Patents by Inventor Denis Cottin
Denis Cottin 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).
-
Publication number: 20220069811Abstract: An output potential level among two first levels is delivered according to an input level among two second levels. The output potential level is delivered at a first node connecting together first and second transistors electrically in series between two second nodes of application of the first levels. A first DC voltage defining a high limit for the control voltage of the first transistor is delivered by a first voltage generator powered by one of the second nodes. A second DC voltage defining a high limit for the control voltage of the second transistor is delivered by a second voltage generator controlled by a value representative of the first voltage and powered between the second nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Denis COTTIN, Fabrice ROMAIN
-
Publication number: 20180191317Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a first voltage divider coupled between a first voltage level and a ground potential. The circuit further includes an error amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to a node between a first resistive element and a second resistive element of the first voltage divider. The circuit further includes a second voltage divider coupled between a second voltage level and a reference voltage, wherein a second input terminal of the error amplifier is coupled to a node between a third resistive element and a fourth resistive element of the second voltage divider, and wherein an output voltage of the error amplifier is configured to control a potential difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Vratislav Michal, Denis Cottin, Patrik Arno, Nicolas Marty
-
Patent number: 10014834Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a first voltage divider coupled between a first voltage level and a ground potential. The circuit further includes an error amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to a node between a first resistive element and a second resistive element of the first voltage divider. The circuit further includes a second voltage divider coupled between a second voltage level and a reference voltage, wherein a second input terminal of the error amplifier is coupled to a node between a third resistive element and a fourth resistive element of the second voltage divider, and wherein an output voltage of the error amplifier is configured to control a potential difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SASInventors: Vratislav Michal, Denis Cottin, Patrik Arno, Nicolas Marty
-
Patent number: 9892877Abstract: A circuit including: a plurality of first switches connected in parallel between a first terminal and a second terminal; and a control circuit capable of implementing the following steps at each period of a clock signal: comparing the voltage between the first and second terminals with a reference voltage; if the voltage between the first and second terminals is greater than the reference voltage, turning on one of the first switches without modifying the state of the other switches; and if the voltage between the first and second terminals is smaller than the reference voltage, turning off one of the first switches without modifying the state of the other switches.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SASInventors: Vratislav Michal, Denis Cottin
-
Patent number: 9761780Abstract: The thermoelectric device includes a first set of identical unitary thereto-electric systems, each system including at least one thermocouple and the first set has at least one faulty unitary thermoelectric system. It further has devices for detecting functional unitary thermoelectric systems of the first set of unitary thermoelectric systems, and devices designed to electrically connect a second set of functional unitary thermoelectric systems chosen from the first set of unitary thermoelectric systems, in the form of an electric circuit, so that all the unitary thermoelectric systems of the electric circuit have the same current flowing through them.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignees: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, ST-ERICSSON SAInventors: Christelle Navone, Tristan Caroff, Denis Cottin
-
Publication number: 20160344285Abstract: A charge-pump device receives two complementary driving signals and a DC signal that are applied to a charge-pump stage containing a full-wave rectifier bridge configured to deliver a DC output signal. The bridge includes active switches controllable by control signals present at two control nodes. The charge-pump device further receives complementary auxiliary signals that are respectively synchronous with the complementary driving signals but have faster edges. Two resistive capacitive filters filter the complementary auxiliary signals to generate control signals at the two control nodes for controlling actuation of the active switches in the bridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SASInventors: Vratislav Michal, Denis Cottin
-
Patent number: 9502972Abstract: A charge-pump device receives two complementary driving signals and a DC signal that are applied to a charge-pump stage containing a full-wave rectifier bridge configured to deliver a DC output signal. The bridge includes active switches controllable by control signals present at two control nodes. The charge-pump device further receives complementary auxiliary signals that are respectively synchronous with the complementary driving signals but have faster edges. Two resistive capacitive filters filter the complementary auxiliary signals to generate control signals at the two control nodes for controlling actuation of the active switches in the bridge.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SASInventors: Vratislav Michal, Denis Cottin
