Patents by Inventor Giovanni Luca Torrisi
Giovanni Luca Torrisi 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: 10560092Abstract: A circuit for controlling a first plurality of transistors connected in parallel and a second plurality of transistors connected in parallel, includes: a first plurality of stages, a respective one of the first plurality of stages being configured to supply a first control signal to a respective one of the first plurality of transistors; and a second plurality of stages, a respective one of the second plurality of stages being configured to supply a second control signal to a respective one of the second plurality of transistors. An output current of the respective one of the first plurality of stages is regulated based on a difference between a first value representative of a sum of output currents of each stage of the first plurality of stages and a second value representative of a sum of set points assigned to the first plurality of stages.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Vanni Poletto, David F. Swanson, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Laurent Chevalier
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Patent number: 10499547Abstract: A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS APPLICATION GMBHInventors: Domenico Massimo Porto, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce
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Patent number: 10492281Abstract: The power supply device comprises a supply transistor commanded by a command signal and providing electric power to a lighting module, and a driving means configured to selectively generate, depending on an instruction signal representative of the structure of said at least one lighting module, a first command signal able to command the supply transistor into an ohmic regime, a second command signal able to command the supply transistor into a pulse width modulation regime involving an alternation of ohmic regimes and blocked regimes, and a third command signal able to command the supply transistor into a saturated regime.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2019Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS, STMicroelectronics Application GmbH, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Philippe Sirito-Olivier, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Manuel Gaertner, Fritz Burkhardt
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Publication number: 20190306941Abstract: An integrated device for driving a lighting load, such as a LED, has a first memory element, configured to store a nominal duty-cycle at a nominal supply voltage. An actual voltage acquisition element is configured to detect an actual supply voltage. A processing unit is coupled to the first memory element and to the actual voltage acquisition element and configured to calculate a voltage compensated duty-cycle. A driver unit is coupled to the processing unit and is configured to be supplied according to the voltage compensated duty-cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
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Publication number: 20190267991Abstract: A circuit for controlling a first plurality of transistors connected in parallel and a second plurality of transistors connected in parallel, includes: a first plurality of stages, a respective one of the first plurality of stages being configured to supply a first control signal to a respective one of the first plurality of transistors; and a second plurality of stages, a respective one of the second plurality of stages being configured to supply a second control signal to a respective one of the second plurality of transistors. An output current of the respective one of the first plurality of stages is regulated based on a difference between a first value representative of a sum of output currents of each stage of the first plurality of stages and a second value representative of a sum of set points assigned to the first plurality of stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Vanni Poletto, David F. Swanson, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Laurent Chevalier
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Patent number: 10375774Abstract: An integrated device for driving a lighting load, such as a LED, has a first memory element, configured to store a nominal duty-cycle at a nominal supply voltage. An actual voltage acquisition element is configured to detect an actual supply voltage. A processing unit is coupled to the first memory element and to the actual voltage acquisition element and configured to calculate a voltage compensated duty-cycle. A driver unit is coupled to the processing unit and is configured to be supplied according to the voltage compensated duty-cycle.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics Application GMBHInventors: Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
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Publication number: 20190191536Abstract: The power supply device comprises a supply transistor commanded by a command signal and providing electric power to a lighting module, and a driving means configured to selectively generate, depending on an instruction signal representative of the structure of said at least one lighting module, a first command signal able to command the supply transistor into an ohmic regime, a second command signal able to command the supply transistor into a pulse width modulation regime involving an alternation of ohmic regimes and blocked regimes, and a third command signal able to command the supply transistor into a saturated regime.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS, STMicroelectronics Application GmbH, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Philippe SIRITO-OLIVIER, Giovanni Luca TORRISI, Manuel GAERTNER, Fritz BURKHARDT
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Publication number: 20190159369Abstract: A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Domenico Massimo Porto, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce
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Patent number: 10257917Abstract: The power supply device comprises a supply transistor commanded by a command signal and providing electric power to a lighting module, and a driving means configured to selectively generate, depending on an instruction signal representative of the structure of said at least one lighting module, a first command signal able to command the supply transistor into an ohmic regime, a second command signal able to command the supply transistor into a pulse width modulation regime involving an alternation of ohmic regimes and blocked regimes, and a third command signal able to command the supply transistor into a saturated regime.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics Application GmbHInventors: Philippe Sirito-Olivier, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Manuel Gaertner, Fritz Burkhardt
