Patents by Inventor Enrico CASTRO

Enrico CASTRO 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: 20250189382
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of detecting an excess temperature of a conductor. An example method includes measuring the level of current flowing through the conductor. The level is a first value during a first time period and a second value during a second time period. The first value being larger than a current limit and the second value being lower than the current limit. During the first period, estimating a first difference between the first value and the current limit, and incrementing a counter with a first step size selected as a function of the first difference. During the second period, estimating a second difference between the second value and the current limit, and decrementing the counter with a second step size selected as a function of the second difference. Generating an alert signal if a count value of the counter exceeds a count limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventors: Jochen BARTHEL, Romeo LETOR, Vincenzo RANDAZZO, Enrico CASTRO, Calogero Andrea TRECARICHI, Alberto MARZO
  • Publication number: 20250174981
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a plurality of channels that drive one or more electrical loads and a control module that generates control signals to operate at least one channel in the plurality of channels, an electronic fuse that monitors one or more operating parameter in a respective channel and detects anomalous conditions in that channel based on the parameter(s) monitored, and a parallel-mode block that defines one or more sets of channels including two or more channels configured to drive a same load. The control module receives from the parallel-mode block parallel-mode management control signals and operates the channels in the set of channels based on parallel-mode management control signals received by the parallel-mode block. The electronic fuse makes the channels in the set of channels non-conductive in response to an anomalous condition detected even in just one channel in the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Enrico CASTRO, Calogero Andrea TRECARICHI, Julia CASTELLAN, Philippe BIENVENU
  • Patent number: 11764773
    Abstract: Current absorption management for an electronic fuse coupled between an electrical supply source node and an electrical load node selectively controls a high current electronic switch and a low current electronic switch coupled in parallel between the electrical supply source node and the electrical load node. The high current and low current electronic switches are alternatively actuated: in a first mode where the high current electronic switch is turned on and the low current electronic switch is turned off, and in a second mode where the high current electronic switch is turned off and the low current electronic switch is turned on. Change to the second mode may be made in response to a standby state or a sensing of a lower current in the electrical load. Conversely, change to the first mode may be made in response to a sensing of a higher current in the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enrico Castro, Giovanni Susinna, Vincenzo Randazzo, Mirko Dondini, Calogero Andrea Trecarichi
  • Publication number: 20230187922
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to electronic fuse devices and systems. One such electronic fuse includes current sensing circuitry that senses a current in a conductor coupled between a power supply and a load, and generates a current sensing signal indicative of the sensed current. I2t circuitry receives the current sensing signal and determines whether the sensed current exceeds an I2t curve of the conductor. The electronic fuse further includes at least one of external MOSFET temperature sensing circuitry that senses a temperature of an external MOSFET coupled to the conductor, low current bypass circuitry that supplies a reduced current to the load in a low power consumption mode during which the external MOSFET is in a non-conductive state, or desaturation sensing circuitry that senses a drain-source voltage of the external MOSFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: Vincenzo RANDAZZO, Alberto MARZO, Giovanni SUSINNA, Vanni POLETTO, Antoine PAVLIN, CalogeroAndrea TRECARICHI, Mirko DONDINI, Roberto CRISAFULLI, Enrico CASTRO, Romeo LETOR
  • Publication number: 20220190816
    Abstract: Current absorption management for an electronic fuse coupled between an electrical supply source node and an electrical load node selectively controls a high current electronic switch and a low current electronic switch coupled in parallel between the electrical supply source node and the electrical load node. The high current and low current electronic switches are alternatively actuated: in a first mode where the high current electronic switch is turned on and the low current electronic switch is turned off, and in a second mode where the high current electronic switch is turned off and the low current electronic switch is turned on. Change to the second mode may be made in response to a standby state or a sensing of a lower current in the electrical load. Conversely, change to the first mode may be made in response to a sensing of a higher current in the electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enrico CASTRO, Giovanni SUSINNA, Vincenzo RANDAZZO, Mirko DONDINI, Calogero Andrea TRECARICHI