Patents by Inventor Marco Pasotti
Marco Pasotti 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).
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Publication number: 20250078922Abstract: A memory array includes memory cells arranged in a matrix with cell rows coupled to word lines and cell columns coupled to output bit lines. A control circuit maps a first group of memory cells to a first in-memory compute operation producing computation output signals on first output bit lines from a first matrix vector multiplication of a first input vector with a first group of computation weights stored in the first group of memory cells and maps a second group of memory cells to a second in-memory compute operation producing computation output signals on second output bit lines, different from the first output bit lines, from a second matrix vector multiplication of a second input vector, different from the first input vector, with a second group of computation weights stored in the second group of memory cells. The first and second in-memory compute operations are substantially simultaneously executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Marcella CARISSIMI, Marco PASOTTI, Riccardo ZURLA
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Publication number: 20250080118Abstract: An in-memory computation circuit includes a memory array with memory cells arranged in a matrix in rows and columns. Groups of memory cells store computational weights for an in-memory compute (IMC) operation that is performed with a first multiply and accumulate (MAC) elaboration to produce a first analog signal and a second MAC elaboration to produce a second analog signal. An analog-to-digital converter circuit operates to: increment a count value in a counter circuit in response to the first analog signal; convert the count value in the counter circuit to a negated count value; and increment the count value in the counter circuit starting from the negated count value in response to the second analog signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Marco PASOTTI, Riccardo ZURLA, Marcella CARISSIMI, Riccardo VIGNALI, Alessandro CABRINI
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Publication number: 20250046371Abstract: An in-memory computation device receives an input signal and provides an output signal. The device includes a memory array with memory cells coupled to word lines that receive word line activation signals indicative of the input signal and coupled to bit lines that generate bit line currents; and a digital detector for sampling the bit line current and, in response, providing the output signal. A digital detector includes: a control stage that compares the bit line current with at least one reference current and generates corresponding control signals; a selection stage that generates a total selection current based on the first bit line current and on the control signals; an integration stage that samples the total selection current; and a charge counter stage that generates the output signal on the basis of a sampled first total selection current and the control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Marco PASOTTI, Riccardo VIGNALI, Alessandro CABRINI, Riccardo ZURLA
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Patent number: 12211582Abstract: An in-memory computation (IMC) circuit includes a memory array formed by memory cells arranged in row-by-column matrix. Computational weights for an IMC operation are stored in the memory cells. Each column includes a bit line connected to the memory cells. A switching circuit is connected between each bit line and a corresponding column output. The switching circuit is controlled to turn on to generate the analog signal dependent on the computational weight and for a time duration controlled by the coefficient data signal. A column combining circuit combines (by addition and/or subtraction) and integrates analog signals at the column outputs of the biasing circuits. The addition/subtraction is dependent on one or more a sign of the coefficient data and a sign of the computational weight and may further implement a binary weighting function.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco Pasotti, Marcella Carissimi, Alessio Antolini, Eleonora Franchi Scarselli, Antonio Gnudi, Andrea Lico
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Publication number: 20240404568Abstract: An in-memory computation device performs a multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operation. A computation array includes groups of memory cells coupled to a bitline, each group storing a computational weight and having a positive cell flowing a positive-cell current and a negative cell flowing a negative-cell current which are a function of a total current and the sign and absolute value of the respective computational weight. A row-activation circuit receives an input signal and provides, for each input value, during an elaboration interval, a positive-activation signal having a positive-activation duration and a negative-activation signal having a negative-activation duration, the durations being a function of an elaboration duration and of the sign and absolute value of the respective input value. A column-elaboration circuit samples bitline current and provides, in response thereto, at least one output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Riccardo ZURLA, Marco PASOTTI
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Publication number: 20240404594Abstract: An in-memory computation device performs a multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operation. A computation array includes groups of memory cells coupled to a bitline, each group storing a computational weight and having a positive cell flowing a positive-cell current and a negative cell flowing a negative-cell current which are a function of a total current and the sign and absolute value of the respective computational weight. A row-activation circuit receives an input signal and provides, for each input value, during an elaboration interval, a positive-activation signal having a positive-activation duration and a negative-activation signal having a negative-activation duration, the durations being a function of an elaboration duration and of the sign and absolute value of the respective input value. A column-elaboration circuit samples bitline current and provides, in response thereto, at least one output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Marcella CARISSIMI, Marco PASOTTI, Riccardo ZURLA
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Publication number: 20240404569Abstract: An in-memory computation (IMC) device is configured to receive input data and provide intermediate output data. A word line activation circuit receives input data and provides corresponding word line activation signals. A memory array includes memory cells in a matrix arrangement coupled to bit lines and to word lines. Each bit line is traversed by a respective bit line current depending on the memory cells connected to the bit line. Selectors each coupled to a respective part of the bit lines are configured to select one of the respective bit lines. A digital detector for each selector is electrically connected, through the respective selector, with the respective bit line selected. The digital detectors sample the respective bit line currents and, in response to the bit line currents, provide the respective intermediate output data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventors: Marcella CARISSIMI, Marco PASOTTI, Riccardo ZURLA
