Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
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Patent number: 6737284Abstract: A contact structure for semiconductor devices which are integrated on a semiconductor layer is provided. The structure comprises at least one MOS device and at least one capacitor element where the contact is provided at an opening formed in an insulating layer which overlies at least in part the semiconductor layer. Further, the opening has its surface edges, walls and bottom coated with a metal layer and filled with an insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Raffaele Zambrano
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Patent number: 6737715Abstract: A field effect transistor having a variable doping profile is presented. The field effect transistor is integrated on a semiconductor substrate with a respective active area of the substrate including a source and drain region. A channel region is interposed between the source and drain regions and has a predefined nominal width. The effective width of the channel region is defined by a variable doping profile.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Federico Pio, Paola Zuliani
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Patent number: 6738313Abstract: A system for detecting distances for vehicle and robotic applications includes a transducer for generating a transmission signal to be sent in the direction of an obstacle, and for obtaining a receiving signal corresponding to an echo produced by the reflection of the transmission signal off the obstacle. The transducer is driven by a chaos generator, such as a Chua's circuit. The system also includes a correlator for correlating the transmission signal and the receiving signal so that the distance between the obstacle and the transducer is identified by an instant at which the correlation assumes a high value. The transmission signal may be a square-wave signal selectively generated with one first frequency and one second frequency, and jumps between the two frequencies are determined by the instants of emission of the pulses generated by an analog type pulse generator driven by the chaos generator.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Luigi Fortuna, Alessandro Rizzo, Mattia Frasca, Marco Branciforte, Marco Bartolone
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Patent number: 6737886Abstract: An output buffer for causing a voltage (Vout) of an integrated circuit output line (OUT,OUT_PAD) to switch from a voltage of a first voltage line (VDD) to a voltage of a second voltage line (GND) and vice versa, comprises a current path switch circuit (111a,111b) activatable for causing a prescribed current (Is) to constantly flow between the first and second voltage lines during a time between two successive switchings of the output line, and for causing the prescribed current to be deviated (Ic1) to the output line during at least an initial phase of an output line switching from the first voltage line voltage to the second voltage line voltage or vice versa. A current delivered by the first and second voltage lines is thus kept substantially constant in the output line switching. In this way, the time derivative of the current flowing between the first and the second voltage lines is kept small and low switching noise is induced.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Giacomo Curatolo, Ignazio Martines, Davide Torrisi
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Patent number: 6734565Abstract: An integrated device having: a first conductive region; a second conductive region; an insulating layer arranged between the first and the second conductive region; at least one through opening extending in the insulating layer between the first and the second conductive region; and a contact structure formed in the through opening and electrically connecting the first conductive region and the second conductive region. The contact structure is formed by a conductive material layer that coats the side surface and the bottom of the through opening and surrounds an empty region which is closed at the top by the second conductive region. The conductive material layer preferably comprises a titanium layer and a titanium-nitride layer arranged on top of one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Raffaele Zambrano, Cesare Artoni, Chiara Corvasce
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Patent number: 6735514Abstract: A control device for a vehicle engine includes a memory unit for storing engine configuration parameters, a processing unit for sending control signals to the engine in accordance with the configuration parameters, and an input/output unit connectible to an external computer to modify the configuration parameters. The control device includes a first portion and a second portion of the memory unit, with each portion being alternately used in an active state for storing a current version of the configuration parameters or in an inactive state for the writing of a new version of the configuration parameters. The processing unit accesses the portion which is in the active state for reading, and the input/output unit accesses the portion which is in the inactive state for writing. An interconnection unit selectively switches one of the portions to the active state and the other of the portions to the inactive state.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Magneti Marelli S.p.A.Inventors: Alessandro Pepi, Saverio Pezzini, Paolo Marceca, Alberto Ferrari
