Patents by Inventor Claudio Adragna

Claudio Adragna 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: 10468991
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a primary-controlled high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs, and may be compatible with phase-cut dimmers. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10461658
    Abstract: A control device controls a switching converter having an input alternating supply voltage and a regulated direct voltage at the output terminal. The converter comprises a switch and the control device is adapted to control the on time period and the off time period of said switch for each cycle. The control device has a first input signal representative of the current flowing through at least one element of the converter and comprises a zero crossing detector adapted to detect at least one pair of first and second zero crossings of said first signal for each switching cycle, said second zero crossing immediately following the first zero crossing and occurring in opposite direction with respect to the first zero crossing. The control device comprises a synchronizer adapted to synchronize the start of the on period with each second zero crossing of said first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10439508
    Abstract: A control device controls a switching converter having an input alternating supply voltage and a regulated direct voltage at the output terminal. The converter comprises a switch and the control device is adapted to control the on time period and the off time period of said switch for each cycle. The control device has a first input signal representative of the current flowing through at least one element of the converter and comprises a zero crossing detector adapted to detect at least one pair of first and second zero crossings of said first signal for each switching cycle, said second zero crossing immediately following the first zero crossing and occurring in opposite direction with respect to the first zero crossing. The control device comprises a synchronizer adapted to synchronize the start of the on period with each second zero crossing of said first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10389223
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling a converter are provided. The converter is operated in a first phase in which controller logic asserts a first gate drive signal to cause a first transistor of the converter to be conductive and deasserts a second gate drive signal to cause a second transistor of the converter to be non-conductive. In a first deadtime phase and a second phase, the controller logic deasserts both the first and second gate drive signals to cause leakage energy from a leakage inductance of a primary winding of the converter to be transferred to a clamp capacitance of the converter. After the leakage energy is transferred, the converter is operated in a third phase in which the logic asserts the second gate drive signal and deasserts the first gate drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10361633
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output terminal a first input terminal is configured to receive a signal proportional to a voltage between first and second terminals of the primary winding, and a second input terminal is configured to receive a signal proportional to a current flowing through the primary winding. A quasi-resonant (QR) circuit has a first input coupled to the first terminal, and a second input coupled to an output of an oscillator circuit. A selector circuit has a first input coupled to the output of the oscillator circuit, a second input coupled to an output of the QR circuit, and a select input. An output control circuit includes a first input coupled to the second input terminal, a second input coupled to an output of the selector circuit, and an output coupled to a control terminal of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro
  • Patent number: 10298116
    Abstract: A control unit for a switching converter has an inductor element coupled to an input and a switch element coupled to the inductor element. The control unit generates a command signal with a switching period to control the switching of the switch element and to determine a first time period where an inductor current is flowing in the inductor element for storing energy and a second time period where energy is transferred to a load. The second time period has an end portion where the inductor current drops to zero. The control unit determines the duration of the first time period based on a comparison between a sensing voltage, indicative of the peak value of the inductor current, and a reference voltage. A pre-distortion stage pre-distorts the reference voltage in order to compensate for a corresponding distortion on an input current of the converter compared to a desired sinusoidal characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Publication number: 20190109543
    Abstract: A PWM controlled multi-phase resonant voltage converter may include a plurality of primary windings powered through respective half-bridges, and as many secondary windings connected to an output terminal of the converter and magnetically coupled to the respective primary windings. The primary or secondary windings may be connected such that a real or virtual neutral point is floating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Giuseppe Gattavari, Paolo Mattavelli, Enrico Orietti, Giorgio Spiazzi
  • Patent number: 10250145
    Abstract: A circuit includes a timer circuit configured to generate a first control signal defining a first time period and a second control signal defining a second time period. A controller is configured to control a high-side and a low-side transistor of a half-bridge circuit in response to the first and second control signals only during a first switching cycle of the half-bridge circuit. The half-bridge circuit includes a bootstrap capacitor coupled to a node between the high-side and low-side transistors. The controller turns on the low-side transistor for the first time period during the first switching cycle and configured turns off the low-side and the high-side transistors for the second time period during the first switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Aldo Vittorio Novelli, Christian Leone Santoro
  • Patent number: 10243470
    Abstract: A control circuit for an electronic converter having a power stage controls the operation of a power stage as a function of a feedback control signal that indicates an input power provided to the power stage. The control circuit generates a digital reference signal as a function of the feedback control signal and a first signal based on an input voltage supplied to the power stage. The control circuit generates a modified control signal as a function of the digital reference signal and a second signal based on an input current supplied to the power stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10241322
