Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics
  • Patent number: 8151151
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising (i) a plurality of portions, each portion including test control circuitry; and (ii) at least one test input arranged to receive test signals, the circuit having a test mode in which one or more of the plurality of portions are testable, wherein the circuit has a reset mode which has priority over the test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Robert Warren
  • Patent number: 8149616
    Abstract: A method for programming multilevel PCM cells envisages: forming an amorphous region of amorphous phase change material in a storage element of a PCM cell by applying one or more reset pulse; and forming a conductive path of crystalline phase change material through the amorphous region by applying one or more set pulse, a size of the conductive path defining a programmed state of the PCM cell and an output electrical quantity associated thereto, and being controlled by the value of the reset pulse and set pulse. The step of forming an amorphous region envisages adaptively and iteratively determining, during the programming operations, a value of the reset pulse optimized for electrical and/or physical properties of the PCM cell, and in particular determining a minimum amplitude value of the reset pulse, which allows programming a desired programmed state and a desired value of the output electrical quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Claudio Resta, Enzo Michele Donze, Roberto Gastaldi, Alessandro Cabrini, Guido Torelli
  • Patent number: 8149056
    Abstract: An amplifier having an output stage with a complementary pair of first and second transistors each coupled to an output node of the amplifier; control circuitry arranged to provide a control signal at a control node of the first transistor based on the voltage at an input node of the amplifier; and adjustment circuitry arranged to adjust the control signal to maintain the current through the first transistor above a minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble) SAS
    Inventors: Serge Pontarollo, Serge Ramet
  • Patent number: 8150181
    Abstract: According to the novel method, roto-translational and zooming parameters describing spurious motion effects are determined by exploiting any of the many block matching algorithms commonly used for motion estimation for calculating a motion vector for all or for a selected number of blocks of pixels of the current frame that is processed. Some of the so calculated motion vectors are not taken into account for estimating spurious motion effects. The roto-translational and zooming parameters describing what is considered to be spurious global motion between a current frame and the precedent frame of the sequence, are calculated by processing the selected motion vectors of blocks of pixels of the frame through a recursive procedure that includes computing error values and readjusting the roto-translational and zooming parameters based on the error values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Arcangelo Ranieri Bruna, Sebastiano Battiato, Giovanni Puglisi
  • Patent number: 8151120
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, method of making an integrated circuit and method of addressing peripherals of an integrated circuit are disclosed for preventing copied software from running on unauthorized hardware. A permanent key is embedded in the integrated circuit and used to transform a peripheral access address output by a processor of the integrated circuit. The transformed access address is supplied to a peripheral address decoder f the integrated circuit, which allows the processor to access a corresponding peripheral. A method of supplying integrated circuits to prevent copied software from running on unauthorized hardware is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMIcroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen Nick Haydock
  • Patent number: 8148829
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package comprises a molding compound covering a semiconductor die. A healing substance is on the surface of the semiconductor die at an interface of the molding compound and the semiconductor die. The healing compound comprises a catalyst and a plurality of microcapsules containing a sealing compound. If the molding compound becomes delaminated from the semiconductor die the microcapsules rupture and spill the sealing compound. When the sealing compound is spilled and contacts the catalyst the sealing compound and catalyst polymerize and fasten the molding compound to the semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Guojun Hu
  • Patent number: 8150683
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program are capable of receiving and cross-correlating a first audio signal and a second audio signal. This produces a cross-correlated signal, which is used to identify a plurality of parameters associated with at least one of the first and second audio signals. The parameters are used to generate an indicator identifying an extent to which the first and second audio signals match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kabi P. Padhi, Sapna George
  • Patent number: 8148258
    Abstract: A method for fabricating electrical bonding pads on the electrical contact areas of a wafer includes producing first blocks made of a solder material, producing second blocks made of a solder material on these first blocks, and passing the blocks through an oven so as to shape the blocks into approximately domed electrical bonding pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble) SAS
    Inventors: Romain Coffy, Jacky Seiller, Gil Provent
  • Publication number: 20120075133
    Abstract: A sigma-delta converter may include an input node, a switched capacitor input stage integrating a difference signal between an input signal from the input node and a feedback signal representing an output signal, and a switched capacitor adder coupled downstream from the switched capacitor input stage and generating a sum signal based upon the input signal with a signal generated by the switched capacitor input stage. The sigma-delta converter may include a switched capacitor output stage amplifying the sum signal and generating an analog amplified signal, a quantization stage coupled in cascade to the switched capacitor output stage and generating the output signal as a digital replica of the analog amplified signal, and a circuit generating the feedback signal as an analog replica of the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Jesus Alejandro GUINEA TRIGO, Andrea Baschirotto
  • Publication number: 20120075451
    Abstract: An optical device for use in an apparatus wherein the optical device is configured for use in a navigation mode and a fingerprint detection mode. By having the capability to operate in two modes, the optical device provides a cost effective approach for navigation and security. Using the same sensor for both functions reduces cost and space requirements, while satisfying functional objectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. RAYNOR
  • Publication number: 20120075920