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Publication number: 20240339917Abstract: A voltage regulator receives a reference voltage and generates a regulated voltage using a MOSFET having a gate terminal configured to receive a control voltage. A charge pump receives the regulated voltage and generates a charge pump voltage in response to an enable signal and a clock signal generated in response to the enable signal. The voltage regulator further includes a first switched capacitor circuit coupled to the gate terminal and configured to selectively charge a first capacitor with a first current and impose a first voltage drop on the control voltage in response to assertion of the enable signal. The voltage regulator also includes a second switched capacitor circuit coupled to the gate terminal and configured to selectively charge a second capacitor with a second current and impose a second voltage drop on the control voltage in response to one logic state of the clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco Pasotti, Laura Capecchi, Riccardo Zurla, Marcella Carissimi
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Patent number: 12046987Abstract: A voltage regulator receives a reference voltage and generates a regulated voltage using a MOSFET having a gate terminal configured to receive a control voltage. A charge pump receives the regulated voltage and generates a charge pump voltage in response to an enable signal and a clock signal generated in response to the enable signal. The voltage regulator further includes a first switched capacitor circuit coupled to the gate terminal and configured to selectively charge a first capacitor with a first current and impose a first voltage drop on the control voltage in response to assertion of the enable signal. The voltage regulator also includes a second switched capacitor circuit coupled to the gate terminal and configured to selectively charge a second capacitor with a second current and impose a second voltage drop on the control voltage in response to one logic state of the clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco Pasotti, Laura Capecchi, Riccardo Zurla, Marcella Carissimi
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Publication number: 20240212751Abstract: A word line activation unit of an in-memory computation generates activation signals as a function of an input value. The in-memory computation device includes a memory array with a plurality of memory cells (each storing a computational weight) coupled to a bit line and each to a word line and a digital detector. A cell current flows through each memory cell as a function of the activation signal and the computational weight and a bit line current is generated as a function of a summation of the cell currents. The digital detector performs successive iterations on the bit line current. In each iteration: an integration stage generates an integration signal indicative of a time integral of the bit line current, and resets the integration signal when the integration signal reaches a threshold; and the counter stage updates the output signal in response to the integration signal reaching the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2023Publication date: June 27, 2024Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Riccardo ZURLA, Marco PASOTTI, Marcella CARISSIMI, Alessandro CABRINI
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Publication number: 20240212730Abstract: An in-memory computation device includes a word line activation circuit that receives an input signal indicative of input values and provides activation signals each as a function of the input value. The in-memory computation device further includes a memory array, a biasing circuit generating a bias voltage and a digital detector. The memory array has memory cells coupled to a bit line and each to a word line. Each memory cell stores a computational weight. In response to an activation signal, a cell current flows through each memory cell as a function of the bias voltage, the activation signal and the computational weight. A bit line current flows through the bit line as a function of a summation of the cell currents. The digital detector is coupled to the bit line, samples the bit line current and, in response, provides an output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2023Publication date: June 27, 2024Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marcella CARISSIMI, Marco PASOTTI, Riccardo ZURLA
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Patent number: 11942144Abstract: A circuit includes a memory array with memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, where each row includes a word line connected to the memory cells of the row, and each column includes a bit line connected to the memory cells of the column. Computational weights for an in-memory compute operation (IMCO) are stored in the memory cells. A word line control circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in response to input signals providing coefficient data for the IMCO by applying word line signal pulses. A column processing circuit connected to the bit lines processes analog signals developed on the bit lines in response to the simultaneous actuation of the word lines to generate multiply and accumulate output signals for the IMCO. Pulse widths of the signal pulses are modulated to compensate for cell drift. The IMCO further handles positive/negative calculation for the coefficient data and computational weights.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Alma Mater Studiorum—Universita' Di BolognaInventors: Marco Pasotti, Marcella Carissimi, Antonio Gnudi, Eleonora Franchi Scarselli, Alessio Antolini, Andrea Lico
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Patent number: 11894052Abstract: An in-memory computation (IMC) circuit includes a memory array formed by memory cells arranged in row-by-column matrix. Computational weights for an IMC operation are stored in the memory cells. Each column includes a bit line connected to the memory cells. A biasing circuit is connected between each bit line and a corresponding column output. A column combining circuit combines and integrates analog signals at the column outputs of the biasing circuits. Each biasing circuit operates to apply a fixed reference voltage level to its bit line. Each biasing circuit further includes a switching circuit that is controlled to turn on for a time duration controlled by asps comparison of a coefficient data signal to a ramp signal to generate the analog signal dependent on the computational weight. The ramp signal is generated using a reference current derived from a reference memory cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Alma Mater Studiorum—Universita' Di BolognaInventors: Marco Pasotti, Marcella Carissimi, Alessio Antolini, Eleonora Franchi Scarselli, Antonio Gnudi, Andrea Lico, Paolo Romele
