Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. Ltd.
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Publication number: 20160181988Abstract: A class D amplifier receives and amplifies a differential analog signal which is then differentially integrated. Two pulse width modulators generate pulse signals corresponding to the differentially integrated analog signal and two power units generate output pulse signals. The outputs the power units are coupled to input terminals of integrators via a resistor feedback network. An analog output unit converts the pulse signals to an output analog signal. The differential integration circuitry implements a soft transition between mute/un-mute. In mute, the integrator output is fixed. During the soft transition, the PWM outputs change slowly from a fixed 50% duty cycle to a final value to ensure that no pop noise is present in the output as a result of mode change.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2016Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventors: Ru Feng Du, Qi Yu Liu
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Patent number: 9366701Abstract: A bidirectional voltage differentiator circuit comprises start-up circuitry, sensing circuitry, and output circuitry coupled to logic circuitry. The start-up circuitry acts to start-up the sensing circuitry when the circuit is powered on, and accelerates the response of the sensing circuitry thereafter. The sensing circuitry senses variation in an input voltage applied to an input node. Responsive to the voltage variation sensed by the sensing circuitry, the output circuitry produces a state change at a first or second output node. The logic circuitry receives the states of the output nodes and produces a logic output signal to indicate the occurrence of the variation sensed in the input voltage. The voltage sensing circuit is operable to sense variation of the input voltage regardless of whether the voltage is rising or falling and without regard to the DC value of the input voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD.Inventor: Yijun Duan
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Patent number: 9370059Abstract: A driving apparatus configured to drive a light emitting device includes a driving current source module operable to supply current to the light emitting device via a node during operation. A protection module coupled to the node and the driving current source module selectively injects current to the node during operation. The driving current source module is controlled based on a detection result of a voltage on the node.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD.Inventors: Yi Jun Duan, Tao Tao Huang
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Patent number: 9365415Abstract: An electronic device may include first and second laterally spaced apart interconnect substrates defining a slotted opening, and a first IC in the slotted opening and electrically coupled to one or more of the first and second interconnect substrates. The electronic device may include a first other IC over the first IC and electrically coupled to one or more of the first and second interconnect substrates, and encapsulation material over the first and second interconnect substrates, the first IC, and the first other IC.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventor: Jing-En Luan
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Publication number: 20160142024Abstract: A class-D audio amplifier incorporates an overcurrent protection scheme implementing two overcurrent thresholds to avoid a dynamic impedance drop. When output current reaches the first threshold as a result of an impedance drop across the speaker, the overcurrent protection circuitry limits the output current to the value of the first threshold, but does not shut down the circuit. The second threshold is used to detect an overcurrent condition to shut down the circuit. Current limiting logic of a first channel monitors the overcurrent condition of a second channel and controls the first channel output in response thereto. This permits the second channel output current to reach the second threshold if the circuit is experiencing a short-circuit condition. This scheme also allows the output current to drop below the first threshold if the overcurrent condition of the second channel is caused by an impedance drop across the output speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventors: Ru Feng Du, Qi Yu Liu
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Patent number: 9331672Abstract: A generator circuit is coupled to apply a control signal the gate terminal of a power transistor driving an output node. A reference voltage is generated having a first voltage value as the reference for the control signal and having a second, higher, voltage value for use in stress testing. A clamping circuit is provided between the reference voltage and the power transistor gate to function in two modes. In one mode, the clamping circuit applies a first clamp voltage to clamp the voltage at the gate of the power transistor when the generator circuit is applying the control signal. In another mode, the clamping circuit applies a second, higher, clamp voltage to clamp the gate of the power transistor during gate stress testing.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventor: Ni Zeng
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Patent number: 9331644Abstract: A clamping circuit for a class AB amplifier includes a reference voltage circuit, four NPN Darlington transistors having inputs coupled to the reference voltage circuit, and outputs for providing four clamped voltages and a split NPN Darlington transistor having an input coupled to the reference voltage circuit, and four separate outputs for providing four AC ground voltages.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD.Inventors: Mei Yang, YueHua Wang, Xaut Zhang, Kelvin Wen, XiangSheng Li
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Publication number: 20160118894Abstract: A driver circuit includes a high-side power transistor having a source-drain path coupled between a first node and a second node and a low-side power transistor having a source-drain path coupled between the second node and a third node. A high-side drive circuit, having an input configured to receive a drive signal, includes an output configured to drive a control terminal of said high-side power transistor. The high-side drive circuit is configured to operate as a capacitive driver. A low-side drive circuit, having an input configured to receive a complement drive signal, includes an output configured to drive a control terminal of said low-side power transistor. The low-side drive circuit is configured to operate as a level-shifting driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventors: Hai Bo Zhang, Jerry Huang
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Publication number: 20160119999Abstract: A driving apparatus configured to drive a light emitting device includes a driving current source module operable to supply current to the light emitting device via a node during operation. A protection module coupled to the node and the driving current source module selectively injects current to the node during operation. The driving current source module is controlled based on a detection result of a voltage on the node.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventors: Tao Tao Huang, Yi Jun Duan
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Patent number: 9323273Abstract: A current source circuit is configured to receive a reference current at the input circuit path of a current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit mirrors the reference current and generates mirror currents at a number of output circuit paths. A corresponding number of control transistors are connected in series with the output circuit paths. Each control transistor is selectively actuated in response to a control signal. A decoder circuit is configured to receive a variable control signal and generate actuation signals in response thereto to selective actuate the control transistors to pass the mirror current to an output node. At the output node, the passed mirror currents are summed to generate a variable output current. The variable current is monotonically modulated in response to the variable control signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventors: Meng Wang, Xue Lian Zhou
