Patents by Inventor Pascal Urard

Pascal Urard 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: 20090031094
    Abstract: A data interleaving device is provided that includes an input, an output, and a data interleaver coupled to the input and the output. The input receives data originating from a plurality of processing blocks. The output transfers interleaved data to the plurality of processing blocks. The data interleaver includes a controller, at least one interconnection module, and a plurality of memories. The controller prepares a data-to-memory assignment data structure. The at least one interconnection module switches data in parallel according to the data-to-memory assignment data structure and acts identically on all data switched simultaneously in parallel. The plurality of memories store the switched data. The data interleaver interleaves data received from the input and provides the interleaved data at the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics SA, Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Cyrille Chavet, Pascal Urard, Philippe Coussy, Eric Martin
  • Patent number: 7454693
    Abstract: An LDPC decoder having a determined number of processing units operating in parallel, storage circuitry capable of containing first words containing a juxtaposition of messages of a first type, and second words containing a juxtaposition of messages of a second type, a message provision unit capable of providing each processing unit with a message of the first type or a message of the second type, and a message write unit capable of writing, into the storage circuitry, first words or second words. The message provision unit is capable of providing a message at a position in a word which depends on the word or the message write unit is capable of writing each message at a position in the word which depends on the word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier
  • Publication number: 20080052596
    Abstract: The blocks may be stored temporarily and successively in an input memory before decoding them successively in an iterative manner. The input memory has a memory size allowing the storage of more than two blocks. A current indication representative of a permitted maximum number of iterations for decoding a current block may be defined. The current indication may be initialized to a reference number of iterations increased by an additional number of iterations dependent on the additional memory size of the input memory allowing supplementary storage beyond two blocks. The current block may be decoded until a decoding criterion is satisfied or so long as the number of iterations has not reached the current indication while a first subsequent block and possibly a part of a second subsequent block are stored in the input memory. The current indication may be updated for decoding the first subsequent block as a function of the number of iterations performed for decoding the current block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Vincent Heinrich, Pascal Urard
  • Patent number: 7308618
    Abstract: An interleaver includes two random access memories for storing data and an addressing device (100) linked to respective address inputs of the two memories. The addressing device is designed to transmit, at each instant of a clock, a cue for read access to one of the two memories and a cue for write access to the other of the two memories, so that, at each instant, a data item is written to or read from each memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier, Etiene Lantreibecq
  • Publication number: 20070283209
    Abstract: An input memory of an LDPC decoder is loaded with data corresponding to an LDPC frame to be decoded and including N LLRs, of which K are information LLRs and N-K are parity LLRs. At least one stream is formed of binary words of a first type, each corresponding to multiple information LLRS, with the aid of a serial/parallel conversion module, and at least one stream is formed of binary words of a second type, each corresponding to multiple parity LLRs, with the aid of a row/column interlacing device comprising a two-dimensional first-in first-out ring buffer. The first memory accesses are made in page mode in order to write the binary words of the first type to a first zone of the input memory, and the second memory accesses are made in page mode in order to write the binary words of the second type to a second zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Laurent Paumier, Pascal Urard
  • Publication number: 20070198895
    Abstract: A method for the iterative decoding of a block of bits having a number N of bits to be decoded where N is a whole number greater than or equal to two, using an iterative decoding algorithm, comprises the generation of a current block of N intermediate decision bits by executing an iteration of the decoding algorithm, followed by the verification of a stability criterion for the current block by comparison of the current block with a given block of N reference bits. If the stability criterion is satisfied, the iterations of the iterative decoding algorithm are stopped and the current block of intermediate decision bits is delivered as a block of hard decision bits. Otherwise another iteration of the decoding algorithm is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: Laurent Paumier, Pascal Urard, Vincent Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20070198896
    Abstract: A concatenated channel decoding method wherein the bits of a set of N1 bits decoded using a first iterative block decoding algorithm and intended to be decoded using a second block decoding algorithm, are sent in parallel in at least one subset of P bits to a buffer for temporary storage. The decoding method comprises receiving in parallel at least one subset of Q bits belonging to the set of N1 bits sent to the buffer, detecting errors with the help of the second decoding algorithm, based on the bits decoded using the first decoding algorithm, and correcting the bits stored in the buffer as a function of possible errors detected. Detecting errors and/or the correcting the stored bits comprise a parallel processing of the bits of each subset of Q bits received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: Laurent Paumier, Pascal Urard
  • Publication number: 20070094565
    Abstract: A system implemented for example in the form of an SoC comprises a first demodulator for generating a first data stream to be decoded, and a second demodulator for generating a second data stream to be decoded, and a block decoder. The block decoder comprises an input memory for storing blocks of data from the first data stream and blocks of data from the second data stream, and a block decoding unit for processing, from the input memory, the blocks of data from the first and second data streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Laurent Paumier, Pascal Urard, Martial Comminges
  • Patent number: 7139865
    Abstract: A LIFO type data storage device of 2N depth, N being an integer, includes two random access memories each having at least 2N?1 locations for storing data. A controller controls the reading and writing of data in one or the other of the two memories, or the direct transmission of data to multiplexing means. Outputs of the two memories are also connected to the multiplexing means and the output of the device is connected to the multiplexing means via a sampler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Pascal Urard
  • Publication number: 20060251207
