Patents by Inventor Francesco Cannillo

Francesco Cannillo 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: 11848612
    Abstract: A power converter is presented. The power converter may be configured to receive an input voltage at an input node of the power converter and to generate an output voltage at an output node of the power converter. The power converter may comprise an inductor coupled between an inductor node and the output node. The power converter may comprise a flying capacitor coupled between a first capacitor node and a second capacitor node. The power converter may comprise a first switching element coupled between the input node and the first capacitor node. The power converter may comprise a second switching element coupled between the second capacitor node and the inductor node. The power converter may be configured to, during a first phase of a buck operation mode, open the second switching element such that the second capacitor node is isolated from the inductor node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Marco Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 11784569
    Abstract: A power converter configured to generate an output voltage at an output node of the power converter based on an input voltage received at an input node of the power converter is presented. In particular, the power converter may comprise a first switching element coupled between the input node and a first intermediate node. The converter also has an inductive element coupled between a second intermediate node and the output node, a second switching element with one port being coupled to the second intermediate node and a third switching element and a fourth switching element coupled in series between the output node and a reference node. The converter also has a flying capacitive element coupled between the first intermediate node and a third intermediate node between the third and fourth switching elements and a fifth switching element coupled between the first and second intermediate nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Francesco Cannillo
  • Patent number: 11764681
    Abstract: The present document relates to power converters. A power converter has a first stage coupled between an input of the power converter and an intermediate node, and a second stage coupled between the intermediate node and an output of the power converter. The first stage has a capacitive voltage divider with a first flying capacitor, and the second stage has a second flying capacitor and an inductor. On the one hand, the power converter establishes, in a magnetizing state, a magnetizing current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the inductor to the output of the power converter. On the other hand, the power converter establishes, in a capacitive state, a parallel current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the second flying capacitor to the output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Francesco Cannillo
  • Publication number: 20230253883
    Abstract: A power converter is presented. The power converter may be configured to receive an input voltage at an input node of the power converter and to generate an output voltage at an output node of the power converter. The power converter includes an inductor coupled between an inductor node and the output node, a flying capacitor coupled between a first capacitor node and a second capacitor node, a first switching element coupled between the input node and the first capacitor node, a second switching element coupled between the second capacitor node and the inductor node, a third switching element coupled between the input node and the second capacitor node, a fourth switching element coupled between the first capacitor node and a reference potential, and a fifth switching element coupled between the inductor node and the first capacitor node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Marco Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 11626800
    Abstract: A power converter and method to provide a small conversion ratio between an input and an output voltage. The power converter has an inductor coupled to the input port of the power converter. The power converter has a first stage with an input node; a first switch; a second switch; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the first stage and to a reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the input node. The power converter also has a second stage with an input node; a first switch coupled to the input node of the second stage and to the output port of the power converter; a second switch coupled to the input node of the first stage; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the second stage and to the reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Nicola Macri
  • Publication number: 20230091489
    Abstract: A power converter configured to generate an output voltage at an output node of the power converter based on an input voltage received at an input node of the power converter is presented. In particular, the power converter may comprise a first switching element coupled between the input node and a first intermediate node. The converter also has an inductive element coupled between a second intermediate node and the output node, a second switching element with one port being coupled to the second intermediate node and a third switching element and a fourth switching element coupled in series between the output node and a reference node. The converter also has a flying capacitive element coupled between the first intermediate node and a third intermediate node between the third and fourth switching elements and a fifth switching element coupled between the first and second intermediate nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Francesco Cannillo
  • Publication number: 20230041093
    Abstract: The present document relates to a power converter comprising an inductor, a first stage, and a second stage. The first stage may be coupled between an input of the power converter and the inductor, and the first stage may comprise a first flying capacitor. The second stage may be coupled between the inductor and an output of the power converter, and the second stage may comprise a second flying capacitor. A second terminal of the first flying capacitor may be connected to a first terminal of the inductor, and a first terminal of the second flying capacitor may be connected to a second terminal of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Holger Petersen
  • Publication number: 20230010003
    Abstract: The present document relates to power converters. A power converter has a first stage coupled between an input of the power converter and an intermediate node, and a second stage coupled between the intermediate node and an output of the power converter. The first stage has a capacitive voltage divider with a first flying capacitor, and the second stage has a second flying capacitor and an inductor. On the one hand, the power converter establishes, in a magnetizing state, a magnetizing current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the inductor to the output of the power converter. On the other hand, the power converter establishes, in a capacitive state, a parallel current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the second flying capacitor to the output of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventor: Francesco Cannillo
  • Patent number: 11515793
    Abstract: The present document relates to a power converter comprising an inductor, a first stage, and a second stage. The first stage may be coupled between an input of the power converter and the inductor, and the first stage may comprise a first flying capacitor. The second stage may be coupled between the inductor and an output of the power converter, and the second stage may comprise a second flying capacitor. A second terminal of the first flying capacitor may be connected to a first terminal of the inductor, and a first terminal of the second flying capacitor may be connected to a second terminal of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Holger Petersen
  • Patent number: 11463006
    Abstract: The present document relates to power converters. A power converter has a first stage coupled between an input of the power converter and an intermediate node, and a second stage coupled between the intermediate node and an output of the power converter. The first stage has a capacitive voltage divider with a first flying capacitor, and the second stage has a second flying capacitor and an inductor. On the one hand, the power converter establishes, in a magnetizing state, a magnetizing current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the inductor to the output of the power converter. On the other hand, the power converter establishes, in a capacitive state, a parallel current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the second flying capacitor to the output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Francesco Cannillo
