Patents by Inventor Alessandro Tocchio

Alessandro Tocchio 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: 11277112
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device having a mobile structure including mobile arms formed from a composite material and having a fixed structure including fixed arms capacitively coupled to the mobile arms. The composite material includes core regions of insulating material and a silicon coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Lorenzo Corso, Alessandro Tocchio, Carlo Valzasina
  • Publication number: 20210190814
    Abstract: A micromechanical device includes a semiconductor body, a first mobile structure, an elastic assembly, coupled to the first mobile structure and to the semiconductor body and adapted to undergo deformation in a direction, and at least one abutment element. The elastic assembly is configured to enable an oscillation of the first mobile structure as a function of a force applied thereto. The first mobile structure, the abutment element and the elastic assembly are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that: when the force is lower than a force threshold, the elastic assembly operates with a first elastic constant; and when the force is greater than the threshold force, then the first mobile structure is in contact with the abutment element, and a deformation of the elastic assembly is generated, which operates with a second elastic constant different from the first elastic constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Jean Marie DARMANIN, Carlo VALZASINA, Alessandro TOCCHIO, Gabriele GATTERE
  • Publication number: 20210155472
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device includes: a MEMS structure; an ASIC electronic circuit; and conductive interconnection structures electrically coupling the MEMS structure to the ASIC electronic circuit. The MEMS structure and the ASIC electronic circuit are integrated starting from a same substrate including semiconductor material; wherein the MEMS structure is formed at a first surface of the substrate, and the ASIC electronic circuit is formed at a second surface of the substrate, vertically opposite to the first surface in a direction transverse to a horizontal plane of extension of the first surface and of the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Alessandro TOCCHIO, Lorenzo CORSO
  • Patent number: 10934158
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device includes: a MEMS structure; an ASIC electronic circuit; and conductive interconnection structures electrically coupling the MEMS structure to the ASIC electronic circuit. The MEMS structure and the ASIC electronic circuit are integrated starting from a same substrate including semiconductor material; wherein the MEMS structure is formed at a first surface of the substrate, and the ASIC electronic circuit is formed at a second surface of the substrate, vertically opposite to the first surface in a direction transverse to a horizontal plane of extension of the first surface and of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Tocchio, Lorenzo Corso
  • Publication number: 20200408805
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer sensor has a mobile mass and a sensing capacitor. To self-test the sensor, a test signal is applied to the sensing capacitor during a reset phase of a sensing circuit coupled to the sensing capacitor. The test signal is configured to cause an electrostatic force which produces a physical displacement of the mobile mass corresponding to a desired acceleration value. Then, during a read phase of the sensing circuit, a variation in capacitance of sensing capacitor due to the physical displacement of the mobile mass is sensed. This sensed variation in capacitance is converted to a sensed acceleration value. A comparison of the sensed acceleration value to the desired acceleration value provides an indication of an error in operation of the MEMS accelerometer sensor if the sensed acceleration value and desired acceleration value are not substantially equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Yamu HU, David MCCLURE, Alessandro TOCCHIO, Naren K. SAHOO, Anthony Junior CASILLAN
  • Publication number: 20200400712
    Abstract: An inertial structure is elastically coupled through a first elastic structure to a supporting structure so as to move along a sensing axis as a function of a quantity to be detected. The inertial structure includes first and second inertial masses which are elastically coupled together by a second elastic structure to enable movement of the second inertial mass along the sensing axis. The first elastic structure has a lower elastic constant than the second elastic structure so that, in presence of the quantity to be detected, the inertial structure moves in a sensing direction until the first inertial mass stops against a stop structure and the second elastic mass can move further in the sensing direction. Once the quantity to be detected ends, the second inertial mass moves in a direction opposite to the sensing direction and detaches the first inertial mass from the stop structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Francesco RIZZINI, Alessandro TOCCHIO
  • Patent number: 10862449
    Abstract: A MEMS resonator system has a micromechanical resonant structure and an electronic processing circuit including a first resonant loop that excites a first vibrational mode of the structure and generates a first signal at a first resonance frequency. A compensation module compensates, as a function of a measurement of temperature variation, a first variation of the first resonance frequency caused by the temperature variation to generate a clock signal at a desired frequency that is stable relative to temperature. The electronic processing circuit further includes a second resonant loop, which excites a second vibrational mode of the structure and generates a second signal at a second resonance frequency. A temperature-sensing module receives the first and second signals and generates the measurement of temperature variation as a function of the first variation of the first resonance frequency and a second variation of the second resonance frequency caused by the temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Carlo Valzasina, Gabriele Gattere, Alessandro Tocchio, Giacomo Langfelder
