Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
  • EXTENDED HOLD-OFF TIME FOR SPAD QUENCH ASSISTANCE
    Publication number: 20210181016
    Abstract: A photodetection circuit includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), and an active quenching circuit coupling the SPAD to an intermediate node and having a variable RC constant. The variable RC constant provides a first RC constant during an idle state so that when the SPAD detects a photon, the SPAD avalanches to begin quenching to set a magnitude of a voltage at a terminal of the SPAD to a quench voltage, the quench voltage being greater than a threshold voltage; a second RC constant greater than the first RC constant during a hold off period during which the quenching occurs so as to maintain the voltage at the terminal of the SPAD at a magnitude that is above the threshold voltage during the hold off period; and a third RC constant less than the second RC constant but greater than the first RC constant during a recharge period during which the SPAD is recharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Mohammed AL-RAWHANI, Bruce Rae
  • Control circuit and method of operating a control circuit
    Patent number: 11031511
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a control circuit that includes at least one active module designed to enable an avalanche diode. The control circuit also includes at least one passive module designed to disable the avalanche diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Laurence Stark
  • SENSOR WITH CROSS TALK SUPPRESSION
    Publication number: 20210165085
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a sensor that detects a distance between the sensor and a target object. The sensor includes a transmission optical structure and/or a light source that polarizes light and minimizes cross talk within the sensor. As a result, detection results of the sensor are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: James Peter Drummond DOWNING, Adam CALEY, Christoph KUCH
  • TIME OF FLIGHT (TOF) SENSOR WITH TRANSMIT OPTIC PROVIDING FOR REDUCED PARALLAX EFFECT
    Publication number: 20210167240
    Abstract: A transmit integrated circuit includes a light source configured to generate a beam of light. A receive integrated circuit includes a first photosensor. A transmit optic is mounted over the transmit and receive integrated circuits. The transmit optic is formed by a prismatic light guide and is configured to receive the beam of light. An annular body region of the transmit optic surrounds a central opening which is aligned with the first photosensor. The annular body region includes a first reflective surface defining the central opening and further includes a ring-shaped light output surface surrounding the central opening. Light is output from the ring-shaped light output surface in response to light which propagates within the prismatic light guide in response to the received beam of light and which reflects off the first reflective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Thineshwaran GOPAL KRISHNAN, Roy DUFFY
  • Time-of-flight imaging device, system and method
    Patent number: 10996323
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) imaging system includes illumination circuitry, such as a laser, one or more sensors, such as SPAD arrays, and image processing circuitry. The illumination circuitry illuminates one or more objects in an environment around the TOF imaging system. The sensors generate an image data stream based on reflections from the one or more illuminated objects, and possibly based on reflections from one or more reflectors. The image processing circuitry generates counts associated with distances based on the image data stream and possibly a reflection data stream and stores the generated counts in a histogram using a plurality of bins. Each of the plurality of bins stores counts associated with a respective distance range. A size of a bin in the plurality of bins is a function of the respective distance range, and may be based on a logarithmic function of the distance associated with the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Sarrah Moiz Patanwala, Neale Dutton
  • DYNAMIC LATCH BASED SPAD FRONT END
    Publication number: 20210124032
    Abstract: A time-of-flight ranging system disclosed herein includes a receiver asserting a photon received signal in response to detection of light that has reflected off a target and returned to the time-of-flight ranging system. A first latch circuit has first and second data inputs receiving a first pair of differential timing references, the first latch circuit latching data values at its first and second data inputs to first and second data outputs based upon assertion of the photon received signal. A first counter counts latching events of the first latch circuit during which the first data output is asserted, and a second counter counts latching events of the first latch circuit during which the second data output is asserted. Processing circuitry determines distance to the target based upon counted latching events output from the first and second counters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: John Kevin MOORE, Neale DUTTON
  • Single-photon avalanche diode-based light communication devices
    Patent number: 10992384
    Abstract: A method of processing a visible light communication (VLC) signal using a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) includes detecting photons of a VLC signal at a SPAD detector, counting the photons detected by the SPAD detector to generate a combined VLC signal comprising a data signal and an ambient signal, extracting the ambient signal from the combined VLC signal, subtracting the ambient signal from the combined VLC signal to generate the data signal, and outputting the data signal as a bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Ellen Couper, Neale Dutton, Alexios Alexandropoulos
  • Avalanche diode and method of manufacturing an avalanche diode
    Patent number: 10978606
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an avalanche diode including at least one PN junction; at least one depletion structure located adjacent to the PN junction and configured to form a depletion region; and at least two electrodes to polarize the at least one PN junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Laurence Stark
  • Latched gray code for ToF applications
    Patent number: 10976709
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: providing a gray-coded time reference to a time-to-digital converter (TDC); receiving an event from an event signal; latching the gray-coded time reference into a memory upon reception of the event signal; and updating a time-of-flight (ToF) histogram based on the latched gray-coded time reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: John Kevin Moore, Neale Dutton
  • QUENCHING OF A SPAD
    Publication number: 20210105427
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device that includes a photodiode having a first terminal that is coupled by a resistor to a first rail configured to receive a high supply potential and a second terminal that is coupled by a switch to a second rail configured to receive a reference potential. A read circuit is configured to provide a pulse when the photodiode enters into avalanche, and a control circuit is configured to control an opening of the switch in response to a beginning of the pulse and to control a closing of the switch in response to an end of the pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Raul Andres BIANCHI, Matteo Maria VIGNETTI, Bruce RAE
  • HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATION USING RECONFIGURABLE PHOTODIODES IN PIXEL ARRAY
    Publication number: 20210098512
