Patents by Inventor Fabrizio Librizzi

Fabrizio Librizzi 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: 8793087
    Abstract: A modular device having at least one master integrated circuit, and one or more slave integrated circuit modules coupled to the at least one master integrated circuit with each slave integrated circuit module of the one or more slave integrated circuit modules coupled to and associated with only a single cell of the battery. Each slave integrated circuit module of the one or more slave integrated circuit modules further comprises: detection circuitry adapted to detect data comprising one or more of the temperature, voltage or charge status, and malfunctioning of the single cell associated with and monitored by the slave integrated circuit; and an interface operable to send said detected data to the at least one master integrated circuit. The at least one master integrated circuit is adapted to send commands to a slave integrated circuit module in response to the detected data detected by the slave integrated circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Publication number: 20120089352
    Abstract: A modular device having at least one master integrated circuit, and one or more slave integrated circuit modules coupled to the at least one master integrated circuit with each slave integrated circuit module of the one or more slave integrated circuit modules coupled to and associated with only a single cell of the battery. Each slave integrated circuit module of the one or more slave integrated circuit modules further comprises: detection circuitry adapted to detect data comprising one or more of the temperature, voltage or charge status, and malfunctioning of the single cell associated with and monitored by the slave integrated circuit; and an interface operable to send said detected data to the at least one master integrated circuit. The at least one master integrated circuit is adapted to send commands to a slave integrated circuit module in response to the detected data detected by the slave integrated circuit module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Patent number: 7397290
    Abstract: A control voltage for a synchronous rectifying transistor is generated with the desired anticipation time. The anticipation time is continuously controlled with a closed-loop technique by comparing it with the duration of a reference pulse. The resulting error signal is processed and provides the necessary correction to the MOSFET gate signal to equalize the actual anticipation time to the duration of the reference pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Librizzi, Franco Lentini
  • Patent number: 7161813
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first and second input terminal for connection to a transformer winding and at least an output terminal. A first and second synchronous rectifier are associated with the first and second input terminals, respectively. An inductor within an output stage is connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal. A driving circuit includes first and second output terminals connected to respective control terminals of the first and second synchronous rectifiers. An adjustable threshold control block is connected between the first and second input terminals and is connected to the inductor. The control block is enabled responsive to a control signal on the first output terminal of the driving circuit. The control block operates to clamp the voltage of the first input terminal to a preset value during at least a dead time period of the device operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Librizzi, Francesco Macina
  • Publication number: 20060256597
    Abstract: A control voltage for a synchronous rectifying transistor is generated with the desired anticipation time. The anticipation time is continuously controlled with a closed-loop technique by comparing it with the duration of a reference pulse. The resulting error signal is processed and provides the necessary correction to the MOSFET gate signal to equalize the actual anticipation time to the duration of the reference pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l
    Inventors: Fabrizio Librizzi, Franco Lentini
  • Publication number: 20060208719
    Abstract: A control circuit for a pulsed width modulation controller includes a main controlled switch to selectively block an energization signal from a switched mode power supply and a free-wheeling synchronous switch for selectively transferring the energization signal as an output signal. The controller also includes a control circuit that includes: a PWM module having an input terminal, for connection with the switched mode power supply, and a PWM comparator; a drive circuit for the main controlled switch controlled by the PWM comparator; a low-side drive circuit for the free-wheeling synchronous switch controlled by the PWM comparator; and a ramp generator having a synchronization terminal connected to the power supply and a comparator sensing the signal on the synchronization terminal. The ramp signal from the ramp generator defines the threshold of the PWM comparator to thereby control operation of the drive circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Publication number: 20050141250
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first and second input terminal for connection to a transformer winding and at least an output terminal. A first and second synchronous rectifier are associated with the first and second input terminals, respectively. An inductor within an output stage is connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal. A driving circuit includes first and second output terminals connected to respective control terminals of the first and second synchronous rectifiers. An adjustable threshold control block is connected between the first and second input terminals and is connected to the inductor. The control block is enabled responsive to a control signal on the first output terminal of the driving circuit. The control block operates to clamp the voltage of the first input terminal to a preset value during at least a dead time period of the device operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Fabrizio Librizzi, Francesco Macina
