Patents by Inventor Nicolas Froidevaux

Nicolas Froidevaux 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: 11680835
    Abstract: An oscillating analog signal includes a succession of dampened oscillations. That oscillating analog signal is conditioned to generate an output signal including only oscillations of the oscillating analog signal which have an amplitude smaller than a first threshold. The output signal is then processed by a processing unit, where the first threshold is compatible with a maximum level of voltage tolerable by the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Laurent Lopez
  • Patent number: 11509305
    Abstract: An electronic chip includes a chip core including an input terminal, an output terminal, an external pad, and an input-output circuit coupled to the chip core and the external pad. The input-output circuit includes an enable terminal coupled to the chip core, a connection terminal coupled to the external pad, a switchable diode device coupled between a supply voltage and a reference voltage, and a levelling circuit. The switchable diode device is coupled to the connection terminal and the enable terminal and is configured to operate as a diode in response to a control signal in a first state applied to the enable terminal and to operate as an open circuit in response to the control signal in a second state applied to the enable terminal. The levelling circuit is coupled to the connection terminal, the input terminal of the chip core, and the output terminal of the chip core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Laurent Lopez
  • Publication number: 20210384903
    Abstract: An electronic chip includes a chip core including an input terminal, an output terminal, an external pad, and an input-output circuit coupled to the chip core and the external pad. The input-output circuit includes an enable terminal coupled to the chip core, a connection terminal coupled to the external pad, a switchable diode device coupled between a supply voltage and a reference voltage, and a levelling circuit. The switchable diode device is coupled to the connection terminal and the enable terminal and is configured to operate as a diode in response to a control signal in a first state applied to the enable terminal and to operate as an open circuit in response to the control signal in a second state applied to the enable terminal. The levelling circuit is coupled to the connection terminal, the input terminal of the chip core, and the output terminal of the chip core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Laurent Lopez
  • Patent number: 11133798
    Abstract: A device includes a first connection pin, a second connection pin, a third connection pin, and a fourth connection pin. The second connection pin is configured to be connected to a supply voltage. The fourth connection pin is configured to be coupled to a reference voltage. The device further includes a first transistor including: a first gate and a first source/drain coupled to the first connection pin; a second transistor including a second gate and a second source/drain connected to the first transistor; and a third transistor including a third gate, a third source/drain connected to the second transistor, and a fourth source/drain connected to the fourth connection pin. The third transistor is configured to be controlled by a digital signal using the third connection pin. Both the first gate and the second gate are directly connected to the second connection pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Laurent Lopez
  • Publication number: 20210231478
    Abstract: An oscillating analog signal includes a succession of dampened oscillations. That oscillating analog signal is conditioned to generate an output signal including only oscillations of the oscillating analog signal which have an amplitude smaller than a first threshold. The output signal is then processed by a processing unit, where the first threshold is compatible with a maximum level of voltage tolerable by the processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas FROIDEVAUX, Laurent LOPEZ
  • Publication number: 20200343890
    Abstract: A device comprising transistors in a series connection is disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes a first transistor, a second transistor connected to the first transistor and a third transistor connected to the second transistor, wherein the transistors are connected in a series connection, and wherein the third transistor is configured to be controlled by a digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Laurent Lopez
  • Patent number: 10719331
    Abstract: A microcontroller includes a core and a unit for managing the power supply of the core that includes an input for receiving an external signal indicating a leaving of a stand-by mode of operation. A signal intercepting unit intercepts the external signal and transmitting it with a delay to the unit for managing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Jean-Michel Gril-Maffre, Jean-Pierre Leca
  • Patent number: 10502777
    Abstract: A method of testing a first circuit, including: a) applying a first signal between two terminals of the first circuit, the first circuit being powered off; and b) verifying that radio frequency waves transmitted by the first circuit correspond to an expected transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Yann Bacher, Nicolas Froidevaux
  • Publication number: 20190146029
    Abstract: A method of testing a first circuit, including: a) applying a first signal between two terminals of the first circuit, the first circuit being powered off; and b) verifying that radio frequency waves transmitted by the first circuit correspond to an expected transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Yann BACHER, Nicolas FROIDEVAUX
  • Patent number: 10217717
