Patents by Inventor Francesco Pulvirenti
Francesco Pulvirenti 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).
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Patent number: 9223329Abstract: A low drop out voltage regulator includes an operational transconductance amplifier configured to be supplied with a supply voltage of the regulator, receive as inputs a reference voltage and a feedback voltage, and generate an intermediate current based upon a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage. A current-to-voltage amplification stage is configured to be supplied with a boosted voltage greater than the supply voltage from a high voltage line, receive as input the intermediate current, and generate a driving voltage that is changed based upon the intermediate current. A pass transistor is controlled with the driving voltage to keep constant on a second conduction terminal thereof a regulated output voltage. A feedback network generates the feedback voltage based on the regulated output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Francesco Pulvirenti, Santo Ilardo
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Publication number: 20150236683Abstract: A high voltage comparison circuit includes an input stage generating an intermediate signal as a result of a comparison between an input signal and a first voltage reference and an output stage configured to generate an output signal referenced to a second voltage reference (different from the first voltage reference) in response to the intermediate signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Ignazio Bruno Mirabella, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Publication number: 20150003503Abstract: A transceiver is connectable to a cable with at least three wires. The transceiver may include a controlled output stage including a high-side leg, having two P-type transistors coupled in series and having a common current terminal, coupled between an output pin and a positive supply pin. The P-type transistors have body regions coupled to the common current terminal of the high-side leg. A low-side leg, includes two N-type transistors coupled in series and having a common current terminal, coupled between the output pin and a negative supply pin. The N-type transistors have body regions coupled to the common current terminal of the low-side leg. The protection circuit also includes a voltage clamper coupled between the common current terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Salvatore CASSATA, Francesco PULVIRENTI, Salvatore Giuseppe PRIVITERA
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Publication number: 20140312867Abstract: A low drop out voltage regulator includes an operational transconductance amplifier configured to be supplied with a supply voltage of the regulator, receive as inputs a reference voltage and a feedback voltage, and generate an intermediate current based upon a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage. A current-to-voltage amplification stage is configured to be supplied with a boosted voltage greater than the supply voltage from a high voltage line, receive as input the intermediate current, and generate a driving voltage that is changed based upon the intermediate current. A pass transistor is controlled with the driving voltage to keep constant on a second conduction terminal thereof a regulated output voltage. A feedback network generates the feedback voltage based on the regulated output voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco PULVIRENTI, Santo Ilardo
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Patent number: 8842402Abstract: A control circuit for a protection circuit device includes first and second voltage boosters, a comparator coupled thereto, and a MOSFET for bypassing a direct current (DC) source. The control circuit may include a control logic circuit having a first input coupled to an output of the comparator, a second input receiving a disable command signal, a first output coupled to an enable input of the first voltage booster, and a second output, and a four terminal path inversion switch. The control circuit may include a supply voltage line, a sensor coupled to the second input of the control logic circuit, to generate the disable command signal, and to force the MOSFET into a conduction mode, and an external command terminal coupled to the second input of the control logic circuit, to receive the disable command signal, and to force the MOSFET into the conduction mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Tiziana Teresa Signorelli, Francesco Pulvirenti, Natale Aiello
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Patent number: 8674545Abstract: A MOSFET implemented self-powered current by-pass or circuit breaker device is based on the use of a high multiplication factor (HMF) inductive voltage booster, adapted to boost a voltage as low as few tens of mV up to several Volts, assisted by a start-up low multiplication factor (LMF) charge pump made with low threshold transistors for providing a supply voltage to a polarity inversion detecting comparator of the drain-to-source voltage difference of a power MOSFET connected in parallel to a DC source or string of series connected DC sources or battery, in series to other DC sources during normal operation of the parallel connected DC source or string of series connected DC sources or battery. The inductance for the high multiplication factor, inductive voltage booster for most of the considered power applications is on the order of a few pH and such a relatively send inductor may be included as a discrete component in a compact package or “system-in-package” of monolithically integrated circuits.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Tiziana Teresa Signorelli, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Patent number: 8649141Abstract: A by-pass circuit includes a first power MOS with an intrinsic diode, a first conduction terminal coupled to a cathode, a second conduction terminal coupled to an anode, and a control terminal. A tank capacitor is coupled to the anode. A second MOS has a first and second conduction terminals, a control terminal, and a turn-on threshold smaller than that of the intrinsic diode, the first conduction terminal thereof coupled to the cathode and the control terminal coupled to the anode, so the first MOS turns on when the array of cells are sub-illuminated. An oscillator and charge pump are supplied through the second conduction terminal of the second MOS to charge the tank capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to the control terminal of the first power MOS to switch it based upon a voltage of the tank capacitor and sign of the voltage between the cathode and anode.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Amedeo La Scala, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Patent number: 8339112Abstract: A method of power point tracking for operating a photovoltaic power plant, which includes a DC-DC converter of the output voltage of a panel having a power switch driven by a PWM control signal of variable duty-cycle generated by a PWM control circuit, in discontinuous conduction mode or continuous conduction mode depending on the current load of the converter, is implemented by low cost analog circuits. The method does not require the use of any analog-to-digital conversion, digital processing or storage resources and may use a single voltage sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Francesco Rua, Salvatore Giuseppe Privitera, Tiziana Teresa Signorelli, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Publication number: 20110279937Abstract: A control circuit for a protection circuit device includes first and second voltage boosters, a comparator coupled thereto, and a MOSFET for bypassing a direct current (DC) source. The control circuit may include a control logic circuit having a first input coupled to an output of the comparator, a second input receiving a disable command signal, a first output coupled to an enable input of the first voltage booster, and a second output, and a four terminal path inversion switch. The control circuit may include a supply voltage line, a sensor coupled to the second input of the control logic circuit, to generate the disable command signal, and to force the MOSFET into a conduction mode, and an external command terminal coupled to the second input of the control logic circuit, to receive the disable command signal, and to force the MOSFET into the conduction mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Tiziana Teresa SIGNORELLI, Francesco PULVIRENTI, Natale AIELLO
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Publication number: 20110278955Abstract: A MOSFET implemented self-powered current by-pass or circuit breaker device is based on the use of a high multiplication factor (HMF) inductive voltage booster, adapted to boost a voltage as low as few tens of mV up to several Volts, assisted by a start-up low multiplication factor (LMF) charge pump made with low threshold transistors for providing a supply voltage to a polarity inversion detecting comparator of the drain-to-source voltage difference of a power MOSFET connected in parallel to a DC source or string of series connected DC sources or battery, in series to other DC sources during normal operation of the parallel connected DC source or string of series connected DC sources or battery. The inductance for the high multiplication factor, inductive voltage booster for most of the considered power applications is on the order of a few pH and such a relatively send inductor may be included as a discrete component in a compact package or “system-in-package” of monolithically integrated circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Tiziana Teresa Signorelli, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Patent number: 8044538Abstract: A photovoltaic energy conversion system includes a distributed control structure for groups of cells of each multi-cellular panel, the components of which are entirely physically integrated in the photovoltaic panel. Each multi-cellular photovoltaic panel has a DC bus, supplied in parallel by a plurality of DC-DC converters, each provided with a controller that controls the working point of the photovoltaic cells coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter for a maximum yield of electric power by implementing a relatively simple MPPT algorithm. The controller includes a logic circuit and A/D converters of analog signals representing the input voltage and the input current generated by the group of cells that is coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter and optionally also of the output voltage of the converter, and a relatively simple D/A converter of the drive control signal of the power switch of the DC-DC converter.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Domenico Ragonese, Francesco Pulvirenti, Natale Aiello, Nicola Nigido, Santo Ilardo, Salvatore Di Fazio
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Publication number: 20110001360Abstract: A method of power point tracking for operating a photovoltaic power plant, which includes a DC-DC converter of the output voltage of a panel having a power switch driven by a PWM control signal of variable duty-cycle generated by a PWM control circuit, in discontinuous conduction mode or continuous conduction mode depending on the current load of the converter, is implemented by low cost analog circuits. The method does not require the use of any analog-to-digital conversion, digital processing or storage resources and may use a single voltage sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: STMicroelectrics S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco RUA', Salvatore Giuseppe Privitera, Tiziana Teresa Signorelli, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Publication number: 20100002349Abstract: A by-pass circuit includes a first power MOS with an intrinsic diode, a first conduction terminal coupled to a cathode, a second conduction terminal coupled to an anode, and a control terminal. A tank capacitor is coupled to the anode. A second MOS has a first and second conduction terminals, a control terminal, and a turn-on threshold smaller than that of the intrinsic diode, the first conduction terminal thereof coupled to the cathode and the control terminal coupled to the anode, so the first MOS turns on when the array of cells are sub-illuminated. An oscillator and charge pump are supplied through the second conduction terminal of the second MOS to charge the tank capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to the control terminal of the first power MOS to switch it based upon a voltage of the tank capacitor and sign of the voltage between the cathode and anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Amedeo La Scala, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Patent number: 7619598Abstract: An OLED (organic light-emitting diode) passive-matrix display includes a display portion and a driver portion. The display portion includes a matrix of OLEDs for displaying information. The driver portion includes a monitor circuit and a voltage adjusting circuit. The voltage adjusting circuit has a power-up portion that generates a supply voltage based on a reference voltage. In response to an indication to switch modes, the voltage adjusting circuit switches to an operational mode wherein the supply voltage is generated based on the maximum voltage drop read across the OLEDs.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco Pulvirenti, Gregorio Bontempo, Murakata Masaki, Hayafuji Akinori
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Patent number: 7605637Abstract: A voltage multiplier includes a control circuit that generates first and second signals in phase opposition and a charging section. The latter comprises a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first signal and a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled with the second signal. The multiplier includes respective parasitic capacitances placed respectively between the capacitors and a reference voltage. The charging section is coupled with an input voltage and is suitable for producing an output voltage that is a multiple of the constant voltage. The multiplier comprises a switch that selectively connects the parasitic capacitances to carry out a charge transfer from one parasitic capacitance to the other.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., DORA S.p.A.Inventors: Ivo Pannizzo, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Publication number: 20090179500Abstract: A photovoltaic energy conversion system includes a distributed control structure for groups of cells of each multi-cellular panel, the components of which are entirely physically integrated in the photovoltaic panel. Each multi-cellular photovoltaic panel has a DC bus, supplied in parallel by a plurality of DC-DC converters, each provided with a controller that controls the working point of the photovoltaic cells coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter for a maximum yield of electric power by implementing a relatively simple MPPT algorithm. The controller includes a logic circuit and A/D converters of analog signals representing the input voltage and the input current generated by the group of cells that is coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter and optionally also of the output voltage of the converter, and a relatively simple D/A converter of the drive control signal of the power switch of the DC-DC converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Domenico Ragonese, Francesco Pulvirenti, Natale Aiello, Nicola Nigido, Santo Ilardo, Salvatore Di Fazio
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Patent number: 7486150Abstract: An electric circuit includes a circuit path from a first reference voltage to a second reference voltage lower than the first reference voltage. The path includes a current generator, a capacitor, a first switching element suitable for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor with respect to the current generator. The first switching element has a triggering value and the electric circuit includes a second switching element placed in parallel to the capacitor and control elements suitable for acting on the first and second switching elements for controlling the charging and discharging of the capacitor. The control elements comprise a comparator operable during the charging of the capacitor and suitable for acting on the first switching element for blocking the charging of the capacitor when the voltage value at its terminals reaches a threshold voltage value. The threshold voltage value is lower than the triggering voltage of the first switching element and higher than the second reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., DORA S.p.A.Inventors: Ivo Pannizzo, Francesco Pulvirenti
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Publication number: 20070268282Abstract: A system for driving columns of a liquid crystal display includes logic circuitry operating in a supply path between a first and a second supply voltage in which the first supply voltage is higher than the second supply voltage. The logic circuitry is capable of generating first logic signals and second logic signals whose value is equal to the first or second supply voltage. The system includes two level shifters coupled to the logic circuitry and operating in a supply path between a third supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage; the level shifters are capable of raising the value of the second logic signals. The system also includes a first and a second pair of transistors having different supply paths and having an output terminal in common; the first and the second pair of transistors are coupled to the level shifters to determine the drive signal of a column.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Salvatore Pappalardo, Francesco Pulvirenti, Salvatore Privitera, Leonardo Sala
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Patent number: 7259743Abstract: A system for driving columns of a liquid crystal display includes logic circuitry operating in a supply path between a first and a second supply voltage in which the first supply voltage is higher than the second supply voltage. The logic circuitry is capable of generating first logic signals and second logic signals whose value is equal to the first or second supply voltage. The system includes two level shifters coupled to the logic circuitry and operating in a supply path between a third supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage; the level shifters are capable of raising the value of the second logic signals. The system also includes a first and a second pair of transistors having different supply paths and having an output terminal in common; the first and the second pair of transistors are coupled to the level shifters to determine the drive signal of a column.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Salvatore Pappalardo, Francesco Pulvirenti, Salvatore Privitera, Leonardo Sala
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Publication number: 20070171155Abstract: An OLED (organic light-emitting diode) passive-matrix display includes a display portion and a driver portion. The display portion includes a matrix of OLEDs for displaying information. The driver portion includes a monitor circuit and a voltage adjusting circuit. The voltage adjusting circuit has a power-up portion that generates a supply voltage based on a reference voltage. In response to an indication to switch modes, the voltage adjusting circuit switches to an operational mode wherein the supply voltage is generated based on the maximum voltage drop read across the OLEDs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco Pulvirenti, Gregorio Bontempo, Murakata Masaki, Hayafuji Akinori