Patents by Inventor Barbara Simoni

Barbara Simoni 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: 8820161
    Abstract: A MEMS detection structure is provided with: a substrate having a top surface, on which a first fixed-electrode arrangement is set; a sensing mass, extending in a plane and suspended above the substrate and above the first fixed-electrode arrangement at a separation distance; and connection elastic elements that support the sensing mass so that it is free to rotate out of the plane about an axis of rotation, modifying the separation distance, as a function of a quantity to be detected along an axis orthogonal to the plane. The MEMS detection structure also includes: a coupling mass, suspended above the substrate and connected to the sensing mass via the connection elastic elements; and an anchoring arrangement, which anchors the coupling mass to the substrate with a first point of constraint, set at a distance from the axis of rotation and in a position corresponding to the first fixed-electrode arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luca Coronato, Barbara Simoni
  • Publication number: 20140230546
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes: a body accommodating a microelectromechanical structure; and a cap bonded to the body and electrically coupled to the microelectromechanical structure through conductive bonding regions. The cap including a selection module, which has first selection terminals coupled to the microelectromechanical structure, second selection terminals, and at least one control terminal, and which can be controlled through the control terminal to couple the second selection terminals to respective first selection terminals according, selectively, to one of a plurality of coupling configurations corresponding to respective operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Giorgio Allegato, Barbara Simoni, Carlo Valzasina, Lorenzo Corso
  • Patent number: 8671756
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical detection structure for a MEMS resonant biaxial accelerometer is provided with: an inertial mass, anchored to a substrate by elastic elements to be suspended above the substrate. The elastic elements enabling inertial movements of the inertial mass along a first axis of detection and a second axis of detection that belong to a plane of main extension of said inertial mass, in response to respective linear external accelerations. At least one first resonant element and one second resonant element have a respective longitudinal extension, respectively along the first axis of detection and the second axis of detection, and are mechanically coupled to the inertial mass through a respective one of the elastic elements to undergo a respective axial stress when the inertial mass moves respectively along the first axis of detection and the second axis of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudia Comi, Alberto Corigliano, Barbara Simoni
  • Patent number: 8661900
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Angelo Antonio Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Barbara Simoni
  • Publication number: 20130239686
    Abstract: A MEMS detection structure is provided with: a substrate having a top surface, on which a first fixed-electrode arrangement is set; a sensing mass, extending in a plane and suspended above the substrate and above the first fixed-electrode arrangement at a separation distance; and connection elastic elements that support the sensing mass so that it is free to rotate out of the plane about an axis of rotation, modifying the separation distance, as a function of a quantity to be detected along an axis orthogonal to the plane. The MEMS detection structure also includes: a coupling mass, suspended above the substrate and connected to the sensing mass via the connection elastic elements; and an anchoring arrangement, which anchors the coupling mass to the substrate with a first point of constraint, set at a distance from the axis of rotation and in a position corresponding to the first fixed-electrode arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luca Coronato, Barbara Simoni
  • Patent number: 8516889
    Abstract: A MEMS resonant accelerometer is disclosed, having: a proof mass coupled to a first anchoring region via a first elastic element so as to be free to move along a sensing axis in response to an external acceleration; and a first resonant element mechanically coupled to the proof mass through the first elastic element so as to be subject to a first axial stress when the proof mass moves along the sensing axis and thus to a first variation of a resonant frequency. The MEMS resonant accelerometer is further provided with a second resonant element mechanically coupled to the proof mass through a second elastic element so as to be subject to a second axial stress when the proof mass moves along the sensing axis, substantially opposite to the first axial stress, and thus to a second variation of a resonant frequency, opposite to the first variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Barbara Simoni, Claudia Comi, Alberto Corigliano
  • Publication number: 20130125649
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes: a supporting structure; two sensing masses, movable with respect to the supporting structure according to a first axis and a respective second axis; a driving device for maintaining the sensing masses in oscillation along the first axis in phase opposition; sensing units for supplying sensing signals indicative of displacements respectively of the sensing masses according to the respective second axis; processing components for combining the sensing signals so as to: in a first sensing mode, amplify effects on the sensing signals of concordant displacements and attenuate effects of discordant displacements of the sensing masses; and in a second sensing mode, amplify effects on the sensing signals of discordant displacements and attenuate effects of concordant displacements of the sensing masses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Barbara Simoni, Carlo Valzasina
  • Patent number: 8434364
