Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • Publication number: 20100328526
    Abstract: A camera module includes a substrate with a cavity therein. A processor is located in the cavity, and wire bonding is for connecting the processor to the substrate. An imaging module is adapted to overlay the processor in the cavity and rest on at least part of the edge of the cavity. Wire bonding is for connecting the imaging module to the substrate and the processor. The cavity includes a longitudinal cutout section adapted to accommodate at least some wire bonding for connecting the processor to the substrate or associated surface mount components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: William HALLIDAY, Choon Kiat OOI
  • Publication number: 20100318822
    Abstract: A System-on-Chip may include initiators, targets exchanging information with the initiators, and a control module. The control module may be configured to selectively set to one of different reduced power consumption modes each of the initiators and each of the targets based upon external reduced power consumption instructions, and selectively wake-up from the reduced power consumption mode each initiator and each target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.I., STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Alberto Scandurra, Alan LLoyd, Raffaele Guarrasi
  • Publication number: 20100315622
    Abstract: A lens mounting assembly includes a lens barrel with a first lens assembly. A lens mount includes an image sensor, and the lens barrel matingly connects with the lens mount in a manner which allows the first lens assembly to be moved along an optical axis to adjust a focus on the image sensor. A second lens assembly is provided for adjusting the focus on the image sensor during use of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Colin Campbell
  • Publication number: 20100302160
    Abstract: An optical navigation device for a computer application includes a radiation source capable of producing a beam of radiation, a sensor for receiving an image, and an optical element for identifying movement of the feature to thereby enable a computer action to be carried out. The optical element is formed from a single piece and includes at least one frustrated total internal reflection (F-TIR) surface capable of affecting frustrated total internal reflection of the beam of radiation in the presence of the feature to thereby generate the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Mathieu Reigneau
  • Publication number: 20100302159
    Abstract: An optical navigation device includes an optical transmission element, operable in use to transmit light from an illumination source to a sensor via a mousing surface, and a housing unit. The optical transmission element may have an alignment shaft. Ideally the optical transmission element and housing unit are assembled to a substrate by snap-fit. The alignment shaft ensures that the optics are properly aligned to the substrate and the light source and sensor thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Ewan Findlay, Douglas Stuart Brodie
  • Patent number: 7840628
    Abstract: A combining circuit and method combines a plurality of terms in a multiplier circuit. The combining circuit includes a first circuit, arranged to receive a first set of the plurality of terms and to combine the first set of terms to produce a first combined term set. The combining circuit also includes a second circuit, arranged to receive a second set of the plurality of terms and to combine the second set of terms to produce a second combined term set. The combining circuit further includes a third circuit, arranged to receive the first and second combined term sets and to combine the first and second combined term sets to produce a third combined term set. The combining circuit outputs the first combined term set as a first combination result and the third combined term set as a second combination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Tariq Kurd
  • Patent number: 7839963
    Abstract: Circuitry for synchronizing communications between clock environments wherein a change of state is transmitted from a first clock environment to a second clock environment, the first clock environment being timed by a first clock signal and the second clock environment being timed by a second clock signal, the first and second clock signals having nominally the same frequency but an unknown phase relationship, the circuitry comprising: delay means in the first clock environment arranged to generate a plurality of timing signals by delaying said first clock signal by respectively different delay values; sampling means in the second clock environment for sampling said plurality of timing signals at timing determined by said second clock signal thereby generating a plurality of sampled timing signals; and determining means for generating a control signal based on said plurality of sampled timing signals and outputting said control signal for controlling the transfer time of said change of state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Robert Geoffrey Warren
  • Patent number: 7834311
    Abstract: A lens assembly for an imaging device includes a lens for focusing external radiation towards an image sensor of the imaging device. A mounting member is between the lens and the image sensor so that the lens is spaced a set distance from the image sensor. An adjustment member varies position of the mounting member relative to the image sensor so that the set distance is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Iain McAllister, Eric Christison
  • Patent number: 7834920
    Abstract: A method is for filtering data output from an array of pixels in an image sensor. The method may include filtering noise from variation in pixel response across the array. An electronic device may have a device for filtering data output from an array of pixels in an image sensor. The device may include a noise filter for removing variation in pixel response across the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Stewart Gresty Smith
  • Patent number: 7830304
