Patents by Inventor Daniele Casella

Daniele Casella 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: 11035739
    Abstract: A method of sensing a temperature includes providing a voltage to reverse bias a PN junction of a junction diode. The PN junction has a junction capacitance. The method includes providing a reverse bias voltage change across the PN junction and detecting a value of the junction capacitance in response to the reverse bias voltage change. The value of the junction capacitance is a function of a temperature of the PN junction. An output signal is generated based on the detected junction capacitance, where the output signal indicates a temperature of an environment containing the junction diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno
  • Publication number: 20200333197
    Abstract: A method of sensing a temperature includes providing a voltage to reverse bias a PN junction of a junction diode. The PN junction has a junction capacitance. The method includes providing a reverse bias voltage change across the PN junction and detecting a value of the junction capacitance in response to the reverse bias voltage change. The value of the junction capacitance is a function of a temperature of the PN junction. An output signal is generated based on the detected junction capacitance, where the output signal indicates a temperature of an environment containing the junction diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno
  • Patent number: 10739212
    Abstract: A method of sensing a temperature includes providing a voltage to reverse bias a PN junction of a junction diode. The PN junction has a junction capacitance. The method includes providing a reverse bias voltage change across the PN junction and detecting a value of the junction capacitance in response to the reverse bias voltage change. The value of the junction capacitance is a function of a temperature of the PN junction. An output signal is generated based on the detected junction capacitance, where the output signal indicates a temperature of an environment containing the junction diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno
  • Publication number: 20190250047
    Abstract: A method of sensing a temperature includes providing a voltage to reverse bias a PN junction of a junction diode. The PN junction has a junction capacitance. The method includes providing a reverse bias voltage change across the PN junction and detecting a value of the junction capacitance in response to the reverse bias voltage change. The value of the junction capacitance is a function of a temperature of the PN junction. An output signal is generated based on the detected junction capacitance, where the output signal indicates a temperature of an environment containing the junction diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno
  • Patent number: 10317293
    Abstract: A sensing element integrated in a semiconductor material chip has a sensing diode of a junction type configured to be reverse biased so that its junction capacitance is sensitive to the local temperature. A reading stage is coupled to the sensing element for detecting variations of the junction capacitance of the sensing diode and outputting a reading acquisition signal proportional to the local temperature of the sensing diode. The sensing diode has a cathode terminal coupled to a biasing node and an anode terminal coupled to a first input of the reading stage. The biasing node receives a voltage positive with respect to the first input of the reading stage for keeping the sensing diode reverse biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno
  • Patent number: 9540229
    Abstract: A packaged sensor assembly includes: a packaging structure, having at least one opening; a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor, which are housed inside the packaging structure and communicate fluidically with the outside through the opening, and a control circuit, operatively coupled to the humidity sensor and to the pressure sensor; wherein the humidity sensor and the control circuit are integrated in a first chip, and the pressure sensor is integrated in a second chip distinct from the first chip and bonded to the first chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Bruno, Sebastiano Conti, Mario Chiricosta, Michele Vaiana, Calogero Marco Ippolito, Mario Maiore, Daniele Casella
  • Publication number: 20160347606
    Abstract: A packaged sensor assembly includes: a packaging structure, having at least one opening; a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor, which are housed inside the packaging structure and communicate fluidically with the outside through the opening, and a control circuit, operatively coupled to the humidity sensor and to the pressure sensor; wherein the humidity sensor and the control circuit are integrated in a first chip, and the pressure sensor is integrated in a second chip distinct from the first chip and bonded to the first chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Giuseppe BRUNO, Sebastiano CONTI, Mario CHIRICOSTA, Michele VAIANA, Calogero Marco IPPOLITO, Mario MAIORE, Daniele CASELLA
  • Publication number: 20160290875
    Abstract: A sensing element integrated in a semiconductor material chip has a sensing diode of a junction type configured to be reverse biased so that its junction capacitance is sensitive to the local temperature. A reading stage is coupled to the sensing element for detecting variations of the junction capacitance of the sensing diode and outputting a reading acquisition signal proportional to the local temperature of the sensing diode. The sensing diode has a cathode terminal coupled to a biasing node and an anode terminal coupled to a first input of the reading stage. The biasing node receives a voltage positive with respect to the first input of the reading stage for keeping the sensing diode reverse biased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno
  • Patent number: 9234859
    Abstract: An integrated capacitive-type humidity sensor formed in a semiconductor chip integrating a sensing capacitor and a reference capacitor. Each of the sensing and reference capacitors have at least a first electrode and at least a second electrode, the first and second electrodes of each of the sensing and reference capacitors being arranged at distance and mutually insulated. A hygroscopic layer extends on the sensing and reference capacitors and a conductive shielding region extends on the reference capacitor but not on the sensing capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno, Rosario Cariola, Benoit Gautheron
  • Publication number: 20140291778
    Abstract: An integrated capacitive-type humidity sensor formed in a semiconductor chip integrating a sensing capacitor and a reference capacitor. Each of the sensing and reference capacitors have at least a first electrode and at least a second electrode, the first and second electrodes of each of the sensing and reference capacitors being arranged at distance and mutually insulated. A hygroscopic layer extends on the sensing and reference capacitors and a conductive shielding region extends on the reference capacitor but not on the sensing capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Vaiana, Daniele Casella, Giuseppe Bruno, Rosario Cariola, Benoit Gautheron