  • Publication number: 20200373904
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device having a mobile structure including mobile arms formed from a composite material and having a fixed structure including fixed arms capacitively coupled to the mobile arms. The composite material includes core regions of insulating material and a silicon coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Lorenzo Corso, Alessandro Tocchio, Carlo Valzasina
  • Publication number: 20200363448
    Abstract: A MEMS tri-axial accelerometer is provided with a sensing structure having: a single inertial mass, with a main extension in a horizontal plane defined by a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis and internally defining a first window that traverses it throughout a thickness thereof along a vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane; and a suspension structure, arranged within the window for elastically coupling the inertial mass to a single anchorage element, which is fixed with respect to a substrate and arranged within the window, so that the inertial mass is suspended above the substrate and is able to carry out, by the inertial effect, a first sensing movement, a second sensing movement, and a third sensing movement in respective sensing directions parallel to the first, second, and third horizontal axes following upon detection of a respective acceleration component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Alessandro TOCCHIO, Francesco RIZZINI
  • Patent number: 10809280
    Abstract: An inertial sensor for sensing an external acceleration includes: a first and a second proof mass; a first and a second capacitor formed between first and second fixed electrodes and the first proof mass; a third and a fourth capacitor formed between third and fourth fixed electrodes and the second proof mass; a driving assembly configured to cause an antiphase oscillation of the first and second proof masses; a biasing circuit configured to bias the first and third capacitors, thus generating first variation of the oscillation frequency in a first time interval, and to bias the second and fourth capacitors, thus generating first variation of the oscillation frequency in a second time interval; a sensing assembly, configured to generate an differential output signal which is a function of a difference between a value of the oscillating frequency during the first time interval and a value of the oscillating frequency during the second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Tocchio, Francesco Rizzini, Carlo Valzasina, Giacomo Langfelder, Cristiano Rocco Marra
  • Patent number: 10768199
    Abstract: A MEMS tri-axial accelerometer is provided with a sensing structure having: a single inertial mass, with a main extension in a horizontal plane defined by a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis and internally defining a first window that traverses it throughout a thickness thereof along a vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane; and a suspension structure, arranged within the window for elastically coupling the inertial mass to a single anchorage element, which is fixed with respect to a substrate and arranged within the window, so that the inertial mass is suspended above the substrate and is able to carry out, by the inertial effect, a first sensing movement, a second sensing movement, and a third sensing movement in respective sensing directions parallel to the first, second, and third horizontal axes following upon detection of a respective acceleration component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Tocchio, Francesco Rizzini
  • Patent number: 10771042
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device having a mobile structure including mobile arms formed from a composite material and having a fixed structure including fixed arms capacitively coupled to the mobile arms. The composite material includes core regions of insulating material and a silicon coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroeletronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Lorenzo Corso, Alessandro Tocchio, Carlo Valzasina
  • Patent number: 10743982
    Abstract: An implantable biodegradable medical device arranged for breast reconstruction and/or augmentation, made of an interconnected porous structured polymeric matrix and belonging to the family of poly(urea urethane)s. The porous structured polymeric matrix of the medical device comprises a plurality of three dimensional channels, drilled by means of heated tools, three-dimensionally propagating through the polymeric matrix ad interconnected with the porous structure of the polymeric matrix. The polymeric matrix comprises high to-medium molecular weight hydrophobic biodegradable amorphous soft segments polyols, having average molecular weight comprised between 20?000 and 60?000 Da,—hydrophilic polyalkoxide polyols, of average molecular weight comprised between 2?000 and 15?000 Da, and low molecular weight polyisocyanates and polyols, whose average molecular weights range between 15 and 200 Da.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TENSIVE SRL
    Inventors: Irini Gerges, Federico Martello, Margherita Tamplenizza, Alessandro Tocchio
  • Publication number: 20200216305
    Abstract: A MEMS device with teeter-totter structure includes a mobile mass having an area in a plane and a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the plane. The mobile mass is tiltable about a rotation axis extending parallel to the plane and formed by a first and by a second half-masses arranged on opposite sides of the rotation axis. The first and the second masses have a first and a second centroid, respectively, arranged at a first and a second distance b1, b2, respectively, from the rotation axis. First through openings are formed in the first half-mass and, together with the first half-mass, have a first total perimeter p1 in the plane. Second through openings are formed in the second half-mass and, together with the second half-mass, have a second total perimeter p2 in the plane, where the first and the second perimeters p1, p2 satisfy the equation: p1×b1=p2×b2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Francesco RIZZINI, Alessandro TOCCHIO
