Patents by Inventor Adolfo Giambastiani
Adolfo Giambastiani has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11125580Abstract: A MEMS inertial sensor may include drive electrodes that apply a drive signal to a suspended spring-mass system for measurement of an inertial linear or angular force and self-test electrodes that apply a self-test signal to the suspended spring-mass system for monitoring the characteristics of the suspended spring-mass system during operation. The self-test signal may be modulated by a spreading sequence that prevents interference with the self-test signal by vibrations and other disturbance signals. The self-test signals and drive signals may be modulated with CDMA code sequences to multiplex signals that are at least partially processed by a common sense path.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Vito Avantaggiati, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Publication number: 20210102970Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor, such as an accelerometer, has one more proof masses that respond to movement of the sensor, the movement of which is measured based on a distance between the one or more proof masses and on one or more sense electrodes. The accelerometer also has a plurality of auxiliary electrodes and a signal generator configured to apply an auxiliary signal having a first harmonic frequency to the plurality of auxiliary electrodes. Circuitry receives a sensed signal from the plurality of sense electrodes and identifies a portion of the sensed signal having the first harmonic frequency. Based on this identified portion of the sensed signal, the circuitry determines whether a residual voltage is present on the one or more proof masses or on the one or more sense electrodes, and the circuitry modifies the operation of the accelerometer when the residual voltage is determined to be present in order to compensate for the residual voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10877063Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor, such as an accelerometer, has one more proof masses that respond to movement of the sensor, the movement of which is measured based on a distance between the one or more proof masses and on one or more sense electrodes. The accelerometer also has a plurality of auxiliary electrodes and a signal generator configured to apply an auxiliary signal having a first harmonic frequency to the plurality of auxiliary electrodes. Circuitry receives a sensed signal from the plurality of sense electrodes and identifies a portion of the sensed signal having the first harmonic frequency. Based on this identified portion of the sensed signal, the circuitry determines whether a residual voltage is present on the one or more proof masses or on the one or more sense electrodes, and the circuitry modifies the operation of the accelerometer when the residual voltage is determined to be present in order to compensate for the residual voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10837999Abstract: Facilitating fault detection of a system using a test input including a linear combination of inputs of the system is presented herein. A test signal component generates, via a test procedure, a test input signal including a first linear combination of at least two input signals of the system, and applies the test input signal to the system during a phase of respective phases of the test procedure; and a fault detection component detects a fault of the system based on a test output signal corresponding to the test input signal and a second linear combination of respective output signals of the system corresponding to the at least two input signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.Inventors: Omid Oliaei, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10830816Abstract: A fault detection system on a circuit can detect a fault on the same circuit without using a duplicate circuit. A test signal can be generated based on an input signal, and the input signal and test signal can be sent through the circuit and the resulting signals can be compared to determine if any fault is present. In an embodiment, a function can be applied to bits of the input signal and bits of the test signal such that when the signals are compared after passing through the processing block that is to be tested, if the variation between the signals is above a predetermined amount, it can be determined that a fault has occurred. In other embodiments, a first function can be applied to the input signal, and a second function can be applied to the test signal, and the resulting outputs can be compared.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Omid Oliaei, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10725068Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer has a proof mass, a sense electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. The sense electrode is located relative to the proof mass such that a capacitance formed by the sense electrode and the proof mass changes in response to a linear acceleration along a sense axis of the accelerometer. The auxiliary electrode is located relative to the proof mass such that a capacitance formed by the auxiliary electrode and proof mass is static in response to the linear acceleration. A sense drive signal is applied at the sense electrode and an auxiliary drive signal is applied at the auxiliary electrode. The sense drive signal and the auxiliary drive signal have different frequencies. An error is identified based on a portion of a signal that is received from the accelerometer and that is responsive to the auxiliary drive signal. Compensation is performed at the accelerometer based on the identified error.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani, Federico Mazzarella, Massimiliano Musazzi, Michele Folz
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Publication number: 20200096555Abstract: Facilitating fault detection of a system using a test input comprising a linear combination of inputs of the system is presented herein. A system can comprise a test signal component that generates, via a test procedure, a test input signal comprising a first linear combination of at least two input signals of the system, and applies the test input signal to the system during a phase of respective phases of the test procedure; and a fault detection component that detects a fault of the system based on a test output signal corresponding to the test input signal and a second linear combination of respective output signals of the system corresponding to the at least two input signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Omid Oliaei, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10564179Abstract: A sensor such as an accelerometer includes a proof mass located opposite a plurality of electrodes located on a substrate. Some of the electrodes are auxiliary electrodes that apply an alternating current auxiliary signal to the proof mass while other electrodes are sense electrodes that sense movement of the proof mass. When a residual voltage is not present on the proof mass or on the sense electrodes, the forces imparted by the auxiliary signal onto the proof mass are substantially balanced. When the residual voltage is present on the proof masses, forces at a first harmonic frequency of the auxiliary signal are sensed by a sense electrode of the sensor. A self-test is failed if the sensed forces exceed a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10379137Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer has a proof mass, a sense electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. The sense electrode is located relative to the proof mass such that a capacitance formed by the sense electrode and the proof mass changes in response to a linear acceleration along a sense axis of the accelerometer. The auxiliary electrode is located relative to the proof mass such that a capacitance formed by the auxiliary electrode and proof mass is static in response to the linear acceleration. A sense drive signal is applied at the sense electrode and an auxiliary drive signal is applied at the auxiliary electrode. The sense drive signal and the auxiliary drive signal have difference frequencies. A portion of a sensed signal at the sense drive frequency is used to determine linear acceleration while a portion of the sensed signal at the auxiliary drive frequency is used to identify damage within a sense path from the proof mass.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani, Federico Mazzarella, Massimiliano Musazzi, Michele Folz
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Patent number: 10317426Abstract: An accelerometer has a plurality of proof masses and a plurality of sense electrodes, which collectively form at least two capacitors. A first sense drive signal is applied to a first capacitor and a second sense drive signal is applied to a second capacitor. Both of the sense drive signals have the same sense drive frequency. Capacitance signals are sensed from each of the first capacitor and second capacitor, and a common mode component of the capacitance signals is determined. A capacitor error is identified based on the common mode component.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Adolfo Giambastiani, Federico Mazzarella, Massimiliano Musazzi, Michele Folz
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Patent number: 10209157Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS) package includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The gyroscope is located within a low-pressure cavity that is sealed from an external pressure. The accelerometer is located within a cavity, and the seal for the accelerometer cavity is entirely within the gyroscope cavity. Under normal operating conditions, the accelerometer seal holds the accelerometer cavity at a higher pressure than the pressure of the enclosing gyroscope cavity. In the event that one of the gyroscope seal or the accelerometer seal is broken, the gyroscope senses the change in pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10119834Abstract: A suspended spring-mass system is suspended from a plurality of the anchoring points. A source voltage is provided from one of anchoring points to the suspended spring-mass system. The other anchoring points have measurement nodes which measure the voltage at those anchoring points. If a voltage other than the source voltage is received at one of the measurement nodes, an error is identified.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Adolfo Giambastiani, Jaakko Ruohio
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Publication number: 20180284188Abstract: A fault detection system on a circuit can detect a fault on the same circuit without using a duplicate circuit. A test signal can be generated based on an input signal, and the input signal and test signal can be sent through the circuit and the resulting signals can be compared to determine if any fault is present. In an embodiment, a function can be applied to bits of the input signal and bits of the test signal such that when the signals are compared after passing through the processing block that is to be tested, if the variation between the signals is above a predetermined amount, it can be determined that a fault has occurred. In other embodiments, a first function can be applied to the input signal, and a second function can be applied to the test signal, and the resulting outputs can be compared.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Omid Oliaei, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Patent number: 10041854Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS) package includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The gyroscope is located within a low-pressure cavity that is sealed from an external pressure. The accelerometer is located within a cavity, and the seal for the accelerometer cavity is entirely within the gyroscope cavity. Under normal operating conditions, the accelerometer seal holds the accelerometer cavity at a higher pressure than the pressure of the enclosing gyroscope cavity. In the event that one of the gyroscope seal or the accelerometer seal is broken, the gyroscope senses the change in pressure and a failure is identified.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Publication number: 20170168084Abstract: A sensor such as an accelerometer includes a proof mass located opposite a plurality of electrodes located on a substrate. Some of the electrodes are auxiliary electrodes that apply an alternating current auxiliary signal to the proof mass while other electrodes are sense electrodes that sense movement of the proof mass. When a residual voltage is not present on the proof mass or on the sense electrodes, the forces imparted by the auxiliary signal onto the proof mass are substantially balanced. When the residual voltage is present on the proof masses, forces at a first harmonic frequency of the auxiliary signal are sensed by a sense electrode of the sensor. A self-test is failed if the sensed forces exceed a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: INVENSENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Publication number: 20170167945Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS) package includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The gyroscope is located within a low-pressure cavity that is sealed from an external pressure. The accelerometer is located within a cavity, and the seal for the accelerometer cavity is entirely within the gyroscope cavity. Under normal operating conditions, the accelerometer seal holds the accelerometer cavity at a higher pressure than the pressure of the enclosing gyroscope cavity. In the event that one of the gyroscope seal or the accelerometer seal is broken, the gyroscope senses the change in pressure and a failure is identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: INVENSENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Publication number: 20170168085Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor, such as an accelerometer, has one more proof masses that respond to movement of the sensor, the movement of which is measured based on a distance between the one or more proof masses and on one or more sense electrodes. The accelerometer also has a plurality of auxiliary electrodes and a signal generator configured to apply an auxiliary signal having a first harmonic frequency to the plurality of auxiliary electrodes. Circuitry receives a sensed signal from the plurality of sense electrodes and identifies a portion of the sensed signal having the first harmonic frequency. Based on this identified portion of the sensed signal, the circuitry determines whether a residual voltage is present on the one or more proof masses or on the one or more sense electrodes, and the circuitry modifies the operation of the accelerometer when the residual voltage is determined to be present in order to compensate for the residual voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: INVENSENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani
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Publication number: 20170168088Abstract: An accelerometer has a plurality of proof masses and a plurality of sense electrodes, which collectively form at least two capacitors. A first sense drive signal is applied to a first capacitor and a second sense drive signal is applied to a second capacitor. Both of the sense drive signals have the same sense drive frequency. Capacitance signals are sensed from each of the first capacitor and second capacitor, and a common mode component of the capacitance signals is determined. A capacitor error is identified based on the common mode component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Adolfo Giambastiani, Federico Mazzarella, Massimiliano Musazzi, Michele Folz
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Publication number: 20170168086Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer has a proof mass, a sense electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. The sense electrode is located relative to the proof mass such that a capacitance formed by the sense electrode and the proof mass changes in response to a linear acceleration along a sense axis of the accelerometer. The auxiliary electrode is located relative to the proof mass such that a capacitance formed by the auxiliary electrode and proof mass is static in response to the linear acceleration. A sense drive signal is applied at the sense electrode and an auxiliary drive signal is applied at the auxiliary electrode. The sense drive signal and the auxiliary drive signal have difference frequencies. A portion of a sensed signal at the sense drive frequency is used to determine linear acceleration while a portion of the sensed signal at the auxiliary drive frequency is used to identify damage within a sense path from the proof mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: INVENSENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Giacomo Gafforelli, Luca Coronato, Adolfo Giambastiani, Federico Mazzarella, Massimiliano Musazzi, Michele Folz
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Publication number: 20170167946Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS) package includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The gyroscope is located within a low-pressure cavity that is sealed from an external pressure. The accelerometer is located within a cavity, and the seal for the accelerometer cavity is entirely within the gyroscope cavity. Under normal operating conditions, the accelerometer seal holds the accelerometer cavity at a higher pressure than the pressure of the enclosing gyroscope cavity. In the event that one of the gyroscope seal or the accelerometer seal is broken, the gyroscope senses the change in pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Giacomo Gafforelli, Adolfo Giambastiani