Patents by Inventor Eric Kerherve

Eric Kerherve 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: 8461941
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave resonator has an adjustable resonance frequency. A piezoelectric element is provided having first and second electrodes. A switching element is provided in the form of a MEMS structure which is deformable between a first and second position. The switching element forms an additional electrode that is selectively disposed on top of, and in contact with, one of the first and second electrodes. This causes a total thickness of the electrode of the resonator to be changed resulting in a modification of the resonance frequency of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Andréia Cathelin, Yann Deval, Moustapha El Hassan, Eric Kerherve, Alexandre Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20120314736
    Abstract: The invention concerns a circuit for multi-standard wireless RF transmission comprising: input circuitry (302 to 314) for generating a transmission signal (IT(t), QT(t)) based on an input data signal (I, Q); a power amplifier (316) adapted to amplify said transmission signal to provide an output signal (S(t)) for transmission via at least one antenna; and feedback circuitry (320 to 340) comprising at least one variable low-pass filter (334, 336) for generating a feedback signal (IFB, QFB) based on said output signal, wherein said input circuitry further comprises pre-distortion circuitry (302) adapted to modify said input data signal (I, Q) based on said feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Nicholas Delaunay, Eric Kerherve, Nathalie Deltimple, Didier Belot
  • Patent number: 8242845
    Abstract: A radiofrequency signal power amplification circuit may include a signal input for receiving the radiofrequency signal, an amplification stage coupled to the signal input and having at least one power transistor, a biasing stage for delivering a bias voltage to the amplification stage, and a processing stage. The processing stage may include a processing input coupled to the signal input, a processing output for delivering a bias current modulated at least in amplitude to the biasing stage, and an amplitude modulator coupled between the processing input and the processing output and configured to determine an envelope signal representative of the envelope of the radiofrequency signal, for modulating the amplitude of the envelope signal based on a variable voltage setpoint and for generating the amplitude-modulated bias current based on the modulated envelope signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Laurent Leyssenne, Eric Kerherve, Yann Deval
  • Patent number: 8188811
    Abstract: A filter with coupled resonator having a substrate; an acoustic mirror intended to support acoustic resonators, and to isolate these resonators from the substrate; a first structure with an upper resonator and a lower resonator coupled to one another through at least one layer of acoustic coupling; a second structure with an upper resonator and a lower resonator coupled to one another through at least one layer of acoustic coupling; the lower resonators of the first and second structure having the same electrodes. The first and second structures are connected via a fifth resonator for which electrodes and the piezoelectric layer of the lower resonators are of the first and second structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Andrea Cathelin, Didier Belot, Alexandre Augusto Shirakawa, Eric Kerherve, Jean-Marie Pham, Pierre Jary
  • Patent number: 8115547
    Abstract: A reconfigurable power amplifier includes at least one amplification circuit (E1, E2), and a circuit (6) for controlling the amplification circuit so as to adapt its operation according to an applied input signal (RFin). The circuit for controlling includes a circuit (4, 5) for modifying the compression point of the amplification circuit and for adapting the gain of the amplification circuit in such a manner as to increase the power added efficiency of the circuit for the modified compression point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Yann Deval, Eric Kerherve, Nathalie Deltimple, Pierre Jarry
  • Publication number: 20110205093
    Abstract: A logarithmic analog to digital conversion method for an analog input signal includes a logarithmic amplification with progressive compression of the input signal delivering a sequence of several secondary analog signals. The trend of the values of at least some of the secondary signals is a function of the values of the analog input signal including regions corresponding to a linear trend of the secondary signals as a function of that of the input signal expressed in a logarithmic scale. The method also includes a comparison of at least some of the secondary signals of the sequence with a common reference signal whose value lies within each of regions, supplying a thermometric code information item, and a generation of a first digital word from the thermometric code information item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicants: STMicroeiectronics SA, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Jean GORISSE, Andreia Cathelin, Andreas Kaiser, Eric Kerherve
  • Publication number: 20110018637
    Abstract: A radiofrequency signal power amplification circuit may include a signal input for receiving the radiofrequency signal, an amplification stage coupled to the signal input and having at least one power transistor, a biasing stage for delivering a bias voltage to the amplification stage, and a processing stage. The processing stage may include a processing input coupled to the signal input, a processing output for delivering a bias current modulated at least in amplitude to the biasing stage, and an amplitude modulator coupled between the processing input and the processing output and configured to determine an envelope signal representative of the envelope of the radiofrequency signal, for modulating the amplitude of the envelope signal based on a variable voltage setpoint and for generating the amplitude-modulated bias current based on the modulated envelope signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Laurent Leyssenne, Eric Kerherve, Yann Deval
  • Patent number: 7868517
    Abstract: A Lamb wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, and a first electrode against a first face of the piezoelectric layer. The first electrode includes fingers and a contact arm, with each finger including a first side in contact with the contact arm and two other sides parallel to one another. Portions of the piezoelectric layer are at least partially etched between the two fingers to form a recess. The fingers are spaced apart from one another by a distance W calculated according to the following equation: W = n · va lateral f , with ? ? n ? N where, valateral is an acoustic propagation speed of Lamb waves, n is an order of a resonance mode of the Lamb waves, f is a resonance frequency of the Lamb wave resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Andreia Cathelin, Alexandre Augusto Shirakawa, Jean-Marie Pham, Pierre Jary, Eric Kerherve
  • Publication number: 20100301987