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes peripheral conductive pads interconnected by a peripheral conductive track within an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip further includes internal conductive pads interconnected by an internal conductive track within the integrated circuit chip. A conductive bonding wire external to the integrated circuit chip connects the one peripheral conductive pad to one internal conductive pad. A package encapsulates the integrated circuit chip and the conductive bonding wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Yann Bacher
  • Publication number: 20180329721
    Abstract: A microcontroller includes a core and a unit for managing the power supply of the core that includes an input for receiving an external signal indicating a leaving of a stand-by mode of operation. A signal intercepting unit intercepts the external signal and transmitting it with a delay to the unit for managing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Jean-Michel Gril-Maffre, Jean-Pierre Leca
  • Publication number: 20170147362
    Abstract: A microcontroller includes a core and a unit for managing the power supply of the core that includes an input for receiving an external signal indicating a leaving of a stand-by mode of operation. A signal intercepting unit intercepts the external signal and transmitting it with a delay to the unit for managing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Jean-Michel Gril-Maffre, Jean-Pierre Leca
  • Publication number: 20170141069
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes peripheral conductive pads interconnected by a peripheral conductive track within an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip further includes internal conductive pads interconnected by an internal conductive track within the integrated circuit chip. A conductive bonding wire external to the integrated circuit chip connects the one peripheral conductive pad to one internal conductive pad. A package encapsulates the integrated circuit chip and the conductive bonding wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Froidevaux, Yann Bacher
  • Patent number: 9638728
    Abstract: A circuit has a supply line, a reference line and circuitry coupled between the supply line and the reference line. The circuitry outputs a regulated voltage and a measurement voltage. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) generates a digital signal indicative of variations of potential differences between the supply line and the reference line based on the regulated voltage and the measurement voltage. The generated digital signal may be used to control the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Yann Bacher, Nicolas Froidevaux
  • Publication number: 20160356828
    Abstract: A circuit has a supply line, a reference line and circuitry coupled between the supply line and the reference line. The circuitry outputs a regulated voltage and a measurement voltage. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) generates a digital signal indicative of variations of potential differences between the supply line and the reference line based on the regulated voltage and the measurement voltage. The generated digital signal may be used to control the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Yann BACHER, Nicolas FROIDEVAUX
  • Patent number: 7843009
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is made of a semiconductor material and comprises an input and/or terminal connected to an output transistor forming a parasitic element capable of triggering itself under the effect of an electrostatic discharge applied to the terminal. The integrated circuit comprises a protection device formed so as to be biased at the same time as the parasitic element under the effect of an electrostatic discharge, and more than the parasitic element to evacuate a discharge current as a priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: John Brunel, Nicolas Froidevaux
  • Publication number: 20080048208
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is made of a semiconductor material and comprises an input and/or output terminal connected to an output transistor forming a parasitic element capable of triggering itself under the effect of an electrostatic discharge applied to the terminal. The integrated circuit comprises a protection device formed so as to be biased at the same time as the parasitic element under the effect of an electrostatic discharge, and more than the parasitic element to evacuate a discharge current as a priority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: John Brunel, Nicolas Froidevaux
  • Patent number: 6807078
    Abstract: A method produces a semiconductor circuit with an area saving in comparison to conventional circuit layouts. IO cells are arranged with a width multiplied by a factor, but with corresponding reduced height. ESD protection circuitry is included at a reduced rate in comparison to usual arrangements. The space saving is achieved by occupying a semiconductor area that would have been used by ESD circuitry with the IO circuitry. ESD protection is maintained but at different locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited
    Inventors: William Thies, Nicolas Froidevaux
  • Publication number: 20030137861
    Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor circuit is disclosed with an area saving in comparison to conventional circuit layouts. IO cells are arranged with a width multiplied by a factor, but with corresponding reduced height. ESD protection circuitry is included at a reduced rate in comparison to usual arrangements. The space saving is achieved by occupying a semiconductor area that would have been used by ESD circuitry with the IO circuitry. ESD protection is maintained but at different locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited
    Inventors: William Thies, Nicolas Froidevaux