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Patent History 


A behavioral and physical unclonable function (BPUF) and a multimodal cryptographic authentication using the same 

Summary:  University of Seville has developed a physically and behaviorally-defined set of digital fingerprints (BPUF) that serves as a set of identifying traits for a semiconductor device. The BPUF is tamper resistant, and tamperevident to the physical attacks reported to currently known physically unclonable functions (PUFs) because those attacks change the behaviorally-defined fingerprints in the BPUFs. Physical clones of BPUFs are very much challenging to obtain since BPUFs consider behavioral and dynamic identifying traits. The multimodal cryptographic authentication method of the present invention is privacy-preserving because the identifying traits of the device are not disclosed. Besides, the authentication method can be very lightweight and a non-protected communication channel can be employed between the device containing the BPUF instance and the verifier. 

Inventors: Baturone Castillo, María Iluminada; Prada Delgado, Miguel Ángel.

Patent Holder: University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council

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Fingerprint identification method and device using same

Summary: A description is given of a method and a device allowing the generation of a feature vector of a human fingerprint by means of a series of processes performed on the basis of the image of said fingerprint. These vectors are used to produce a classification, indexing or determination of fingerprint identity and also to protect secrets or to generate cryptographic keys based on fingerprints. The majority of identification methods use feature vectors and techniques for extraction and comparison purposes, which are unsuitable for electronic devices with reduced computing and storage resources. The method proposed in this invention is indeed appropriate, offering good levels of performance in terms of vector extraction times, pairing and ordering times, and memory requirements. The main uses of the invention arise in small automatic fingerprint identification systems that are portable, inexpensive and/or secure, where the user is present and wishes to be identified. 

Inventors: Arjona López, María Rosario and Baturone Castillo, María Iluminada

Patent Holder: University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council

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Image Sensor on chip

Summary: The invention relates to an image sensor  with “on-chip” compressive sensing for capturing, understanding and transmitting entire images. More specifically, the invention relates to an image sensor  comprising: a pixel matrix  with rows and columns, for converting incident light into an electrical signal; a first circuit for generating a pseudo-random sequence of binary numbers, which selects the pixels to be compressed; second and third circuits for receiving the selection signal for each pixel and, for each compressed pixel, generating pulse-frequency coding of the value of the pixel; and a fourth circuit which receives the pulse-frequency coding of the value of the pixel for each compressed pixel, in order to obtain a compressed digital signal for the entire image. 

Inventors: Treviso, Marco; Carmona Galan, Ricardo; Rodríguez Vázquez, Ángel.

Patent Holders:  Spanish National Research Council

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Method for generating piecewise-affine multivariable functions with on-line computation of the search tree and device for implementing same

Summary: Method for generating piecewise-affine multivariate functions, wherein the online computation of the search tree is performed in order to locate the input value in the polytopes of the partition, and the subsequent generation of the corresponding affine function. It also proposes a configurable and programmable device for generating piecewise-affine multivariate functions composed of an architecture with four functional blocks namely: a control unit block (1), a tree memory block, a parameter memory block and an arithmetic unit block; and it has at least three operating modes which can be selected using different values of a bus (config): writing of the tree memory, writing of the parameter memory and evaluating the affine function. It may include a fourth operating mode, which is the test mode. 

Status:  Licensed Patent   Priority04/06/2012 Licensee: Canaan Research & Investment.

Inventors: Acosta Jiménez, Antonio José; Baturone Castillo, Iluminada; Castro Ramírez, Javier; Jiménez Fernández, Carlos Jesús; Brox Jiménez, Piedad; Martínez Rodríguez, Macarena Cristina

Patent HolderSpanish National Research Council  and University of Seville 

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Adaptive method for concurrent digital calibtration of the offset in comparators in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs)

Summary: The invention relates to an adaptive method for calibrating the offset of comparators in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The technique used enables the effective threshold voltage or transition of the comparators to be adjusted by means of a low-cost digital control, without affecting the natural path of the signal, and therefore without interrupting the A/D conversion of the analog input. Said method is therefore a concurrent calibration technique. 

Inventors: Ginés, Artega, Antonio José; Peralías Macías, Eduardo José ; Rueda, Adoración

Patent Holder: Spanish National Research Council and University of Seville 

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Image processor for extracting features

Summary: The present invention relates to an image processor for extracting features. The processor comprises a single non-planar chip containing a plurality of integrated sensors and processing resources distributed in two or more layers and configured to capture image frames and extract features of the images. In one particular embodiment, the non-planar chip is a CMOS 3D integrated circuit (CMOS 3D IC) with a vertical distribution of the sensing and processing resources distributed in two or more vertical layers of the integrated circuit. The CMOS 3D IC uses two or more feature detectors in a single chip, reusing a plurality of circuits used to obtain the gradient and key points. The feature detectors include a scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) detector, a Harris detector and a detector based on the Hessian matrix. 