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Patent number: 10231365Abstract: A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS APPLICATION GMBHInventors: Domenico Massimo Porto, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce
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Publication number: 20180310390Abstract: The power supply device comprises a supply transistor commanded by a command signal and providing electric power to a lighting module, and a driving means configured to selectively generate, depending on an instruction signal representative of the structure of said at least one lighting module, a first command signal able to command the supply transistor into an ohmic regime, a second command signal able to command the supply transistor into a pulse width modulation regime involving an alternation of ohmic regimes and blocked regimes, and a third command signal able to command the supply transistor into a saturated regime.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics Application GmbHInventors: Philippe SIRITO-OLIVIER, Giovanni Luca TORRISI, Manuel GAERTNER, Fritz BURKHARDT
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Publication number: 20180270996Abstract: A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Domenico Massimo Porto, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce
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Publication number: 20180249597Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a plurality of heat-generating circuits, a heat-sensitive circuit exposed to heat generated during operation of the plurality of heat-generating circuit, and a temperature sensor disposed at a location between the heat-sensitive circuit and the plurality of heat-generating circuits, the temperature sensor being configured to generate an over-temperature signal as a function of temperature sensed at the location. The plurality of heat-generating circuits may be selectively deactivatable in an ordered sequence based on deactivation weights respectively assigned to the plurality of heat-generating circuits and in response to the over-temperature signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Domenico Porto
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Patent number: 9992916Abstract: A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi-junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS APPLICATION GMBHInventors: Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Domenico Massimo Porto, Sergio Lecce, Manuel Gaertner
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Patent number: 9929556Abstract: A fail-safe device may be coupled to a main device for actuating a switch responsive to a failure. The fail-safe device may include a fail-safe circuit, and an isolation trench surrounding the fail-safe circuit and isolating the fail-safe circuit from the main device. The fail-safe device may include an internal power supply connection, an internal reference voltage connection, a self-biased drive block configured to drive the at least one switch, and a receiver configured to receive failure signals from the main device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Vanni Poletto, Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
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Publication number: 20170188419Abstract: An integrated device for driving a lighting load, such as a LED, has a first memory element, configured to store a nominal duty-cycle at a nominal supply voltage. An actual voltage acquisition element is configured to detect an actual supply voltage. A processing unit is coupled to the first memory element and to the actual voltage acquisition element and configured to calculate a voltage compensated duty-cycle. A driver unit is coupled to the processing unit and is configured to be supplied according to the voltage compensated duty-cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
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Patent number: 9436193Abstract: A driver for an electric load includes a power device having a control terminal and an output terminal for an output current, and a control module. The control module is configured to drive the power device in an auto-recovery mode by switching between activation and deactivation in the occurrence of an overcurrent condition, wherein the output current reaches a threshold current. The control module is also configured to evaluate a first time interval between a time wherein the overcurrent condition occurs, and a first time, and generate a limit signal when the time interval is equal to a time threshold. The power device is driven in a switching-off condition at least as a function of the limit signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Domenico Massimo Porto, Vanni Poletto
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Publication number: 20160094022Abstract: A fail-safe device may be coupled to a main device for actuating a switch responsive to a failure. The fail-safe device may include a fail-safe circuit, and an isolation trench surrounding the fail-safe circuit and isolating the fail-safe circuit from the main device. The fail-safe device may include an internal power supply connection, an internal reference voltage connection, a self-biased drive block configured to drive the at least one switch, and a receiver configured to receive failure signals from the main device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Vanni POLETTO, Manuel Gaertner, Sergio Lecce, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
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Patent number: 9130366Abstract: An electronic system to discharge a transformer in case of a failure during a charging phase of the transformer. The system includes the transformer having a primary winding with a first terminal connected to a battery voltage and with a second terminal for generating a primary voltage signal, includes a switch serially connected to the primary winding and having a control terminal carrying a control voltage signal for opening or closing the switch and includes an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit further includes a current generator and a voltage clamping.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Calogero Andrea Trecarichi, Giovanni Luca Torrisi, Donato Tagliavia
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Publication number: 20150208557Abstract: A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi-junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Domenico Massimo PORTO, Giovanni Luca TORRISI, Sergio LECCE, Manuel GAERTNER