relatively wide (30-80 degrees) field of regard for the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Ewan Findlay, Sara Pellegrini
  • ANALOG CONVERSION OF PULSE WIDTH MODULATED SIGNALS
    Publication number: 20120133417
    Abstract: A method of converting a periodic pulse width modulated input signal into a voltage output signal wherein the input signal is in an active state for a first portion of each of successive time periods and in an inactive state for a second portion of each time period. A first and second input is supplied to an integrator circuit and a first capacitor is coupled between a first output of the integrator circuit and the first input and a second capacitor is coupled between a second output and the second input of the integrator circuit during a first time period of the pulse width modulated signal. A third capacitor is coupled between a first output of the integrator circuit and the first input and a fourth capacitor is coupled between a second output of the integrator circuit and the second input during a successive second time period of the pulse width modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LTD
    Inventor: Saul Darzy
  • RADIATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120132788
    Abstract: A radiation sensor is provided comprising: one or more first pixels and one or more second pixels. A first optical element is provided over the first and second pixels, having a first field of view. A second optical element is provided over the one or more second pixels, having a second field of view. The second optical element is positioned between the first optical element and the one or more second pixels, wherein the first field of view is substantially narrower than, and lies substantially within, the second field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
    Inventor: Ewan Findlay
  • APPLICATION USING A SINGLE PHOTON AVALANCHE DIODE (SPAD)
    Publication number: 20120133921
    Abstract: A sporting device may include a proximity detector, and a housing for carrying the proximity detector. The proximity detector may comprise a single photon avalanche diode for measuring the speed of an object struck by the housing. For example, the housing may define a tennis racket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: John Kevin MOORE