Patents Assigned to STMicroelectronics
  • STANDARD CELL FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20120132963
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) cell may include first and second semiconductor regions, and parallel electrically conductive lines extending above the first and second semiconductor regions. The IC cell may further include electrically conductive line contacts electrically connected to the parallel electrically conductive lines, and may include at least one first line contact between the first semiconductor region and a corresponding end of the IC cell, and at least one second line contact between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. Adjacent ones of the electrically conductive lines may be respectively coupled to one of the at least one first line contact and to one of the at least one second line contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics STM, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SA
    Inventors: Rwik Sengupta, Rohit Kumar Gupta, Mitesh Goyal, Olivier Menut
  • MEMS BIAXIAL RESONANT ACCELEROMETER
    Publication number: 20120132003
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical detection structure for a MEMS resonant biaxial accelerometer is provided with: an inertial mass, anchored to a substrate by elastic elements to be suspended above the substrate. The elastic elements enabling inertial movements of the inertial mass along a first axis of detection and a second axis of detection that belong to a plane of main extension of said inertial mass, in response to respective linear external accelerations. At least one first resonant element and one second resonant element have a respective longitudinal extension, respectively along the first axis of detection and the second axis of detection, and are mechanically coupled to the inertial mass through a respective one of the elastic elements to undergo a respective axial stress when the inertial mass moves respectively along the first axis of detection and the second axis of detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Politecnico Di Milano
    Inventors: Claudia Comi, Alberto Corigliano, Barbara Simoni
  • APPLICATION USING A SINGLE PHOTON AVALANCHE DIODE (SPAD)
    Publication number: 20120133955
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing having a mousing surface, and a navigation device carried by the housing and comprising a proximity detector. The proximity detector may include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to detect movement of an activator adjacent the mousing surface. For example, the proximity detector may detect movement along three axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick BAXTER
  • ENCAPSULATED PHOTOMULTIPLIER DEVICE OF SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL, FOR USE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MACHINES FOR PERFORMING POSITRON-EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY
    Publication number: 20120132817
    Abstract: An embodiment of a photomultiplier device is formed by a base substrate of insulating organic material forming a plurality of conductive paths and carrying a plurality of chips of semiconductor material. Each chip integrates a plurality of photon detecting elements, such as Geiger-mode avalanche diodes, and is bonded on a first side of the base substrate. Couplings for photon-counting and image-reconstruction units are formed on a second side of the base substrate. The first side of the base substrate is covered with a transparent encapsulating layer of silicone resin, which, together with the base substrate, bestows stiffness on the photomultiplier device, preventing warpage, and covers and protects the chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Mark Andrew SHAW, Federico Giovanni ZIGLIOLI
  • APPLICATION USING A SINGLE PHOTON AVALANCHE DIODE (SPAD)
    Publication number: 20120132636
    Abstract: An oven may include a housing having a cooking receptacle configured to hold content therein, a heating element carried by the housing and configured to heat the content, and a proximity detector carried by the housing in the cooking receptacle and configured to detect surface movement of the content. The proximity detector may include at least one SPAD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: John Kevin MOORE
  • DEVICE AND RELATIVE METHOD FOR SCAVENGING ENERGY
    Publication number: 20120133151
    Abstract: An energy scavenging device includes an electromagnetic transducer adapted to generate a current in response to accelerations impressed thereto. The device also includes a power switching stage input with the current generated by the electromagnetic transducer, having a network of controlled switches adapted to alternately deliver on output nodes of the switching stage an output current that does not invert its sign and to short-circuit the transducer. There is an output capacitor coupled between the output nodes of the power stage. A controller having a sensor coupled to the electromagnetic transducer is to sense the current flowing therethrough, the controller being adapted to drive the switches of the power stage in order to either short-circuit the electromagnetic transducer or to direct the current flowing through the transducer to charge the output capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Valeria BOTTAREL, Guilio Ricotti, Sandro Rossi
  • RADIATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120133799
    Abstract: A radiation sensor includes first and second pixels with a radiation absorption filter positioned over the first pixel and an interference filter positioned over both the first and second pixels. The combined spectral response of the absorption filter and the first pixel has a first pixel pass-band and a first pixel stop-band. The interference filter has a first interference filter pass-band substantially within the first pixel pass-band and a second interference filter pass-band substantially within the first pixel stop-band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Ewan Findlay
  • Method and apparatus for reducing power comsumption in a wireless communication device
    Publication number: 20120135776
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving power in a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving at least a portion of a PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) frame, where the PPDU frame includes an aggregate MAC protocol data unit (A-MPDU) field. The method also includes comparing a receiver address (RA) within the A-MPDU field to a stored address of the wireless communication device and, if the received RA does not match the stored address, causing power to be removed from one or more circuits of the wireless communication device for a calculated period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • PROXIMITY SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120132793
    Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a sensor package having an attachment pad with a radiation source and a radiation detector housed within the sensor package. The source and the detector are held in a fixed relation to the attachment pad, and are mounted by one of a direct or indirect attachment to the attachment pad. A portion of the attachment pad is adapted to form a baffle which forms at least part of an optical isolator. The optical isolator is adapted to substantially prevent the internal propagation of radiation between the source and the detector within the sensor package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Colin Campbell, Ewan Findlay
  • RADIATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120132809
    Abstract: A radiation sensor includes first and second pixels with a radiation absorption filter positioned over the first pixel and an interference filter positioned over both the first and second pixels. The combined spectral response of the absorption filter and the first pixel has a first pixel pass-band and a first pixel stop-band. The spectral response of the interference filter has an interference filter pass-band which is substantially within the first pixel pass-band for radiation incident on the interference filter at a first angle of incidence, and substantially within the first pixel stop-band for radiation incident on the interference filter at a second angle of incidence greater than the first angle of incidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Ewan Findlay