-
Publication number: 20150355037Abstract: Embodiments of the invention concern a temperature sensor comprising: a same oscillator (2) adapted to alternatively generate a temperature dependent output frequency in a sensing mode and a temperature independent output frequency in a calibration mode, a controller (1) of said oscillator (2), adapted to feed said oscillator (2) with at least a first input signal (VREF), and adapted to change said first input signal (VREF) so as to make said oscillator (2) switch between generating a temperature dependent output frequency and generating a temperature independent output frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventor: Denis COTTIN
-
Patent number: 9182294Abstract: The sensor is made on a semiconductor substrate covered with an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer separates a thermocouple from the substrate. It includes a first portion presenting a first value of capacitance per unit area and a second portion presenting a second value of capacitance per unit area, which is lower than the first value. The sensor includes first and second output terminals connected to the thermocouple. The first output terminal includes a first capacitor having a first electrode formed by a first leg made of an electrically conducting material. The second electrode of the capacitor is formed by a part of the substrate facing said first leg and separated from the first electrode by the first portion of the electrically insulating layer. The first leg connects the thermocouple while overlapping the second portion of the electrically insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, ST-ERICSSON SAInventors: Guillaume Savelli, Denis Cottin
-
Publication number: 20150262776Abstract: A circuit including: a plurality of first switches connected in parallel between a first terminal and a second terminal; and a control circuit capable of implementing the following steps at each period of a clock signal: comparing the voltage between the first and second terminals with a reference voltage; if the voltage between the first and second terminals is greater than the reference voltage, turning on one of the first switches without modifying the state of the other switches; and if the voltage between the first and second terminals is smaller than the reference voltage, turning off one of the first switches without modifying the state of the other switches.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Vratislav MICHAL, Denis COTTIN
-
Patent number: 8829639Abstract: An integrated thermoelectric device in semiconductor technology comprising a hot side arranged in proximity to a heat source, and a cold side, providing a signal according to the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides. The hot and cold sides are arranged in such a way that their temperatures tend to equal out when the temperature of the heat source varies, i.e. when the sensor is in poor operating conditions. A measuring circuit provides useful information according to a continuously variable portion of the signal from a time when the temperature of the heat source varies. If the temperature of the heat source ceases to vary, the temperatures of the hot and cold sides eventually equal out and the signal is annulled and ceases to vary. The distance between the hot and cold sides can be less than 100 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignees: ST-Ericsson (Grenoble) SAS, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Vincent Remondière, Guillaume Savelli, Marc Plissonnier, Denis Cottin
-
Publication number: 20140015089Abstract: The sensor is made on a semiconductor substrate covered with an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer separates a thermocouple from the substrate. It includes a first portion presenting a first value of capacitance per unit area and a second portion presenting a second value of capacitance per unit area, which is lower than the first value. The sensor includes first and second output terminals connected to the thermocouple. The first output terminal includes a first capacitor having a first electrode formed by a first leg made of an electrically conducting material. The second electrode of the capacitor is formed by a part of the substrate facing said first leg and separated from the first electrode by the first portion of the electrically insulating layer. The first leg connects the thermocouple while overlapping the second portion of the electrically insulating layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicants: ST-ERICSSON SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Guillaume Savelli, Denis Cottin
-
Publication number: 20130291920Abstract: The thermoelectric device includes a first set of identical unitary thereto-electric systems, each system including at least one thermocouple and the first set has at least one faulty unitary thermoelectric system. It further has devices for detecting functional unitary thermoelectric systems of the first set of unitary thermoelectric systems, and devices designed to electrically connect a second set of functional unitary thermoelectric systems chosen from the first set of unitary thermoelectric systems, in the form of an electric circuit, so that all the unitary thermoelectric systems of the electric circuit have the same current flowing through them.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2011Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicants: ST-ERICSSON SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Christelle Navone, Tristan Caroff, Denis Cottin