    Abstract: An imaging sensor includes a pixel array containing photodiodes, the photodiodes being isolated from one another by full thickness deep trench isolations. Row control circuitry controls which rows of the pixel array operate in an imaging mode and which rows of the pixel array operate in an energy harvesting mode, on a row by row basis. Switch circuitry selectively connects different groups of photodiodes in rows operating in the energy harvesting mode into forward biased series configurations between a voltage output line and a ground line, or into forward biased parallel configurations between the voltage output line and the ground line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Filip KAKLIN, Jeffrey M. RAYNOR
  • Electronic module including an ambient light sensor stacked over a proximity sensor
    Patent number: 10955289
    Abstract: An electronic module includes an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor. The ambient light sensor includes an ambient light photodetector. The proximity sensor includes an infrared photoemitter, a reference infrared photodetector and another infrared photodetector. The ambient light sensor is arranged in a stack over the proximity sensor with a position that allows infrared photons transmitted by the infrared photoemitter to be received by the reference infrared photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: William Halliday, Eric Saugier, Roy Duffy
  • HIGHER PIXEL DENSITY HISTOGRAM TIME OF FLIGHT SENSOR WITH HIGHER PIXEL DENSITY
    Publication number: 20210080576
    Abstract: A distance from an apparatus to at least one object is determined by generating a first signal and generating light modulated by the first signal to be emitted from the apparatus. Light reflected by the at least one object is detected using a Time-of-flight detector array, wherein each array element of the Time-of-flight detector array generates an output signal from a series of photon counts over a number of consecutive non-overlapping time periods. The output signals are compared to the first signal to determine at least one signal phase difference. From this at least one signal phase difference a distance from the apparatus to the at least one object is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: John Kevin MOORE, Neale DUTTON, Jeffrey M. RAYNOR
  • Time of flight (TOF) sensor with transmit optic providing for reduced parallax effect
    Patent number: 10950743
    Abstract: A transmit integrated circuit includes a light source configured to generate a beam of light. A receive integrated circuit includes a first photosensor. A transmit optic is mounted over the transmit and receive integrated circuits. The transmit optic is formed by a prismatic light guide and is configured to receive the beam of light. An annular body region of the transmit optic surrounds a central opening which is aligned with the first photosensor. The annular body region includes a first reflective surface defining the central opening and further includes a ring-shaped light output surface surrounding the central opening. Light is output from the ring-shaped light output surface in response to light which propagates within the prismatic light guide in response to the received beam of light and which reflects off the first reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Thineshwaran Gopal Krishnan, Roy Duffy
  • Diffractive optical element and method for the design of a diffractive optical element
    Patent number: 10948731
    Abstract: A diffractive optical element (DOE) is designed to implement both a collimation function with respect to an input divergent beam and a beam shaping function with respect to an output divergent beam. The phase designs of the collimation function and the beam shaping function are independently produced in the phase domain. These phase designs are then combined using a phase angle addition of the individual functions and wrapped between 0 and 2? radians. The diffractive surface of the DOE is then defined from the wrapped phase angle addition of the individual functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: James Peter Drummond Downing
  • Protected electronic integrated circuit chip
    Patent number: 10950559
    Abstract: An electronic integrated circuit chip includes a semiconductor substrate with a front side and a back side. A first reflective shield is positioned adjacent the front side of the semiconductor substrate and a second reflective shield is positioned adjacent the back side of the semiconductor substrate. Photons are emitted by a photon source to pass through the semiconductor substrate and bounce off the first and second reflective shields to reach a photon detector at the front side of the semiconductor substrate. The detected photons are processed in order to determine whether to issue an alert indicating the existence of an attack on the electronic integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Mathieu Lisart, Bruce Rae
  • Apparatus, method and computer program for performing object recognition
    Patent number: 10922590
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing object recognition includes an image camera to capture a first resolution image and a depth map camera to capture a second resolution depth map. The first resolution is greater than the second resolution. The apparatus is configured to perform object recognition based on the image and the depth map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Apparatus for controlling driver current for illumination source
    Patent number: 10903313
    Abstract: A single photon avalanche diode based range detecting apparatus includes a reference array of single photon avalanche diodes configured to receive light from an illumination source via an internally coupled path. A return array of single photon avalanche diodes is configured to receive light from the illumination source via an external free space path. A calibration pulse generator is configured to generate a calibration signal pulse. Readout circuitry is configured to receive an output of the reference array via a reference signal path, an output of the return array via a return signal path, and an output of the calibration pulse generator via a calibration signal path. The readout circuitry is configured to determine a delay difference value between the reference signal path and the return signal path based on the output of the calibration pulse generator via the calibration signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: John Kevin Moore, Caixin Zhuang
  • Time domain discrete transform computation
    Patent number: 10904049
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, a first counter of a plurality of counters of an apparatus receives a plurality of pulse width signals in the time domain. The first counter generates a first increment signal in the time domain from the plurality of pulse width signals based on a first row of a Discrete Transform matrix. A synchronizer of the apparatus receives the first increment signal. The synchronizer generates a first synchronized increment signal in the time domain from the first increment signal. A first accumulator of a plurality of accumulators of the apparatus receives the first synchronized increment signal. The first accumulator accumulates the first synchronized increment signal over a period of time to generate a first frequency domain signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Filip Kaklin
  • Reverse body biasing of a transistor using a photovoltaic source
    Patent number: 10892757
    Abstract: A metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor has a source terminal, a drain terminal, a gate terminal and a body terminal. The source terminal is connected to receive a supply voltage and the body terminal is connected to receive a reverse body bias voltage. A photovoltaic circuit has a first terminal connected to the source terminal of the MOS transistor and a second terminal connected to the body terminal of the MOS transistor. The photovoltaic circuit converts received photons from the environment to generate the reverse body bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Filip Kaklin