    Abstract: A MEMS detection structure is provided with: a substrate having a top surface, on which a first fixed-electrode arrangement is set; a sensing mass, extending in a plane and suspended above the substrate and above the first fixed-electrode arrangement at a separation distance; and connection elastic elements that support the sensing mass so that it is free to rotate out of the plane about an axis of rotation, modifying the separation distance, as a function of a quantity to be detected along an axis orthogonal to the plane. The MEMS detection structure also includes: a coupling mass, suspended above the substrate and connected to the sensing mass via the connection elastic elements; and an anchoring arrangement, which anchors the coupling mass to the substrate with a first point of constraint, set at a distance from the axis of rotation and in a position corresponding to the first fixed-electrode arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luca Coronato, Barbara Simoni
  • Publication number: 20120132003
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical detection structure for a MEMS resonant biaxial accelerometer is provided with: an inertial mass, anchored to a substrate by elastic elements to be suspended above the substrate. The elastic elements enabling inertial movements of the inertial mass along a first axis of detection and a second axis of detection that belong to a plane of main extension of said inertial mass, in response to respective linear external accelerations. At least one first resonant element and one second resonant element have a respective longitudinal extension, respectively along the first axis of detection and the second axis of detection, and are mechanically coupled to the inertial mass through a respective one of the elastic elements to undergo a respective axial stress when the inertial mass moves respectively along the first axis of detection and the second axis of detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Politecnico Di Milano
    Inventors: Claudia Comi, Alberto Corigliano, Barbara Simoni
  • Patent number: 8124895
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device has a mobile mass that undergoes a movement, in particular a spurious movement, in a first direction in response to an external event; the device moreover has a stopper structure configured so as to stop said spurious movement. In particular, a stopper element is fixedly coupled to the mobile mass and is configured so as to abut against a stopper mass in response to the spurious movement, thereby stopping it. In detail, the stopper element is arranged on the opposite side of the stopper mass with respect to a direction of the spurious movement, protrudes from the space occupied by the mobile mass and extends in the space occupied by the stopper mass, in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Mario Francesco Cortese, Viola Fulvio, Barbara Simoni, Andrea Rusconi Clerici Beltrami
  • Publication number: 20120000287
    Abstract: A micromechanical structure for a MEMS three-axis capacitive accelerometer is provided with: a substrate; a single inertial mass having a main extension in a plane and arranged suspended above the substrate; and a frame element, elastically coupled to the inertial mass by coupling elastic elements and to anchorages, which are fixed with respect to the substrate by anchorage elastic elements. The coupling elastic elements and the anchorage elastic elements are configured so as to enable a first inertial movement of the inertial mass in response to a first external acceleration acting in a direction lying in the plane and also a second inertial movement of the inertial mass in response to a second external acceleration acting in a direction transverse to the plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Attilio Frangi, Biagio De Masi, Barbara Simoni
  • Publication number: 20110056294
    Abstract: A MEMS resonant accelerometer is disclosed, having: a proof mass coupled to a first anchoring region via a first elastic element so as to be free to move along a sensing axis in response to an external acceleration; and a first resonant element mechanically coupled to the proof mass through the first elastic element so as to be subject to a first axial stress when the proof mass moves along the sensing axis and thus to a first variation of a resonant frequency. The MEMS resonant accelerometer is further provided with a second resonant element mechanically coupled to the proof mass through a second elastic element so as to be subject to a second axial stress when the proof mass moves along the sensing axis, substantially opposite to the first axial stress, and thus to a second variation of a resonant frequency, opposite to the first variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.I., Politecnico di Milano
    Inventors: Barbara Simoni, Claudia Comi, Alberto Corigliano
  • Publication number: 20110023604
    Abstract: A MEMS detection structure is provided with: a substrate having a top surface, on which a first fixed-electrode arrangement is set; a sensing mass, extending in a plane and suspended above the substrate and above the first fixed-electrode arrangement at a separation distance; and connection elastic elements that support the sensing mass so that it is free to rotate out of the plane about an axis of rotation, modifying the separation distance, as a function of a quantity to be detected along an axis orthogonal to the plane. The MEMS detection structure also includes: a coupling mass, suspended above the substrate and connected to the sensing mass via the connection elastic elements; and an anchoring arrangement, which anchors the coupling mass to the substrate with a first point of constraint, set at a distance from the axis of rotation and in a position corresponding to the first fixed-electrode arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luca Coronato, Barbara Simoni
  • Publication number: 20090194397
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device has a mobile mass that undergoes a movement, in particular a spurious movement, in a first direction in response to an external event; the device moreover has a stopper structure configured so as to stop said spurious movement. In particular, a stopper element is fixedly coupled to the mobile mass and is configured so as to abut against a stopper mass in response to the spurious movement, thereby stopping it. In detail, the stopper element is arranged on the opposite side of the stopper mass with respect to a direction of the spurious movement, protrudes from the space occupied by the mobile mass and extends in the space occupied by the stopper mass, in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Angelo Merassi, Mario Francesco Cortese, Fultio Viola, Barbara Simoni, Andrea Rusconi Clerici Beltrami
  • Publication number: 20080173959
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Angelo Antonio Merassi, Sarah Zerbini, Barbara Simoni