Patents by Inventor Olivier Le Neel
Olivier Le Neel 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: 20240036019Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that detects gases with large molecules (e.g., a gas with a molecular weight between 150 g/mol and 450 g/mol), such as siloxanes. The gas sensor device includes a thin film gas sensor and a bulk film gas sensor. The thin film gas sensor and the bulk film gas sensor each include a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. The SMO film of the thin film gas sensor is an thin film (e.g., between 90 nanometers and 110 nanometers thick), and the SMO film of the bulk film gas sensor is an thick film (e.g., between 5 micrometers and 20 micrometers thick). The gas sensor device detects gases with large molecules based on a variation between resistances of the SMO thin film and the SMO thick film.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTDInventors: Malek BRAHEM, Hatem MAJERI, Olivier LE NEEL, Ravi SHANKAR, Enrico Rosario ALESSI, Pasquale BIANCOLILLO
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Patent number: 11821884Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that detects gases with large molecules (e.g., a gas with a molecular weight between 150 g/mol and 450 g/mol), such as siloxanes. The gas sensor device includes a thin film gas sensor and a bulk film gas sensor. The thin film gas sensor and the bulk film gas sensor each include a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. The SMO film of the thin film gas sensor is an thin film (e.g., between 90 nanometers and 110 nanometers thick), and the SMO film of the bulk film gas sensor is an thick film (e.g., between 5 micrometers and 20 micrometers thick). The gas sensor device detects gases with large molecules based on a variation between resistances of the SMO thin film and the SMO thick film.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTDInventors: Malek Brahem, Hatem Majeri, Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar, Enrico Rosario Alessi, Pasquale Biancolillo
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Patent number: 11808723Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that includes a plurality of gas sensors. Each of the gas sensors includes a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. Each of the SMO films is designed to be sensitive to a different gas concentration range. As a result, the gas sensor device is able to obtain accurate readings for a wide range of gas concentration levels. In addition, the gas sensors are selectively activated and deactivated based on a current gas concentration detected by the gas sensor device. Thus, the gas sensor device is able to conserve power as gas sensors are on when appropriate instead of being continuously on.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTDInventors: Malek Brahem, Hatem Majeri, Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar
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Patent number: 11774422Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a selective multi-gas sensor device that detects when a high concentration level of a particular gas, such as methane, carbon monoxide, and/or ethanol, is present. The selective multi-gas sensor device detects and identifies a particular gas based on a ratio between a sensitivity of a gas sensitive material at a first temperature and a sensitivity of the gas sensitive material at a second temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics PTE LTDInventors: Fangxing Yuan, Ravi Shankar, Olivier Le Neel
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Patent number: 11730433Abstract: An X-ray detector includes a first circuit with an NPN-type bipolar transistor and a second circuit configured to compare a voltage at a terminal of the NPN-type bipolar transistor with a reference value substantially equal to a value of the terminal voltage which would occur when the first circuit has been exposed to a threshold quantity of X-rays.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Gilles Gasiot, Severin Trochut, Olivier Le Neel, Victor Malherbe
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Patent number: 11698296Abstract: A light sensor includes a semiconductor substrate supporting a number of pixels. Each pixel includes a photoconversion zone extending in the substrate between a front face and a back face of the substrate. An optical diffraction grating is arranged over the back face of the substrate at a position facing the photoconversion zone of the pixel. For at least two different pixels of the light sensor, the optical diffraction gratings have different pitches. Additionally, the optical grating of each pixel is surrounded by an opaque wall configured to absorb at operating wavelengths of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Stephane Monfray, Olivier Le Neel, Frederic Boeuf
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Patent number: 11543378Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor that includes an active sensor area that is exposed to an environment for detection of elements. The gas sensor may be an air quality sensor that can be fixed in position or carried by a user. The gas sensor includes a heater formed above chamber. The gas sensor includes an active sensor layer above the heater that forms the active sensor area. The gas sensor can include a passive conductive layer, such as a hotplate that further conducts and distributes heat from the heater to the active sensor area. The heater can include a plurality of extensions. The heater can also include a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer where the second conductive layer includes a plurality of openings to increase an amount of heat and to more evenly distribute heat from the heater to the active sensor area.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTDInventors: Olivier Le Neel, Alexandre Le Roch, Ayoub Lahlalia, Ravi Shankar
