Patents by Inventor Daniel Payrard

Daniel Payrard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7843232
    Abstract: A dual mode, single ended to fully differential converter structure is incorporated into a fully differential sample and hold structure which can be coupled with an ADC as a front end for mixed mode applications. The structure incorporates additional switches which allow negative and positive charges to be sampled on both negative and positive sides of the structure. By inverting the sampled charge on one side, single ended to fully differential conversion is obtained. The structure can be implemented in a compact, generic block which performs single ended to fully differential conversions as well as sample and hold functions, without compromising speed and accuracy in either mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: ATMEL Corporation
    Inventors: Bilal Farhat, Renaud Dura, Daniel Payrard
  • Patent number: 7800419
    Abstract: A dual differential sawtooth signal generator includes a first sawtooth voltage generator that has a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are alternately charged with a feedback control source current from a low voltage reference voltage level. A second sawtooth voltage generator has a first discharge capacitor and a second discharge capacitor that are alternately discharged with a feedback control sink current from a high voltage reference voltage level. The output signals of the two sawtooth voltage generators are compared to control a phase frequency comparator that provides signals to control a dual charge pump that provides the feedback control source current and that provides the feedback control sink current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Publication number: 20100219864
    Abstract: A dual mode, single ended to fully differential converter structure is incorporated into a fully differential sample and hold structure which can be coupled with an ADC as a front end for mixed mode applications. The structure incorporates additional switches which allow negative and positive charges to be sampled on both negative and positive sides of the structure. By inverting the sampled charge on one side, single ended to fully differential conversion is obtained. The structure can be implemented in a compact, generic block which performs single ended to fully differential conversions as well as sample and hold functions, without compromising speed and accuracy in either mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ATMEL Corporation
    Inventors: Bilal Farhat, Renaud Dura, Daniel Payrard
  • Patent number: 7777537
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include a method, apparatus and device for generating a power on reset (POR) signal in relation to the crossing point of two currents wherein at least one current is a quadratic function and the other is a logarithmic function, where each has a mathematical correlation to a function of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Demolli, Thierry Soudé, Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca
  • Patent number: 7772894
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include a method, apparatus and device for generating a power on reset (POR) signal in relation to the crossing point of two currents wherein at least one current is a quadratic function and the other is an exponential function, where each has a mathematical correlation to a function of a predetermined power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Demolli, Thierry Soude, Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca
  • Patent number: 7671642
    Abstract: A sawtooth voltage generator has a first capacitor that is charged with a variable feedback control current to provide a sawtooth output signal with a controlled amplitude. A feedback loop includes a comparator that compares a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed voltage reference to provide a comparator output signal to a phase frequency comparator, the output of which controls a source of the variable feedback control current. A method includes controlling the amplitude of a sawtooth output signal by charging a capacitor in a sawtooth voltage generator with a variable feedback control current; comparing a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed reference voltage to provide a comparator output signal; processing the comparator output signal in a phase frequency comparator to provide up/down control signals; and controlling the variable feedback control current with the up/down control signals from the phase frequency comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Patent number: 7642872
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit for use in integrated circuits. The oscillator circuit includes a delay generation circuit having a current mirror with at least a first current mirror branch and a second current mirror branch, a current source coupled to the first current mirror branch, a capacitive element coupled to the first current mirror branch; and a resistive element coupled to the second current mirror branch. The oscillator circuit further includes a plurality of inverting elements coupled in series with one another and a transconducting element coupled to an output of the plurality of inverting elements. The transconducting element is configured to discharge the capacitive element. A latching element is coupled to latch to an output signal of the plurality of inverting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmy Fort, Michel Cuenca, Daniel Payrard
  • Patent number: 7564385
    Abstract: A current compensation circuit and an optimized current compensation circuit are disclosed for a Parallel Resistors Architecture (PRA) digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The circuits are used to balance code dependent current consumption of the PRA-DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: ATMEL Corporation
    Inventors: Thierry Soude, Michel Cuenca, Didier Davino, Daniel Payrard, Frederic Demolli
  • Publication number: 20090153380
    Abstract: A current compensation circuit and an optimized current compensation circuit are disclosed for a Parallel Resistors Architecture (PRA) digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The circuits are used to balance code dependent current consumption of the PRA-DAC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thierry Soude, Michel Cuenca, Didier Davino, Daniel Payrard, Frederic Demolli
  • Publication number: 20080290955
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit for use in integrated circuits. The oscillator circuit includes a delay generation circuit having a current mirror with at least a first current mirror branch and a second current mirror branch, a current source coupled to the first current mirror branch, a capacitive element coupled to the first current mirror branch; and a resistive element coupled to the second current mirror branch. The oscillator circuit further includes a plurality of inverting elements coupled in series with one another and a transconducting element coupled to an output of the plurality of inverting elements. The transconducting element is configured to discharge the capacitive element. A latching element is coupled to latch to an output signal of the plurality of inverting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jimmy Fort, Michel Cuenca, Daniel Payrard
  • Publication number: 20080174346
    Abstract: A dual differential sawtooth signal generator includes a first sawtooth voltage generator that has a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are alternately charged with a feedback control source current from a low voltage reference voltage level. A second sawtooth voltage generator has a first discharge capacitor and a second discharge capacitor that are alternately discharged with a feedback control sink current from a high voltage reference voltage level. The output signals of the two sawtooth voltage generators are compared to control a phase frequency comparator that provides signals to control a dual charge pump that provides the feedback control source current and that provides the feedback control sink current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Publication number: 20080143394
    Abstract: A sawtooth voltage generator has a first capacitor that is charged with a variable feedback control current to provide a sawtooth output signal with a controlled amplitude. A feedback loop includes a comparator that compares a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed voltage reference to provide a comparator output signal to a phase frequency comparator, the output of which controls a source of the variable feedback control current. A method includes controlling the amplitude of a sawtooth output signal by charging a capacitor in a sawtooth voltage generator with a variable feedback control current; comparing a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed reference voltage to provide a comparator output signal; processing the comparator output signal in a phase frequency comparator to provide up/down control signals; and controlling the variable feedback control current with the up/down control signals from the phase frequency comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Publication number: 20080111592
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include a method, apparatus and device for generating a power on reset (POR) signal in relation to the crossing point of two currents wherein at least one current is a quadratic function and the other is an exponential function, where each has a mathematical correlation to a function of a predetermined power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Frederic Demolli, Thierry Soude, Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca
  • Publication number: 20080115000
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include a method, apparatus and device for generating a power on reset (POR) signal in relation to the crossing point of two currents wherein at least one current is a quadratic function and the other is a logarithmic function, where each has a mathematical correlation to a function of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Frederic Demolli, Thierry Soude, Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca
  • Patent number: 7336110
    Abstract: A dual differential sawtooth signal generator includes a first sawtooth voltage generator that has a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are alternately charged with a feedback control source current from a low voltage reference voltage level. A second sawtooth voltage generator has a first discharge capacitor and a second discharge capacitor that are alternately discharged with a feedback control sink current from a high voltage reference voltage level. The output signals of the two sawtooth voltage generators are compared to control a phase frequency comparator that provides signals to control a dual charge pump that provides the feedback control source current and that provides the feedback control sink current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet