Patents by Inventor Laurent Gonthier

Laurent Gonthier 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: 11936288
    Abstract: An AC capacitor is coupled to a totem-pole type PFC circuit. In response to detection of a power input disconnection, the PFC circuit is controlled to discharge the AC capacitor. The PFC circuit includes a resistor and a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET coupled in series between DC output nodes with a common node coupled to the AC capacitor. When the disconnection event is detected, one of the first and second MOSFETs is turned on to discharge the AC capacitor with a current flowing through the resistor and the turned on MOSFET. Furthermore, a thyristor may be simultaneously turned on, with the discharge current flowing through a series coupling of the MOSFET, resistor and thyristor. Disconnection is detected by detecting a zero-crossing failure of an AC power input voltage or lack of input voltage decrease or input current increase in response to MOSFET turn on for a DC input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20230412084
    Abstract: The present description concerns a circuit for converting from a first alternating voltage to a second voltage. The circuit includes: a first thyristor; a first control circuit of the first thyristor; a power factor correction circuit comprising a coil; and a first circuit configured to convert a third voltage into a fourth DC voltage. The third voltage corresponds to a difference between a potential at a first node connected to an output node of the coil and a reference potential. The fourth DC voltage is configured to supply the first control circuit of the first thyristor, and is referenced with respect to the same reference potential as the third voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent GONTHIER
  • Patent number: 11711013
    Abstract: A circuit includes two thyristors coupled in anti-series. An AC capacitor has first and second electrodes respectively coupled to two different electrodes of the two thyristors. The first and second electrodes are coupled to receive an AC voltage. A control circuit detects discontinuance of application of the AC voltage to the AC capacitor and in response thereto simultaneously applies same gate currents to the two thyristors. A current path through the two thyristors (one passing current in forward mode and the other in reverse mode) discharges a residual voltage stored on the AC capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11515805
    Abstract: A capacitive element has its terminals coupled together by two thyristors electrically in antiparallel. The discharge of the capacitive element is controlled by the application of a gate current to one thyristor of the two thyristors which is in a reverse-biased state in response to a voltage stored across the terminals of the capacitive element. The reverse-biased thyristor responds to the applied gate current by passing a leakage current to discharge the stored voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20220360190
    Abstract: The present description concerns a converter comprising an AC-DC conversion stage comprising a first thyristor, a first power supply circuit delivering a first reference voltage between a first node and a second node, and a second power supply circuit delivering a second reference voltage between third and fourth nodes, the cathode of the first thyristor being coupled to the first node of the first power supply circuit by a first switch and being connected to the fourth node, the second power supply circuit comprising a first rectifying element coupled to the second node of the first power supply circuit and coupled to the third node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventor: Laurent GONTHIER
  • Publication number: 20220123650
    Abstract: A circuit includes two thyristors coupled in anti-series. An AC capacitor has first and second electrodes respectively coupled to two different electrodes of the two thyristors. The first and second electrodes are coupled to receive an AC voltage. A control circuit detects discontinuance of application of the AC voltage to the AC capacitor and in response thereto simultaneously applies same gate currents to the two thyristors. A current path through the two thyristors (one passing current in forward mode and the other in reverse mode) discharges a residual voltage stored on the AC capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent GONTHIER
  • Publication number: 20220103062
    Abstract: An AC capacitor is coupled to a totem-pole type PFC circuit. In response to detection of a power input disconnection, the PFC circuit is controlled to discharge the AC capacitor. The PFC circuit includes a resistor and a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET coupled in series between DC output nodes with a common node coupled to the AC capacitor. When the disconnection event is detected, one of the first and second MOSFETs is turned on to discharge the AC capacitor with a current flowing through the resistor and the turned on MOSFET. Furthermore, a thyristor may be simultaneously turned on, with the discharge current flowing through a series coupling of the MOSFET, resistor and thyristor. Disconnection is detected by detecting a zero-crossing failure of an AC power input voltage or lack of input voltage decrease or input current increase in response to MOSFET turn on for a DC input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Ghafour BENABDELAZIZ, Laurent GONTHIER
  • Patent number: 11271493
    Abstract: A rectifying bridge has a thyristor coupled in series with a rectifying element between a first rectified output terminal of a rectifying bridge circuit and a second rectified output terminal of the rectifying bridge circuit. A diode is coupled in series with a DC voltage source between a gate of the thyristor and the second rectified output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Yu Tsao Lin
  • Patent number: 11251696
    Abstract: A circuit includes two thyristors coupled in anti-series. An AC capacitor has first and second electrodes respectively coupled to two different electrodes of the two thyristors. The first and second electrodes are coupled to receive an AC voltage. A control circuit detects discontinuance of application of the AC voltage to the AC capacitor and in response thereto simultaneously applies same gate currents to the two thyristors. A current path through the two thyristors (one passing current in forward mode and the other in reverse mode) discharges a residual voltage stored on the AC capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11228239