  • Patent number: 6885176
    Abstract: A multi-output switching power supply may include a PWM regulator circuit arranged in cascade upstream of each output to receive, as an input, a square wave voltage signal with a predetermined duty cycle. The regulator circuit may include an auxiliary switching device for modulating the duty cycle of the input signal to supply, as an output, a regulated direct current voltage. A control circuit for the PWM regulator circuit may include a detector circuit for detecting the trailing edges of the voltage signal input to the regulator circuit which emits a pulse coinciding with each of the trailing edges. The control circuit may also include a ramp signal generator that is controlled by the emitted pulses. The ramp signal generator may be connected to the non-inverting input of a comparator having an inverting input for receiving a signal indicative of the error in the regulator output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Publication number: 20040046536
    Abstract: A multi-output switching power supply may include a PWM regulator circuit arranged in cascade upstream of each output to receive, as an input, a square wave voltage signal with a predetermined duty cycle. The regulator circuit may include an auxiliary switching device for modulating the duty cycle of the input signal to supply, as an output, a regulated direct current voltage. A control circuit for the PWM regulator circuit may include a detector circuit for detecting the trailing edges of the voltage signal input to the regulator circuit which emits a pulse coinciding with each of the trailing edges. The control circuit may also include a ramp signal generator that is controlled by the emitted pulses. The ramp signal generator may be connected to the non-inverting input of a comparator having an inverting input for receiving a signal indicative of the error in the regulator output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Patent number: 6614131
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply having a first circuit provided with a primary winding of a transformer to which a pulse voltage is applied, a second circuit having a secondary winding of the transformer, a reactor provided with a magnetic core and which has a terminal connected to a terminal of the secondary winding, at least one filter provided with input and output terminals and a first diode connected in parallel to the input terminals of the filter is shown. The other terminal of the reactor is connected to a terminal of the first diode. The power supply includes a second diode that has a first terminal connected to the other terminal of the first diode and a second terminal connected to the other terminal of the secondary winding and a control circuit coupled to an output terminal of the filter and to the other terminal of the secondary winding. The control circuit generates a current able to reset the magnetic core of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Franco Lentini, Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Publication number: 20020114175
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply having a first circuit provided with a primary winding of a transformer to which a pulse voltage is applied, a second circuit having a secondary winding of the transformer, a reactor provided with a magnetic core and which has a terminal connected to a terminal of the secondary winding, at least one filter provided with input and output terminals and a first diode connected in parallel to the input terminals of the filter is shown. The other terminal of the reactor is connected to a terminal of the first diode. The power supply includes a second diode that has a first terminal connected to the other terminal of the first diode and a second terminal connected to the other terminal of the secondary winding and a control circuit coupled to an output terminal of the filter and to the other terminal of the secondary winding. The control circuit generates a current able to reset the magnetic core of the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Franco Lentini, Fabrizio Librizzi
  • Patent number: 6418039
    Abstract: Presented is a circuit and method capable to digitally control and, in particular, to control the switching of one or two MOSFETs used as rectifiers in switched mode power supply isolated topologies. Basic circuit implementation of the presented technique is also introduced. A controller has a fixed frequency square wave signal main clock input, generically switching from a low to a high value in two different time intervals. The controller has one or two square wave outputs, swinging from low to high in phase or in opposite with respect to the clock signal. The digital control method is able to generate output signals timed to anticipate output transitions from high to low level with respect to the clock signal transitions. In the control scheme, one or two other secondary inputs set the amount of anticipation time of the respective transitions of the outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Franco Lentini, Fabrizio Librizzi, Pietro Scalia, Ignazio Cala'
  • Publication number: 20020001204
    Abstract: Presented is a circuit and method capable to digitally control and, in particular, to control the switching of one or two MOSFETs used as rectifiers in switched mode power supply isolated topologies. Basic circuit implementation of the presented technique is also introduced. A controller has a fixed frequency square wave signal main clock input, generically switching from a low to a high value in two different time intervals. The controller has one or two square wave outputs, swinging from low to high in phase or in opposite with respect to the clock signal. The digital control method is able to generate output signals timed to anticipate output transitions from high to low level with respect to the clock signal transitions. In the control scheme, one or two other secondary inputs set the amount of anticipation time of the respective transitions of the outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Franco Lentini, Fabrizio Librizzi, Pietro Scalia, Ignazio Cala