  • Patent number: 10705158
    Abstract: A MEMS triaxial magnetic sensor device includes a sensing structure having: a substrate; an outer frame, which internally defines a window and is elastically coupled to first anchorages fixed with respect to the substrate by first elastic elements; a mobile structure arranged in the window, suspended above the substrate, which is elastically coupled to the outer frame by second elastic elements and carries a conductive path for flow of an electric current; and an elastic arrangement operatively coupled to the mobile structure. The mobile structure performs, due to the first and second elastic elements and the arrangement of elastic elements, first, second, and third sensing movements in response to Lorentz forces from first, second, and third magnetic-field components, respectively. The first, second, and third sensing movements are distinct and decoupled from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giacomo Laghi, Giacomo Langfelder, Gabriele Gattere, Alessandro Tocchio, Dario Paci
  • Publication number: 20200174035
    Abstract: A MEMS accelerometric sensor includes a bearing structure and a suspended region that is made of semiconductor material, mobile with respect to the bearing structure. At least one modulation electrode is fixed to the bearing structure and is biased with an electrical modulation signal including at least one periodic component having a first frequency. At least one variable capacitor is formed by the suspended region and by the modulation electrode in such a way that the suspended region is subjected to an electrostatic force that depends upon the electrical modulation signal. A sensing assembly generates, when the accelerometric sensor is subjected to an acceleration, an electrical sensing signal indicating the position of the suspended region with respect to the bearing structure and includes a frequency-modulated component that is a function of the acceleration and of the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Alessandro TOCCHIO, Gabriele GATTERE
  • Publication number: 20200132711
    Abstract: The accelerometric sensor has a suspended region, mobile with respect to a supporting structure, and a sensing assembly coupled to the suspended region and configured to detect a movement of the suspended region with respect to the supporting structure. The suspended region has a geometry variable between at least two configurations associated with respective centroids, different from each other. The suspended region is formed by a first region rotatably anchored to the supporting structure and by a second region coupled to the first region through elastic connection elements configured to allow a relative movement of the second region with respect to the first region. A driving assembly is coupled to the second region so as to control the relative movement of the latter with respect to the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Alessandro TOCCHIO, Francesco RIZZINI, Carlo VALZASINA, Giacomo LANGFELDER
  • Publication number: 20200096339
    Abstract: A frequency modulation MEMS triaxial gyroscope, having two mobile masses; a first and a second driving body coupled to the mobile masses through elastic elements rigid in a first direction and compliant in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a third and a fourth driving body coupled to the mobile masses through elastic elements rigid in the second direction and compliant in the first direction. A first and a second driving element are coupled to the first and second driving bodies for causing the mobile masses to translate in the first direction in phase opposition. A third and a fourth driving element are coupled to the third and fourth driving bodies for causing the mobile masses to translate in the second direction and in phase opposition. An out-of-plane driving element is coupled to the first and second mobile masses for causing a translation in a third direction, in phase opposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Alessandro TOCCHIO, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI, Claudia COMI, Valentina ZEGA
  • Patent number: 10591507
    Abstract: A MEMS accelerometric sensor includes a bearing structure and a suspended region that is made of semiconductor material, mobile with respect to the bearing structure. At least one modulation electrode is fixed to the bearing structure and is biased with an electrical modulation signal including at least one periodic component having a first frequency. At least one variable capacitor is formed by the suspended region and by the modulation electrode in such a way that the suspended region is subjected to an electrostatic force that depends upon the electrical modulation signal. A sensing assembly generates, when the accelerometric sensor is subjected to an acceleration, an electrical sensing signal indicating the position of the suspended region with respect to the bearing structure and includes a frequency-modulated component that is a function of the acceleration and of the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro Tocchio, Gabriele Gattere
  • Patent number: 10591505
    Abstract: The accelerometric sensor has a suspended region, mobile with respect to a supporting structure, and a sensing assembly coupled to the suspended region and configured to detect a movement of the suspended region with respect to the supporting structure. The suspended region has a geometry variable between at least two configurations associated with respective centroids, different from each other. The suspended region is formed by a first region rotatably anchored to the supporting structure and by a second region coupled to the first region through elastic connection elements configured to allow a relative movement of the second region with respect to the first region. A driving assembly is coupled to the second region so as to control the relative movement of the latter with respect to the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro Tocchio, Francesco Rizzini, Carlo Valzasina, Giacomo Langfelder