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Patent number: 6734646Abstract: A driving circuit for electronically switched motors is provided. The driving circuit includes a supply voltage rectifying stage for providing a rectified supply voltage, first switching means for switching state based on output of a first control block, magnetic means for providing a magnetic flux according to the state of the first switching means, transmission diodes for transmitting an exciting current that flows through the magnetic means, first energy storing means for storing the exciting current, an energy return stage for transferring the energy stored in the first energy storing means to the rectifying stage, and energetic conversion means for receiving the energy stored in the energy storing means through second switching means controlled by a second control block, so as to provide a current as sinusoidal as possible.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Natale Aiello, Matteo Lo Presti, Alfio Consoli, Francesco Gennaro, Antonio Testa
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Patent number: 6734490Abstract: The memory cell is formed in a body of a P-type semiconductor material forming a channel region and housing N-type drain and source regions at two opposite sides of the channel region. A floating gate region extends above the channel region. A P-type charge injection region extends in the body contiguously to the drain region, at least in part between the channel region and the drain region. An N-type base region extends between the drain region, the charge injection region, and the channel region. The charge injection region and the drain region are biased by special contact regions so as to forward bias the PN junction formed by the charge injection region and the base region. The holes thus generated in the charge injection region are directly injected through the base region into the body, where they generate, by impact, electrons that are injected towards the floating gate region.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: David Esseni, Luca Selmi, Roberto Bez, Alberto Modelli
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Publication number: 20040088528Abstract: In order to manage, in the interrupt stage, a memory stack associated with a microcontroller according to a Program Counter signal and to a Condition Code Register signal that can be contained in respective registers, a first part of memory stack is provided which comprises a register for the Program Counter signal, and a second part of memory stack consisting of a bank of memory elements equal in number to the number of bits of the Condition Code Register signal for the number of the interrupts of the microcontroller. The two parts of stack are made to function in parallel by respective stack-pointer signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Santi Carlo Adamo, Edmondo Gangi
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Patent number: 6729318Abstract: An electronic component, such as an IGBT, that presents a control terminal for receiving a stepwise control signal and at least one other terminal adapted for reaching a given voltage level by effect of the application of the step signal, with the possibility of overshoot occurring; and a damping resistive element interposed between the control terminal and the at least one other terminal. The damping resistive element shows a current saturated behavior correlated to voltage increase applied at the terminals towards the given voltage level, thus eliminating the risk of occurrence of overshoot in the voltage of the IGBT collector, and preventing the undesired re-ignition of the IGBT when it is in a cut-off condition, by inducing an overvoltage on the collector terminal.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Antonino Torres
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Patent number: 6731557Abstract: A method (1110a;1110b) of refreshing an electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory (100) having a plurality of memory cells (Mhk) is proposed. The method includes the steps of: verifying (1106-1114; 1152-1162) whether a memory cell has drifted from a correct condition (i.e., a predetermined voltage and/or voltage range), and individually restoring (1116-1130) the correct condition of the memory cell if the result of the verification is positive.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Franco Enrico Beretta
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Patent number: 6731120Abstract: A distance sensor has a capacitive element in turn having a first plate which is positioned facing a second plate whose distance is to be measured. In the case of fingerprinting, the second plate is defined directly by the skin surface of the finger being printed. The sensor comprises an inverting amplifier, between the input and output of which the capacitive element is connected to form a negative feedback branch. By supplying an electric charge step to the input of the inverting amplifier, a voltage step directly proportional to the distance being measured is obtained at the output.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.Inventor: Marco Tartagni
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Publication number: 20040083442Abstract: A method of designing and fabricating a control unit for electronic microcontrollers or microprocessors that includes fabricating a finite state machine having at least one combinatorial network, the finite state machine having a plurality of control subunits, each control subunit structured to correspond to one combinatorial logic network. Each unit in the plurality of control subunits is independently connected to an arbitration block to provide information about a possible future state and to receive a present state command.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2003Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Liliana Arcidiacono, Vincenzo Matranga