    Abstract: A millimeter wave transformer including, at its primary, a turn formed of a conductive track made in at least one first metallization level, and, at its secondary, a winding in front of the primary turn, including at least one turn formed of a conductive track made in at least one second metallization level isolated from the at least one first level, the track width of the primary turn being at least equal to the total width of the secondary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.A., CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Bernardo Leite, Eric Kerherve, Jean-Baptiste Begueret
  • Publication number: 20100109770
    Abstract: A reconfigurable power amplifier includes at least one amplification circuit (E1, E2), and a circuit (6) for controlling the amplification circuit so as to adapt its operation according to an applied input signal (RFin). The circuit for controlling includes a circuit (4, 5) for modifying the compression point of the amplification circuit and for adapting the gain of the amplification circuit in such a manner as to increase the power added efficiency of the circuit for the modified compression point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Yann Deval, Eric Kerherve, Nathalie Deltimple, Pierre Jarry
  • Publication number: 20100060386
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave resonator has an adjustable resonance frequency. A piezoelectric element is provided having first and second electrodes. A switching element is provided in the form of a MEMS structure which is deformable between a first and second position. The switching element forms an additional electrode that is selectively disposed on top of, and in contact with, one of the first and second electrodes. This causes a total thickness of the electrode of the resonator to be changed resulting in a modification of the resonance frequency of the resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Andrea Cathelin, Yann Deval, Moustapha El Hassan, Eric Kerherve, Alexandre Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20090256650
    Abstract: A filter with coupled resonator having a substrate; an acoustic mirror intended to support acoustic resonators, and to isolate these resonators from the substrate; a first structure with an upper resonator and a lower resonator coupled to one another through at least one layer of acoustic coupling; a second structure with an upper resonator and a lower resonator coupled to one another through at least one layer of acoustic coupling; the lower resonators of the first and second structure having the same electrodes. The first and second structures are connected via a fifth resonator for which electrodes and the piezoelectric layer of the lower resonators are of the first and second structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Andrea Cathelin, Didier Belot, Alexandre Augusto Shirakawa, Eric Kerherve, Jean-Marie Pham, Pierre Jary
  • Publication number: 20090251235
    Abstract: A filtering circuit with BAW type acoustic resonators having at least a first quadripole and a second quadripole connected in cascade, each quadripole having a branch series with a first acoustic resonator of type BAW and a branch parallel with each branch having an acoustic resonator of type BAW, the first acoustic resonator having a frequency of resonance series approximately equal to the frequency of parallel resonance of the second acoustic resonator, the branch parallel of the first quadripole having a first capacitance connected in series with the second resonator and, in parallel with the capacitance, a first switching transistor to short circuit the capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Didier Belot, Alexandre Augusto Shirakawa, Eric Kerherve, Moustapha El Hassan, Yann Deval
  • Publication number: 20090102316
    Abstract: A Lamb wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, and a first electrode against a first face of the piezoelectric layer. The first electrode includes fingers and a contact arm, with each finger including a first side in contact with the contact arm and two other sides parallel to one another. Portions of the piezoelectric layer are at least partially etched between the two fingers to form a recess. The fingers are spaced apart from one another by a distance W calculated according to the following equation: W = n · va lateral f , with ? ? n ? N where, valateral is an acoustic propagation speed of Lamb waves, n is an order of a resonance mode of the Lamb waves, f is a resonance frequency of the Lamb wave resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics SA, Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier BELOT, Andreia CATHELIN, Alexandre Augusto SHIRAKAWA, Jean-Marie PHAM, Pierre JARY, Eric KERHERVE
  • Patent number: 6879226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a quadruple mode microwave filter having coupled cavities with a plurality of transmission zeros, said filter comprising at least one rectangular parallelepiped-shaped quadruple mode cavity, at least two rectangular irises, and two input/output waveguides. Tuning and coupling of the filter are obtained exclusively by the dimensions and mutual disposition of the at least one resonant cavity and the irises, without any screw or other tuning mechanism. All the faces of the cavities and the irises are either parallel or perpendicular to each other. In a preferred embodiment the irises are offcentered along the two transverse axes. According to one advantageous feature, the input mode and the output mode are the same, preferably the TE 10 fundamental mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Serge Vigneron, Yannick Latouche, Pierre Jarry, Eric Kerherve, Jean-Marie Pham, Nicolas Boutheiller
  • Publication number: 20040246078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a quadruple mode microwave filter having coupled cavities with a plurality of transmission zeros, said filter comprising at least one rectangular parallelepiped-shaped quadruple mode cavity, at least two rectangular irises, and two input/output waveguides. Tuning and coupling of the filter are obtained exclusively by the dimensions and mutual disposition of the at least one resonant cavity and the irises, without any screw or other tuning mechanism. All the faces of the cavities and the irises are either parallel or perpendicular to each other. In a preferred embodiment the irises are offcentered along the two transverse axes. According to one advantageous feature, the input mode and the output mode are the same, preferably the TE 10 fundamental mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Serge Vigneron, Yannick Latouche, Pierre Jarry, Eric Kerherve, Jean-Marie Pham, Nicolas Boutheiller
  • Patent number: 6538535
    Abstract: The invention provides a dual-mode microwave filter, comprising a rectangular resonator of length l, height b, and width a operating in two distinct modes (m, 0, n) and (p, 0, q) from a single family of modes and presenting the same direction as the E field, and wherein coupling and mode excitation discontinuities are inductive and in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Marco Guglielmi, Pierre Jarry, Eric Kerherve
  • Publication number: 20020024410
    Abstract: The invention provides a dual-mode microwave filter, comprising a rectangular resonator of length l, height b, and width a operating in two distinct modes (m, 0, n) and (p, 0, q) from a single family of modes and presenting the same direction as the E field, and wherein coupling and mode excitation discontinuities are inductive and in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Marco Guglielmi, Pierre Jarry, Eric Kerherve