Alan Robert Kramer

US Patent:

6408087, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Jan 13, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/006691

Inventors:

Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Carrollton TX

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382124, 382126, 382312, 345156, 345158, 345174, 345326

Abstract:

A method of and system for providing user input to a computer, or the like, having a display by detecting a change in fingerprint pattern of a user. The system controls the position of a pointer on a display by detecting motion of ridges and pores of a fingerprint of a user and moving the pointer on the display according to detected motion of the ridges and pores of the fingerprint. The system captures successive images of the fingerprint ridges and pores and detects motion of the ridges and pores based upon the captured successive images.

US Patent:

6415293, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

Feb 12, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/023151

Inventors:

Loris Navoni - Cernusco sul Naviglio, IT
Roberto Canegallo - Tortona, IT
Mauro Chinosi - Cologno Monzese, IT
Giovanni Gozzini - Palazzolo SullOglio, IT
Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA
Pierluigi Rolandi - Volpedo, IT

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Agrate Brianza

International Classification:

G06F 1204

US Classification:

707100, 707104, 711128, 711170, 365 49

Abstract:

A memory device having an associative memory for the storage of data belonging to a plurality of classes. The associative memory has a plurality of memory locations aligned along rows and columns for the storage of data along the rows. Each memory row has a plurality of groups of memory locations, each storing a respective datum, wherein groups of memory locations adjacent along one and the same row store data belonging to different classes. Groups of memory locations adjacent in the direction of the columns and disposed on different rows store data belonging to one and the same class. Each class has data having a different maximum lengths. The device is particularly suitable for the storage of words belonging to a dictionary for automatic recognition of words in a written text.

US Patent:

6437583, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Jul 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/614093

Inventors:

Marco Tartagni - Meldola, IT
Bhusan Gupta - Palo Alto CA
Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics, Inc.. - Carollton TX

International Classification:

G01R 2726

US Classification:

324687, 324661, 324662, 324663, 324671, 324686, 324688, 382124, 341 33

Abstract:

A distance sensor has a capacitive element in turn having a first capacitor plate which is positioned facing a second capacitor plate whose distance is to be measured. In the case of fingerprinting, the second capacitor plate is defined directly by the skin surface of the finger being printed. The sensor comprises an inverting amplifier, between the input and output of which the capacitive element is connected to form a negative feedback branch. By supplying an electric charge step to the input of the inverting amplifier, a voltage step directly proportional to the distance being measured is obtained at the output.

US Patent:

6442286, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/219549

Inventors:

Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Carrollton TX

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382124, 713186

Abstract:

An integrated circuit includes a sensor that reads a fingerprint and provides data corresponding to the fingerprint to a computation engine coupled to the sensor. The computation engine compares the data to stored data and enables a smart card coupled to the computation engine when the data and the stored data match. The computation engine may include an array of flash memory cells arranged in pairs of rows, where flash memory cells in any one row have sources coupled to a common row line and a plurality of conductance mode neurons each having first and second inputs coupled to first and second row lines forming a respective pair of rows. The neurons are coupled to the flash memory cells through a buffer circuit sets a drain-source voltage of the flash memory cells in the row pair coupled to the neuron.

US Patent:

6442295, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Feb 12, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/022666

Inventors:

Loris Navoni - Cernusco sul Naviglio, IT
Roberto Canegallo - Tortona, IT
Mauro Chinosi - Cologno Monzese, IT
Giovanni Gozzini - Palazzolo SullOglio, IT
Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA
Pierluigi Rolandi - Volpedo, IT

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Agrate Brianza

International Classification:

G06K 972

US Classification:

382229, 707 6

Abstract:

A word recognition device uses an associative memory to store a plurality of coded words in such a way that a weight is associated with each character of the alphabet of the stored words, wherein equal weights correspond to equal characters. To perform the recognition, a dictionary of words is first chosen; this is stored in the associative memory according to a pre-determined code; a string of characters which correspond to a word to be recognized is received; a sequence of weights corresponding to the string of characters received is supplied to the associative memory; the distance between the word to be recognized and at least some of the stored words is calculated in parallel as the sum of the difference between the weights of each character of the word to be recognized and the weights of each character of the stored words; the minimum distance is identified; and the word stored in the associative memory having the minimum distance is stored.

US Patent:

6496021, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Jan 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/054182

Inventors:

Marco Tartagni - Meldola, IT
Bhusan Gupta - Palo Alto CA
Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Carrollton TX

International Classification:

G01R 2726

US Classification:

324687, 324661, 324662, 324671, 324676, 324686, 324688, 324690

Abstract:

This invention is directed to a method of making a capacitive distance sensor that includes one or more sensor cells each with first and second capacitor plates. The method includes determining an expected range of sizes of objects the sensor will be used to detect and determining a total perimeter value for each of a plurality of capacitor patterns. Each capacitor pattern includes a different arrangement of the first and second capacitor plates and the total perimeter value is the sum of the perimeter values for the first and second capacitor plates. The method selects one of the capacitor patterns based on the expected size of the object and on the total perimeter values determined for the capacitor patterns. The selecting step includes selecting whichever one of the capacitor patterns has the largest total perimeter value if the object is smaller than each of the one or more sensor cells.

US Patent:

6504572, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Nov 5, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/964762

Inventors:

Alan H. Kramer - Berkeley CA
Roberto Rambaldi - Bologna, IT
Marco Tartagni - Meldola, IT

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Carrollton TX

International Classification:

H04N 314

US Classification:

348246, 348310, 2502081, 250214 R

Abstract:

Disclosed is a CMOS image sensor that includes circuitry for identifying defective pixels, particularly pixels having leaky access switches. The leaky access switches allow charge to escape from the pixel over a row or column line in a pixel array, thereby corrupting the outputs of an entire row or column of pixels. A disclosed test involves (a) electronically setting a defined charge in a selected pixel of the CMOS imager; (b) reading the output of the selected pixel; and (c) comparing the output of the selected pixel to an expected value based upon the defined charge set in the selected pixels. If the output significantly deviates from the expected value, then the selected pixel is identified as having a leaky access switch. Preferably, a newly fabricated sensor is first tested as described. If such leaky access switch is discovered, the imager is discarded without incurring further manufacturing cost.

US Patent:

6512381, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Dec 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/753344

Inventors:

Alan Kramer - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Carrollton TX

International Classification:

G01R 2726

US Classification:

324658, 324661

Abstract:

An enhanced fingerprint sensing circuit in which a voltage change is applied to the body during sensing. When the persons fingerprint is being sensed, the persons body is in contact with an electrical terminal. When the sensing occurs, the voltage on the electrical terminal changes, which changes the voltage on the persons body. The pattern of the fingerprint performs two functions in the sensing circuit. In addition to being a plate of a capacitor whose distance is being sensed, it is now a source of input charge as well. The electrical effect on the cell of a voltage change on a persons finger is different at a ridge than at a valley in the fingerprint sensing circuit. Thus, the input capacitance to the sensing circuit is variable, depending upon whether a ridge or a valley is present. The sensing circuit also detects a change in its own capacitance based on the presence of a ridge or a valley. In summary, the persons body acts as the input capacitor to provide a variable charge transfer for the input capacitance and at the same time performs the function of being a variable sensing capacitor value for the capacitive sensor.