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: 20240261450Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2022Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventors: Primo ATTINA, Andrea BIANCO, Fausto CORTECCHIA, Emiliano DIOLAITI, Luigi LESSIO, Matteo LOMBINI, Alberto MACCHI, Giuseppe MALAGUTI, Giovanni PARESCHI, Maria Guglielmina PELIZZO
-
Publication number: 20240250691Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Francesco CIAPPA, Donato BONDETTI
-
Patent number: 11870361Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
-
Patent number: 11784563Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
-
Patent number: 11750010Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco
-
Patent number: 11588408Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
-
Publication number: 20210408929Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Francesco CIAPPA, Giuseppe SCAPPATURA
-
Publication number: 20210351707Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
-
Patent number: 11128229Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa, Giuseppe Scappatura
-
Publication number: 20210249953Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Giuseppe SCAPPATURA, Francesco CIAPPA
-
Patent number: 11018578Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
-
Patent number: 11005361Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Giuseppe Scappatura, Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa
-
Publication number: 20210135568Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
-
Publication number: 20210080491Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco
-
Patent number: 10890606Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco
-
Publication number: 20200403497Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Giuseppe Scappatura, Alberto Bianco, Francesco Ciappa
-
Publication number: 20200336073Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Alberto BIANCO, Francesco CIAPPA, Giuseppe SCAPPATURA
-
Patent number: 10715046Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura
-
Patent number: 10686382Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Marco Dell'Oro, Giuseppe Scappatura, Luca Longhi, Matteo Sucameli, Dino Ciambellotti
-
Publication number: 20190369146Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Massimiliano Gobbi, Ignazio Salvatore Bellomo, Domenico Tripodi, Antonio Borrello, Alberto Bianco