Patents Assigned to STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET)
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHARACTERIZING OR MEASURING A FLOATING CAPACITANCE
    Publication number: 20130063157
    Abstract: The disclosure comprises: linking a first terminal of the capacitance to the mid-point of a first voltage divider bridge, applying a first voltage to a second terminal of the capacitance, maintaining a voltage of a mid-point of the first divider bridge near a reference voltage, and discharging a mid-point of a second divider bridge with a constant current. When a voltage of the mid-point of the second bridge reaches a first voltage threshold, applying a second voltage to the second terminal of the capacitance, and measuring the time for the voltage to reach a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
  • SENSE AMPLIFIER WITH FAST BITLINE PRECHARGE MEANS
    Publication number: 20130064021
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sense amplifier comprising a cascode transistor and means for biasing the cascode transistor, supplying a control voltage to a gate terminal of the cascode transistor. The means for biasing the cascode transistor comprise means for isolating the gate terminal of the cascode transistor from the output of the voltage generator during a first period of the precharge phase, so as to boost the bitline voltage, then for linking the gate terminal to the output of the voltage generator during a second period of the precharge phase. Application in particular to sense amplifiers for non-volatile memories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: Francesco La Rosa
  • Inductive evaluation of the coupling factor of an electromagnetic transponder
    Patent number: 8395485
    Abstract: A method for evaluating the current coupling factor between an electromagnetic transponder and a terminal, wherein a ratio between data representative of a voltage across an oscillating circuit of the transponder and obtained for two pairs of inductive and capacitive values of this oscillating circuit is compared with one or several thresholds, the two pairs of values preserving a tuning of the oscillating circuit to a same frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Luc Wuidart
  • Method and device for correlating a signal, in particular an ultra wideband signal
    Patent number: 8396172
    Abstract: The waveform of the signal varies according to the distance at which the signal was emitted, and several correlation signals are defined and correspond respectively to at least part of several sampled waveforms of the signal respectively emitted at several distances of different values so that the sum of the maxima of intercorrelations performed respectively between the various correlation signals and the various sampled waveforms is substantially constant over an interval including all the values of the distances. The correlation processing includes several elementary correlation processings respectively performed with the correlation signals and each delivering initial correlation values, as well as a summation of the homologous initial correlation values respectively delivered by the elementary correlation processings so as to obtain the correlation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS, Universite de Provence Aix-Marseilles
    Inventors: Hervé Chalopin, Anne Collard-Bovy, Philippe Courmontagne
  • Method of detecting an attack by fault injection on a memory device, and corresponding memory device
    Patent number: 8397152
    Abstract: A memory device may include a memory plane including a group of memory cells configured to store a block of bits including data bits and parity bits, and a detector for detecting a fault injection including a reader to read each bit, and a first checker to perform, when reading a block, a parity check based on the read value of each data and parity bit. The memory plane may include reference memory cells arranged between some of the memory cells to create packets of m memory cells. Each reference memory cell may store a reference bit and each packet of m memory cells may store m bits of the associated block, when m is greater than 1, with different parities. The detector may further include a second checker to perform, when reading the block, a check on the value of each reference bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Mathieu Lisart, Julien Mercier
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHARACTERIZING OR MEASURING A CAPACITANCE
    Publication number: 20130057298
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for characterizing or measuring a capacitance, comprising: linking the capacitance to a first mid-point of a first capacitive divider bridge, applying to the divider bridge a bias voltage, maintaining the voltage of the first mid-point near a reference voltage, discharging a second mid-point of a second divider bridge in parallel with the first by means of a constant current, and measuring the time for a voltage of the second mid-point to become equal to the voltage of the first mid-point. The disclosure may be applied in particular to the control of a touch screen display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
  • Charge pump stage, method for controlling a charge pump stage and memory having a charge pump stage
    Patent number: 8390366
    Abstract: A charge pump having a supply terminal, for receiving a supply voltage, and an output terminal, for supplying an output voltage. The charge pump has a control block including a comparator having a first comparison input, for receiving the supply voltage, a second comparison input, for receiving the output voltage, and a comparison output, for generating a pump-switch-off signal depending upon a comparison between the input voltage and the output voltage; and a switch controlled in switching off by the pump-switch-off signal and configured for switching off the charge pump circuit. The control block has an activation input for receiving an activation signal that has a plurality of pulses and repeatedly activates the comparator-circuit block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Santi Nunzio Antonino Pagano, Francesco La Rosa, Alfredo Signorello
  • EEPROM memory architecture optimized for embedded memories
    Patent number: 8391079
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrically erasable and programmable memory comprising rows of memory cells to store words of N bits each, bit lines and word lines, wherein a row of memory cells comprises a first group of memory cells to store collectively erasable words, and at least one second group of memory cells to store one individually erasable word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Francesco La Rosa
  • FLOATING ADDRESSING OF AN EEPROM MEMORY PAGE
    Publication number: 20130051153
    Abstract: A method for electrically programming a non-volatile memory in which a programming cycle includes prior addressing of memory cells from an initial address corresponding to a first row and a column of a memory plane. The method may include addressing the memory cells in a second consecutive row when the end of the first row i is reached to store data on bits with consecutive and increasing addresses in two consecutive rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Francois Tailliet, Yvon Bahout
  • METHOD OF GENERATING ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DURING THE OPERATION OF THE LATTER, CORRESPONDING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF FABRICATION
    Publication number: 20130026597
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a region containing a thermoelectric material and be configured to be subjected to a temperature gradient resulting from a flow of an electric current in a part of the integrated circuit during its operation, and an electrically conducting output coupled to the region for delivering the electrical energy produced by thermoelectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
  • Memory device of the electrically erasable and programmable type, having two cells per bit
    Patent number: 8363470
    Abstract: The memory device includes a memory cell unit of the electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile type including two memory cells respectively connected to two bit lines via two bit line select transistors. The common terminal between the bit line select transistor and the floating-gate transistor of each memory cell of the memory cell unit is connected to the control gate of the floating-gate transistor of the other memory cell of the memory cell unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: François Tailliet
  • PROCESS FOR FABRICATING A TRANSISTOR COMPRISING NANOCRYSTALS
    Publication number: 20130020628
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a transistor may include forming source and drain regions in a substrate, and forming a floating gate having electrically conductive nanoparticles able to accumulate electrical charge. The process may include deoxidizing part of the floating gate located on the source side, and oxidizing the space resulting from the prior deoxidation so as to form an insulating layer on the source side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Philippe BOIVIN
  • DUAL-FUNCTION INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20130021093
    Abstract: An electronic circuit in a package, including two functions, the package orientation activating a single one of the two functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Francois TAILLIET
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN APPARATUS AS A FUNCTION OF DETECTING PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20130021240
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic apparatus, includes steps of: acquiring an image of the environment of the apparatus, detecting the presence of human faces in the image acquired, estimating a respective position of each face detected in relation to the apparatus, and sending a signal to the apparatus to enable a function of the apparatus if a condition is met relating to a number of faces detected in the image and/or the estimated position of each detected face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: David Coulon
  • ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION MEASUREMENT SENSOR
    Publication number: 20130020477
    Abstract: A method for measuring radiation of energy photons, such as ultraviolet radiation, on a surface, may include programming at least one transistor by at least transmitting an electric charge to it. The method may further include measuring an electrical quantity of the at least one transistor receiving radiation of energy photons and estimating, based on this electrical quantity, an amount of radiation received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Julia Castellan, Philippe Boivin
  • COUNTERMEASURE METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROTECTING DATA CIRCULATING IN AN ELECTRONIC MICROCIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20130015900
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a countermeasure method in an electronic microcircuit, comprising successive process phases executed by a circuit of the microcircuit, and adjusting a power supply voltage between power supply and ground terminals of the circuit, as a function of a random value generated for the process phase, at each process phase executed by the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
  • PROTECTION OF A MODULAR EXPONENTIATION CALCULATION BY MULTIPLICATION BY A RANDOM QUANTITY
    Publication number: 20130016828
    Abstract: A method for protecting a calculation, by an electronic circuit, of a modular exponentiation of a digital quantity, wherein: a first variable is initialized with a random quantity; at least one second variable is initialized with a value which is a function of the digital quantity; at least for a bit at 1 of an exponent of the modular exponentiation, the first variable is updated by: a) the quotient of its content and a power of the random quantity; and b) the product of its content by that of the second variable; and once all the exponent bits have been processed, the content of the first variable is divided by the random quantity to provide the result of the modular exponentiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: Yannick Teglia
  • Integrated Thermoelectric Generator
    Publication number: 20130015549
    Abstract: An integrated thermoelectric generator includes a semiconductor. A set of thermocouples are electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel. The set of thermocouples include parallel semiconductor regions. Each semiconductor region has one type of conductivity from among two opposite types of conductivity. The semiconductor regions are electrically connected in series so as to form a chain of regions having, alternatingly, one and the other of the two types of conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • PROTECTION OF A MODULAR EXPONENTIATION CALCULATION BY ADDITION OF A RANDOM QUANTITY
    Publication number: 20130016826
    Abstract: A method for protecting a calculation, by an electronic circuit, of a modular exponentiation of a digital quantity, wherein: a first variable is initialized with a random quantity increased by once unit; a second variable is initialized with the product of the digital quantity by the random quantity; a third variable is initialized with the digital quantity; iteratively for all the bits at 1 of an exponent of the modular exponentiation, the first variable is updated by: a) multiplying its content by that of the third variable; and b) subtracting thereto the content of the second variable increased by the random quantity; and once all the bits of the exponent have been processed, the content of the first variable is decreased by the random quantity to provide the result of the modular exponentiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Yannick Teglia
  • PROTECTION OF A CALCULATION ON AN ELLIPTIC CURVE
    Publication number: 20130016827
    Abstract: A method for protecting a calculation on an elliptic curve, by an electronic circuit, wherein a point of an elliptic curve is multiplied by a digital quantity, comprising the steps of: initializing a first variable with a value which is a function of a random quantity; initializing at least a second variable with a value which is a function of the digital quantity; at least for a bit at 1 of the digital quantity, the first variable is updated by: a) subtracting a multiple of the random quantity; and b) adding the content of the second variable; and once all the bits of the digital quantity have been processed, subtracting from the first variable the product of the point to by the random quantity to provide the result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Yannick Teglia