Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Stmicroelectronics International N.v.

Stmicroelectronics (Alps) Sas

Stmicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited

Stmicroelectronics Design and Application S.r.o.

Stmicroelectronics (Rousset) Sas

Michele Alessandro Carrano

Antonino Mondello

Daniele Mangano

Riccardo Condorelli

Alessandro Inglese

Patrik Arno

Gaetano Di Stefano

Francois Druilhe

Michel Cuenca

Luc Garcia

Carmelo Pistritto

Pasquale Butta'

Martin Bolton

Pasquale Butta′

Sergio Abenda

Roberto Sebastiano Ruggirello

Antonin Fried

Michele Alia

Fabien Laplace

The present disclosure relates to a method including executing, by an electronic device, a first firmware module stored in a volatile memory of the electronic device, the execution of the first firmware module causing an updated firmware key to be stored in a non-volatile memory of the electronic device, and uploading a second firmware module to the electronic device. The method also includes decrypting the second firmware module by a cryptographic processor of the electronic device based on the updated firmware key, and installing the decrypted second firmware module in the volatile memory of the electronic device at least partially overwriting the first firmware module.

Secure firmware upload

A circuit implemented as a System-on-Chip (SOC) circuit comprising a microcontroller configured to drive one or more hard macros via a respective communication interface and a shielded bus. The microcontroller configured to transmit over the shielded bus random numbers to the hard macro. The microcontroller and the hard macro configured to use these random numbers as cryptographic shared secret for authentication. The microcontroller configured to drive via the communication interface the hard macros authenticated via the random numbers.

Circuit with hard macro protection and corresponding method

An electronic device includes at least two electronic components. A reset circuit includes: a parity control circuit; at least two first flip-flops, wherein each first flip-flop has an output coupled to at least one of the at least two electronic components; and at least two second flip-flops, wherein each second flip-flop has at least one output coupled to an input of the parity control circuit.

Reset circuit

A system-on-chip includes a process-voltage-temperature (PVT) sensor with a filter circuit that initiates a patterned digital signal and propagates the patterned digital signal in a manner responsive to variations in semiconductor material, operating supply voltage and operating temperature of the system-on-chip. A digital comparison circuit compares the initiated patterned digital signal and the propagated patterned digital signal. A warning signal is generated in response to the comparison where there is a detection of discrepancy between the initiated patterned digital signal and the propagated patterned digital signal.

System on chip including a PVT sensor and corresponding PVT sensing method

A resettable digital stage operates when a supply voltage is higher than a threshold. A non-volatile memory stores a digital code read by a reading stage. A main power-on reset circuit generates a main reset signal controlling reset of the reading stage. A resettable volatile memory coupled to the reading stage stores a default value when reset. An auxiliary power-on reset circuit generates an auxiliary reset signal controlling reset of the volatile memory. Upon deactivation of the reset, the reading stage loads the digital code into the volatile memory. The main power-on reset circuit functions in a non-trimmed configuration response to the stored default value and in a trimmed configuration responsive to the stored digital code. The main power-on reset circuit has first and second operative thresholds which respectively fall within a first and second non-trimmed voltage range or within a first and second trimmed voltage range.

Integrated electronic system with an improved power-on reset circuit and method for controlling the integrated electronic system

A method includes providing a reference clock signal having a reference period, providing a sampling clock signal having a sampling clock period shorter than the reference period of the reference clock signal, measuring the first subperiod as a first ratio of the first subperiod to the period of the sampling clock signal, measuring the second subperiod as a second ratio of the second subperiod to the period of the sampling clock signal, detecting a starting edge of a clock signal having a clock period greater than the reference period, producing a reconstructed reference signal based on the first ratio, the second ratio, and the detected starting edge, comparing the clock period of the clock signal with a period of the reconstructed reference signal to obtain a differential signal indicating a difference therebetween, and providing the differential signal to user circuitry for calibrating the clock signal.