    Abstract: A memory base cell stores a bit of information implemented from a regular and compact structure made up of multiple identical and replicated base elements, on the “sea of gates” Model, in which the base element of the structure is a cell able to be configured with a minimum width in relation to the particular technology used. Such a cell includes a bistable element with an input node operatively connected to a writing data line of the memory base cell, and an output node operatively connected to a reading data line of the memory base cell. The bistable element also has a first inverter and a second inverter arranged in a feedback configuration with respect to one another between the input node and the output node of the bistable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Valentina NARDONE, Stefano Pucillo, Roberto Canegallo, Claudio Mucci, Massimiliano Innocenti, Luca Perugini
  • Publication number: 20120079151
    Abstract: A method of communication between a master circuit and two slave circuits over a serial bus wherein: the two slave circuits simultaneously transmit their associated identifiers; the two slave circuits simultaneously transmit the inverse of these identifiers; and each slave circuit exploits the combinations present on the bus to determine an order of communication between the two circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: François Tailliet, Yvon Bahout
  • Publication number: 20120079154
    Abstract: An embodiment of a transaction reordering arrangement is provided. The transaction reordering arrangement includes a queue into which respective responses to requests are writable and a controller configured to control a position in said queue to which said respective responses to said requests are written. The position is controlled such that the responses are read out of said queue in an order which corresponds to an order in which the requests are issued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventors: Daniele MANGANO, Ignazio Antonino URZI
  • Publication number: 20120075739
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise in a communication signal is provided. The method includes converting raw channel data from the communication signal to a sequence of transition code symbols, each symbol having a plurality of bits, each bit having a position within the symbol. The method also includes sending the bits of each symbol to a plurality of bins, each bin corresponding to the position of each bit within the symbol. For each bin having a number of transitions greater than a number of non-transitions, the method also includes flipping every bit in the bin and setting a corresponding bit in a flip control word to a first value. The method still further includes binary adding the flip control word to each transition code symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hakan C. Ozdemir, Razmik Karabed, Richard Barndt
  • Publication number: 20120077513
    Abstract: An embodiment concerns the field of real-time location systems (RTLS) based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) measurements. An embodiment is based on determining the distances between wireless device of a network based on a model that describes the relation of the RSSI value relative to the packet exchanged between nodes as a function of the distance, wherein said model depends on at least one characteristic parameter of the transmission channel and wherein at least said characteristic parameter of the transmission channel is determined periodically and automatically, exploiting the known distances among fixed nodes. In this way, the errors relative to possible time-variability of the transmission channel are reduced and the accuracy and stability of the location measurements are increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Marco RIZZELLO, Vincenzo CACACE
  • Publication number: 20120076162
    Abstract: A device to be positioned between a heat source and a heat sink may transform infrared electromagnetic (IR-EM) energy exchanged therebetween from a first form to a second form. The device may include a pair of layers facing each other and having dielectric material with molecular excitability characteristics to produce the second form of IR-EM energy. The pair of layers may define a gap therebetween. The device may include a conversion circuit configured to convert the second form of IR-EM energy into electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni GIRLANDO
  • Patent number: 8144537
    Abstract: A balanced differential amplifier sense amplifier senses the voltage level in a selected single bit line memory cell. The output of the selected single bit-line memory cell is connected to one input of the balanced differential sense amplifier while the other input receives a reference voltage provided by a corresponding single bit-line memory cell from a complementary memory bank. A supporting voltage is added-to/subtracted-from the reference voltage by providing a “bump” or “dip” mechanism or by utilizing a charge-sharing structure, in order to compensate for the variation in the sensed bit-line voltage over the duration of the sensing interval as well as for the disparity in voltage level from cell to cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics PVT. Ltd.
    Inventors: Anand Kumar Mishra, Harsh Rawat
  • Patent number: 8143829
    Abstract: An embodiment of a disk drive power system is described. The system is operable such that during power interruption, the system taps electric power by rectifying the back-EMF generated across each winding of a DC motor and supplying power to a voice-coil motor to park a read/write head safely away from an associated magnetic disk surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Pauy-Guan Tan
  • Patent number: 8143091
    Abstract: A method realizes a thin film organic electronic device integrated on a substrate and includes an organic material layer and an organic thin film transistor or OTFT transistor. The method comprises: depositing the organic material layer on the substrate, the organic material layer being a conductive organic polymer; patterning by a soft-lithographic procedure the organic material layer to create a reduced portion in order to make a channel area of the OTFT transistor; masking the organic material layer by covering with a cover mask a source area and a drain area of the OTFT transistor; irradiating by ultraviolet radiation to deactivate exposed portions of the organic material layer defining the source area, the drain area and the channel area; depositing on the organic material layer a semiconductor layer; and creating on the semiconductor layer a gate area of the OTFT transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanna Salzillo, Maria Grazia Maglione, Anna Morra, Luigi Occhipinti
  • Patent number: 8144775
    Abstract: A motion estimation method and device are provided for processing images to be inserted, between a preceding original image and a following original image, into a sequence of determined images. Each image is divided into pixel blocks and a motion vector is associated with each block of a processed image. Motion vectors associated with respective blocks of the image are processed and motion vectors associated with respective blocks of a preceding processed image (spatial and temporal motion vectors) are selected with respect to a current block of an image being processed. Candidate motion vectors are generated from the motion vectors selected. One vector is elected from among the candidate vectors. Information associating the elected vector with the block is stored. A temporal motion vector is selected only if it satisfies a determined selection criterion based on the orientation of the motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Marina Nicolas