Patents by Inventor Federico Forte

Federico Forte 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: 10393552
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of processing a sensing signal from a sensor to generate amplitude and phase controls for driving this sensor in a controlled manner and enabling synchronized operation of the sensor system. A signal processor in the sensor system comprises a sensor readout circuit, an amplitude controller and a phase controller. A subset of functional blocks in the signal processor may alternate between active and inactive power saving durations. During the active power saving durations, the subset of functional blocks are powered off or functionally disabled to conserve power consumption. The amplitude and phase controls are latched for the purposes of properly maintaining the driving signal and the system clock. During the subsequent inactive power saving durations, the subset of functional blocks return to normal operation to refresh the amplitude and phase controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luciano Prandi, Carlo Caminada, Federico Forte
  • Patent number: 9575089
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention allow to cancel demodulation phase error. In certain embodiments, cancellation is accomplished by determining the phase delay of a drive front end signal that is in phase with an undesired signal and digitally adjusting the demodulation signal with a calibrated signal. The phase delay may be adaptively compensated during regular circuit operation, only at predetermined times, or during a factory calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luciano Prandi, Carlo Caminada, Federico Forte
  • Patent number: 9484890
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide for improved performance by reducing a quadrature error signal. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by using a mixed-signal architecture comprising analog and digital circuit components in a closed-loop configuration that generates from a detected quadrature error signal a calibration quadrature signal that is then compensated at a virtual ground of an analog front end circuit. Some embodiments allow for pre-calibration for quadrature error and/or adaptive compensation of unwanted drift effects of the quadrature error, including temperature drifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luciano Prandi, Carlo Caminada, Federico Forte
  • Patent number: 9329042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a controller, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of processing multiple sensor signals of a gyroscope. The signal processor includes: a front end amplifier for converting a signal into a voltage variation signal; at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to the front end amplifier and operative to convert an analog signal into a digital signal; and at least one demodulator coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and operative to demodulate the digital signal to thereby extract an envelope signal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Federico Forte, Luciano Prandi
  • Patent number: 8912856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a controller, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of controlling a sensor having a resonating mass. The controller includes: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) unit for extracting a digitized sensor signal from the sensor signal; a phase controller for generating, based on the digitized sensor signal, a phase-controlled signal that is locked in phase with the digitized sensor signal; an amplitude controller for applying a gain to the digitized sensor signal to thereby generate an amplitude-adjusted signal; a modulator for modulating the amplitude-adjusted signal to thereby generate a modulated signal; and a phase shifter for shifting the phase of the modulated signal by 90 degrees. The output signal from the phase shifter is amplified and input to the drive for exciting the resonating mass, to thereby form a closed resonance loop for controlling the oscillation amplitude of the resonating mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Federico Forte, Luciano Prandi
  • Patent number: 8223991
    Abstract: An amplification circuit for driving an audio signal diffuser that includes a generation circuit of a first pre-charging signal, the generation circuit including an amplifier provided with an input terminal for receiving the first pre-charging signal and provided with an output terminal for providing a second pre-charging signal as a function of the first pre-charging signal, and a decoupling capacitor of the amplifier from the diffuser, the capacitor connected to the output terminal for charging by the second pre-charging signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Federico Forte
  • Patent number: 7667537
    Abstract: To correct for harmonic distortion of a power bridge, the form of a pulse at the output of the power bridge and of estimate of non idealities under different current conditions is acquired. An estimate of a current at the output of the power bridge is also acquired. The switching control signal applied to the power bridge is then regulated based on the acquired estimates. More specifically, an area error introduced by the estimated non-idealities of the power bridge for a certain output current is determined and the edges of the switching control signal input to the power bridge are temporally shifted in response to the determined area error so as to account for the determined area error and correct for harmonic distortion concerns in the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico Forte, Marcello Gagliardi
  • Publication number: 20090289704
    Abstract: An amplification circuit for driving an audio signal diffuser that includes a generation circuit of a first pre-charging signal, the generation circuit including an amplifier provided with an input terminal for receiving the first pre-charging signal and provided with an output terminal for providing a second pre-charging signal as a function of the first pre-charging signal, and a decoupling capacitor of the amplifier from the diffuser, the capacitor connected to the output terminal for charging by the second pre-charging signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Federico Forte
  • Publication number: 20070091654
    Abstract: To correct for harmonic distortion of a power bridge, the form of a pulse at the output of the power bridge and of estimate of non idealities under different current conditions is acquired. An estimate of a current at the output of the power bridge is also acquired. The switching control signal applied to the power bridge is then regulated based on the acquired estimates. More specifically, an area error introduced by the estimated non-idealities of the power bridge for a certain output current is determined and the edges of the switching control signal input to the power bridge are temporally shifted in response to the determined area error so as to account for the determined area error and correct for harmonic distortion concerns in the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico Forte, Marcello Gagliardi