Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Thomson Multimedia S.a.

Sgs-thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.

Bruno Bonhoure

Francis Dell'Ova

Frederic Paillardet

Thierry Rouzier

Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Palllardet

An analog to digital converter transposes the input signal into two differential signals, which are applied to respective inputs of a differential comparator. The output of the differential comparator is linked to the input of the analog-digital converter by a circuitry loop for restoring a DC component of each of the differential signals at the mid-voltage of the conversion range of the analog-digital converter.

Analog-digital conversion device comprising a differential comparator

A current amplifier includes a cascode transistor for fixing the voltage of an input of the amplifier; a first constant current source connected between the input and a first supply voltage; a second constant current source, for providing a current lower than the first current source, connected between a second supply voltage and the cascode transistor; a second transistor, of different type than the cascode transistor, connected between the input and the second supply voltage, and controlled by the node between the cascode transistor and the second current source; and an output transistor of same type as the second transistor, connected to the second supply voltage and controlled by the node.

Current amplifier

The present invention relates to a method of implementing an intermetallic capacitor in a multiple layer integrated circuit including, on a P-type substrate, at least five levels of metallization. The method includes letting remain, on either side of portions of end metallization levels of the capacitor, at least one portion of a biasable level distinct from the substrate and from the last metallization level, and biasing, at least above the capacitor and to the potential of the substrate, the two biasable portions.

Implementation of an intermetallic capacitor

The disclosure is an analog-to-digital converter of half-flash type providing for the multiplexing of two analog input signals and therefore requiring only one converter module. It includes a coarse comparator block used to determine the most significant bits of the converted signals and also determining the voltage range for two fine comparator blocks that determine the least significant bits of the converted signals, wherein each of the input signals is connected to a fine comparator block and said coarse comparator block compares alternatively the first and second input signals with a reference voltage. The analog-to-digital converter can be advantageously used for processing television signals.

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Grenoble, France

Bruno Bonhoure