Patents by Inventor Bruno Ferrario
Bruno Ferrario 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: 9136758Abstract: A Voltage Converting LED Circuit with Switched Capacitor Network contains a 2-way MOSFET switch that connects a capacitor network to the output of an error amplifier, thereby enabling the error amplifier to resume operation quickly after the off-time segment of a PWM cycle. The switch is controlled synchronously with current sinks controlling brightness and color levels. In a preferred embodiment, multiple serially connected strings of LED's can be controlled simultaneously via one switch.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Inventors: Bruno Ferrario, Yun Tung Sien, Xiaofan Chen
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Patent number: 9071055Abstract: Mobile devices have limited power sources. In some cases, such as camera flash operations in cell phones or digital cameras, the power required to provide bright illumination is significant and exceeding the battery voltage level. In order to supply burst power or continuous high power to light sources, such as white LEDs (light emitting diodes), mobile devices typically employ charge storage functioning as energy reservoir that can supply the required power. One such charge storage is a supercapacitor that can supply the needed power repeatedly by discharging and recharging. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for providing the charge energy and controlling the charge and discharge operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: ADVANCED ANALOGIC TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATEDInventor: Bruno Ferrario
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Publication number: 20140055101Abstract: Mobile devices have limited power sources. In some cases, such as camera flash operations in cell phones or digital cameras, the power required to provide bright illumination is significant and exceeding the battery voltage level. In order to supply burst power or continuous high power to light sources, such as white LEDs (light emitting diodes), mobile devices typically employ charge storage functioning as energy reservoir that can supply the required power. One such charge storage is a supercapacitor that can supply the needed power repeatedly by discharging and recharging. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for providing the charge energy and controlling the charge and discharge operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: ADVANCED ANALOGIC TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATEDInventor: Bruno Ferrario
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Patent number: 8493036Abstract: Mobile devices have limited power sources. In some cases, such as camera flash operations in cell phones or digital cameras, the power required to provide bright illumination is significant and exceeding the battery voltage level. In order to supply burst power or continuous high power to light sources, such as white LEDs (light emitting diodes), mobile devices typically employ charge storage functioning as energy reservoir that can supply the required power. One such charge storage is a supercapacitor that can supply the needed power repeatedly by discharging and recharging. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for providing the charge energy and controlling the charge and discharge operations.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2006Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Bruno Ferrario
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Patent number: 7960947Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a compensation circuit that includes a comparator that is coupled to receive a reference voltage. The compensation circuit can also include a capacitance coupled to receive a feedback voltage associated with an output voltage of a converter. Furthermore, the compensation circuit can include an adjustable resistance that is coupled to the capacitance and to the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Vishay-SiliconixInventors: Lu Chen, Bruno Ferrario
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Patent number: 7880446Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a compensation circuit that includes a comparator that is coupled to receive a reference voltage. The compensation circuit can also include a capacitance coupled to receive a feedback voltage associated with an output voltage of a converter. Furthermore, the compensation circuit can include an adjustable resistance that is coupled to the capacitance and to the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2006Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Vishay-SiliconixInventors: Lu Chen, Bruno Ferrario
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Publication number: 20100019751Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a compensation circuit that includes a comparator that is coupled to receive a reference voltage. The compensation circuit can also include a capacitance coupled to receive a feedback voltage associated with an output voltage of a converter. Furthermore, the compensation circuit can include an adjustable resistance that is coupled to the capacitance and to the comparator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: VISHAY-SILICONIXInventors: Lu Chen, Bruno Ferrario
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Publication number: 20080094042Abstract: Mobile devices have limited power sources. In some cases, such as camera flash operations in cell phones or digital cameras, the power required to provide bright illumination is significant and exceeding the battery voltage level. In order to supply burst power or continuous high power to light sources, such as white LEDs (light emitting diodes), mobile devices typically employ charge storage functioning as energy reservoir that can supply the required power. One such charge storage is a supercapacitor that can supply the needed power repeatedly by discharging and recharging. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for providing the charge energy and controlling the charge and discharge operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Bruno Ferrario
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Publication number: 20060176098Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a compensation circuit that includes a comparator that is coupled to receive a reference voltage. The compensation circuit can also include a capacitance coupled to receive a feedback voltage associated with an output voltage of a converter. Furthermore, the compensation circuit can include an adjustable resistance that is coupled to the capacitance and to the comparator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2006Publication date: August 10, 2006Inventors: Lu Chen, Bruno Ferrario
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Publication number: 20060082412Abstract: A multi-channel current regulator includes two or more channels, each channel acting as a current source or sink for a respective load. Each channel regulates its load current so that the load current is proportional to an input voltage supplied to the channel. Each channel also generates a feedback voltage that is proportional to the load current of the channel. The current regulator also includes an operational amplifier. The amplifier is connected, using two multiplexors to drive one channel at a time. Each channel is selected in a rotating sequence for connection to the amplifier. Internal gate capacitance maintains each channel not connected to the amplifier at its previously set load current.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2004Publication date: April 20, 2006Inventors: Kevin D'Angelo, Bruno Ferrario, Dan Dempsey