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Patent number: 11391624Abstract: A light sensor includes a first pixel and a second pixel. Each pixel has a photoconversion area. A band-stop Fano resonance filter is arranged over the first pixel. The second pixel includes no Fano resonance filter. Signals output from the first and second pixels are processed to determine information representative of the quantity of light received by the light sensor during an illumination phase in a rejection band of the band-stop Fano resonance filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignees: STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SASInventors: Olivier Le Neel, Stephane Monfray
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Publication number: 20220160314Abstract: An X-ray detector includes a first circuit with an NPN-type bipolar transistor and a second circuit configured to compare a voltage at a terminal of the NPN-type bipolar transistor with a reference value substantially equal to a value of the terminal voltage which would occur when the first circuit has been exposed to a threshold quantity of X-rays.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Gilles GASIOT, Severin TROCHUT, Olivier LE NEEL, Victor MALHERBE
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Publication number: 20220082743Abstract: An optical filter includes a carrier layer made of a first material. A periodic grating of posts is disposed on the carrier layer in a periodic pattern configured by characteristic dimensions. The posts are made of a second material. A layer made of a third material encompasses the periodic grating of posts and covers the carrier layer. The third material has a refractive index that is different from a refractive index of the second material. Characteristic dimensions of the periodic grating of posts are smaller than an interfering wavelength and are configured to selectively reflect light at the interfering wavelength on the periodic grating of posts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicants: STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SASInventors: Olivier LE NEEL, Stephane ZOLL, Stephane MONFRAY
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Publication number: 20210247344Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that includes a plurality of gas sensors. Each of the gas sensors includes a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. Each of the SMO films is designed to be sensitive to a different gas concentration range. As a result, the gas sensor device is able to obtain accurate readings for a wide range of gas concentration levels. In addition, the gas sensors are selectively activated and deactivated based on a current gas concentration detected by the gas sensor device. Thus, the gas sensor device is able to conserve power as gas sensors are on when appropriate instead of being continuously on.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Malek Brahem, Hatem Majeri, Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar
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Publication number: 20210172791Abstract: A light sensor includes a first pixel and a second pixel. Each pixel has a photoconversion area. A band-stop Fano resonance filter is arranged over the first pixel. The second pixel includes no Fano resonance filter. Signals output from the first and second pixels are processed to determine information representative of the quantity of light received by the light sensor during an illumination phase in a rejection band of the band-stop Fano resonance filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicants: STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SASInventors: Olivier LE NEEL, Stephane MONFRAY
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Publication number: 20210156836Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that detects gases with large molecules (e.g., a gas with a molecular weight between 150 g/mol and 450 g/mol), such as siloxanes. The gas sensor device includes a thin film gas sensor and a bulk film gas sensor. The thin film gas sensor and the bulk film gas sensor each include a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. The SMO film of the thin film gas sensor is an thin film (e.g., between 90 nanometers and 110 nanometers thick), and the SMO film of the bulk film gas sensor is an thick film (e.g., between 5 micrometers and 20 micrometers thick). The gas sensor device detects gases with large molecules based on a variation between resistances of the SMO thin film and the SMO thick film.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Malek BRAHEM, Hatem MAJERI, Olivier LE NEEL, Ravi SHANKAR, Enrico Rosario ALESSI, Pasquale BIANCOLILLO
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Patent number: 11009474Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that includes a plurality of gas sensors. Each of the gas sensors includes a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. Each of the SMO films is designed to be sensitive to a different gas concentration range. As a result, the gas sensor device is able to obtain accurate readings for a wide range of gas concentration levels. In addition, the gas sensors are selectively activated and deactivated based on a current gas concentration detected by the gas sensor device. Thus, the gas sensor device is able to conserve power as gas sensors are on when appropriate instead of being continuously on.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTDInventors: Malek Brahem, Hatem Majeri, Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar
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Patent number: 11009477Abstract: A semiconductor-based multi-sensor module integrates miniature temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors onto a single substrate. Pressure and humidity sensors can be implemented as capacitive thin film sensors, while the temperature sensor is implemented as a precision miniature Wheatstone bridge. Such multi-sensor modules can be used as building blocks in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Furthermore, the multi-sensor module can be built on top of existing circuitry that can be used to process signals from the sensors. An integrated multi-sensor module that uses differential sensors can measure a variety of localized ambient environmental conditions substantially simultaneously, and with a high level of precision. The multi-sensor module also features an integrated heater that can be used to calibrate or to adjust the sensors, either automatically or as needed.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd.Inventors: Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar, Suman Cherian, Calvin Leung, Tien-Choy Loh, Shian-Yeu Kam
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Publication number: 20210088378Abstract: A light sensor includes a semiconductor substrate supporting a number of pixels. Each pixel includes a photoconversion zone extending in the substrate between a front face and a back face of the substrate. An optical diffraction grating is arranged over the back face of the substrate at a position facing the photoconversion zone of the pixel. For at least two different pixels of the light sensor, the optical diffraction gratings have different pitches. Additionally, the optical grating of each pixel is surrounded by an opaque wall configured to absorb at operating wavelengths of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Stephane MONFRAY, Olivier LE NEEL, Frederic BOEUF
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Patent number: 10942157Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that detects gases with large molecules (e.g., a gas with a molecular weight between 150 g/mol and 450 g/mol), such as siloxanes. The gas sensor device includes a thin film gas sensor and a bulk film gas sensor. The thin film gas sensor and the bulk film gas sensor each include a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. The SMO film of the thin film gas sensor is an thin film (e.g., between 90 nanometers and 110 nanometers thick), and the SMO film of the bulk film gas sensor is an thick film (e.g., between 5 micrometers and 20 micrometers thick). The gas sensor device detects gases with large molecules based on a variation between resistances of the SMO thin film and the SMO thick film.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Malek Brahem, Hatem Majeri, Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar, Enrico Rosario Alessi, Pasquale Biancolillo
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Patent number: 10905362Abstract: A universal electrochemical micro-sensor can be used either as a biosensor or an environmental sensor. Because of its small size and flexibility, the micro-sensor is suitable for continuous use to monitor fluids within a live subject, or as an environmental monitor. The micro-sensor can be formed on a reusable glass carrier substrate. A flexible polymer backing, together with a set of electrodes, forms a reservoir that contains an electrolytic fluid chemical reagent. During fabrication, the glass carrier substrate protects the fluid chemical reagent from degradation. A conductive micromesh further contains the reagent while allowing partial exposure to the ambient biological or atmospheric environment. The micromesh density can be altered to accommodate fluid reagents having different viscosities. Flexibility is achieved by attaching a thick polymer tape and peeling away the micro-sensor from the glass carrier substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE. LTD.Inventors: Olivier Le Neel, Suman Cherian, Calvin Leung
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Patent number: 10768133Abstract: Miniature resistive gas detectors incorporate thin films that can selectively identify specific gases when heated to certain characteristic temperatures. A solid state gas sensor module is disclosed that includes a gas sensor, a heater, and a temperature sensor, stacked over an insulating recess. The insulating recess is partially filled with a support material that provides structural integrity. The solid state gas sensor module can be integrated on top of an ASIC on a common substrate. With sufficient thermal insulation, such a gas detector can be provided as a low-power component of mobile electronic devices such as smart phones. A method of operating a multi-sensor array allows detection of relative concentrations of different gas species by either using dedicated sensors, or by thermally tuning the sensors to monitor different gas species.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: STMicroelectronics Pte LtdInventors: Ravi Shankar, Olivier Le Neel, Tien-Choy Loh, Shian-Yeu Kam
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Publication number: 20200110051Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor that includes an active sensor area that is exposed to an environment for detection of elements. The gas sensor may be an air quality sensor that can be fixed in position or carried by a user. The gas sensor includes a heater formed above chamber. The gas sensor includes an active sensor layer above the heater that forms the active sensor area. The gas sensor can include a passive conductive layer, such as a hotplate that further conducts and distributes heat from the heater to the active sensor area. The heater can include a plurality of extensions. The heater can also include a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer where the second conductive layer includes a plurality of openings to increase an amount of heat and to more evenly distribute heat from the heater to the active sensor area.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Olivier LE NEEL, Alexandre LE ROCH, Ayoub LAHLALIA, Ravi SHANKAR