Patents by Inventor Andrea Barbieri
Andrea Barbieri 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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Patent number: 12066621Abstract: A MEMS device includes a semiconductor body with a cavity and forming an anchor portion, a tiltable structure elastically suspended over the cavity, first and second support arms to support the tiltable structure, and first and second piezoelectric actuation structures biasable to deform mechanically, generating a rotation of the tiltable structure around a rotation axis. The piezoelectric actuation structures carry first and second piezoelectric displacement sensors. When the tiltable structure rotates around the rotation axis, the displacement sensors are subject to respective mechanical deformations and generate respective sensing signals in phase opposition to each other, indicative of the rotation of the tiltable structure. The sensing signals are configured to be acquired in a differential manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: STMicroelectron S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto Carminati, Nicolo' Boni, Andrea Barbieri, Marco Zamprogno, Luca Molinari
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Patent number: 12015346Abstract: A DC-DC boost converter includes an inductor coupled between an input voltage and an input node, a diode coupled between the input node and an output node, and an output capacitor coupled between the output node and ground such that an output voltage is formed across the output capacitor. A switch selectively couples the input node to ground in response to a drive signal. Control loop circuitry includes an error amplifier to generate an analog error voltage based upon a comparison of a feedback voltage to a reference voltage, the feedback voltage being indicative of the output voltage, a quantizer to quantize the analog error voltage to produce a digital error signal, and a drive voltage generation circuit to generate the drive signal as having a duty cycle based upon the digital error signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea Barbieri, Aldo Vidoni, Marco Zamprogno
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Publication number: 20240115066Abstract: A cooking adjustment system for a cooking appliance includes a body that defines a cooking cavity. A steam generator system is coupled to the body. The steam generator system is configured to inject steam into the cooking cavity. An air temperature sensor is disposed within the cooking cavity and configured to sense a dry bulb temperature. A food probe has multiple food temperature sensors. At least one of the food temperature sensors is configured to sense a surface temperature of a food item. A controller is communicatively coupled to the steam generator system, the air temperature sensor, and the food probe. The controller is configured to determine a wet bulb temperature utilizing the surface temperature of the food. The controller is configured to adjust relative humidity within the cooking cavity in response to at least one of the wet bulb temperature and the dry bulb temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Andrea Barbieri, Riccardo Loner
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Patent number: 11882956Abstract: A cooking adjustment system for a cooking appliance includes a body that defines a cooking cavity. A steam generator system is coupled to the body. The steam generator system is configured to inject steam into the cooking cavity. An air temperature sensor is disposed within the cooking cavity and configured to sense a dry bulb temperature. A food probe has multiple food temperature sensors. At least one of the food temperature sensors is configured to sense a surface temperature of a food item. A controller is communicatively coupled to the steam generator system, the air temperature sensor, and the food probe. The controller is configured to determine a wet bulb temperature utilizing the surface temperature of the food. The controller is configured to adjust relative humidity within the cooking cavity in response to at least one of the wet bulb temperature and the dry bulb temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Andrea Barbieri, Riccardo Loner
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Publication number: 20230406560Abstract: A packaging apparatus comprising a tube forming and sealing device, a filling device, a product delivery device configured to receive a pourable product from an external product supply and to selectively feed the pourable product along a flow path to and into the filling device and a package forming unit configured to at least form and transversally seal the tube for forming packages filled with the pourable product. The product delivery device comprises a main inlet valve having a first inlet and a first outlet and a control valve arranged downstream from the main inlet valve and upstream from the filing device along the flow path and having a second inlet and a second outlet. The main inlet valve comprises a first valve element controllable into at least a closing position, an opening position and one or more intermediate positions. Additionally or alternatively, the control valve comprises a second valve element being controllable into a closed position and an open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Gianni FANGAREZZI, Paolo SANIBONDI, Nicola GARUTI, Andrea BARBIERI, Yutaka KANEKO, Filippo FERRARINI
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Patent number: 11841497Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for a projection system, including a first subtractor receiving an input drive signal and a feedback signal and generating a first difference signal therefrom, the feedback signal being indicative of position of a quasi static micromirror of the projection system. A type-2 compensator receives the first difference signal and generates therefrom a first output signal. A derivative based controller receives the feedback signal and generates therefrom a second output signal. A second subtractor receives the first and second output signals and generates a second difference signal therefrom. The second difference signal serves to control a mirror driver of the projection system. A higher order resonance equalization circuit receives a pre-output signal from an analog front end of the projection system that is indicative of position of the quasi static micromirror, and generates the feedback signal therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2020Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignees: Politecnico Di Milano, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Paolo Frigerio, Giacomo Langfelder, Luca Molinari, Giuseppe Maiocchi, Andrea Barbieri