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SIMULATING A RESET SIGNAL IN A SIMULATED SYSTEM ON CHIP
    Publication number: 20120137115
    Abstract: A method and system for simulating a reset signal in a modeled system comprises a reset control module and a module to be reset. Operations of the system include emitting by a control thread of the control module a reset signal, receiving by the module to be reset the reset signal, waking up a thread of the module to be reset, and waiting for a reset signal. If the thread is woken up by the reset signal further operations include activating a reset exception by the thread, and if a reset exception is raised, making the thread wait for a reboot signal, transmitting the reboot signal by the control thread to the module to be reset, and after receiving the reboot signal, activating the thread which executes and waits for a reset signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventor: Maxime Fiandino
  • ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH PROTECTION CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20120134060
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises an application circuit; a first supply rail having a first electric potential; a second supply rail having a second electric potential different from the first electric potential; at least one terminal having a third electric potential, connected to the application circuit; and a protection circuit for protecting the application circuit from an injected current. The protection circuit comprises a first conductive line connected between the at least one terminal and the first supply rail, the first conductive line comprising a first switch having a first control input; and a first voltage amplifier circuit having a first input connected to the at least one terminal, a second input connected to the second supply rail and a first output connected to the first control input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Stmicroelectronics SRL, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert Bode, Mauro Giacomini
  • Proximity Sensor
    Publication number: 20120133956
    Abstract: The internal propagation of radiation between a radiation source and radiation detector mounted within a sensor package is prevented by the use of an optical isolator. The optical isolator is formed by the combination of a baffle mounted between the source and detector and a groove formed in an upper surface of the sensor package between the source and detector. A bottom of the groove is positioned adjacent to an upper edge of the baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Ewan Findlay, Colin Campbell, Gemma Ramsey, Eric Saugier
  • 80MHZ/160MHZ TRANSMISSION OPPORTUNITY (TXOP) PROTECTION IN 802.11ac TRANSMISSIONS
    Publication number: 20120134324
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for negotiating an idle subchannel set for a wireless data transmission. The method includes transmitting an indication of a first set of idle subchannels to a wireless station. The method also includes receiving an indication of a second set of idle subchannels from the wireless station. The method further includes determining a final set of idle subchannels based on the indication of the first set of idle subchannels and the indication of the second set of idle subchannels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE COMPRISING A CAPACITOR AND AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION VIA AND FABRICATION METHOD
    Publication number: 20120133020
    Abstract: A dielectric wafer has, on top of its front face, a front electrical connection including an electrical connection portion. A blind hole passes through from a rear face of the wafer to at least partially reveal a rear face of the electrical connection portion. A through capacitor is formed in the blind hole. The capacitor includes a first conductive layer covering the lateral wall and the electrical connection portion (forming an outer electrode), a dielectric intermediate layer covering the first conductive layer (forming a dielectric membrane), and a second conductive layer covering the dielectric intermediate layer (forming an inner electrode). A rear electrical connection is made to the inner electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Joblot, Alexis Farcy, Jean-Francois Carpentier, Pierre Bar
  • APPLICATION USING A SINGLE PHOTON AVALANCHE DIODE (SPAD)
    Publication number: 20120133617
    Abstract: An control device may control an associated electronic device and parameter for the same. The control device may include a proximity detector. The proximity detector may include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The proximity detector may be configured to control the electronic device and change the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth DARGAN
  • ANALOG CONVERSION OF PULSE WIDTH MODULATED SIGNALS
    Publication number: 20120133417
    Abstract: A method of converting a periodic pulse width modulated input signal into a voltage output signal wherein the input signal is in an active state for a first portion of each of successive time periods and in an inactive state for a second portion of each time period. A first and second input is supplied to an integrator circuit and a first capacitor is coupled between a first output of the integrator circuit and the first input and a second capacitor is coupled between a second output and the second input of the integrator circuit during a first time period of the pulse width modulated signal. A third capacitor is coupled between a first output of the integrator circuit and the first input and a fourth capacitor is coupled between a second output of the integrator circuit and the second input during a successive second time period of the pulse width modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LTD
    Inventor: Saul Darzy
  • RADIATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120132788
    Abstract: A radiation sensor is provided comprising: one or more first pixels and one or more second pixels. A first optical element is provided over the first and second pixels, having a first field of view. A second optical element is provided over the one or more second pixels, having a second field of view. The second optical element is positioned between the first optical element and the one or more second pixels, wherein the first field of view is substantially narrower than, and lies substantially within, the second field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research& Development)
    Inventor: Ewan Findlay
  • SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE WITH THERMAL VIA AND METHOD OF FABRICATION
    Publication number: 20120133039
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a block for encapsulating a microchip and its electrical connection wires. The encapsulating block has at least one front recess disposed on top of the microchip. A thermally conducting filling material fills the front recess so as to form a thermal via. A radiating structure is attached over the encapsulating block and in thermal communication with the thermal via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventors: Julien Pruvost, Jerome Lopez, Jean-Michel Riviere
  • SYSTEM FOR REPROGRAMMING POWER PARAMETERS FOR LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
    Publication number: 20120133284
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) modules in series are monitored. When an LED module is detected as failing or operating inadequately, a bypass switch removes the particular LED module from the series and the voltage provided to the series is modified. When the LED modules are detected as having too high of a temperature, the current provided to the LED modules is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Henry Ge, Leslie Leong