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Publication number: 20160103463Abstract: An electronic device may include a switching converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, and being selectively operable in a pulse skipping mode based upon a control signal. The switching converter may include a comparator having a first input configured to receive an error signal, a second input configured to receive a skipping mode reference signal, and an output configured to generate the control signal. A reference generator may be configured to generate the skipping mode reference signal as a function of a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventors: Meng Wang, Xue Lian Zhou
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Patent number: 9313386Abstract: An electronic device may include a substrate, an image sensor IC over the substrate, and a lens assembly above the substrate. The lens assembly may include a spacer above the substrate, a first adhesive layer over the spacer, a lens aligned with the image sensor IC and over the first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer surrounding a peripheral surface of the lens and the first adhesive layer, and a baffle over the lens and the second adhesive layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventor: Jing-En Luan
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Patent number: 9312849Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD.Inventors: Min Chen, Wen Liu, HongXia Li, XiaoWu Dai
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Publication number: 20160100468Abstract: A bidirectional voltage differentiator circuit comprises start-up circuitry, sensing circuitry, and output circuitry coupled to logic circuitry. The start-up circuitry acts to start-up the sensing circuitry when the circuit is powered on, and accelerates the response of the sensing circuitry thereafter. The sensing circuitry senses variation in an input voltage applied to an input node. Responsive to the voltage variation sensed by the sensing circuitry, the output circuitry produces a state change at a first or second output node. The logic circuitry receives the states of the output nodes and produces a logic output signal to indicate the occurrence of the variation sensed in the input voltage. The voltage sensing circuit is operable to sense variation of the input voltage regardless of whether the voltage is rising or falling and without regard to the DC value of the input voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventor: Yi Jun Duan
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Patent number: 9306523Abstract: A class D amplifier receives and amplifies a differential analog signal which is then differentially integrated. Two pulse width modulators generate pulse signals corresponding to the differentially integrated analog signal and two power units generate output pulse signals. The outputs the power units are coupled to input terminals of integrators via a resistor feedback network. An analog output unit converts the pulse signals to an output analog signal. The differential integration circuitry implements a soft transition between mute/un-mute. In mute, the integrator output is fixed. During the soft transition, the PWM outputs change slowly from a fixed 50% duty cycle to a final value to ensure that no pop noise is present in the output as a result of mode change.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventors: Ru Feng Du, Qi Yu Liu
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Patent number: 9287227Abstract: An electronic device may include leads, an IC having first and second bond pads, and an encapsulation material adjacent the leads and the IC so the leads extend to a bottom surface of the encapsulation material defining first contact pads. The electronic device may include bond wires between the first bond pads and corresponding ones of the leads, and conductors extending from corresponding ones of the second bond pads to the bottom surface of the encapsulation material defining second contact pads.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventor: Jing-En Luan
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Publication number: 20160062384Abstract: A current source circuit is configured to receive a reference current at the input circuit path of a current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit mirrors the reference current and generates mirror currents at a number of output circuit paths. A corresponding number of control transistors are connected in series with the output circuit paths. Each control transistor is selectively actuated in response to a control signal. A decoder circuit is configured to receive a variable control signal and generate actuation signals in response thereto to selective actuate the control transistors to pass the mirror current to an output node. At the output node, the passed mirror currents are summed to generate a variable output current. The variable current is monotonically modulated in response to the variable control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventors: Meng Wang, Xue Lian Zhou
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Publication number: 20160065148Abstract: A class-D audio amplifier incorporates an overcurrent protection scheme implementing two overcurrent thresholds to avoid a dynamic impedance drop. When output current reaches the first threshold as a result of an impedance drop across the speaker, the overcurrent protection circuitry limits the output current to the value of the first threshold, but does not shut down the circuit. The second threshold is used to detect an overcurrent condition to shut down the circuit. Current limiting logic of a first channel monitors the overcurrent condition of a second channel and controls the first channel output in response thereto. This permits the second channel output current to reach the second threshold if the circuit is experiencing a short-circuit condition. This scheme also allows the output current to drop below the first threshold if the overcurrent condition of the second channel is caused by an impedance drop across the output speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventors: Qi Yu Liu, Ru Feng Du
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Publication number: 20160065066Abstract: A first softstart signal indicates operation in a load phase for a boost rectifier and a second softstart signal indicates operation in a pulse drive phase which follows the load phase. A rectification transistor is actuated for the duration of the load phase in response to the first softstart circuit to generate a rising output voltage. The rectification transistor is further repeatedly actuated during the pulse drive phase in response to the second softstart circuit to generate a boosted output voltage. A first transistor coupled between a first conduction terminal and a body terminal of the rectification transistor is actuated, and a second transistor coupled between the body terminal and a second conduction terminal of the rectification transistor is deactuated, during the load phase. The first transistor is deactuated, and the second transistor is actuated, during the pulse drive phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTDInventors: Hai Bo Zhang, Sanford Li
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Patent number: 9276530Abstract: A class-D audio amplifier incorporates an overcurrent protection scheme implementing two overcurrent thresholds to avoid a dynamic impedance drop. When output current reaches the first threshold as a result of an impedance drop across the speaker, the overcurrent protection circuitry limits the output current to the value of the first threshold, but does not shut down the circuit. The second threshold is used to detect an overcurrent condition to shut down the circuit. Current limiting logic of a first channel monitors the overcurrent condition of a second channel and controls the first channel output in response thereto. This permits the second channel output current to reach the second threshold if the circuit is experiencing a short-circuit condition. This scheme also allows the output current to drop below the first threshold if the overcurrent condition of the second channel is caused by an impedance drop across the output speaker.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. LtdInventors: Qi Yu Liu, Ru Feng Du