Patents by Inventor Enrico Chiesa

Enrico Chiesa 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: 11002586
    Abstract: A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: a detection part that includes an array of capacitive elements, the array of capacitive elements comprising at least one set of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes being set at a distance from one another according to a level-detection axis, the detection part including at least one insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes with respect to the medium; and a control circuit having a plurality of first inputs, electrically connected to which are the electrodes. The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold. The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Rondano, Mauro Zorzetto, Enrico Chiesa
  • Patent number: 10578477
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (J1-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, each set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Rondano, Enrico Chiesa, Mauro Zorzetto, Domenico Cantarelli
  • Patent number: 10533887
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (Ji-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (Ji-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (Ji-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Rondano, Enrico Chiesa, Mauro Zorzetto, Domenico Cantarelli
  • Patent number: 10422681
    Abstract: A level sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a vessel comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated with the vessel (1), comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), spaced apart from each other along an axis of detection (X), an insulation layer (16) for electrically insulating the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the vessel (1), a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a group of electrodes connected in common to each other, the single electrode or the group of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller (24) is prearranged for discriminating a value of electrical capacitance associated with each electrode (J1-Jn) to deduce the level of the medium present in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ELTEK S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Rondano, Enrico Chiesa, Mauro Zorzetto, Domenico Cantarelli
  • Publication number: 20190186978
    Abstract: A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: a detection part that includes an array of capacitive elements, the array of capacitive elements comprising at least one set of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes being set at a distance from one another according to a level-detection axis, the detection part including at least one insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes with respect to the medium; and a control circuit having a plurality of first inputs, electrically connected to which are the electrodes. The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold. The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Matteo RONDANO, Mauro ZORZETTO, Enrico CHIESA
  • Publication number: 20170299416
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (J1-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, each set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Matteo RONDANO, Enrico CHIESA, Mauro ZORZETTO, Domenico CANTARELLI
  • Publication number: 20170261361
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (Ji-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (Ji-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (Ji-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Matteo RONDANO, Enrico CHIESA, Mauro ZORZETTO, Domenico CANTARELLI
  • Publication number: 20170191861
    Abstract: A level sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a vessel comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated with the vessel (1), comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), spaced apart from each other along an axis of detection (X), an insulation layer (16) for electrically insulating the electrodes (Ji-L) with respect to the inside of the vessel (1), a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a group of electrodes connected in common to each other, the single electrode or the group of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller (24) is prearranged for discriminating a value of electrical capacitance associated with each electrode (J1-Jn) to deduce the level of the medium present in the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Matteo RONDANO, Enrico CHIESA, Mauro ZORZETTO, Domenico CANTARELLI
  • Patent number: 9189085
    Abstract: A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, a click-event detection module coupled to the key to detect actuation thereof on first, second, and third detection axes via an inertial sensing circuit elastically coupled to a casing with a board, the inertial-sensor circuit structured to be carried on the board so as to oscillate and to rotate about the second detection axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pedrazzini, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Patent number: 8284162
    Abstract: A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, a click-event detection module coupled to the key to detect actuation thereof on first, second, and third detection axes via an inertial sensing circuit elastically coupled to a casing with a board, the inertial-sensor circuit structured to be carried on the board so as to oscillate and to rotate about the second detection axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pedrazzini, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Publication number: 20120237402
    Abstract: A detection device for internal combustion engines exhaust gases post-treatment systems has a casing (2, 3) housing a circuit arrangement (21, 31) including humidity sensor means (32), for measuring the humidity of the gas. The circuit arrangement further comprises temperature sensor means (33) and pressure sensor means (22), for detecting a gas temperature value and a gas pressure value, respectively. The gas temperature value can be used for compensating the humidity value obtained through the humidity sensor means (32) and the pressure value can be used for deducing the clogging degree of a filter of the post-treatment system. Preferably the pressure sensor means (22) are housed in a first chamber (8) of the casing (2-3) while the humidity sensor means (32) and the temperature sensor means (33) are housed in a second chamber (10b) of the casing (2, 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Domenico Cantarelli, Enrico Chiesa, Paolo Colombo