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Publication number: 20050196527Abstract: The invention teaches a system suitable for use in a water-sensitive electronic device which comprises two superimposed layers, the first material of which is formed of a material capable of sorbing hydrogen, the second material formed of a material capable of converting water into hydrogen; a screen of the type with light-emitting organic diodes comprising the system according to the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2005Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventors: Bruno Ferrario, Stefano Tominetti, Alessandro Gallitognotta
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Patent number: 6935183Abstract: A portable apparatus for measuring the internal pressure of a vacuum panel is described, includes a measuring head having an cavity wherein a sensor of movement is arranged; the device, supported on a portion of the envelope of the panel, detects the movement of a part of the portion of the envelope facing the cavity, following the evacuation of the space formed by said cavity and the part of envelope.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: SAES Getters S.p.A.Inventors: Bruno Ferrario, Pierattilio Di Gregorio, Robert Giannantonio, Raffaele Pozzi, Gianluca Galliani
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Patent number: 6936354Abstract: The invention teaches a system suitable for use in a water-sensitive electronic device which comprises two superimposed layers, the first material of which is formed of a material capable of sorbing hydrogen, the second material formed of a material capable of converting water into hydrogen; a screen of the type with light-emitting organic diodes comprising the system according to the invention.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: SAES Getters S.p.A.Inventors: Bruno Ferrario, Stefano Tominetti, Alessandro Gallitognotta
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Publication number: 20030094048Abstract: A portable apparatus for measuring the internal pressure of a vacuum panel is described, comprising a measuring head having an cavity wherein a sensor of movement is arranged; the device, supported on a portion of the envelope of the panel, detects the movement of a part of said portion of the envelope facing the cavity, following the evacuation of the space formed by said cavity and said part of envelope.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Bruno Ferrario, Pierattilio Di Gregorio, Roberto Giannantonio, Raffaele Pozzi, Gianluca Galliani
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Publication number: 20030087113Abstract: The invention teaches a system suitable for use in a water-sensitive electronic device which comprises two superimposed layers, the first material of which is formed of a material capable of sorbing hydrogen, the second material formed of a material capable of converting water into hydrogen; a screen of the type with light-emitting organic diodes comprising the system according to the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Bruno Ferrario, Stefano Tominetti, Alessandro Gallitognotta
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Publication number: 20030006025Abstract: An evacuated jacket for thermal insulation comprises a discontinuous or porous, organic or inorganic filling material arranged inside an envelope made with at least one multi-layer barrier sheet (1) of substantially rectangular shape, which comprises at least one polymeric or inorganic central layer (2) having barrier properties towards atmospheric gases, an upper layer (4) and a lower layer (3), both of a polymeric material. The polymeric material which forms said upper layer (4) and the polymeric material which forms said lower layer (3) of the barrier sheet (1) are mutually heat-sealable and said barrier sheet (1) is folded up so as to superimpose two opposite sides (5, 6) thereof which are welded to each other by melting said upper layer (4) at one margin (6) and said lower layer (3) at the other margin (5). The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing said evacuated jacket for thermal insulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: SAES GETTERS S.p.A.Inventors: Paolo Manini, Bruno Ferrario, Enea Rizzi, Massimo Palladino, Pierattilio Di Gregorio
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Patent number: 6100627Abstract: A Field Emitter Device (FED) having a substantially reducing atmosphere is described. The atmosphere in a FED can be maintained substantially free of oxidizing gases and includes a partial pressure of hydrogen between about 1.times.10.sup.-7 millibar (mbar) and 1.times.10.sup.-3 mbar. In one embodiment, a non-evaporable getter material previously charged with hydrogen gas is placed inside the FED before the FED is sealed. The non-evaporable getter material can be charged by exposure to hydrogen gas at a pressure between about 1.times.10.sup.-4 and about 2 bar. Subsequently, the components forming the FED are sealed, and the FED is evacuated and hermetically sealed to the outside atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1997Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: SAES Getters S.p.A.Inventors: Corrado Carretti, Bruno Ferrario
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Patent number: 6040730Abstract: An integrated capacitance multiplier circuit utilizes a pair of field effect transistors, biased in a conducting state, as virtual resistances of a classic operational amplifier network for implementing a capacitance multiplier function. The two field effect transistors have different sizes from each other for attaining a given ON-resistance ratio. A biasing circuit provides independently adjustable biasing voltages for the two field effect transistors. At least one of the two biasing voltages produced by the biasing circuit can be made dependent on temperature according to a certain dependency law in order to exploit the capacitance multiplier circuit for temperature compensating an integrated RC circuit employing the virtual capacitance provided by the multiplier circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1993Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Bruno Ferrario
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Patent number: 5982209Abstract: A synchronization circuit for electronic devices and components, being of the type which includes an internal synchronization signal generator and an input/output terminal whereat an external synchronization signal can be received. The synchronization circuit further includes a comparator for receiving both synchronization signals and having a control output for supplying a terminal with the signal corresponding to the master/slave mode of operation of the synchronization circuit. A method of generating and supplying a synchronization signal to a plurality of electronic devices being operated as slave devices to a synchronization circuit acting as the master device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Antonio Magazzu', Bruno Ferrario
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Patent number: 5911336Abstract: It is described a vacuum stabilizing device comprising a holder (100) impermeable to gases, in the form of a box open at its upper end, with edges folded and prolonged outwards to form a peripheral "wing" (104); a getter material (110) in the lower part of holder (100) inside a lower volume (II) defined by the bottom of the holder and by a lower septum (120), permeable to gases; a dryer material (130) is an upper volume (I) defined by said septum (120) and by a second upper septum (140) permeable to gases. A film (150) of a material impermeable to gases is hermetically fixed to the external part of wing (104), as to seal the whole device. A few methods for producing the device are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1996Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Saes Getters S.P.A.Inventors: Paolo Della Porta, Paolo Manini, Fortunato Belloni, Bruno Ferrario