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Patent number: 6727838Abstract: The present invention herein describes a tracking analog-to-digital converter, in particular of the differential input type. In an embodiment thereof the tracking analog-to-digital converter, having a differential analog input including a first analog input and a second analog input, and a digital output at a first number of bits comprising: a back and forth counter having a direction input and an output, with a second number of bits; a digital-to-analog converter having a data input coupled to said output of said converter, a reference input and an output, with a second number of bits; a first comparator having a positive input, a negative input coupled to said output of said digital-to-analog converter and an output coupled to said direction input; characterized in that said reference input is coupled to said first analog input and said positive input of said first comparator is coupled to said second analog input.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Luca Schillaci, Alessandro Scrivani, Simone Silvestri, Maurizio Nessi
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Patent number: 6727742Abstract: A high-voltage level shifting circuit with optimized response time, comprising: an inverter having an input and an output, the inverter being connected between a first voltage and a second voltage whose difference remains constant over time; a resistor, in which one terminal is connected to the first voltage and a second terminal is connected to the input of the inverter; a high-voltage transistor, which is connected between the second terminal of the resistor and a current source whose switching on and off determine the level shifting of a digital signal; and a clamp transistor, which is connected between the first voltage and a node that is common to the resistor and to the high-voltage transistor. The gate terminal of the clamp transistor is connected to the output of the inverter.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Adalberto Mariani, Giulio Corva
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Patent number: 6728088Abstract: An electronic thermal protection circuit is for high currents which can occur in the start-up phase in lighting converters. The circuit is associated with a power device having an output terminal connected to an electric load and at least one control terminal receiving a predetermined driving current value by a driving circuit portion. Advantageously, an integrated temperature sensor is provided to detect the temperature of the power device, and an output stage is connected downstream of the sensor to switch off the driving circuit portion when a predetermined operation temperature is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Natale Aiello, Atanasio La Barbera, Vincenzo Randazzo, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
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Patent number: 6728687Abstract: A method of controlling the movements of a multi-actuator electro-mechanical system having a matrix of locally interconnected analog cells associated therewith is provided. Each cell represents a hardware implementation of a model of fuzzy inference rules. The model includes a fuzzy circuit architecture which may be implemented in an integrated circuit with VLSI CMOS technology that generates and controls a reaction diffusion mechanism typical of auto-waves using a fuzzy neural network. The fuzzy neural network defines the functional relationships that may duplicate simultaneous reaction diffusion equations. The duplication of the simultaneous reaction diffusion equations is provided using two sets of fuzzy rules processing, in a linguistic manner, the state variables of the cells. An oscillatory type dynamic is imposed on each cell where two dynamic processes having different kinetic characteristics coexist.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2000Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Paolo Arena, Marco Branciforte, Giovanni Di Bernardo, Luigi Occhipinti
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Patent number: 6728141Abstract: The method for timing reading of a memory cell envisages supplying the memory cell (with a constant current by means of a first capacitive element, integrating said current in a time interval, and controlling the duration of the time interval in such a way as to compensate for any deviations in the current from a nominal value. In particular, a reference current is supplied to a reference cell by means of a second capacitive element; next, a first voltage present on the second capacitive element is measured; finally, the memory cell is deactivated when the first voltage is equal to a second voltage, which is constant.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rino Micheloni, Giovanni Campardo
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Patent number: 6727479Abstract: An integrated device based upon semiconductor technology, in particular a chemical microreactor, including a semiconductor body having a high-temperature operating portion and a low-temperature operating portion. The semiconductor body is provided with a thermal-insulation device including a dissipator element arranged between the high-temperature operating portion and the low-temperature operating portion. The dissipator includes a membrane connecting the high-temperature operating portion and the low-temperature operating portion, and a plurality of diaphragms that extend substantially orthogonal to the membrane and are parallel to one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Flavio Villa, Gabriele Barlocchi, Manlio Gennaro Torchia, Ubaldo Mastromatteo
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Publication number: 20040075422Abstract: A voltage regulator with quick response includes: an output terminal supplying a regulated voltage; and at least a first boost circuit, controlled for alternately accumulating a first charge in a first operating condition and supplying the first charge to the output terminal in a second operating condition. In addition, the first boost circuit is provided with a compensation stage supplying the output terminal with a second charge substantially equal to the first charge, when the first boost circuit is in the first operating condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Nicola Del Gatto, Vincenzo Dima, Carla Poidomani, Carmelo Chiavetta