Patents by Inventor Sarah Zerbini
Sarah Zerbini 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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Publication number: 20110140693Abstract: Two suspended masses are configured so as to be flowed by respective currents flowing in the magnetometer plane in mutually transversal directions and are capacitively coupled to lower electrodes. Mobile sensing electrodes are carried by the first suspended mass and are capacitively coupled to respective fixed sensing electrodes. The first suspended mass is configured so as to be mobile in a direction transversal to the plane in presence of a magnetic field having a component in a first horizontal direction. The second suspended mass is configured so as to be mobile in a direction transversal to the plane in presence of a magnetic field having a component in a second horizontal direction, and the first suspended mass is configured so as to be mobile in a direction parallel to the plane and transversal to the current flowing in the first suspended mass in presence of a magnetic field having a component in a vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Lorenzo Baldo, Francesco Procopio, Sarah Zerbini
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Patent number: 7886601Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensing structure is provided with a mobile element adapted to be displaced as a function of a quantity to be detected, and first fixed elements, capacitively coupled to the mobile element and configured to implement with the mobile element first detection conditions. The sensing structure is further provided with second fixed elements, capacitively coupled to the mobile element and configured to implement with the mobile element second detection conditions, which are different from the first detection conditions. In particular, the first and second detection conditions differ with respect to a full-scale or a sensitivity value in the detection of the aforesaid quantity.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Hubert Geitner, Marco Del Sarto
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Patent number: 7793544Abstract: An inertial sensor provided with a detection structure sensitive to a first, a second and a third component of acceleration along respective directions of detection, and generating respective electrical quantities as a function of said components of acceleration. The detection structure supplies at output a resultant electrical quantity obtained as combination of said electrical quantities, and correlated to the value of a resultant acceleration acting on the inertial sensor, given by a vector sum of the components of acceleration. In particular, the detection structure is of a microelectromechanical type, and comprises a mobile portion made of semiconductor material forming with a fixed portion a first, a second and a third detection capacitor, and an electrical-interconnection portion, connecting the detection capacitors in parallel; the resultant electrical quantity being the capacitance obtained from said connection in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Ernesto Lasalandra, Benedetto Vigna
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Publication number: 20100158280Abstract: A MEMS acoustic transducer, for example, a microphone, includes a substrate provided with a cavity, a supporting structure, fixed to the substrate, a membrane having a perimetral edge and a centroid, suspended above the cavity and fixed to the substrate the membrane configured to oscillate via the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of anchorage elements fixed to the membrane, and each anchorage element is coupled to a respective portion of the membrane between the centroid and the perimetral edge of the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Sarah Zerbini, Angelo Antonio Merassi
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Publication number: 20100126272Abstract: An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with: a driving mass, anchored to a substrate via elastic anchorage elements and moved in a plane with a driving movement; and a first sensing mass, suspended inside, and coupled to, the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect to the driving mass in the driving movement and to perform a detection movement of rotation out of the plane in response to a first angular velocity; the elastic anchorage elements and the elastic supporting elements cause the detection movement to be decoupled from the driving movement. The elastic supporting elements are coupled to the first sensing mass at an end portion thereof, and the axis of rotation of the detection movement extends, within the first sensing mass, only through the end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Gabriele Cazzaniga, Sarah Zerbini
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Publication number: 20100126269Abstract: An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with: a die, having a substrate and a frame, defining inside it a detection region and having a first side extending along a first axis; a driving mass, anchored to the substrate, set in the detection region, and designed to be rotated in a plane with a movement of actuation about a vertical axis; and a first pair and a second pair of first sensing masses, suspended inside the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect thereto in the movement of actuation and so as to perform a detection movement of rotation out of the plane in response to a first angular velocity; wherein the first sensing masses of the first pair and the first sensing masses of the second pair are aligned in respective directions, having non-zero inclinations of opposite sign with respect to the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Gabriele Cazzaniga, Sarah Zerbini
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Publication number: 20100107391Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device includes a semiconductor substrate, in which a first microstructure and a second microstructure of reference are integrated. The first microstructure and the second microstructure are arranged in the substrate so as to undergo equal strains as a result of thermal expansions of the substrate. Furthermore, the first microstructure is provided with movable parts and fixed parts with respect to the substrate, while the second microstructure has a shape that is substantially symmetrical to the first microstructure but is fixed with respect to the substrate. By subtracting the changes in electrical characteristics of the second microstructure from those of the first, variations in electrical characteristics of the first microstructure caused by changes in thermal expansion or contraction can be compensated for.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Ernesto Lasalandra, Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini
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Patent number: 7694563Abstract: A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a first sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a first detection movement in a presence of a first external stress. The driving mass is anchored to an anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by elastic anchorage elements. An opening is provided within the driving mass and the first sensing mass is arranged within the opening. The elastic supporting and anchorage elements render the first sensing mass fixed to the driving mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the driving mass in the first detection movement. A second sensing mass is connected to the driving mass so as to perform a second detection movement in a presence of a second external stress. A first movement is a rotation about an axis lying in a plane, and a second movement is a linear movement along an axis of the plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Guido Spinola Durante, Alessandro Balzelli Ludovico, Sarah Zerbini
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Patent number: 7678599Abstract: A process for the fabrication of an inertial sensor with failure threshold includes the step of forming, on top of a substrate of a semiconductor wafer, a sample element embedded in a sacrificial region, the sample element configured to break under a preselected strain. The process further includes forming, on top of the sacrificial region, a body connected to the sample element and etching the sacrificial region so as to free the body and the sample element. The process may also include forming, on the substrate, additional sample elements connected to the body.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Nokia CorporationInventors: Sarah Zerbini, Angelo Merassi, Guido Spinola Durante, Biagio De Masi
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Patent number: 7646582Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device includes a semiconductor body, in which at least one first microstructure and one second microstructure of reference are integrated. The first microstructure and the second microstructure are arranged in the body so as to undergo equal strains as a result of thermal expansions of the body. Furthermore, the first microstructure is provided with movable parts and fixed parts with respect to the body, while the second microstructure has a shape that is substantially symmetrical to the first microstructure but is fixed with respect to the body. By subtracting the changes in electrical characteristics of the second microstructure from those of the first, variations in electrical characteristics of the first microstructure caused by thermal expansion can be compensated for.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Ernesto Lasalandra, Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini
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Publication number: 20090100930Abstract: A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a detection movement in the presence of an external stress. The driving mass is anchored to an anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by elastic anchorage elements. An opening is provided within the driving mass and the sensing mass is arranged within the opening. The elastic supporting and anchorage elements render the sensing mass fixed to the driving mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the driving mass in the detection movement. The detection movement is a rotation about an axis lying in a plane. The sensing mass has, in plan view, a non-rectangular shape; in particular, the sensing mass has a radial geometry and, in plan view, the overall shape of a radial annulus sector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Alessandro Balzelli Ludovico, Sarah Zerbini
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Patent number: 7520171Abstract: In a micro-electromechanical structure of semiconductor material, a detection structure is formed by a stator and by a rotor, which are mobile with respect to one another in presence of an external stress and are subject to thermal stress; a compensation structure of a micro-electromechanical type, subject to thermal stress and invariant with respect to the external stress, is connected to the detection structure thereby the micro-electromechanical structure supplies an output signal correlated to the external stress and compensated in temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Benedetto Vigna
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Publication number: 20090064780Abstract: A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a detection movement in the presence of an external stress. The driving mass is anchored to a first anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by first elastic anchorage elements. The driving mass is also coupled to a pair of further anchorages positioned externally thereof and coupled to opposite sides with respect to the first anchorage by further elastic anchorage elements; the elastic supporting elements and the first and further elastic anchorage elements render the driving mass fixed to the first sensing mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the sensing mass in the detection movement, the detection movement being a rotation about an axis lying in a plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Luca Coronato, Alessandro Balzelli Ludovico, Sarah Zerbini
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Publication number: 20080173959Abstract: In a microelectromechanical device, a mobile mass is suspended above a substrate via elastic suspension elements and is rotatable about said elastic suspension elements, a cover structure is set above the mobile mass and has an internal surface facing the mobile mass, and a stopper structure is arranged at the internal surface of the cover structure and extends towards the mobile mass in order to stop a movement of the mobile mass away from the substrate along an axis (z) transverse to the substrate. The stopper structure is arranged with respect to the mobile mass so as to reduce an effect of reciprocal electrostatic interaction, in particular so as to minimize a resultant twisting moment of the mobile mass about the elastic suspension elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Angelo Antonio Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Barbara Simoni
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Publication number: 20080098815Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensing structure is provided with a mobile element adapted to be displaced as a function of a quantity to be detected, and first fixed elements, capacitively coupled to the mobile element and configured to implement with the mobile element first detection conditions. The sensing structure is further provided with second fixed elements, capacitively coupled to the mobile element and configured to implement with the mobile element second detection conditions, which are different from the first detection conditions. In particular, the first and second detection conditions differ with respect to a full-scale or a sensitivity value in the detection of the aforesaid quantity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Hubert Geitner, Marco Del Sarto
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Patent number: 7322242Abstract: In a micro-electromechanical structure, a rotor has a centroidal axis and includes a suspended structure which carries mobile electrodes. A stator carries fixed electrodes facing the mobile electrodes. The suspended structure is connected to a rotor-anchoring region via elastic elements. The stator includes at least one stator element, which carries a plurality of fixed electrodes and is fixed to a stator-anchoring region. One of the rotor-anchoring regions and stator-anchoring regions extends along the centroidal axis and at least another of the rotor-anchoring regions and stator-anchoring regions extends in the proximity of the centroidal axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Bruno Murari, Sarah Zerbini
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Publication number: 20080011080Abstract: An inertial sensor provided with a detection structure sensitive to a first, a second and a third component of acceleration along respective directions of detection, and generating respective electrical quantities as a function of said components of acceleration. The detection structure supplies at output a resultant electrical quantity obtained as combination of said electrical quantities, and correlated to the value of a resultant acceleration acting on the inertial sensor, given by a vector sum of the components of acceleration. In particular, the detection structure is of a microelectromechanical type, and comprises a mobile portion made of semiconductor material forming with a fixed portion a first, a second and a third detection capacitor, and an electrical-interconnection portion, connecting the detection capacitors in parallel; the resultant electrical quantity being the capacitance obtained from said connection in parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Ernesto Lasalandra, Benedetto Vigna
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Publication number: 20070238212Abstract: In a micro-electromechanical structure of semiconductor material, a detection structure is formed by a stator and by a rotor, which are mobile with respect to one another in presence of an external stress and are subject to thermal stress; a compensation structure of a micro-electromechanical type, subject to thermal stress and invariant with respect to the external stress, is connected to the detection structure thereby the micro-electromechanical structure supplies an output signal correlated to the external stress and compensated in temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2005Publication date: October 11, 2007Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Benedetto Vigna
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Publication number: 20070214883Abstract: A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a first sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a first detection movement in a presence of a first external stress. The driving mass is anchored to an anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by elastic anchorage elements. An opening is provided within the driving mass and the first sensing mass is arranged within the opening. The elastic supporting and anchorage elements render the first sensing mass fixed to the driving mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the driving mass in the first detection movement. A second sensing mass is connected to the driving mass so as to perform a second detection movement in a presence of a second external stress. A first movement is a rotation about an axis lying in a plane, and a second movement is a linear movement along an axis of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: September 20, 2007Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Guido Durante, Alessandro Ludovico, Sarah Zerbini
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Patent number: 7252002Abstract: A planar inertial sensor includes a first region and a second region of semiconductor material. The second region is capacitively coupled, and mobile with respect to the first region. The second region extends in a plane and has second portions, which face respective first portions of the first region. Movement of the second region, relative to the first region, in any direction belonging to the plane modifies the distance between the second portions and the first portions, which in turn modifies a value of the capacitive coupling.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Sarah Zerbini, Angelo Merassi, Ernesto Lasalandra, Benedetto Vigna