Patents by Inventor Carlo Luigi Prelini

Carlo Luigi Prelini 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).

  • Patent number: 11981558
    Abstract: The MEMS actuator is formed by a body, which surrounds a cavity and by a deformable structure, which is suspended on the cavity and is formed by a movable portion and by a plurality of deformable elements. The deformable elements are arranged consecutively to each other, connect the movable portion to the body and are each subject to a deformation. The MEMS actuator further comprises at least one plurality of actuation structures, which are supported by the deformable elements and are configured to cause a translation of the movable portion greater than the deformation of each deformable element. The actuation structures each have a respective first piezoelectric region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Patent number: 11884071
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an ejection device for a fluid. The ejection device includes a first semiconductor wafer, housing, on a first side thereof, a piezoelectric actuator and an outlet channel for the fluid alongside the piezoelectric actuator; a second semiconductor wafer having, on a first side thereof, a recess and, on a second side thereof opposite to the first side, at least one inlet channel for said fluid fluidically coupled to the recess; and a dry-film coupled to a second side, opposite to the first side, of the first wafer. The first and the second wafers are coupled together so that the piezoelectric actuator and the outlet channel are set directly facing, and completely contained in, the recess that forms a reservoir for the fluid. The dry-film has an ejection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Lorenzo Tentori
  • Publication number: 20240019688
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro-electro-mechanical mirror device having a fixed structure defining an external frame delimiting a cavity, a tiltable structure extending into the cavity, a reflecting surface carried by the tiltable structure and having a main extension in a horizontal plane, and an actuation structure coupled between the tiltable structure and the fixed structure. The actuation structure is formed by a first pair of actuation arms causing rotation of the tiltable structure around a first axis parallel to the horizontal plane. The actuation arms are elastically coupled to the tiltable structure through elastic coupling elements and are each formed by a bearing structure and a piezoelectric structure. The bearing structure of each actuation arm is formed by a soft region of a first material and the elastic coupling elements are formed by a bearing layer of a second material, the second material having greater stiffness than the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Massimiliano MERLI, Roberto CARMINATI, Nicolo' BONI, Sonia COSTANTINI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI
  • Publication number: 20230324674
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical mirror device has, in a die of semiconductor material: a fixed structure defining a cavity; a tiltable structure carrying a reflecting region, elastically suspended above the cavity and having a main extension in a horizontal plane; at least one first pair of driving arms, carrying respective piezoelectric structures which can be biased to generate a driving force that causes rotation of the tiltable structure about a rotation axis parallel to a first horizontal axis of the horizontal plane; elastic suspension elements, which elastically couple the tiltable structure to the fixed structure at the rotation axis and are rigid to movements out of the horizontal plane and compliant to torsion about the rotation axis. In particular, the driving arms of the first pair are magnetically coupled to the tiltable structure to cause its rotation about the rotation axis by magnetic interaction, following biasing of the respective piezoelectric structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Massimiliano MERLI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Tarek AFIFI AFIFI
  • Publication number: 20230320222
    Abstract: A MEMS device having a body with a first and a second surface, a first portion and a second portion. The MEMS device further has a cavity extending in the body from the second surface; a deformable portion between the first surface and the cavity; and a piezoelectric actuator arranged on the first surface, on the deformable portion. The deformable portion has a first region with a first thickness and a second region with a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The second region is adjacent to the first region and to the first portion of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI
  • Patent number: 11696507
    Abstract: A MEMS device having a body with a first and a second surface, a first portion and a second portion. The MEMS device further has a cavity extending in the body from the second surface; a deformable portion between the first surface and the cavity; and a piezoelectric actuator arranged on the first surface, on the deformable portion. The deformable portion has a first region with a first thickness and a second region with a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The second region is adjacent to the first region and to the first portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Publication number: 20230129720
    Abstract: PMUT acoustic transducer formed in a body of semiconductor material having a face and accommodating a plurality of first buried cavities, having an annular shape, arranged concentrically with each other and extending at a distance from the face of the body. The first buried cavities delimit from below a plurality of first membranes formed by the body so that each first membrane extends between a respective first buried cavity of the plurality of first buried cavities and the face of the body. A plurality of piezoelectric elements extend on the face of the body, each piezoelectric element extending above a respective first membrane of the plurality of first membranes. The first membranes have different widths, variable between a minimum value and a maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Fabio QUAGLIA, Carlo Luigi PRELINI
  • Patent number: 11600765
    Abstract: The MEMS actuator is formed by a substrate, which surrounds a cavity; by a deformable structure suspended on the cavity; by an actuation structure formed by a first piezoelectric region of a first piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to cause a deformation of the deformable structure; and by a detection structure formed by a second piezoelectric region of a second piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to detect the deformation of the deformable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Marco Ferrera, Carla Maria Lazzari, Luca Seghizzi, Nicolo′ Boni, Roberto Carminati, Fabio Quaglia
  • Patent number: 11498335
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Mauro Cattaneo, Andrea Nomellini
  • Publication number: 20220126580
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an ejection device for a fluid. The ejection device includes a first semiconductor wafer, housing, on a first side thereof, a piezoelectric actuator and an outlet channel for the fluid alongside the piezoelectric actuator; a second semiconductor wafer having, on a first side thereof, a recess and, on a second side thereof opposite to the first side, at least one inlet channel for said fluid fluidically coupled to the recess; and a dry-film coupled to a second side, opposite to the first side, of the first wafer. The first and the second wafers are coupled together so that the piezoelectric actuator and the outlet channel are set directly facing, and completely contained in, the recess that forms a reservoir for the fluid. The dry-film has an ejection nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Lorenzo TENTORI
