Patents by Inventor Alberto Bianco

Alberto Bianco 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: 20240261450
    Abstract: Device for disinfecting at least one working volume in an artificial space environment, comprising a concentrator of solar radiation associated with the at least one working volume, and filtering means for selecting at least one spectral band of the solar radiation comprising UVC radiation coupled to the concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Primo ATTINA, Andrea BIANCO, Fausto CORTECCHIA, Emiliano DIOLAITI, Luigi LESSIO, Matteo LOMBINI, Alberto MACCHI, Giuseppe MALAGUTI, Giovanni PARESCHI, Maria Guglielmina PELIZZO
  • Publication number: 20240250691
    Abstract: A circuit includes at least one coupling node configured to be coupled, via a cable, to a load to transmit a supply voltage thereto. The circuit includes test circuitry configured to sense at least one sensing signal indicative of a value of the cable impedance and/or of the cable voltage across the cable, to perform a comparison between the at least one sensing signal and at least one threshold indicative either of a threshold resistance value for the cable impedance or indicative of a threshold voltage value for the cable voltage, produce a comparison signal as a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Francesco CIAPPA, Donato BONDETTI
  • Patent number: 11870361
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solutions for operating a flyback converter comprising an active clamp. The flyback converter comprises two input terminals and two output terminals. A first electronic switch and the primary winding of a transformer are connected in series between the input terminals. An active clamp circuit is connected in parallel with the primary winding. The active clamp circuit comprises a series connection of a clamp capacitor and a second electronic switch. A third electronic switch and the secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series between the two output terminals. In particular, the present disclosure relates to solutions for switching the first, second and third electronic switch in order to achieve a zero-voltage switching of the first electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 11784563
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit board that manages supply of electricity to the electronic device. The circuit board includes an integrated circuit and an external capacitor coupled to a supply terminal of the circuit board. During a startup operation of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit supplies a first charging current to charge the capacitor to a supply voltage value. The circuit board includes a boost circuit that receives a portion of the first charging current and outputs a second charging current that augments charging of the capacitor. The second charging current is an amplification of the first charging current. The integrated circuit enables operation of the electronic device after the capacitor is charged to the supply voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
  • Patent number: 11750010
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an active discharge of an X-capacitor are provided. A sensor signal, indicative of a voltage at the capacitor, is compared with a lower and upper threshold values. A first value of a smaller one of the lower and upper threshold values is increased to a first new value that is greater than a second value of a larger one of the lower and upper threshold values in response to a first control signal indicating the sensor signal is greater than the upper and lower threshold values. A third value of the greater one of the lower and upper threshold values is decreased to a second new value that is less than the value of the larger one of the lower and upper threshold values in response to a second control signal indicating the sensor signal is less than the upper and lower threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco
  • Patent number: 11588408
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a circuit including a transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input port configured to receive an input voltage and a secondary winding configured to provide an output voltage at an output port, controller circuitry configured to switch on and off a current through the primary winding so that energy is transferred to the secondary winding while switching and supply circuitry connected to the controller circuitry, wherein the supply circuitry is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the transformer and configured to provide a supply voltage for the controller circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Publication number: 20210408929
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solutions for operating a flyback converter comprising an active clamp. The flyback converter comprises two input terminals and two output terminals. A first electronic switch and the primary winding of a transformer are connected in series between the input terminals. An active clamp circuit is connected in parallel with the primary winding. The active clamp circuit comprises a series connection of a clamp capacitor and a second electronic switch. A third electronic switch and the secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series between the two output terminals. In particular, the present disclosure relates to solutions for switching the first, second and third electronic switch in order to achieve a zero-voltage switching of the first electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Francesco CIAPPA, Giuseppe SCAPPATURA
  • Publication number: 20210351707
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a circuit including a transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input port configured to receive an input voltage and a secondary winding configured to provide an output voltage at an output port, controller circuitry configured to switch on and off a current through the primary winding so that energy is transferred to the secondary winding while switching and supply circuitry connected to the controller circuitry, wherein the supply circuitry is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the transformer and configured to provide a supply voltage for the controller circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 11128229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solutions for operating a flyback converter comprising an active clamp. The flyback converter comprises two input terminals and two output terminals. A first electronic switch and the primary winding of a transformer are connected in series between the input terminals. An active clamp circuit is connected in parallel with the primary winding. The active clamp circuit comprises a series connection of a clamp capacitor and a second electronic switch. A third electronic switch and the secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series between the two output terminals. In particular, the present disclosure relates to solutions for switching the first, second and third electronic switch in order to achieve a zero-voltage switching of the first electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Publication number: 20210249953
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit board that manages supply of electricity to the electronic device. The circuit board includes an integrated circuit and an external capacitor coupled to a supply terminal of the circuit board. During a startup operation of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit supplies a first charging current to charge the capacitor to a supply voltage value. The circuit board includes a boost circuit that receives a portion of the first charging current and outputs a second charging current that augments charging of the capacitor. The second charging current is an amplification of the first charging current. The integrated circuit enables operation of the electronic device after the capacitor is charged to the supply voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Giuseppe SCAPPATURA, Francesco CIAPPA
  • Patent number: 11018578
