Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Stmicroelectronics (crolles 2) Sas

University of Twente

Andreia Cathelin

Andreas Kaiser

Didier Belot

Stephane Razafimandimby

Hani Sherry

Ullrich Pfeiffer

Janusz Grzyb

Yan Zhao

Eric Kerherve

Jean-François Carpentier

Cyrille Tilhac

David Chamla

Mathieu Egot

Bram Nauta

Daniel Gloria

Olivier Richard

Romain Pilard

Alexandre Augusto Shirakawa

Jean-Marie Pham

Carlo Tinella

Antoine Frappe

Pierre Jary

Denis Michael Flores Pazos

Richard Al Hadi

Jean Gorisse

Axel Flament

Sandrine Majcherczak

Stéphane Razafimandimby

Yann Deval

Jonathan Muller

In various embodiments, a frequency dividing circuit is provided. The frequency dividing circuit may include a first circuit including an m-bit multiplexer configured to receive a positive binary word and a negative binary word as inputs. The frequency dividing circuit may receive a controlled oscillator output signal and a complement of the controlled oscillator output signal, generate a frequency dividing circuit output signal from the controlled oscillator output signal and the complement of the controlled oscillator output signal using the positive binary word and the negative binary word. A ratio of the frequency dividing circuit output signal frequency to the controlled oscillator output signal frequency is a decimal value greater than zero and less than one and is determined using a ratio of a value of the positive binary word to a sum of the value of the positive binary word and an absolute value of the negative binary word.

Frequency synthesis using a frequency dividing circuit

A terahertz imager includes an array of pixel circuits. Each pixel circuit has an antenna and a detector. The detector is coupled to differential output terminals of the antenna. A frequency oscillator is configured to generate a frequency signal on an output line. The output line is coupled to an input terminal of the antenna of at least one of the pixel circuits.

Terahertz imager

A Silicon On Insulator current source array includes input control for receiving a control voltage, a first reference input for receiving a first reference voltage, and a second reference input for receiving a second reference voltage. A chain of several Silicon On Insulator MOS transistors, of the same type, have control electrodes all connected to the input control, first conduction electrodes are all connected to the first reference input, and second conduction electrodes are respectively connected to the second reference input through several load circuits respectively configured to be traversed by several currents when the several transistors are ON upon application of the control voltage on the input control. An input bias is coupled to a semiconductor well located below an insulating buried layer located below the chain of transistors for receiving a biasing voltage difference.

Current source array

A frequency oscillator includes a ring oscillator having N inverters coupled in series, where N is an odd integer equal to three or more. A first filter is coupled between an output node of a first of the inverters and an output line of the frequency oscillator. A second filter is coupled between an output node of a second of the inverters and the output line of the frequency oscillator.

High frequency oscillator

Device comprising processing means (MT), transmission channels (VE, . . . VEn), an antenna array for transmitting signals comprising a number of antennas (A. . . A) respectively associated with the transmission channels, a number of digital-analog converters (DAC) and a number of phase-shifting means (MD, . . . MDn) respectively associated with the antennas, said phase-shifting means (MD, . . . MDn) being placed between the processing means (MT) and the digital-analog converters (DAC) and including digital all-pass filters of FIR type (PT), the processing means comprising control means (MC) configured to adjust the coefficients and/or the order of the all-pass filters of FIR type.

Phase-shifting device for antenna array

A pixel circuit may include a detection circuit having first and second transistors coupled in series between differential output nodes of an antenna. The antenna may be configured to be sensitive to terahertz radiation. The pixel circuit may also include a capacitor coupled to an intermediate node between the first and second transistors, and control circuitry coupled to control nodes of the first and second transistors. The control circuitry may be configured for selectively applying to the control nodes a gate biasing voltage for biasing the control nodes of the first and second transistors during a detection phase of the pixel circuit, and/or a reset voltage for resetting a voltage stored by the capacitor.