-
Publication number: 20120217608Abstract: An integrated thermoelectric device in semiconductor technology comprising a hot side arranged in proximity to a heat source, and a cold side, providing a signal according to the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides. The hot and cold sides are arranged in such a way that their temperatures tend to equal out when the temperature of the heat source varies, i.e. when the sensor is in poor operating conditions. A measuring circuit provides useful information according to a continuously variable portion of the signal from a time when the temperature of the heat source varies. If the temperature of the heat source ceases to vary, the temperatures of the hot and cold sides eventually equal out and the signal is annulled and ceases to vary. The distance between the hot and cold sides can be less than 100 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2010Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicants: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, ST - ERICSSON (GRENOBLE) SASInventors: Vincent Remondière, Guillaume Savelli, Marc Plissonnier, Denis Cottin
-
Patent number: 7714390Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate and a resistor. The resistor is formed from at least two access wells of a first conductivity type and a deep buried layer electrically connecting the wells. The deep buried layer is at least partly covered by a region of opposite conductivity.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.Inventors: Denis Cottin, Thierry Schwartzmann, Jean-Charles Vildeuil, Bertrand Martinet, Sophie Taupin, Mathieu Marin
-
Patent number: 7271632Abstract: A ramp generator is provided that includes an amplifier, first and second transistors, a variable resistive load having a control electrode, and a capacitor. The amplifier has an inverting input that receives a first reference voltage, and an output connected to the gate of the first transistor. The first transistor has a source connected to a second reference voltage, and a drain connected to the non-inverting input of the amplifier and also to the variable resistive load. The second transistor mirrors the current of the first transistor so as to charge the capacitor, which is periodically discharged by a discharging circuit. In one embodiment, the generator further comprises a comparator, a filter, and an integrator that control the variable resistive load so as to generate a slope having characteristics that are noticeably independent from dispersion, from manufacturing methods, and temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Denis Cottin, Christophe Garnier
-
Publication number: 20060226512Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate and a resistor. The resistor is formed from at least two access wells of a first conductivity type and a deep buried layer electrically connecting the wells. The deep buried layer is at least partly covered by a region of opposite conductivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2006Publication date: October 12, 2006Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.Inventors: Denis Cottin, Thierry Schwartzmann, Jean-Charles Vildeuil, Bertrand Martinet, Sophie Taupin, Mathieu Marin
-
Publication number: 20050206414Abstract: A ramp generator is provided that includes an amplifier, first and second transistors, a variable resistive load having a control electrode, and a capacitor. The amplifier has an inverting input that receives a first reference voltage, and an output connected to the gate of the first transistor. The first transistor has a source connected to a second reference voltage, and a drain connected to the non-inverting input of the amplifier and also to the variable resistive load. The second transistor mirrors the current of the first transistor so as to charge the capacitor, which is periodically discharged by a discharging circuit. In one embodiment, the generator further comprises a comparator, a filter, and an integrator that control the variable resistive load so as to generate a slope having characteristics that are noticeably independent from dispersion, from manufacturing methods, and temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: September 22, 2005Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SAInventors: Denis Cottin, Christophe Garnier
-
Publication number: 20040239384Abstract: An interface circuit comprising one or two input branches and one output branch, each branch being connected between upper and lower supply terminals, each input branch comprising a transistor having its control electrode connected to the input of the interface circuit, one of the two other electrodes of the transistor being connected to one of the supply terminals, a current source being placed between the other one of the supply terminals and an intermediary node connected to the last transistor electrode possibly via one or several diodes, the output branch comprising two complementary transistors having their control electrodes connected to the intermediary nodes of one of the input branches or to the circuit input, one of the electrodes of each of the complementary transistors being connected to the circuit output, the last electrode of each of the transistors being connected to a supply terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Denis Cottin, Sebastien Dedieu