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Publication number: 20230216405Abstract: A DC-DC boost converter includes an inductor coupled between an input voltage and an input node, a diode coupled between the input node and an output node, and an output capacitor coupled between the output node and ground such that an output voltage is formed across the output capacitor. A switch selectively couples the input node to ground in response to a drive signal. Control loop circuitry includes an error amplifier to generate an analog error voltage based upon a comparison of a feedback voltage to a reference voltage, the feedback voltage being indicative of the output voltage, a quantizer to quantize the analog error voltage to produce a digital error signal, and a drive voltage generation circuit to generate the drive signal as having a duty cycle based upon the digital error signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea BARBIERI, Aldo VIDONI, Marco ZAMPROGNO
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Publication number: 20230208294Abstract: A DC-DC boost converter includes an inductor coupled between an input voltage and an input node, a first path coupled between the input node and a first output node at which a first output voltage is generated, and a second path coupled between the input node and a second output node at which a second output voltage is generated. The DC-DC boost converter operates in a first operating phase where the first path boosts the first output voltage and where the second path is kept from boosting the second output voltage by the second path being coupled to the first path, and operates in a second operating phase where the second path boosts the second output voltage and where the first path is kept from boosting the first output voltage by the second path not being coupled to the first path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Aldo VIDONI, Andrea BARBIERI, Franco CONSIGLIERI
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Publication number: 20220378240Abstract: A cooking adjustment system for a cooking appliance includes a body that defines a cooking cavity. A steam generator system is coupled to the body. The steam generator system is configured to inject steam into the cooking cavity. An air temperature sensor is disposed within the cooking cavity and configured to sense a dry bulb temperature. A food probe has multiple food temperature sensors. At least one of the food temperature sensors is configured to sense a surface temperature of a food item. A controller is communicatively coupled to the steam generator system, the air temperature sensor, and the food probe. The controller is configured to determine a wet bulb temperature utilizing the surface temperature of the food. The controller is configured to adjust relative humidity within the cooking cavity in response to at least one of the wet bulb temperature and the dry bulb temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Andrea Barbieri, Riccardo Loner
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Patent number: 11484910Abstract: A negative impedance circuit includes: a differential circuit stage; a positive feedback path from an output of the differential circuit stage to a first input of the differential circuit stage; and a negative feedback path from the output of the differential circuit stage to a second input of the differential circuit stage. The negative feedback path includes a first transistor, and a unitary gain path from the output of the differential circuit stage to the second input of the differential circuit stage, the unitary gain path coupled to ground via a reference impedance. The positive feedback path includes a second transistor. The first and second transistors are coupled in a current mirror arrangement and have respective control electrodes configured to be driven by the output of the differential circuit stage, where the negative impedance circuit causes a negative impedance at the first input of the differential circuit stage.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea Barbieri, Aldo Vidoni
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Publication number: 20220334378Abstract: A MEMS device includes a semiconductor body with a cavity and forming an anchor portion, a tiltable structure elastically suspended over the cavity, first and second support arms to support the tiltable structure, and first and second piezoelectric actuation structures biasable to deform mechanically, generating a rotation of the tiltable structure around a rotation axis. The piezoelectric actuation structures carry first and second piezoelectric displacement sensors. When the tiltable structure rotates around the rotation axis, the displacement sensors are subject to respective mechanical deformations and generate respective sensing signals in phase opposition to each other, indicative of the rotation of the tiltable structure. The sensing signals are configured to be acquired in a differential manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto CARMINATI, Nicolo' BONI, Andrea BARBIERI, Marco ZAMPROGNO, Luca MOLINARI
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Patent number: 11422044Abstract: A bridge driver circuit applies a bias voltage across first and second input nodes of a resistive bridge circuit configured to measure a physical property such as pressure or movement. A sensing circuit senses drive current, bias current and common mode current for the bridge driver and sums the sensed currents to generate a source current. The source current is processed to determine a normalized resistance and temperature of the resistive bridge circuit and from which a temperature dependent sensitivity of the resistive bridge circuit is determined. A voltage output at first and second output nodes of the resistive bridge circuit is processed to determine a value of the physical property. This processing further involves applying a temperature correction in response to the determined temperature dependent sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Andrea Barbieri, Pasquale Flora, Raffaele Enrico Furceri
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Publication number: 20220171180Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for a projection system, including a first subtractor receiving an input drive signal and a feedback signal and generating a first difference signal therefrom, the feedback signal being indicative of position of a quasi static micromirror of the projection system. A type-2 compensator receives the first difference signal and generates therefrom a first output signal. A derivative based controller receives the feedback signal and generates therefrom a second output signal. A second subtractor receives the first and second output signals and generates a second difference signal therefrom. The second difference signal serves to control a mirror driver of the projection system. A higher order resonance equalization circuit receives a pre-output signal from an analog front end of the projection system that is indicative of position of the quasi static micromirror, and generates the feedback signal therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Applicants: Politecnico Di Milano, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Paolo FRIGERIO, Giacomo LANGFELDER, Luca MOLINARI, Giuseppe MAIOCCHI, Andrea BARBIERI
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Publication number: 20210364375Abstract: A bridge driver circuit applies a bias voltage across first and second input nodes of a resistive bridge circuit configured to measure a physical property such as pressure or movement. A sensing circuit senses a bridge current that flows through the resistive bridge circuit in response to the applied bias voltage. A temperature dependent sensitivity of the resistive bridge circuit is determined by processing the sensed bridge current. A voltage output at first and second output nodes of the resistive bridge circuit is processed to determine a value of the physical property. This processing further involves applying a temperature correction in response to the determined temperature dependent sensitivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Marco ZAMPROGNO, Andrea BARBIERI, Pasquale FLORA, Raffaele Enrico FURCERI
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Publication number: 20200230648Abstract: A negative impedance circuit includes: a differential circuit stage; a positive feedback path from an output of the differential circuit stage to a first input of the differential circuit stage; and a negative feedback path from the output of the differential circuit stage to a second input of the differential circuit stage. The negative feedback path includes a first transistor, and a unitary gain path from the output of the differential circuit stage to the second input of the differential circuit stage, the unitary gain path coupled to ground via a reference impedance. The positive feedback path includes a second transistor. The first and second transistors are coupled in a current mirror arrangement and have respective control electrodes configured to be driven by the output of the differential circuit stage, where the negative impedance circuit causes a negative impedance at the first input of the differential circuit stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Andrea Barbieri, Aldo Vidoni
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Patent number: 10301050Abstract: There is described a shutter for a valve for controlling an air flow; shutter is selectively rotatable about an axis and adapted to be housed inside a body of valve, and comprises a surface disposed about axis; surface comprises at least one first curved portion shaped eccentrically relative to axis so as to define, in use and together with body, at least one first passage for the air flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventors: Andrea Donati, Daniele Anzaldi, Andrea Barbieri, Daniele Apparuti, Robert Bartolini
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Patent number: 10243520Abstract: A fully balanced differential difference amplifier includes a first differential input stage that receives an input voltage and a second differential input stage that receives a common-mode voltage. A first resistive-degeneration group is coupled to the first differential input and a second resistive-degeneration group is coupled to the second differential input. A differential output stage generates an output voltage. A first switch is coupled in parallel to the first resistive-degeneration group and a second switch is coupled in parallel with the second resistive-degeneration group. The first and second switches are driven into the closed state when the voltage input assumes a first value such that said first input stage operates in the linear region, and are driven into the open state when the voltage input assumes a second value, higher than the first value, such that the first input stage operates in a non-linear region.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea Barbieri, Sergio Pernici
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Patent number: 10182292Abstract: An amplifier circuit, for a capacitive acoustic transducer defining a sensing capacitor that generates a sensing signal as a function of an acoustic signal, has a first input terminal and a second input terminal, which are coupled to the sensing capacitor and: a dummy capacitor, which has a capacitance corresponding to a capacitance at rest of the sensing capacitor and a first terminal connected to the first input terminal; a first amplifier, which is coupled at input to the second input terminal and defines a first differential output of the circuit; a second amplifier, which is coupled at input to a second terminal of the dummy capacitor and defines a second differential output of the circuit; and a feedback stage, which is coupled between the differential outputs and the first input terminal, for feeding back onto the first input terminal a feedback signal, which has an amplitude that is a function of the sensing signal and is in phase opposition with respect thereto.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2018Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Germano Nicollini, Andrea Barbieri
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Publication number: 20180139536Abstract: An amplifier circuit, for a capacitive acoustic transducer defining a sensing capacitor that generates a sensing signal as a function of an acoustic signal, has a first input terminal and a second input terminal, which are coupled to the sensing capacitor and: a dummy capacitor, which has a capacitance corresponding to a capacitance at rest of the sensing capacitor and a first terminal connected to the first input terminal; a first amplifier, which is coupled at input to the second input terminal and defines a first differential output of the circuit; a second amplifier, which is coupled at input to a second terminal of the dummy capacitor and defines a second differential output of the circuit; and a feedback stage, which is coupled between the differential outputs and the first input terminal, for feeding back onto the first input terminal a feedback signal, which has an amplitude that is a function of the sensing signal and is in phase opposition with respect thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2018Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Germano Nicollini, Andrea Barbieri
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Patent number: 9961451Abstract: A MEMS acoustic transducer has: a detection structure, which generates an electrical detection quantity as a function of a detected acoustic signal; and an electronic interface circuit, which is operatively coupled to the detection structure and generates an electrical output quantity as a function of the electrical detection quantity.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Germano Nicollini, Silvia Adorno, Andrea Barbieri, Federica Barbieri, Sebastiano Conti, Edoardo Marino, Sergio Pernici