    Abstract: An AC capacitor is coupled to a totem-pole type PFC circuit. In response to detection of a power input disconnection, the PFC circuit is controlled to discharge the AC capacitor. The PFC circuit includes a resistor and a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET coupled in series between DC output nodes with a common node coupled to the AC capacitor. When the disconnection event is detected, one of the first and second MOSFETs is turned on to discharge the AC capacitor with a current flowing through the resistor and the turned on MOSFET. Furthermore, a thyristor may be simultaneously turned on, with the discharge current flowing through a series coupling of the MOSFET, resistor and thyristor. Disconnection is detected by detecting a zero-crossing failure of an AC power input voltage or lack of input voltage decrease or input current increase in response to MOSFET turn on for a DC input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20210336533
    Abstract: An AC capacitor is coupled to a totem-pole type PFC circuit. In response to detection of a power input disconnection, the PFC circuit is controlled to discharge the AC capacitor. The PFC circuit includes a resistor and a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET coupled in series between DC output nodes with a common node coupled to the AC capacitor. When the disconnection event is detected, one of the first and second MOSFETs is turned on to discharge the AC capacitor with a current flowing through the resistor and the turned on MOSFET. Furthermore, a thyristor may be simultaneously turned on, with the discharge current flowing through a series coupling of the MOSFET, resistor and thyristor. Disconnection is detected by detecting a zero-crossing failure of an AC power input voltage or lack of input voltage decrease or input current increase in response to MOSFET turn on for a DC input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventors: Ghafour BENABDELAZIZ, Laurent GONTHIER
  • Publication number: 20210226553
    Abstract: A capacitive element has its terminals coupled together by two thyristors electrically in antiparallel. The discharge of the capacitive element is controlled by the application of a gate current to one thyristor of the two thyristors which is in a reverse-biased state in response to a voltage stored across the terminals of the capacitive element. The reverse-biased thyristor responds to the applied gate current by passing a leakage current to discharge the stored voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent GONTHIER
  • Publication number: 20200395866
    Abstract: A rectifying bridge has a thyristor coupled in series with a rectifying element between a first rectified output terminal of a rectifying bridge circuit and a second rectified output terminal of the rectifying bridge circuit. A diode is coupled in series with a DC voltage source between a gate of the thyristor and the second rectified output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Laurent GONTHIER, Yu Tsao LIN
  • Publication number: 20200381992
    Abstract: A circuit includes two thyristors coupled in anti-series. An AC capacitor has first and second electrodes respectively coupled to two different electrodes of the two thyristors. The first and second electrodes are coupled to receive an AC voltage. A control circuit detects discontinuance of application of the AC voltage to the AC capacitor and in response thereto simultaneously applies same gate currents to the two thyristors. A current path through the two thyristors (one passing current in forward mode and the other in reverse mode) discharges a residual voltage stored on the AC capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics LTD
    Inventor: Laurent GONTHIER
  • Patent number: 10686388
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi
  • Patent number: 10483869
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to power conversion circuits including a bypass circuit for bypassing an inrush current limiting resistor. In one embodiment, a power conversion circuit is provided that includes a bridge rectifier, a current limiting resistor, a controllable current switching device, and a driver. The current limiting resistor has a first terminal coupled to an output terminal of the bridge rectifier and a second terminal coupled to an electrical ground. The controllable current switching device has conduction terminals coupled in parallel with respect to the current limiting resistor. The driver is coupled between the first terminal of the current limiting resistor and a control terminal of the current switching device, and the driver controls an operation of the current switching device based on a current through the current limiting resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Kimi Lu, Jack Wang
  • Publication number: 20190222136
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Laurent GONTHIER, Roberto LAROSA, Giulio ZOPPI
  • Patent number: 10298143
    Abstract: A rectifying circuit including: between a first terminal of application of an AC voltage and a first rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first diode; and between a second terminal of application of the AC voltage and a second rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first anode-gate thyristor, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and at least one first stage for controlling the first thyristor, including: a first transistor coupling the thyristor gate to a terminal of delivery of a potential which is negative with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and a second transistor connecting a control terminal of the first transistor to a terminal for delivering a potential which is positive with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the common potential of voltages defined by said positive and negative p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 10284107
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi
  • Patent number: 10014797
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes: a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal for supplying a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge includes input terminals respectively coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, and output terminals respectively coupled to the third terminal and fourth terminal. A first branch of the rectifying bridge includes, connected between the output terminals, two series-connected thyristors with a junction point of the two thyristors being connected to a first one of the input terminals. A second branch of the rectifying bridge is formed by series connected diodes. A control circuit is configured to generate control signals for application to the control gates of the thyristors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Muriel Nina, Romain Pichon