Inventors: Suarez Cambre, Manuel; Brea Sánchez, Víctor Manuel; Pardo Seco, Fernando Rafael; Rodríguez Vázquez, Ángel; Carmona Galán, Ricardo

Patent Holder: University of Santiago, University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council

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Device for detecting edges and improving the quality of an image 

Summary: The invention relates to a device for detecting edges and improving the quality of an image, wich includes a group of elemental procesor cells wich are identical and locally interconnected. Each processor cell in turn is characterised by a comparator wich compares , in parallel, each pair of adjacent pixels. The threshold voltage wich establishes the voltage difference between pixels considered to be part of an edge is determined by a time adjustement of a control signal. Said adjustment, combined with that of the filtering control signal, also in time, are the only adjustments required in order to configure the desired processing. No external analog control signals are required. thus making it easier to program the hardware by the device used and reducing the number of digital-to-analog converters in the final system. 

Inventors:  Fernández Berni, Jorge; Rodríguez Vázquez, Ángel; Carmona Galan, Ricardo

Patent Holder: University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council 

Licensee: Fobos Solutions S. L.

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High-precision temperature to digital converter with low power consumption

Summary: The invention relates to a high-precision temperature-to-digital converter with low power consumption. The power is obtained from wireless waves. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the temperature associated with the converter. The converter comprises a thermistor RTH (1510), the resistance of which depends on the temperature; a resistor RP (1530), a resistor RS (1520), and an integration capacitor CINT (1540) which are temperature invariable; and a reading and conversion circuit (1300) that measures the resistance of the thermistor and converts said value representative of the temperature into a digital code for subsequent processing. The method comprises fours steps such that the resistance of the RTH thermistor is proportional to an expression dependent on the temperature NTEMP. 

Inventors: Delgado Restituto, Manuel; Ruiz Amaya, Jesús; Rodríguez Pérez, Alberto; Rodríguez Rodríguez, José Antonio; Masuch, Jens.

Patent Holder: Spanish National Research Council 

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Device for the hardware detection of local extremes in an image

Summary: The invention relates to a device and method for the hardware detection of local extremes in an image, comprising a plurality of mixed-signal processing elementary cells that are locally interconnected and comprising, in each cell, a first switch configured to allow the pre-charging of a capacitor  at the supply voltage. According to the invention, once the capacitor has been pre-charged it is discharged via a second switch connected to a current source that varies in an increasing monotone manner with the analog voltage that represents the value of the pixel in question. The value of the pixel is compared asynchronously with the neighbouring pixels of the neighbouring cells using two inverters, a digital NO gate, a digital NAND gate, third and fourth switches and a memory element for storing the result. 

Inventors: Fernández Berni, Jorge; Rodríguez Vázquez, Ángel; Carmona Galan, Ricardo

Patent Holder: University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council 

Licensee: Fobos Solutions S.L

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System and method for the calibration of steps of acquisition and conditioninf of electrical biopotentials

Summary: The invention relates to a system and a method for 35000 the calibration of steps of acquisition and conditioning of electrical biopotentials. Said system comprises means for the definition of the spectral band for capture according to the type of biopotential to be 35100 35200 monitored and means for adjusting the voltage gain levéis prior to the digitalisation of said biopotential. The invention also relates to Monitorización Ajuste PGC por biopotencial usuario the method associated with the definition of the spectral band for capture according to the type of biopotential to be monitored and the adjustment of the voltage gain levéis prior to the digitalisation of said biopotential. 

Inventors: Delgado-Restituto, Manuel; Rodríguez-Pérez, Alberto; Ruiz Amaya, Jesus

Patent Holder: Spanish National Research Council 

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System and method for acquiring and transferring neuronal activity

Summary: Neural activity acquisition and transfer system comprising at least a plurality of bioelectric sensors, a wireless transceiver, a communications node connected between the plurality of bioelectric sensors and the wireless transceiver, and a plurality of intracranial electrodes, such that the The communications node is configured to transmit data bi-directionally between the plurality of bioelectric sensors and the wireless transceiver, so that in the direction of data transmission from the wireless transceiver to the bioelectric sensors, the communications node manages a configuration of parameters, a calibration and a mode of operation of the bioelectric sensors and, in the sense of data transmission from the bioelectric sensors to the wireless transceiver, collects, sets, and shapes neuronal information from a neuronal signal captured by the plurality of bioelectric sensors. 

Inventors: Delgado-Restituto, Manuel; Rodríguez-Pérez, Alberto; Rodríguez-Vázquez, Ángel

Patent Holders:  Spanish National Research Council and University of Seville 

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Neural sensing channel and neural sensing method

Summary: The present invention relates to a sensing channel  for acquiring, digitizing, and processing neural signáis o captured by means of an intracranial electrode and to the related methods. The provided channel  comprises means v and mechanisms for data compression in real time which include differentiation and compression by setting the parameters of a neural signal to obtain a simplified representation of the action potentials detected, Le., a compressed neural signal. The invention is useful in physical technology and other sectors, and particularly the information and communications technology area with uses in bioengineering. 