    Abstract: A barrel shifter receiving N symbols, arranged n2 distinct groups of n1 symbols, applying a circular shift to the N symbols. The barrel shifter comprises n2 first barrel shifters, each applying a first circular shift to one of the groups of n1 symbols; a rearrangement module receiving the N symbols provided by the first barrel shifters and providing N symbols arranged, in a determined manner, in n1 distinct groups of n2 symbols; n1 second barrel shifters, each applying a second circular shift to one of the distinct groups of n2 symbols; a control module providing, to each first barrel shifter, an identical signal bs_ctrl1 representing the first shift, and providing, to each second barrel shifter, an identical signal bs_ctrl2 representing the second shift; and a switching module switching at least two of the symbols of the N symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Paumier, Pascal Urard
  • Patent number: 7127651
    Abstract: A sampling rate converter includes a chain of identical cells connected in series. An input of a first cell of the chain receives input digital sampling values according to an input frequency. An output of the first cell then delivers output digital sampling values according to an output frequency. The input and output digital sampling values correspond to identical respective reconstruction curves, and the output frequency may be greater than or less than the input frequency. Each cell includes a storage element, two multipliers and two adders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Pascal Urard
  • Patent number: 7032165
    Abstract: A device for implementing a function of add-compare-select type in an error correction code decoder, having first and second adders for adding, respectively for first and second branches, branch metric values, intermediate value of former state metrics, and values of former state metric offset, thus forming first and second values of present state metrics; a comparator, coupled to the first and second adders, for selecting the highest value from among the first and second values; circuitry for determining a digital value of present state metric offset including a single bit, based on the first and second values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Thierry Valentin
  • Publication number: 20050281111
    Abstract: An LDPC decoder comprising processing units capable of receiving first messages and of providing second messages based on the first received messages; first and second single-port memories; and means for reading first words from the first and second memories, each first word containing first messages, providing first messages to the processing units based on the first read words, forming second words, each second word containing second messages provided by the processing units, and writing the second words into the first and second memories, said means being capable of reading a first (respectively second) word from the first memory and of simultaneously writing a second (respectively first) word into the second memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier
  • Publication number: 20050283703
    Abstract: An LDPC decoder comprising a determined number of processing units operating in parallel, a storage means capable of containing first words containing a juxtaposition of messages of a first type, and second words containing a juxtaposition of messages of a second type, a message provision unit capable of providing each processing unit with a message of the first type or a message of the second type, and a message write unit capable of writing, into the storage means, first words or second words. The message provision unit is capable of providing a message at a position in a word which depends on the word or the message write unit is capable of writing each message at a position in the word which depends on the word.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier
  • Publication number: 20050265491
    Abstract: An add-compare-select-offset device including first and second adders for generating values a and b respectively equal to the sum of first previous state and branch metrics and to the sum of second previous state and branch metrics, a calculation block for providing the greatest of values a and b on a first output and generating an adjustment value on a second output; and, a third adder for generating a current state metric equal to the sum of the outputs of the calculation block, wherein the adders perform additions without keeping the carry so that the current state metric and intermediary values a and b comprise the same number of bits as the first and second previous state metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier, Etienne Lantreibecq
  • Publication number: 20050210350
    Abstract: A sampling rate converter includes a chain of identical cells connected in series. An input of a first cell of the chain receives input digital sampling values according to an input frequency. An output of the first cell then delivers output digital sampling values according to an output frequency. The input and output digital sampling values correspond to identical respective reconstruction curves, and the output frequency may be greater than or less than the input frequency. Each cell includes a storage element, two multipliers and two adders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Pascal Urard
  • Publication number: 20050111752
    Abstract: An image adapter transforms an input image into an output image by successively processing tiles and by changing numbers of columns and of rows of image points. The image adapter includes queue memories connected in series so as to receive values associated with the points of a tile of the input image. A module for calculating a weighted average possesses inputs connected respectively to an output of one of the memories. The module produces values sampled in a direction parallel to the columns and corresponding to the values associated with points of the input image. A sampling rate converter, connected to the output of the module, produces values associated with the points of the output image according to a sampling rate determined for a direction parallel to the rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier, Yan Meroth
  • Publication number: 20050050428
    Abstract: An interleaver includes two random access memories for storing data and an addressing device (100) linked to respective address inputs of the two memories. The addressing device is designed to transmit, at each instant of a clock, a cue for read access to one of the two memories and a cue for write access to the other of the two memories, so that, at each instant, a data item is written to or read from each memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier, Etiene Lantreibecq
  • Publication number: 20040223560
    Abstract: An add-compare-select-offset device including first and second adders for generating values a and b respectively equal to the sum of first previous state and branch metrics and to the sum of second previous state and branch metrics, a calculation block for providing the greatest of values a and b on a first output and generating an adjustment value on a second output; and, a third adder for generating a current state metric equal to the sum of the outputs of the calculation block, wherein the adders perform additions without keeping the carry so that the current state metric and intermediary values a and b comprise the same number of bits as the first and second previous state metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Pascal Urard, Laurent Paumier, Etienne Lantreibecq
  • Publication number: 20040117542
    Abstract: A LIFO type data storage device of 2N depth, N being an integer, includes two random access memories each having at least 2N−1 locations for storing data. A controller controls the reading and writing of data in one or the other of the two memories, or the direct transmission of data to multiplexing means. Outputs of the two memories are also connected to the multiplexing means and the output of the device is connected to the multiplexing means via a sampler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Pascal Urard