    Abstract: A system and method of locating the position of a satellite or a user using a satellite positioning system. The system and method includes receiving, at a terminal, satellite positioning data for at least one specified time period over a communications channel. In addition, the system includes storing, at the terminal, the satellite positioning data for the at least one specified time period. Responsive to an event at a later time, the system generally calculates, at the terminal, the satellite position at the later time based only on the satellite positioning data for the at least one specified time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Philip Mattos
  • Patent number: 7805069
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an image sensor, a digital image sensing device and a host system. The digital image sensing device provides image data in a plurality of formats, suitable for the differing requirements of different applications running on a host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research and Development) Limited
    Inventors: Brian Stewart, Andrew Hodgson
  • Publication number: 20100225660
    Abstract: A processing unit comprising a memory configured to hold a plurality of colour stops. The processing unit configured to receive a reference offset and to select two of the colour stops in dependence on the reference offset. The processing unit further configured to calculate an interpolated colour in dependence on the selected colour stops and the reference offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Mathieu Robart
  • Patent number: 7791615
    Abstract: A method of processing image data produced by a solid state image sensor that is overlaid with a color filter array is based on range scaling, demosaicing, matrixing, range clipping and gamma correction being performed in two data collection passes. The demosaicing can be performed with pixels grouped in 2×2 blocks, or quads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Stewart
  • Patent number: 7787761
    Abstract: A lens assembly for an imaging device may include a lens member for focusing external radiation towards an image sensor of the imaging device, and a screen member adjacent the lens member. A transparent portion may be positioned between the lens member and the external radiation and may have first and second surfaces. A first mask member may be positioned at the first surface of the transparent portion and may have an inlet therein. A second mask member may be positioned at the second surface of the transparent portion and may have an outlet therein. The outlet may be smaller than the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research and Development) Limited
    Inventor: Gilles Dufaure De Lajarte
  • Patent number: 7787194
    Abstract: An adjustable lens mounting assembly has a detent system which provides a defined vertical movement of a lens per detent index. A calibration of a lens during assembly of an image sensor is therefore achieved with no moving parts, and generation of foreign material is minimized. Furthermore, gluing of the components can be dispensed with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Mark Nairn, David Mcardle
  • Patent number: 7777879
    Abstract: An optical rotary encoder uses polarization difference imaging techniques to calculate an angle of orientation of a rotatable member. The optical rotary encoder includes a light source, a polarization sensor that has a polarizer and image sensing structure, and a polarizer disk fixed between to the rotatable and interposed between the light source and the polarization sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Baxter, Jeffrey Raynor
  • Publication number: 20100188653
    Abstract: An optical component focus testing apparatus includes a plurality of test pattern displays. One or more illuminators are configured to selectively illuminate different test pattern displays at different times. Light directors are provided to direct light from at least one of the illuminated test pattern displays towards an optical component under test. The light directors and test pattern displays are arranged such that, in use, light directed from different illuminated test pattern displays travel different distances to reach the optical component under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Colin McGarry, Gilles Dufaure De Lajarte
  • Publication number: 20100186087
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that includes a data-bus, system memory, a first processor arranged to receive an input stream, and a second processor programmed to apply one or more security algorithms to secure packets of the input stream to generate at least partially security-processed packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Martin Bolton, Paul Pearson, Diarmuid Emslie
  • Publication number: 20100180114
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include a data-bus, system memory, a first processor arranged to receive an input stream, and a second processor programmed to apply one or more security algorithms to secure packets of the input stream to generate at least partially security-processed packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Martin Bolton, Paul Pearson, Diarmuid Emslie
  • Publication number: 20100157035
    Abstract: An image sensor has a per-column ADC arrangement including first and second capacitors allowing a comparator circuit to perform correlated double sampling. The capacitors are continuously connected to, respectively, the analog pixel signal and a ramp signal without use of a hold operation. The comparator circuit comprises a differential input being connected to the junction of the two capacitors and being biased by a reference signal. The reference signal is preferably sampled and held from a reference voltage. The use of a differential input as first stage of the comparator addresses problems arising from ground voltage bounce when a large pixel array images a scene with low contrast. Connectivity of the differential input stage allows the ramp signal to see a constant capacitive load thus reduce image artifacts referred to as smear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics SA (Morocco), STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Matthew Purcell, Graeme Storm, Derek Tolmie, Mhamed El Hachim, Laurent Simony, Min Qu