Inventors: Delgado-Restituto, Manuel; Rodríguez Pérez, Alberto; Rodríguez-Vazquez, Ángel

Patent Holders: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y Universidad de Sevilla

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Hardware for computing the integral image

Summary: The invention relates to mixed-signal hardware for computing the integral image in the focal plane using a cluster of basic sensor-processing cells, the interconnection of which cluster can be reconfigured using peripheral circuitry that permits a processing task, that is very useful in artificial vision, to be very efficiently carried out, such as the calculation of the integral image in settings, such as, inter alia, monitoring natural spaces, robotics, and aiding unmanned air navigation. The scientific-technical field of the invention is that of physical technologies, in particular microelectronics. The general application framework of the invention is that of very low power consumption electronic systems designed to carry out artificial vision tasks, namely capturing images, analysing same, and acting if required by the results of said analysis. 

Inventors: Fernández-Berni, Jorge; Rodríguez-Vázquez, Ángel; Del Río-Fernández, Rocio; Carmona-Galán, Ricardo

Patent Holder: University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council 

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Method and device for generating truly random numbers and identifiers

Summary: The invention relates to a method comprising two steps. The first step involves classifying the static memory cells into two discrete sets according to their behaviour towards repeatedly being connected to a power supply after having been with out a power supply for a sufficient period of time, such that the cells of one of the sets are suitable for generating identifiers (key or secret) and the cells of the other set are suitable for generating truly random numbers. Thanks to this classification, in the second step, involving the generation of numbers, the identifiers and the random numbers generated perform better. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention, said method being carried out by adding very simple circuitry to the memory or running very simple software. The scientific-technical fields of the invention are those of cryptography, electronic technology, security and privacy. 

Inventors: Baturone Castillo, María Iluminada; Eiroa Lorenzo, Susana; Prada Delgado, Miguel Ángel

Patent Holder: University of Seville and Spanish National Research Council 

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Highly Energy Efficient Widely Programmable Transconductor

Summary: The University of Seville, in collaboration with CSIC, has developed a novel transconductor, which is widely tunable and reconfigurable to a number of circuit specifications with an adaptive power consumption. Current-starving techniques are combined with programmable output stages so that the output current range and granularity can be arbitrarily set, while increasing energy efficiency with the number of active stages. These characteristics make the proposed circuit very suited to enlarge the autonomy and battery life in a number of portable multi-mode electronic devices, including – among others – the following applications:

  • Wireless acommunication systems, including next-generation 4G/5G mobile telecom terminals
  • Software-defined-radio devices
  • Instrumentation
  • Wireless smart sensors
  • Biomedical devices
  • Ultra-low-voltage devices. 

Inventors: Morgado García de Polavieja, Alonso; del Río Fernández, Rocío y de la Rosa Utrera, José Manuel

Patent Holder: University of Seville  and Spanish National Research Council  

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Wearable camera apparatus with selectable processing of image content

Summary: Wearable camera apparatus comprising at least a camera device, a memory module, a battery module and a processor. It also comprises a switch which is operable to select one of at least two operation modes that are mutually exclusive: a first operation mode which comprises capturing an image and storing the image in the memory, and a second operation mode which comprises capturing an image, possibly altering the image in the processor and storing said altered image in the memory. A method of processing images for object obfuscation is also provided. The method is carried out by the wearable camera apparatus herein described.

Inventors: Rodríguez Vázquez, Ángel; Carmona Galán, Ricardo; Fernández Berni, Jorge

Patent Holder: Spanish National Research Council  and University of Seville

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Pixel cell having a reset device with asymmetric conduction

Summary: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a solution to carry out High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging based on dynamic well capacity adjustment without incurring additional spatial-temporal noise and consequent Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) dips caused by the sub-threshold operation of a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) reset transistor in a pixel cell. Embodiments of the disclosure employ realizations of transistors other than CMOS, e.g. Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors (TFETs), featuring asymmetric conduction between two of its terminals, where asymmetric conduction means that current can only flow in one direction between those two terminals. In some embodiments, one of such realizations plays the role of the pixel reset transistor in order to exploit the asymmetric conduction to perform dynamic well capacity adjustment. As a result, the sources of spatial-temporal noise arising from the sub-threshold operation of the pixel reset transistor in CMOS implementations are removed. 

Inventors: Fernandez-Berni, Jorge; Neimier, Michael; Xiabobo Sharon Hu; Carmona-Galan, Ricardo; Rodriguez-Vasquez, Ángel. 

Patent Holder: Spanish National Research Council 

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Circuit for recognizing and establishing categories of binary patterns

Summary: Circuit for recognizing and establishing categories of binary patterns. The object of the invention is a circuit for the recognition and establishment of categories of binary patterns, capable of grouping by similarity a collection of binary patterns presented sequentially and/or iteratively at the circuit inputs. The circuit of the invention has the advantage of greater speed compared with software algorithms that perform similar functions and is less complex than other hardware-based solutions. The circuit is useful in speech recognition devices, as well as in robotics and process automation.

Inventors: Linares Barranco, Bernabé y Serrano Gotarredona, Teresa

Patent Holder: Spanish National Research Council 

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