  • Publication number: 20110260974
    Abstract: A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, a click-event detection module coupled to the key to detect actuation thereof on first, second, and third detection axes via an inertial sensing circuit elastically coupled to a casing with a board, the inertial-sensor circuit structured to be carried on the board so as to oscillate and to rotate about the second detection axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pedrazzini, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Patent number: 7973767
    Abstract: A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, and a click-event detection module coupled to the key for detecting actuation thereof. The click-event detection module is provided with an inertial sensor for detecting mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pedrazzini, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Patent number: 7783449
    Abstract: A digital high-pass filter has an input, an output, and a subtractor stage, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the subtractor stage is connected to the input of the digital high-pass filter and the output terminal is connected to the output of the digital high-pass filter. A recursive circuit branch is connected between the output of the digital high-pass filter and the second input terminal of the subtractor stage. Within the recursive circuit branch are cascaded an accumulation stage, constituted by an integrator circuit, and a divider stage. The cutoff frequency of the digital high-pass filter is variable according to a dividing factor of the divider stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Tronconi, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Patent number: 7672806
    Abstract: In a displacement detection device, an acceleration sensor generates at least a first acceleration signal relating to an axis of detection, and a displacement detection circuit is connected to the acceleration sensor has a comparator stage for comparing the acceleration signal with a programmable acceleration threshold and generates a displacement-detection signal. A high-pass filter is arranged between the acceleration sensor and the comparator stage so as to reduce a DC component of the acceleration signal. The cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is modified according to the type of displacements that are to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele Tronconi, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Publication number: 20090294186
    Abstract: In a device for determining the position of a touch on a contact surface, a plurality of vibration sensors are configured to detect mechanical vibrations generated by the touch on the contact surface and to generate corresponding vibration signals, and a processing circuit is connected to the vibration sensors and is configured to determine the touch position via a time-of-flight algorithm, based on differences between times of detection of the mechanical vibrations by the vibration sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Luca Fontanella, Fabio Pasolini, Benedetto Vigna, Enrico Chiesa
  • Publication number: 20080079594
    Abstract: A digital high-pass filter has an input, an output, and a subtractor stage, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the subtractor stage is connected to the input of the digital high-pass filter and the output terminal is connected to the output of the digital high-pass filter. A recursive circuit branch is connected between the output of the digital high-pass filter and the second input terminal of the subtractor stage. Within the recursive circuit branch are cascaded an accumulation stage, constituted by an integrator circuit, and a divider stage. The cutoff frequency of the digital high-pass filter is variable according to a dividing factor of the divider stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Michele Tronconi, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Publication number: 20060214913
    Abstract: A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, and a click-event detection module coupled to the key for detecting actuation thereof. The click-event detection module is provided with an inertial sensor for detecting mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pedrazzini, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Publication number: 20060213267
    Abstract: In a displacement detection device, an acceleration sensor generates at least a first acceleration signal relating to an axis of detection, and a displacement detection circuit is connected to the acceleration sensor has a comparator stage for comparing the acceleration signal with a programmable acceleration threshold and generates a displacement-detection signal. A high-pass filter is arranged between the acceleration sensor and the comparator stage so as to reduce a DC component of the acceleration signal. The cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is modified according to the type of displacements that are to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Michele Tronconi, Enrico Chiesa, Fabio Pasolini
  • Patent number: 6577975
    Abstract: A sensing device having a microelectromechanical structure made of semiconductor material, and a control loop for controlling the microelectromechanical structure, the microelectromechanical structure including a stator element and a rotor element electrostatically coupled together, and the control loop including a position interface supplying a position signal indicative of the position of the rotor element, and a one-bit quantizer receiving the position signal and supplying a corresponding bit sequence. The sensing device further includes a calibration device for calibrating the microelectromechanical structure, including a microactuator made of semiconductor material and coupled to the rotor element, and a driving circuit for driving the microactuator, and receiving the bit sequence and supplying to the microactuator a driving signal correlated to a mean value of the bit sequence in a given time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Enrico Chiesa