  • Publication number: 20220286051
    Abstract: A power converter is presented. The power converter may be configured to receive an input voltage at an input node of the power converter and to generate an output voltage at an output node of the power converter. The power converter may comprise an inductor coupled between an inductor node and the output node. The power converter may comprise a flying capacitor coupled between a first capacitor node and a second capacitor node. The power converter may comprise a first switching element coupled between the input node and the first capacitor node. The power converter may comprise a second switching element coupled between the second capacitor node and the inductor node. The power converter may be configured to, during a first phase of a buck operation mode, open the second switching element such that the second capacitor node is isolated from the inductor node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Marco Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 11424680
    Abstract: The present document relates to Single Inductor Dual Input (SIDI) buck power converters. More specifically, a dual input power converter may comprise an inductor, a first high-side switching element, a second high-side switching element, and a low-side switching element. The inductor may be coupled between an intermediate node and an output of the dual input power converter. The first high-side switching element may be coupled between a first input of the dual input power converter and the intermediate node. The second high-side switching element may be coupled between a second input of the dual input power converter and the intermediate node. The low-side switching element may be coupled between the intermediate node and a reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Holger Petersen
  • Publication number: 20210281179
    Abstract: A power converter and method to provide a small conversion ratio between an input and an output voltage. The power converter has an inductor coupled to the input port of the power converter. The power converter has a first stage with an input node; a first switch; a second switch; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the first stage and to a reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the input node. The power converter also has a second stage with an input node; a first switch coupled to the input node of the second stage and to the output port of the power converter; a second switch coupled to the input node of the first stage; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the second stage and to the reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Nicola Macri
  • Publication number: 20210265913
    Abstract: The present document relates to Single Inductor Dual Input (SIDI) buck power converters. More specifically, a dual input power converter may comprise an inductor, a first high-side switching element, a second high-side switching element, and a low-side switching element. The inductor may be coupled between an intermediate node and an output of the dual input power converter. The first high-side switching element may be coupled between a first input of the dual input power converter and the intermediate node. The second high-side switching element may be coupled between a second input of the dual input power converter and the intermediate node. The low-side switching element may be coupled between the intermediate node and a reference potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Holger Petersen
  • Publication number: 20210234462
    Abstract: The present document relates to a power converter comprising an inductor, a first stage, and a second stage. The first stage may be coupled between an input of the power converter and the inductor, and the first stage may comprise a first flying capacitor. The second stage may be coupled between the inductor and an output of the power converter, and the second stage may comprise a second flying capacitor. A second terminal of the first flying capacitor may be connected to a first terminal of the inductor, and a first terminal of the second flying capacitor may be connected to a second terminal of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Holger Petersen
  • Patent number: 11005371
    Abstract: A power converter and method to provide a small conversion ratio between an input and an output voltage. The power converter has an inductor coupled to the input port of the power converter. The power converter has a first stage with an input node; a first switch; a second switch; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the first stage and to a reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the input node. The power converter also has a second stage with an input node; a first switch coupled to the input node of the second stage and to the output port of the power converter; a second switch coupled to the input node of the first stage; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the second stage and to the reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Nicola Macri
  • Publication number: 20210099088
    Abstract: The present document relates to power converters. A power converter has a first stage coupled between an input of the power converter and an intermediate node, and a second stage coupled between the intermediate node and an output of the power converter. The first stage has a capacitive voltage divider with a first flying capacitor, and the second stage has a second flying capacitor and an inductor. On the one hand, the power converter establishes, in a magnetizing state, a magnetizing current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the inductor to the output of the power converter. On the other hand, the power converter establishes, in a capacitive state, a parallel current path in the second stage from the intermediate node via the second flying capacitor to the output of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: Francesco Cannillo
  • Publication number: 20200350821
    Abstract: A power converter and method to provide a small conversion ratio between an input and an output voltage. The power converter has an inductor coupled to the input port of the power converter. The power converter has a first stage with an input node; a first switch; a second switch; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the first stage and to a reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the input node. The power converter also has a second stage with an input node; a first switch coupled to the input node of the second stage and to the output port of the power converter; a second switch coupled to the input node of the first stage; a third switch coupled to the second switch of the second stage and to the reference potential; and a flying capacitor coupled to the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Francesco Cannillo, Nicola Macri
  • Patent number: 8963754
    Abstract: A circuit for digitizing a sum of a first input signal and a plurality of second input signals has a passive adder that sums the second input signals and outputs a summation signal and a multi-bit quantizer circuit. The quantizer circuit compares the summation signal at a first comparator input with a signal at a second comparator input, which is derived from the first input signal and has an appropriate polarity so that the difference between the summation signal and the signal at the second comparator input is indicative of the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The comparator also produces a comparator output signal based on the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The quantizer circuit also has a control logic block for determining a multi-bit representation of the sum from the comparator output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: IMEC, Stichting IMEC Nederland, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&D
    Inventors: Alonso Morgado, Serena Porrazzo, Francesco Cannillo
  • Publication number: 20140070972
    Abstract: A circuit for digitizing a sum of a first input signal and a plurality of second input signals has a passive adder that sums the second input signals and outputs a summation signal and a multi-bit quantizer circuit. The quanitzer circuit compares the summation signal at a first comparator input with a signal at a second comparator input, which is derived from the first input signal and has an appropriate polarity so that the difference between the summation signal and the signal at the second comparator input is indicative of the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The comparator also produces a comparator output signal based on the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The quantizer circuit also has a control logic block for determining a multi-bit representation of the sum from the comparator output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U. LEUVEN R&D, Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventors: Alonso Morgado, Serena Porrazzo, Francesco Cannillo