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Patent number: 11863066Abstract: A voltage supply circuit and a method for controlling a voltage supply circuit are provided. The voltage supply circuit includes a positive charge pump stage that generates a positive voltage and a negative charge pump stage that generates a negative voltage. The voltage supply circuit also includes a control stage that compares a voltage representative of the negative voltage with a reference voltage and causes a slope of the positive voltage to decrease when the voltage representative of the negative voltage exceeds the reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2023Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignees: STMicroelectronics International N.V., STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Vikas Rana, Marco Pasotti, Fabio De Santis
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Publication number: 20230326499Abstract: An in-memory computation (IMC) circuit includes a memory array formed by memory cells arranged in row-by-column matrix. Computational weights for an IMC operation are stored in the memory cells. Each column includes a bit line connected to the memory cells. A switching circuit is connected between each bit line and a corresponding column output. The switching circuit is controlled to turn on to generate the analog signal dependent on the computational weight and for a time duration controlled by the coefficient data signal. A column combining circuit combines (by addition and/or subtraction) and integrates analog signals at the column outputs of the biasing circuits. The addition/subtraction is dependent on one or more a sign of the coefficient data and a sign of the computational weight and may further implement a binary weighting function.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita' Di BolognaInventors: Marco PASOTTI, Marcella CARISSIMI, Alessio ANTOLINI, Eleonora FRANCHI SCARSELLI, Antonio GNUDI, Andrea LICO
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Publication number: 20230326524Abstract: An in-memory computation (IMC) circuit includes a memory array formed by memory cells arranged in row-by-column matrix. Computational weights for an IMC operation are stored in the memory cells. Each column includes a bit line connected to the memory cells. A biasing circuit is connected between each bit line and a corresponding column output. A column combining circuit combines and integrates analog signals at the column outputs of the biasing circuits. Each biasing circuit operates to apply a fixed reference voltage level to its bit line. Each biasing circuit further includes a switching circuit that is controlled to turn on for a time duration controlled by asps comparison of a coefficient data signal to a ramp signal to generate the analog signal dependent on the computational weight. The ramp signal is generated using a reference current derived from a reference memory cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita' Di BolognaInventors: Marco PASOTTI, Marcella CARISSIMI, Alessio ANTOLINI, Eleonora FRANCHI SCARSELLI, Antonio GNUDI, Andrea LICO, Paolo ROMELE
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Patent number: 11756615Abstract: An embodiment memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells, each exhibiting a transconductance depending on a value of a stored bit, a plurality of bit lines associated with respective groups of memory cells, each bit line configured to flow a respective electric current indicative of the bit stored in a selected memory cell of the respective group of memory cells, and a computing circuit providing an output electric quantity indicative of a linear combination of a plurality of input electric quantities. The computing circuit comprises a biasing stage configured to bias each bit line with a respective input electric quantity, the electric current flowing through each bit line based on a product of the respective input electric quantity and the transconductance of the selected memory cell, and a combining stage for combining the electric currents flowing through the plurality of bit lines thereby obtaining the output electric quantity.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Marcella Carissimi, Marco Pasotti, Roberto Antonio Canegallo
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Publication number: 20230261574Abstract: In embodiments, a voltage regulator has an input node to receive an input voltage and an output node. The voltage regulator has a charge pump circuit that receives a boosting control signal to boost the input voltage based on the boosting control signal. The voltage regulator further has a feedback regulation circuit configured to receive the output voltage and to provide a first operation control signal and a second operation control signal as a function of the output voltage; a phase control circuit configured to receive the first operation control signal and to provide the boosting control signal as a function of the first operation control signal; and a filter coupled to the output node, configured to receive the second operation control signal and configured to inject to or sink from the output node a charge that is a function of the second operation control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Laura Capecchi, Marcella Carissimi, Marco Pasotti, Paolo Romele
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Publication number: 20230238055Abstract: A circuit includes a memory array with memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, where each row includes a word line connected to the memory cells of the row, and each column includes a bit line connected to the memory cells of the column. Computational weights for an in-memory compute operation (IMCO) are stored in the memory cells. A word line control circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in response to input signals providing coefficient data for the IMCO by applying word line signal pulses. A column processing circuit connected to the bit lines processes analog signals developed on the bit lines in response to the simultaneous actuation of the word lines to generate multiply and accumulate output signals for the IMCO. Pulse widths of the signal pulses are modulated to compensate for cell drift. The IMCO further handles positive/negative calculation for the coefficient data and computational weights.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita' Di BolognaInventors: Marco PASOTTI, Marcella CARISSIMI, Antonio GNUDI, Eleonora FRANCHI SCARSELLI, Alessio ANTOLINI, Andrea LICO
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Publication number: 20230238873Abstract: A voltage regulator receives a reference voltage and generates a regulated voltage using a MOSFET having a gate terminal configured to receive a control voltage. A charge pump receives the regulated voltage and generates a charge pump voltage in response to an enable signal and a clock signal generated in response to the enable signal. The voltage regulator further includes a first switched capacitor circuit coupled to the gate terminal and configured to selectively charge a first capacitor with a first current and impose a first voltage drop on the control voltage in response to assertion of the enable signal. The voltage regulator also includes a second switched capacitor circuit coupled to the gate terminal and configured to selectively charge a second capacitor with a second current and impose a second voltage drop on the control voltage in response to one logic state of the clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco Pasotti, Laura Capecchi, Riccardo Zurla, JR., Marcella Carissimi