Method of calibrating a clock signal, and corresponding electronic device and system

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes: producing a set of delayed replicas of a reference clock signal, wherein delayed replicas in the set of delayed replicas have respective signal edges delayed in time by a mutual time delay therebetween; producing a set of edge detecting signals comprising edge detecting signals indicative of respective distances of edges of delayed replicas in the set of delayed replicas from an edge of a clock signal having a clock period; selecting based on edge detecting signals in the set of edge detecting signals a delayed replica in the set of delayed replicas having a distance from the clock signal edge that is shorter than the distance from the clock signal edge of any other delayed replica in the set of delayed replicas.

Method and system of calibrating a clock signal

A power-saving system includes a retention memory element for a retained peripheral that is set to a logic state during an operational-power mode and maintains the logic state during an enhanced power-saving mode. The power-saving system also includes a non-retention memory element for a non-retained peripheral that is set to a logic state during the operational-power mode of the power-saving system; and a controller that instructs the retention memory element to maintain its logic state while in an enhanced power-saving mode.

Methods and devices to conserve microcontroller power

A power supply system includes a voltage application source, and a switched mode power supply having an output coupled to the voltage application source through a first path and through a second path different from the first path. A first node is coupled to the output of the switched mode power supply, the switched mode power supply being configured to couple the first node to the voltage application source through the first path in a first operating mode and through the second path in a different second operating mode. A digital regulator is coupled to the first node. A digital circuit is coupled to an output of the digital regulator. An analog regulator is coupled to the first node and an analog circuit coupled to an output of the analog regulator.

Power supply system

A non-volatile data memory space for a range of user addresses is provided by means of a range of non-volatile flash memory locations for writing data. The range of flash memory locations for writing data is larger (e.g., 4 KB v. 100 B) than the range of user addresses. Data for a same user address may thus be written in different flash memory locations in a range of flash memory locations with data storage endurance correspondingly improved.

Method of managing semiconductor memories, corresponding interface, memory and device

A method includes: writing first data in a first partition of a first memory module and second data in a first partition of a second memory module, and selectively operating the first and second memory modules in a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The first operating mode includes writing parity bits for the first data in a second partition of the second memory module and parity bits for the second data in a second partition of the first memory module. The second operating mode includes writing further data instead of parity bits in the second partition of one or both the first memory module and the second memory module.

Method of managing memories, corresponding device and apparatus

A video decoding circuit comprising: a first video data processor; a second video data processor; and a connection connecting the first video data processor and the second data processor; wherein the first video data processor is arranged to receive a first signal comprising encoded video data, process the first signal to provide a second signal and output the second signal. The first video data processor being arranged to process the first signal dependent on at least part of the received first signal. The second video data processor is arranged to receive at least a part of the second signal, process the at least a part of the second signal to provide a third signal, and output the third signal, the second and third signals comprising a decoded video image stream. The second video data processor is arranged to process the at least part of the second signal dependent on at least part of the at least part of second signal.

Video decoding device

A system for synchronizing the operation of a circuit with a control signal includes synchronization flip-flops operating in cascade for receiving a control signal to be synchronized and providing a corresponding control signal synchronized with a clock signal, and a circuit including a finite state machine for receiving the clock signal having state flip-flops for storing the current state of the finite state machine, wherein a last synchronization flip-flop includes one of the state flip-flops.

System for synchronizing operation of a circuit with a control signal, and corresponding integrated circuit

A system-on-chip (SOC) includes a power down circuit. Within the SOC are several circuit blocks, each of them operating responsive to a local clock signal. A system clock is coupled to the circuit blocks for providing a system clock signal that functions as the local clock signal for selected circuit blocks. A power control manager provides a signal that at least partially determines whether the system clock will act as the local clock for some of the circuit blocks. Within the circuit blocks is a shutdown circuit that selectively prevents the system clock signal from functioning as the local clock signal in those circuit blocks that receive the shutdown signal, but the shutdown circuit only operates after both the signal to shutdown is received from the power control manager and after the circuit block has, in fact, shutdown.

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Catania, Italy

Michele Alessandro Carrano