Patents by Inventor Pascal Fornara

Pascal Fornara 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: 20130314150
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes active circuitry disposed at a surface of a semiconductor body and an interconnect region disposed above the semiconductor body. A thermoelectric material is disposed in an upper portion of the interconnect region away from the semiconductor body. The thermoelectric material is configured to deliver electrical energy when exposed to a temperature gradient. This material can be used, for example, in a method for detecting the repackaging of the integrated circuit after it has been originally packaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Patent number: 8592288
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a substrate of a semiconductor material and first metal portions of a first metallization level or of a first via level defining pixels of an image. The pixels are distributed in first pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is connected to the substrate, and in second pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is separated from the substrate by at least one insulating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Fabrice Marinet
  • Publication number: 20130250531
    Abstract: A thermally deformable assembly is formed in an integrated-circuit metallization level. The physical behavior of the metal forming the assembly brings the assembly into contact with a stop-forming body when subjected to a temperature change caused by a current flow. A natural rollback to the initial configuration in which the assembly is a certain distance away from the body is prevented. The state or configuration of the assembly is determined by a capacitive reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Albert Martinez, Pascal Fornara
  • Patent number: 8536886
    Abstract: Wheatstone bridges, each formed of four identical resistors, are used as integrated circuit identification elements. An identification circuit including an assembly of Wheatstone bridges and comparators is formed in a substrate. Since the resistors forming the bridges are sensitive to technological dispersions, the output voltages of the bridges are not identical. Each comparator compares the outputs of two bridges and provides a bit of an identification number of the chip. Preferably, the resistors are covered with insulator only, at least up to a second interconnect level from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Patent number: 8532947
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes non-volatile storage configured to secretly store a digital word, the value of which forms an identification code. The integrated circuit also includes control circuitry configured to receive the digital word and to generate transient electrical currents or transient voltages, the characteristics of which depend on the value of the digital word. There is an electrically conductive network configured to be passed through by the electrical currents or receive the transient voltages so as to generate an electromagnetic field that identifies the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Mathieu Lisart
  • Publication number: 20130229875
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of reading and writing memory cells, each including a charge accumulation transistor in series with selection transistor, including applying a selection voltage to a gate of the selection transistor of the memory cell; applying a read voltage to a control gate of the charge accumulation transistor of the memory cell; applying the selection voltage to a gate of the selection transistor of a second memory cell coupled to the same bitline; and applying an inhibition voltage to a control gate of the charge accumulation transistor of the second memory cell, to maintain the transistor in a blocked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Francesco La Rosa, Olivier Pizzuto, Stephan Niel, Philippe Boivin, Pascal Fornara, Laurent Lopez, Arnaud Regnier
  • Patent number: 8502383
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes active circuitry disposed at a surface of a semiconductor body and an interconnect region disposed above the semiconductor body. A thermoelectric material is disposed in an upper portion of the interconnect region away from the semiconductor body. The thermoelectric material is configured to deliver electrical energy when exposed to a temperature gradient. This material can be used, for example, in a method for detecting the repackaging of the integrated circuit after it has been originally packaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Patent number: 8426234
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including an intrusion attack detection device. The device includes a single-piece formed of a conductive material and surrounded with an insulating material and includes at least one stretched or compressed elongated conductive track, connected to a mobile element, at least one conductive portion distant from said piece and a circuit for detecting an electric connection between the piece and the conductive portion. A variation in the length of said track in an attack by removal of the insulating material, causes a displacement of the mobile element until it contacts the conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Publication number: 20130088263
    Abstract: A charge flow circuit for a time measurement, including a plurality of elementary capacitive elements electrically in series, each elementary capacitive element leaking through its dielectric space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Francesco La Rosa, Pascal Fornara
  • Publication number: 20130075726
    Abstract: The semiconductor wafer for a silicon-on-insulator integrated circuit comprises an insulating region located between a first semiconductor substrate intended to receive the integrated circuit and a second semiconductor substrate containing at least one buried layer comprising at least one metal silicide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Fornara
  • Patent number: 8399280
    Abstract: A method for protecting, against laser attacks, an integrated circuit chip formed inside and on top of a semiconductor substrate and including in the upper portion of the substrate an active portion in which are formed components, this method including the steps of: forming in the substrate a gettering area extending under the active portion, the upper limit of the area being at a depth ranging between 5 and 50 ?m from the upper surface of the substrate; and introducing diffusing metal impurities into the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Fabrice Marinet
  • Publication number: 20130032926
    Abstract: An adjustable resistor formed on a first insulating layer of a substrate, including: a first polysilicon layer covered with a second insulating layer of a first thickness, except in a region where the first polysilicon layer is covered with a thin insulator layer of a second thickness smaller than the first thickness; a second polysilicon layer covering the second insulating layer and the thin insulator layer; on each side of the second insulating layer and at a distance from it, a first and a second conductive vias providing access to the terminals of the resistor on the first polysilicon layer; and a third conductive via providing access to a contacting area on the second polysilicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Pascal FORNARA, Arnaud Regnier
  • Publication number: 20130015549
    Abstract: An integrated thermoelectric generator includes a semiconductor. A set of thermocouples are electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel. The set of thermocouples include parallel semiconductor regions. Each semiconductor region has one type of conductivity from among two opposite types of conductivity. The semiconductor regions are electrically connected in series so as to form a chain of regions having, alternatingly, one and the other of the two types of conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Publication number: 20130011944
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a substrate of a semiconductor material and first metal portions of a first metallization level or of a first via level defining pixels of an image. The pixels are distributed in first pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is connected to the substrate, and in second pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is separated from the substrate by at least one insulating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Fabrice Marinet
  • Patent number: 8344391
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a substrate of a semiconductor material and first metal portions of a first metallization level or of a first via level defining pixels of an image. The pixels are distributed in first pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is connected to the substrate, and in second pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is separated from the substrate by at least one insulating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Fabrice Marinet
  • Patent number: 8298848
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a region containing a thermoelectric material and be configured to be subjected to a temperature gradient resulting from a flow of an electric current in a part of the integrated circuit during its operation, and an electrically conducting output coupled to the region for delivering the electrical energy produced by thermoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Christian Rivero, Pascal Fornara
  • Patent number: 8222094
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cell of a non-volatile electrically erasable and programmable memory including a dual-gate MOS transistor. The method includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate covered with an insulating layer including a thinned down portion and having a first surface common with the substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and incorporating nitrogen at the level of the second surface, whereby the maximum nitrogen concentration is closer to the second surface than to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Fornara
  • Publication number: 20120091553
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes active circuitry disposed at a surface of a semiconductor body and an interconnect region disposed above the semiconductor body. A thermoelectric material is disposed in an upper portion of the interconnect region away from the semiconductor body. The thermoelectric material is configured to deliver electrical energy when exposed to a temperature gradient. This material can be used, for example, in a method for detecting the repackaging of the integrated circuit after it has been originally packaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero
  • Publication number: 20120068689
    Abstract: An EEPROM memory cell that includes a dual-gate MOS transistor in which the two gates are separated by an insulation layer, wherein the insulation layer includes a first portion and a second portion having lower insulation properties than the first one, the second portion being located at least partially above a channel area of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Fornara
  • Publication number: 20120009774
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including an intrusion attack detection device. The device includes a single-piece formed of a conductive material and surrounded with an insulating material and includes at least one stretched or compressed elongated conductive track, connected to a mobile element, at least one conductive portion distant from said piece and a circuit for detecting an electric connection between the piece and the conductive portion. A variation in the length of said track in an attack by removal of the insulating material, causes a displacement of the mobile element until it contacts the conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Fornara, Christian Rivero