  • Publication number: 20220102618
    Abstract: A piezoelectric microelectromechanical structure is provided with a piezoelectric stack having a main extension in a horizontal plane and a variable section in a plane transverse to the horizontal plane. The stack is formed by a bottom-electrode region, a piezoelectric material region arranged on the bottom-electrode region, and a top-electrode region arranged on the piezoelectric material region. The piezoelectric material region has, as a result of the variable section, a first thickness along a vertical axis transverse to the horizontal plane at a first area, and a second thickness along the same vertical axis at a second area. The second thickness is smaller than the first thickness. The structure at the first and second areas can form piezoelectric detector and a piezoelectric actuator, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Irene MARTINI, Davide ASSANELLI, Paolo FERRARINI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Fabio QUAGLIA
  • Patent number: 11260659
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an ejection device for a fluid. The ejection device includes a first semiconductor wafer, housing, on a first side thereof, a piezoelectric actuator and an outlet channel for the fluid alongside the piezoelectric actuator; a second semiconductor wafer having, on a first side thereof, a recess and, on a second side thereof opposite to the first side, at least one inlet channel for said fluid fluidically coupled to the recess; and a dry-film coupled to a second side, opposite to the first side, of the first wafer. The first and the second wafers are coupled together so that the piezoelectric actuator and the outlet channel are set directly facing, and completely contained in, the recess that forms a reservoir for the fluid. The dry-film has an ejection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Lorenzo Tentori
  • Patent number: 11214061
    Abstract: The microfluidic device has a plurality of ejector elements. Each ejector element includes a first region, accommodating a first fluid flow channel and an actuator chamber; a second region, accommodating a fluid containment chamber; and a third region, accommodating a second fluid flow channel. The fluid containment chamber is fluidically coupled to the first and to the second fluid flow channels. The second region is formed from a membrane layer, from a membrane definition layer, mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and having a membrane definition opening, and a fluid chamber defining body, mechanically coupled to the membrane definition layer and having a chamber defining opening, with a width greater than the width of the membrane definition opening. The width of the membrane is thus defined by the width of the chamber defining opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Publication number: 20210351338
    Abstract: The MEMS actuator is formed by a substrate, which surrounds a cavity; by a deformable structure suspended on the cavity; by an actuation structure formed by a first piezoelectric region of a first piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to cause a deformation of the deformable structure; and by a detection structure formed by a second piezoelectric region of a second piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to detect the deformation of the deformable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Marco FERRERA, Carla Maria LAZZARI, Luca SEGHIZZI, Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Fabio QUAGLIA
  • Publication number: 20210347634
    Abstract: The MEMS actuator is formed by a body, which surrounds a cavity and by a deformable structure, which is suspended on the cavity and is formed by a movable portion and by a plurality of deformable elements. The deformable elements are arranged consecutively to each other, connect the movable portion to the body and are each subject to a deformation. The MEMS actuator further comprises at least one plurality of actuation structures, which are supported by the deformable elements and are configured to cause a translation of the movable portion greater than the deformation of each deformable element. The actuation structures each have a respective first piezoelectric region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Marco FERRERA, Carlo Luigi PRELINI
  • Patent number: 11084283
    Abstract: Ejection device for fluid, comprising a solid body including: first semiconductor body including a chamber for containing the fluid, an ejection nozzle in fluid connection with the chamber, and an actuator operatively connected to the chamber to generate, in use, one or more pressure waves in the fluid such as to cause ejection of the fluid from the ejection nozzle; and a second semiconductor body including a channel for feeding the fluid to the chamber, coupled to the first semiconductor body, in such a way that the channel is in fluid connection with the chamber. The second semiconductor body integrates a damping cavity over which extends a damping membrane, the damping cavity and the damping membrane extending laterally to the channel for feeding the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Simon Dodd
  • Patent number: 11066294
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) actuator device includes a frame, and a first functional sub-structure positioned within the frame and mechanically coupled thereto by supporting elements. The first functional sub-structure is subdivided into first and second portions. The first portion is subdivided into first and second sub-portions separated from one another by a first through trench, and the second portion is subdivided into first and second sub-portions separated from one another by a second through trench. First and second piezo-electric structures are respectively carried by the first and second sub-portions of the first portion. Third and fourth piezo-electric structures are respectively carried by the first and second sub-portions of the second portion. A third through trench extends between the frame and the first functional sub-structure except for regions in which the supporting elements are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Patent number: 10974508
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device, comprising: a chamber; a membrane, with a first side and a second side opposite to one another, where the first side faces the chamber; an actuator, of a piezoelectric type, which extends on the second side of the membrane and is operatively coupled to the membrane for causing, in use, a vibration of the membrane; a passivation layer, which extends only alongside, or partially on, the actuator; and a protection layer, which extends on the actuator at least in surface portions of the latter that are free from the passivation layer, and has a Young's modulus lower than the Young's modulus of the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Publication number: 20210078331
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Marco FERRERA, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Mauro CATTANEO, Andrea NOMELLINI
  • Patent number: 10875307
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Mauro Cattaneo, Andrea Nomellini