Patents by Inventor Riccardo Viancino

Riccardo Viancino 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: 9231414
    Abstract: A discharge device and method actively discharge a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle. The discharge device comprises a discharge branch of a circuit that is connected in parallel to the main capacitor and includes a discharge transistor that is biased to “conduction” mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal of the discharge transistor and commands the discharge transistor, biasing the discharge resistor to “conduction” mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. The control device includes a safety capacitor that is interposed between the “gate/base” terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the “conduction” mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the “gate/base” terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the “non-conductive” state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Riccardo Viancino, Fabio Bernardi, Giovanni Giuffre'
  • Patent number: 9041361
    Abstract: A discharge device actively discharges a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle and comprises a discharge branch of a circuit connected in parallel to the capacitor and including a discharge transistor biased to “conduction” mode when the capacitor must be discharged. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal of and controls the transistor, biasing the transistor to the mode when the capacitor is required to fee discharged. A control transistor maintains the discharge transistor in a “non-conductive” state when the control transistor is in the mode. The control transistor is in the state for the discharge transistor to be in the mode. A safety capacitor is interposed between the terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Riccardo Viancino, Fabio Bernardi, Giovanni Giuffre'
  • Patent number: 8939797
    Abstract: A connection system establishes an electrical connection between an electrical device and at least one pair of cables each of which ends with a cable terminal. The connection system comprises a fixed part including a support base adapted to be rigidly fitted to a wall of the electrical device and, for each cable, a connection screw protruding from the support base and electrically connectable to the electrical device. A mobile part includes a perimeter frame adapted to be mechanically fitted to the support base and having a passage wall defining, for each cable, a passage-through hole through which an end part of the cable passes so that the corresponding cable terminal is disposed inside the perimeter frame and aligned with the respective connection screw when the perimeter frame is mechanically fitted to the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Franco Ciampolini, Riccardo Viancino, Mauro Quacquarelli, Fulvio Cicognati
  • Publication number: 20130207619
    Abstract: A discharge device and method actively discharge a main capacitor in an electric-power system, of an electric-drive vehicle. The discharge device comprises a discharge branch of a circuit that is connected in parallel to the main capacitor and includes a discharge transistor that is biased to “conduction” mode when, the main capacitor is required to be discharged. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal, of the discharge transistor and commands the discharge transistor, biasing the discharge resistor to “conduction” mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. The control device includes a safety capacitor that is interposed between the “gate/base” terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the “conduction” mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the “gate/base” terminal until the discharge transistor is biased to the non-conductive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Riccardo Viancino, Fabio Bernardi, Giovanni Giuffre'
  • Publication number: 20130207458
    Abstract: A discharge device actively discharges a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle and comprises a discharge branch of a circuit connected in parallel to the capacitor and including a discharge transistor biased to “conduction” mode when the capacitor must be discharged. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal of and controls the transistor, biasing the transistor to the mode when the capacitor is required to fee discharged. A control transistor maintains the discharge transistor in a “non-conductive” state when the control transistor is in the mode. The control transistor is in the state for the discharge transistor to be in the mode. A safety capacitor is interposed between the terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Riccardo Viancino, Fabio Bernardi, Giovanni Giuffre'
  • Publication number: 20130200692
    Abstract: A discharge device actively discharges a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle. The discharge device comprises a discharge branch of a circuit that is connected in parallel to the main capacitor and includes a discharge transistor that is biased to “conduction” mode when the discharge transistor is required to discharge the main capacitor. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal of the discharge transistor and commands the discharge transistor, biasing the discharge transistor to the “conduction” mode when the discharge transistor is required to discharge the main capacitor. A control unit activates, when the main capacitor is required to be discharged, an electronic high-voltage power converter that is connected in parallel to the main capacitor and drives an electric machine to circulate through the electric machine an electric current that causes no generation or absorption of torque. A method actively discharges the main capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Riccardo Viancino, Fabio Bernardi, Giovanni Giuffre'
  • Patent number: 8466580
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electrical traction and a reversible electric machine (8) that can be mechanically connected to drive wheels (3). An electrical system (11) of the vehicle includes a low-voltage storage system (14). An electronic power converter (15) has a positive pole (21) and a negative pole or an electrical ground (23) that are connected to the storage system (14) through a first electrical cable (18) defining a large section. An electronic control unit (17) controls the electronic power converter (15) and has a positive pole (24) and a negative pole or an electrical ground (25) that are connected to the storage system (14) through a second electrical cable (19) defining a small section. The electrical ground (23) of the electronic power converter (15) is connected to the electrical ground (25) of the electronic control unit (17) through an impedance having a value not lesser than substantially 100 ohms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Viancino
  • Publication number: 20130122751
    Abstract: A connection system establishes an electrical connection between an electrical device and at least one pair of cables each of which ends with a cable, terminal. The connection system comprises a fixed part including a support base adapted to be rigidly fitted to a wall of the electrical device and, for each cable, a connection screw protruding from the support base and electrically connectable to the electrical device. A mobile part includes a perimeter frame adapted to be mechanically fitted to the support base and having a passage wall defining, for each cable, a passage-through hole through which an end part of the cable passes so that the corresponding cable terminal is disposed inside the perimeter frame and aligned with the respective connection screw when the perimeter frame is mechanically fitted to the support base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Franco Ciampolini, Riccardo Viancino, Mauro Quacquarelli, Fulvio Cicognati
  • Publication number: 20120112529
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electrical traction and a reversible electric machine (8) that can be mechanically connected to drive wheels (3). An electrical system (11) of the vehicle includes a low-voltage storage system (14). An electronic power converter (15) has a positive pole (21) and a negative pole or an electrical ground (23) that are connected to the storage system (14) through a first electrical cable (18) defining a large section. An electronic control unit (17) controls the electronic power converter (15) and has a positive pole (24) and a negative pole or an electrical ground (25) that are connected to the storage system (14) through a second electrical cable (19) defining a small section. The electrical ground (23) of the electronic power converter (15) is connected to the electrical ground (25) of the electronic control unit (17) through an impedance having a value not lesser than substantially 100 ohms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Riccardo Viancino