Patents by Inventor Francesco Ferrazza

Francesco Ferrazza 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).

  • Publication number: 20240128877
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a USB interface includes a transformer, a primary winding of the transformer, and a first switch in series between a first and a second node, a secondary winding of the transformer and a component in series between a third and a fourth node, the fourth node configured to be set a first reference potential, a second switch connected between the third node and a first terminal, the first terminal configured to provide an output voltage of the USB interface; wherein the component is configured to avoid a current circulation in the secondary winding when the first switch is closed and a control circuit configured to compare a first voltage of an interconnection node between the secondary winding and the component to a first threshold and compare the first voltage to a second threshold when the first voltage is, in absolute values, above the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Jean Camiolo, Francesco Ferrazza, Nathalie Ballot
  • Patent number: 11888400
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an USB interface includes a transformer, a primary winding of the transformer and a first switch connected in series between a first node and a second node, a secondary winding of the transformer and a component connected in series between a third node and a fourth node, the fourth node configured to be set a first reference potential, a second switch connected between the third node and a first terminal, the first terminal configured to provide an output voltage of the USB interface; wherein the component is configured to avoid a current circulation in the secondary winding when the first switch is closed and a control circuit configured to compare a first voltage of an interconnection node between the secondary winding and the component to a first threshold and compare the first voltage to a second threshold when the first voltage is, in absolute values, above the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Jean Camiolo, Francesco Ferrazza, Nathalie Ballot
  • Patent number: 11699956
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for operating an ACF converter includes: turning on a low-side transistor that is coupled between a primary winding of a transformer and a reference terminal to cause a forward current to enter the primary winding, turning off the low-side transistor; after turning off the low-side transistor, turning on a high-side transistor that is coupled between the primary winding and a clamp capacitor to cause a reverse current to flow through the primary winding; and after turning on the high-side transistor, when an overcurrent of the reverse current is not detected, keeping the high-side transistor on for a first period of time, and turning off the high-side transistor after the first period of time, and when the overcurrent of the reverse current is detected, turning off the high-side transistor without keeping the high-side transistor on for the first period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronios S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Francesco Ferrazza
  • Publication number: 20230141001
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for operating an ACF converter includes: turning on a low-side transistor that is coupled between a primary winding of a transformer and a reference terminal to cause a forward current to enter the primary winding, turning off the low-side transistor; after turning off the low-side transistor, turning on a high-side transistor that is coupled between the primary winding and a clamp capacitor to cause a reverse current to flow through the primary winding; and after turning on the high-side transistor, when an overcurrent of the reverse current is not detected, keeping the high-side transistor on for a first period of time, and turning off the high-side transistor after the first period of time, and when the overcurrent of the reverse current is detected, turning off the high-side transistor without keeping the high-side transistor on for the first period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Francesco Ferrazza
  • Patent number: 11552573
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for operating an ACF converter includes: turning on a low-side transistor that is coupled between a primary winding of a transformer and a reference terminal to cause a forward current to enter the primary winding, turning off the low-side transistor; after turning off the low-side transistor, turning on a high-side transistor that is coupled between the primary winding and a clamp capacitor to cause a reverse current to flow through the primary winding; and after turning on the high-side transistor, when an overcurrent of the reverse current is not detected, keeping the high-side transistor on for a first period of time, and turning off the high-side transistor after the first period of time, and when the overcurrent of the reverse current is detected, turning off the high-side transistor without keeping the high-side transistor on for the first period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Francesco Ferrazza
  • Publication number: 20220311341