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit board that manages supply of electricity to the electronic device. The circuit board includes an integrated circuit and an external capacitor coupled to a supply terminal of the circuit board. During a startup operation of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit supplies a first charging current to charge the capacitor to a supply voltage value. The circuit board includes a boost circuit that receives a portion of the first charging current and outputs a second charging current that augments charging of the capacitor. The second charging current is an amplification of the first charging current. The integrated circuit enables operation of the electronic device after the capacitor is charged to the supply voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
  • Patent number: 11005361
    Abstract: A control circuit is configured to control a power factor correction (PFC) pre-regulator including a power switch and being configured to operate in a transition mode of operation and a valley-skipping mode of operation. The control circuit generates a drive signal to control a switching of the power switch based on a current threshold. A current threshold generator in the control circuit is configured to modulate the current threshold as a function of a number of valleys skipped in the valley-skipping mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Scappatura, Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa
  • Publication number: 20210135568
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit board that manages supply of electricity to the electronic device. The circuit board includes an integrated circuit and an external capacitor coupled to a supply terminal of the circuit board. During a startup operation of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit supplies a first charging current to charge the capacitor to a supply voltage value. The circuit board includes a boost circuit that receives a portion of the first charging current and outputs a second charging current that augments charging of the capacitor. The second charging current is an amplification of the first charging current. The integrated circuit enables operation of the electronic device after the capacitor is charged to the supply voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
  • Publication number: 20210080491
    Abstract: An active discharge circuit discharges an X capacitor and includes a sensor circuit that generates a sensor signal indicative of an AC voltage at the X capacitor. A processing unit generates a reset signal as a function of a comparison signal. A comparator circuit generates the comparison signal by comparing the sensor signal with a threshold. A timer circuit sets a discharge enable signal to a first logic level when the timer circuit is reset via a reset signal. The timer circuit determines the time elapsed since the last reset and tests whether the time elapsed exceeds a given timeout value. If the time elapsed exceeds the given timeout value, the timer circuit sets the discharge enable signal to a second logic level. A dynamic threshold generator circuit varies the threshold of the comparator circuit as a function of the sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco
  • Patent number: 10890606
    Abstract: An active discharge circuit discharges an X capacitor and includes a sensor circuit that generates a sensor signal indicative of an AC voltage at the X capacitor. A processing unit generates a reset signal as a function of a comparison signal. A comparator circuit generates the comparison signal by comparing the sensor signal with a threshold. A timer circuit sets a discharge enable signal to a first logic level when the timer circuit is reset via a reset signal. The timer circuit determines the time elapsed since the last reset and tests whether the time elapsed exceeds a given timeout value. If the time elapsed exceeds the given timeout value, the timer circuit sets the discharge enable signal to a second logic level. A dynamic threshold generator circuit varies the threshold of the comparator circuit as a function of the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco
  • Publication number: 20200403497
    Abstract: A control circuit is configured to control a power factor correction (PFC) pre-regulator including a power switch and being configured to operate in a transition mode of operation and a valley-skipping mode of operation. The control circuit generates a drive signal to control a switching of the power switch based on a current threshold. A current threshold generator in the control circuit is configured to modulate the current threshold as a function of a number of valleys skipped in the valley-skipping mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Giuseppe Scappatura, Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa
  • Publication number: 20200336073
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solutions for operating a flyback converter comprising an active clamp. The flyback converter comprises two input terminals and two output terminals. A first electronic switch and the primary winding of a transformer are connected in series between the input terminals. An active clamp circuit is connected in parallel with the primary winding. The active clamp circuit comprises a series connection of a clamp capacitor and a second electronic switch. A third electronic switch and the secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series between the two output terminals. In particular, the present disclosure relates to solutions for switching the first, second and third electronic switch in order to achieve a zero-voltage switching of the first electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Francesco CIAPPA, Giuseppe SCAPPATURA
  • Patent number: 10715046
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for secondary side current mode control of a converter are provided. In the method and apparatus, an output voltage of the converter is detected, where the converter has primary and secondary windings that are galvanically isolated in respective primary and secondary sides. A secondary control signal is generated in the secondary side based at least in part on the output voltage and a reference voltage. The secondary control signal is converted to a primary control signal provided in the primary side. The converter is driven in the primary side based at least in part on the primary control signal and a current sense signal indicative of a current flowing through the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura
  • Patent number: 10686382
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a switching circuit of a resonant converter where the switching circuit includes first and second power switches. A first on time of the first power switch and a second on time of the second power switch are controlled to generate a square wave signal to drive the resonant circuit. The control circuit controls the first on time based on a zero current detection time indicating detection of a zero current crossing of a resonant current generated in the resonant circuit in response to the square wave signal and on a time shift delay time based on an output voltage of the resonant converter. The second on time of the second power switch control is based on the zero current detection time detected for the first power switch and on the time shift delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Marco Dell'Oro, Giuseppe Scappatura, Luca Longhi, Matteo Sucameli, Dino Ciambellotti
  • Publication number: 20190369146
    Abstract: An active discharge circuit discharges an X capacitor and includes a sensor circuit that generates a sensor signal indicative of an AC voltage at the X capacitor. A processing unit generates a reset signal as a function of a comparison signal. A comparator circuit generates the comparison signal by comparing the sensor signal with a threshold. A timer circuit sets a discharge enable signal to a first logic level when the timer circuit is reset via a reset signal. The timer circuit determines the time elapsed since the last reset and tests whether the time elapsed exceeds a given timeout value. If the time elapsed exceeds the given timeout value, the timer circuit sets the discharge enable signal to a second logic level. A dynamic threshold generator circuit varies the threshold of the comparator circuit as a function of the sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco