Patents by Inventor Dante E. Piccone
Dante E. Piccone 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: 9543932Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventors: Boris Reshetnyak, Dante E. Piccone, Victor Temple
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Publication number: 20160028390Abstract: A circuit for turning OFF a thyristor. The circuit includes at least one first circuit element configured to provide a high reverse turn-OFF voltage to the thyristor gate for a predetermined period of time. Immediately following the predetermined period of time, at least one second circuit element provides a normal reverse turn-OFF voltage to the thyristor gate. The normal reverse turn-OFF voltage is substantially lower than the high reverse turn-OFF voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Boris RESCHETNYAK, Victor TEMPLE, Dante E. PICCONE, Thomas R. PETERSON
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Patent number: 9159790Abstract: A circuit for turning OFF a thyristor. The circuit includes at least one first circuit element configured to provide a high reverse turn-OFF voltage to the thyristor gate for a predetermined period of time. Immediately following the predetermined period of time, at least one second circuit element provides a normal reverse turn-OFF voltage to the thyristor gate. The normal reverse turn-OFF voltage is substantially lower than the high reverse turn-OFF voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventors: Boris Reshetnyak, Victor Temple, Dante E. Piccone, Thomas R. Peterson
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Publication number: 20150236685Abstract: A circuit for turning OFF a thyristor. The circuit includes at least one first circuit element configured to provide a high reverse turn-OFF voltage to the thyristor gate for a predetermined period of time. Immediately following the predetermined period of time. at least one second circuit element provides a normal reverse turn-OFF voltage to the thyristor gate. The normal reverse turn-OFF voltage is substantially lower than the high reverse turn-OFF voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Boris RESHETNYAK, Victor TEMPLE, Dante E. PICCONE
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Publication number: 20150061751Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Boris RESHETNYAK, Dante E. PICCONE, Victor TEMPLE
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Patent number: 8970286Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventors: Boris Reshetnyak, Dante E. Piccone, Victor Temple
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Patent number: 8866534Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventors: Boris Reshetnyak, Dante E. Piccone, Victor Temple
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Publication number: 20140035655Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Inventors: Boris RESHETNYAK, Dante E. Piccone, Victor Temple
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Patent number: 8575990Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventors: Boris Reshetnyak, Dante E. Piccone, Victor Temple
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Publication number: 20130093498Abstract: A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Inventors: Boris RESHETNYAK, Dante E. PICCONE, Victor TEMPLE
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Patent number: 5825090Abstract: This high-power semiconductor device comprises (a) a disk of refractory metal having flat faces at its opposite sides and (b) two wafers of a semiconductor material having a coefficient of expansion similar to that of the refractory metal, the wafers being alloyed to the faces of the refractory metal disk in substantially aligned relationship to each other to form an assembly of the wafer and the disk with alloyed joints between the wafers and the disk.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1995Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventor: Dante E. Piccone
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Patent number: 5757037Abstract: The power thyristor of this invention has a cellular emitter structure. Each cell also has a FET assisted turn-on gate integrated into the cell. A turn-on gate voltage of one polarity is applied to a FET gate element that overlies the surface of the cell and to the turn-on gate integrated into the cell. When this voltage is so applied, a channel underlying the FET gate element becomes conductive, which allows the integrated turn-on gate to provide drive to the upper base-upper emitter junction of the thyristor cell thereby turning the thyristor cell on.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1995Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventors: Dante E. Piccone, Harshad Mehta
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Patent number: 5614737Abstract: This thyristor comprises a main current-carrying portion in the form of a semiconductor body having four layers, with contiguous layers being of different P and N conductivity types and with three back-to-back PN junctions between contiguous layers. One end layer constitutes an anode layer, an opposite end layer constitutes a cathode layer, and an intermediate layer contiguous with the cathode layer constitutes a gate layer. The cathode layer is divided into many elongated fingers, thereby dividing the PN junction between the cathode layer and the gate layer into many discrete PN subjunctions between the fingers and the gate layer. These subjunctions are effectively in parallel with each other so as to share the main current through the thyristor when the thyristor is "on". The gate layer has predetermined surface regions adjacent the cathode layer that are uncovered by the cathode-layer fingers and that respectively surround the PN subjunctions between the fingers and the gate layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventor: Dante E. Piccone
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Patent number: 5446308Abstract: A method of forming a planar semiconductor device, such as an array of APDs, includes the steps of doping a substantially planar block of n type semiconductor material with a p type dopant in accordance with a selected pattern to form a plurality of n type wells in the block surrounded by a foundation of p type semiconductor material. Each n type well is disposed so as to respectively adjoin a first surface of the block and such that a respective p-n junction is formed between the n type material in the well and the p type material foundation. The n type semiconductor material in each well has a substantially constant concentration of n type dopant throughout the n type material; the concentration of p type dopant in the foundation has a positive gradient extending from the p-n junction towards the second surface such that the peak surface electric field of the p-n junction in each well is less than the bulk electric field of the same p-n junction.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1994Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dante E. Piccone, Ahmad N. Ishaque, Donald E. Castleberry, Henri M. Rougeot, Peter Menditto
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Patent number: 5005065Abstract: This GTO thyristor comprises: (i) a cathode layer that is divided into a large number of cathode-layer fingers, (ii) a gate layer contiguous with the fingers, with a PN junction J1 between each finger and the gate layer, (iii) a cathode electrode on each finger, and (iv) a gate electrode on the gate layer having portions surrounding the fingers disposed in spaced relation to the fingers. Turn-off of the GTO thyristor is effected by forcing a turn-off current to flow between the cathode electrode of each finger and the gate electrode through the associated PN junction J1. This PN junction at each finger has a centrally-located region that is characterized by an avalanche voltage that is substantially lower than the avalanche voltage that characterizes this junction in the region of the junction surrounding the centrally-located region, and this relatively lower avalanche voltage enhances the current turn-off capabilities of the GTO thyristor.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1989Date of Patent: April 2, 1991Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dante E. Piccone, James E. McIntyre, deceased, Leroy B. Major
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Patent number: 4745455Abstract: A hermetically sealed package for a power semiconductor wafer is provided comprising substantially entirely silicon materials selected to have coefficients of thermal expansion closely matching that of the power semiconductor wafer. A semiconductor wafer such as a power diode comprises a layer of silicon material having first and second device regions on respective sides thereof. An electrically conductive cap and base, each including a layer of silicon material, are disposed in electrical contact with the first and second regions of the semiconductor device, respectively. An electrically insulative sidewall of silicon material surrounds the semiconductor wafer, is spaced from an edge thereof, and is bonded to the cap and base for hermetically sealing the package. An electrical passivant is disposed on an edge of the semiconductor wafer adjoining the first and second device regions for preventing electrical breakdown between the cap and base.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1986Date of Patent: May 17, 1988Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Homer H. Glascock, II, Harold F. Webster, Constantine A. Neugebauer, Fadel A. Selim, David L. Mueller, Dante E. Piccone
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Patent number: 4170019Abstract: A field terminated diode device includes contiguous anode, base, and cathode regions, which are respectively P+, N-, and N+ semiconductor material. The N- base region includes therein a grid region of P type semiconductor material. The grid region includes grid openings which define channels in the grid region for communicating charge carriers between the anode and cathode regions. Means are provided for electrically connecting to the anode and cathode regions and to the grid region. In one embodiment, the grid channels are nonuniform in that their average widths increase from the center to the perimeter of the device. In another embodiment, the nonuniform channels are distributed throughout the grid region.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1977Date of Patent: October 2, 1979Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert E. Hysell, Dante E. Piccone
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Patent number: 3973144Abstract: A circuit for triggering a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) when the voltage across the SCR has a predetermined polarity and exceeds a predetermined magnitude. The anode of a zener diode is connected to the SCR cathode and a resistor is connected between the SCR anode and the zener diode cathode. The voltage at the zener diode cathode acts as a bias for the trigger signal. A silicon unilateral switch responds to the biased trigger signal to trigger the SCR into the conductive state when the biased trigger signal level exceeds the switching voltage of the silicon unilateral switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1975Date of Patent: August 3, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Dante E. Piccone
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Patent number: 3955131Abstract: A circuit for controlling the reverse recovery current in a controlled rectifier. The primary winding of a saturable reactor is connected in series with the controlled rectifier. A diode in parallel with a resistor is connected in circuit with the secondary winding of the saturable reactor. The diode is poled to provide a low impedance in the reactor secondary when current flows through the primary winding and through the forward direction of the controlled rectifier. The reverse recovery current of the controlled rectifier flowing through the primary winding of the reactor causes current in the secondary winding to flow in the reverse direction of the diode. The value of the resistor as reflected into the saturable reactor primary circuit limits the magnitude of the reverse recovery current.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1975Date of Patent: May 4, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dante E. Piccone, Istvan Somos
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Patent number: RE36770Abstract: This thyristor comprises a main current-carrying portion in the form of a semiconductor body having four layers, with contiguous layers being of different P and N conductivity types and with three back-to-back PN junctions between contiguous layers. One end layer constitutes an anode layer, an opposite end layer constitutes a cathode layer, and an intermediate layer contiguous with the cathode layer constitutes a gate layer. The cathode layer is divided into many elongated fingers, thereby dividing the PN junction between the cathode layer and the gate layer into many discrete PN subjunctions between the fingers and the gate layer. These subjunctions are effectively in parallel with each other so as to share the main current through the thyristor when the thyristor is "on". The gate layer has predetermined surface regions adjacent the cathode layer that are uncovered by the cathode-layer fingers and that respectively surround the PN subjunctions between the fingers and the gate layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1999Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Silicon Power CorporationInventor: Dante E. Piccone