Terahertz imager with global reset

Transmission/reception device for signals having a wavelength of the microwaves, millimeter or terahertz type, comprising an antenna array. The antenna array comprises a first group of first omni-directional antennas and a second group of second directional antennas disposed around the first group of antennas.

Antenna array for transmission/reception device for signals with a wavelength of the microwave, millimeter or terahertz type

The digital delta-sigma modulator includes a signal input for receiving digital samples of N bits, and a digital filter connected to the signal input. The digital filter performs addition/subtraction and integration operations according to a redundant arithmetic coding for delivering digital filtered samples. A quantizer performs a nonexact quantization operation so as to deliver digital output samples of n bits, with n being less than N. The input of the quantizer is connected within the digital filter.

Method for processing a digital signal in a digital delta-sigma modulator, and digital delta-sigma modulator therefor

A logarithmic analog to digital conversion method for an analog input signal includes a logarithmic amplification with progressive compression of the input signal delivering a sequence of several secondary analog signals. The trend of the values of at least some of the secondary signals is a function of the values of the analog input signal including regions corresponding to a linear trend of the secondary signals as a function of that of the input signal expressed in a logarithmic scale. The method also includes a comparison of at least some of the secondary signals of the sequence with a common reference signal whose value lies within each of regions, supplying a thermometric code information item, and a generation of a first digital word from the thermometric code information item.

Logarithmic analog/digital conversion method for an analog input signal, and corresponding device

An integrated circuit includes input circuitry for receiving a radio frequency digital signal, output circuitry capable of delivering a radio frequency analog signal, and a processing stage coupled between the input circuitry and the output circuitry and including several processing channels in parallel. Each processing channel may include a voltage switching block the input of which is coupled to the input circuitry and a transmission line substantially of the quarter-wave type at the frequency of the radio frequency analog signal coupled in series between the output of the voltage switching block and the output circuitry.

Integrated circuit and corresponding method of processing a multitype radio frequency digital signal

A lattice tunable filtering circuit includes a first input and a second input, and a first output and a second output. The circuit includes two series branches and two parallel branches. The first and second series branches include a Tunable Resonator Component (TRC) which presents a first series resonance frequency whereas the third and fourth parallel branches present a second series resonance frequency which has a value being lower than that of the first series resonance frequency. The first and second series resonance frequencies are tunable by one analog control quantity. The filtering circuit further includes a feedback control loop for the control of the analog quantity, which feedback is based on a criterion of equality between the modulus of impedances Zs and Zp.

Frequency tuning circuit for lattice filter

A Lamb wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, and a first electrode against a first face of the piezoelectric layer. The first electrode includes fingers and a contact arm, with each finger including a first side in contact with the contact arm and two other sides parallel to one another. Portions of the piezoelectric layer are at least partially etched between the two fingers to form a recess. The fingers are spaced apart from one another by a distance W calculated according to the following equation: 

Lamb wave resonator

A negative capacitances circuit includes first and second branches connected between a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The first branch includes, in series, a first biasing resistor, a first diode, a first bipolar transistor, and a first current source. The second branch includes, in series, a second biasing resistor, a second diode, a second bipolar transistor, and a second current source. The first transistor has a base coupled to a collector of the second transistor and to one input, and the second transistor has a base coupled to a collector of the first transistor and to another input. A capacitor is connected between the emitter of said first transistor and the emitter of said second transistor. A linearization resistor is coupled in parallel between the two emitters of said first and said second transistors.

Negative capacity circuit for high frequencies applications

A MOS transistor capable of withstanding significant currents, having doped areas corresponding to first and second main terminals of elementary MOS transistors and having, in top view, the shape of parallel strips separated by gate regions; first conductive elements which do not extend on the doped areas corresponding to the second main terminals and dividing into first fingers extending at least partly on the doped areas corresponding to the first main terminals and connected thereto; and second conductive elements which do not extend on the doped areas corresponding to the first main terminals and divide into second fingers extending at least partly on the doped areas corresponding to the second main terminals and connected thereto, the second fingers being at least partly intercalated with the first fingers.

Growing community of inventors

Laval, France

Andreia Cathelin