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching converter includes a switch controller that generates a control signal with a switching period for controlling switching of a switch of the switching converter and setting a first interval in which a current flows in the switch, a second interval in which energy is transferred onto a storage element of the switching converter, and a third, wait, interval, at the end of the second interval. The duration of the first interval is determined based on a control voltage indicating the output voltage. A pre-distortion stage receives the control voltage and generates a pre-distorted control voltage as a function of the control voltage and a relationship between one of the first and third time intervals and the switching period, wherein the switch controller is configured to control a duration of the first interval based on the pre-distorted control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Publication number: 20190052175
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a primary-controlled high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs, and may be compatible with phase-cut dimmers. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10205377
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling a converter are provided. The converter is operated in a first phase in which controller logic asserts a first gate drive signal to cause a first transistor of the converter to be conductive and deasserts a second gate drive signal to cause a second transistor of the converter to be non-conductive. In a first deadtime phase and a second phase, the controller logic deasserts both the first and second gate drive signals to cause leakage energy from a leakage inductance of a primary winding of the converter to be transferred to a clamp capacitance of the converter. After the leakage energy is transferred, the converter is operated in a third phase in which the logic asserts the second gate drive signal and deasserts the first gate drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10193461
    Abstract: A PWM controlled multi-phase resonant voltage converter may include a plurality of primary windings powered through respective half-bridges, and as many secondary windings connected to an output terminal of the converter and magnetically coupled to the respective primary windings. The primary or secondary windings may be connected such that a real or virtual neutral point is floating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Giuseppe Gattavari, Paolo Mattavelli, Enrico Orietti, Giorgio Spiazzi
  • Patent number: 10181796
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a sinusoidal reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Giovanni Gritti
  • Patent number: 10171003
    Abstract: A method and a controller for controlling a converter are provided. In the method and controller, a capacitance is charged simultaneously using a first current and a second current that is different than the first current or discharged simultaneously using the first current and the second current. Sourcing and sinking transistors source or sink the first current for charging or discharging the capacitance. An operational transconductance amplifier determines a level of the second current based on a level of current flowing through the resonant tank. The operational transconductance amplifier sources or sinks the second current for charging or discharging the capacitance. Further, logic is provided to output a switching signal for operating the converter based on a voltage across the capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 10128761
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a primary-controlled high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs, and may be compatible with phase-cut dimmers. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Publication number: 20180278151
    Abstract: A control unit for a switching converter has an inductor element coupled to an input and a switch element coupled to the inductor element. The control unit generates a command signal with a switching period to control the switching of the switch element and to determine a first time period where an inductor current is flowing in the inductor element for storing energy and a second time period where energy is transferred to a load. The second time period has an end portion where the inductor current drops to zero. The control unit determines the duration of the first time period based on a comparison between a sensing voltage, indicative of the peak value of the inductor current, and a reference voltage. A pre-distortion stage pre-distorts the reference voltage in order to compensate for a corresponding distortion on an input current of the converter compared to a desired sinusoidal characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Giovanni Gritti, Claudio Adragna
  • Publication number: 20180205317
    Abstract: A control circuit for an electronic converter having a power stage controls the operation of a power stage as a function of a feedback control signal that indicates an input power provided to the power stage. The control circuit generates a digital reference signal as a function of the feedback control signal and a first signal based on an input voltage supplied to the power stage. The control circuit generates a modified control signal as a function of the digital reference signal and a second signal based on an input current supplied to the power stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna
  • Patent number: 9973095
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a sinusoidal reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Giovanni Gritti
  • Patent number: 9948190
    Abstract: A power control module for an electronic converter is disclosed. The electronic converter includes a power stage comprising two input terminals for receiving a first power signal and two output terminals for providing a second power signal. The electronic converter includes, moreover, a control circuit configured to control operation of the power stage as a function of a feedback control signal. In particular, the power control module includes a pre-elaboration module configured to generate a reference signal as a function of the feedback control signal and a first signal being representative of a voltage applied to the two input terminals. An error amplifier is configured to generate a modified control signal as a function the reference signal and a second signal being representative of a current flowing through the two input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Claudio Adragna