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a switching stage of an electronic converter includes a first terminal configured to provide a drive signal and a second terminal configured to receive a first feedback signal. A third terminal receives a second feedback signal and a driver circuit provides the drive signal as a function of a PWM signal. A PWM signal generator circuit generates the PWM signal as a function of the first feedback signal, a reference threshold and the second feedback signal or a slope compensation signal. The control circuit is configured to sense an input signal, provide a first compensation parameter, and provide a first compensating signal as a function of a power of the input sensing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco FERRAZZA, Mirko GRAVATI, Christian Leone SANTORO
  • Publication number: 20220045615
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an USB interface includes a transformer, a primary winding of the transformer and a first switch connected in series between a first node and a second node, a secondary winding of the transformer and a component connected in series between a third node and a fourth node, the fourth node configured to be set a first reference potential, a second switch connected between the third node and a first terminal, the first terminal configured to provide an output voltage of the USB interface; wherein the component is configured to avoid a current circulation in the secondary winding when the first switch is closed and a control circuit configured to compare a first voltage of an interconnection node between the secondary winding and the component to a first threshold and compare the first voltage to a second threshold when the first voltage is, in absolute values, above the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Jean Camiolo, Francesco Ferrazza, Nathalie Ballot
  • Patent number: 9948188
    Abstract: A control device for a switching converter having a transformer, with a primary winding receiving an input quantity, a secondary winding providing an output quantity, an auxiliary winding providing a feedback quantity, and a switch element. The control device has a processing module for generating a control signal for switching the switch element on the basis of the feedback quantity in order to regulate the output quantity via alternation of phases of storage and transfer of energy. The processing module controls the end of the transfer phase by comparing the feedback quantity with a comparison threshold. A discrimination circuit generates a signal for discrimination between the presence of a short circuit on the output or the fact that the input quantity is lower than a threshold. The processing module controls the end of the energy-transfer phase also on the basis of the discrimination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Ferrazza, Davide Lena, Mirko Gravati, Domenico Tripodi, Massimiliano Leggenda
  • Publication number: 20160126846
    Abstract: A control device for a switching converter having a transformer, with a primary winding receiving an input quantity, a secondary winding providing an output quantity, an auxiliary winding providing a feedback quantity, and a switch element. The control device has a processing module for generating a control signal for switching the switch element on the basis of the feedback quantity in order to regulate the output quantity via alternation of phases of storage and transfer of energy. The processing module controls the end of the transfer phase by comparing the feedback quantity with a comparison threshold. A discrimination circuit generates a signal for discrimination between the presence of a short circuit on the output or the fact that the input quantity is lower than a threshold. The processing module controls the end of the energy-transfer phase also on the basis of the discrimination signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Ferrazza, Davide Lena, Mirko Gravati, Domenico Tripodi, Massimiliano Leggenda
  • Patent number: 9318966
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switching converter and a related controller suitable for the switching converter allow to implement a burst-mode functioning without generating acoustic noise and with a relevantly reduced ripple of the regulated DC voltage or current provided in output to a supplied load. The method includes sensing the difference between the error signal and the burst-stop threshold at the beginning of a burst period. If the error signal has surpassed (either upwards or downwards) the burst-stop threshold, the method sets the switching stage in a high impedance state at a new active edge of a clock signal, keeps the switching stage in the high impedance state for an integer number of cycles of the clock signal, and re-enables the switching stage to switch the energy tank circuit up to the end of the burst period. The integer number is determined based on the difference between the error signal and the burst-stop threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Ferrazza, Ambrogio Giuseppe D'Adda, Claudio Adragna
  • Publication number: 20150003117
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switching converter and a related controller suitable for the switching converter allow to implement a burst-mode functioning without generating acoustic noise and with a relevantly reduced ripple of the regulated DC voltage or current provided in output to a supplied load. The method includes sensing the difference between the error signal and the burst-stop threshold at the beginning of a burst period. If the error signal has surpassed (either upwards or downwards) the burst-stop threshold, the method sets the switching stage in a high impedance state at a new active edge of a clock signal, keeps the switching stage in the high impedance state for an integer number of cycles of the clock signal, and re-enables the switching stage to switch the energy tank circuit up to the end of the burst period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Francesco Ferrazza, Ambrogio Giuseppe D'Adda, Claudio Adragna