Patents by Inventor Francesco RIZZINI
Francesco RIZZINI 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: 12038454Abstract: A MEMS inertial sensor includes a supporting structure and an inertial structure. The inertial structure includes at least one inertial mass, an elastic structure, and a stopper structure. The elastic structure is mechanically coupled to the inertial mass and to the supporting structure so as to enable a movement of the inertial mass in a direction parallel to a first direction, when the supporting structure is subjected to an acceleration parallel to the first direction. The stopper structure is fixed with respect to the supporting structure and includes at least one primary stopper element and one secondary stopper element. If the acceleration exceeds a first threshold value, the inertial mass abuts against the primary stopper element and subsequently rotates about an axis of rotation defined by the primary stopper element. If the acceleration exceeds a second threshold value, rotation of the inertial mass terminates when the inertial mass abuts against the secondary stopper element.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2022Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco Rizzini, Gabriele Gattere, Sarah Zerbini
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Patent number: 11993509Abstract: A MEMS inclinometer includes a substrate, a first mobile mass and a sensing unit. The sensing unit includes a second mobile mass, a number of elastic elements, which are interposed between the second mobile mass and the substrate and are compliant in a direction parallel to a first axis, and a number of elastic structures, each of which is interposed between the first and second mobile masses and is compliant in a direction parallel to the first axis and to a second axis. The sensing unit further includes a fixed electrode that is fixed with respect to the substrate and a mobile electrode fixed with respect to the second mobile mass, which form a variable capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Francesco Rizzini
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Publication number: 20240151741Abstract: The MEMS device is formed by a substrate and a movable structure suspended on the substrate. The movable structure has a first mass, a second mass and a first elastic group mechanically coupled between the first and the second masses. The first elastic group is compliant along a first direction. The first mass is configured to move with respect to the substrate along the first direction. The MEMS device also has a second elastic group mechanically coupled between the substrate and the movable structure and compliant along the first direction; and an anchoring control structure fixed to the substrate, capacitively coupled to the second mass and configured to exert an electrostatic force on the second mass along the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Manuel RIANI, Gabriele GATTERE, Francesco RIZZINI
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Patent number: 11971284Abstract: Embodiments of a Coriolis-force-based flow sensing device and embodiments of methods for manufacturing embodiments of the Coriolis-force-based flow sensing device, comprising the steps of: forming a driving electrode; forming, on the driving electrode, a first sacrificial region; forming, on the first sacrificial region, a first structural portion with a second sacrificial region buried therein; forming openings for selectively etching the second sacrificial region; forming, within the openings, a porous layer having pores; removing the second sacrificial region through the pores of the porous layer, forming a buried channel; growing, on the porous layer and not within the buried channel, a second structural portion that forms, with the first structural region, a structural body; selectively removing the first sacrificial region thus suspending the structural body on the driving electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Francesco Rizzini, Luca Guerinoni, Lorenzo Corso, Domenico Giusti
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Patent number: 11965906Abstract: A closed-loop microelectromechanical accelerometer includes a substrate of semiconductor material, an out-of-plane sensing mass and feedback electrodes. The out-of-plane sensing mass, of semiconductor material, has a first side facing the supporting body and a second side opposite to the first side. The out-of-plane sensing mass is also connected to the supporting body to oscillate around a non-barycentric fulcrum axis parallel to the first side and to the second side and perpendicular to an out-of-plane sensing axis. The feedback electrodes are capacitively coupled to the sensing mass and are configured to apply opposite electrostatic forces to the sensing mass.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Jean Marie Darmanin, Francesco Rizzini, Carlo Valzasina
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Publication number: 20240044932Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor device having a sensing structure with: a substrate; an inertial mass, suspended above the substrate and elastically coupled to a rotor anchoring structure by elastic coupling elements, to perform at least one inertial movement due to a quantity to be sensed; first sensing electrodes, integrally coupled to the inertial mass to be movable due to the inertial movement; and second sensing electrodes, fixed with respect to the quantity to be sensed, facing and capacitively coupled to the first sensing electrodes to form sensing capacitances having a value that is indicative of the quantity to be sensed. The second sensing electrodes are arranged in a suspended manner above the substrate and a compensation structure is configured to move the second sensing electrodes with respect to the first sensing electrodes and vary a facing distance thereof, in the absence of the quantity to be sensed, in order to compensate for a native offset of the sensing structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Jean Marie DARMANIN, Francesco RIZZINI
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Publication number: 20240027490Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers that are configured for a user interface mode and a true wireless stereo (TWS) mode of an audio device. The accelerometers are fabricated with specific electromechanical parameters, such as mass, stiffness, active capacitance, and bonding pressure. As a result of the specific electromechanical parameters, the accelerometers have a resonance frequency, quality factor, sensitivity, and Brownian noise density that are suitable for both the user interface mode and the TWS mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco RIZZINI, Nicolo' MANCA, Cristian DALL'OGLIO
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Publication number: 20240010490Abstract: The detection structure for a MEMS accelerometer is formed by a substrate; a first movable mass and a second movable mass which extend at a distance from each other, suspended on the substrate and which are configured to undergo a movement, with respect to the substrate, in response to an acceleration. The detection structure also has a first movable electrode integral with the first movable mass; a second movable electrode integral with the second movable mass; a first fixed electrode integral with the substrate and configured to form, with the first movable electrode, a first variable capacitor; and a second fixed electrode integral with the substrate and configured to form, with the second movable electrode, a second variable capacitor. The detection structure has an insulation region, of electrically insulating material, which is suspended on the substrate and extends between the first movable mass and the second movable mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Francesco RIZZINI, Federico VERCESI
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Patent number: 11852650Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers that are configured for a user interface mode and a true wireless stereo (TWS) mode of an audio device. The accelerometers are fabricated with specific electromechanical parameters, such as mass, stiffness, active capacitance, and bonding pressure. As a result of the specific electromechanical parameters, the accelerometers have a resonance frequency, quality factor, sensitivity, and Brownian noise density that are suitable for both the user interface mode and the TWS mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco Rizzini, Nicolo' Manca, Cristian Dall'Oglio
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Publication number: 20230314469Abstract: A MEMS tri-axial accelerometer is provided with a sensing structure having: a single inertial mass, with a main extension in a horizontal plane defined by a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis and internally defining a first window that traverses it throughout a thickness thereof along a vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane; and a suspension structure, arranged within the window for elastically coupling the inertial mass to a single anchorage element, which is fixed with respect to a substrate and arranged within the window, so that the inertial mass is suspended above the substrate and is able to carry out, by the inertial effect, a first sensing movement, a second sensing movement, and a third sensing movement in respective sensing directions parallel to the first, second, and third horizontal axes following upon detection of a respective acceleration component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Alessandro TOCCHIO, Francesco RIZZINI
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Publication number: 20230266357Abstract: Micromechanical device comprising: a semiconductor body; a movable structure configured to oscillate relative to the semiconductor body along an oscillation direction; and an elastic assembly with an elastic constant, coupled to the movable structure and to the semiconductor body and configured to deform along the oscillation direction to allow the oscillation of the movable structure as a function of an acceleration applied to the micromechanical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Francesco RIZZINI, Nicolo' MANCA
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Publication number: 20230266356Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers that are configured for a user interface mode and a true wireless stereo (TWS) mode of an audio device. The accelerometers are fabricated with specific electromechanical parameters, such as mass, stiffness, active capacitance, and bonding pressure. As a result of the specific electromechanical parameters, the accelerometers have a resonance frequency, quality factor, sensitivity, and Brownian noise density that are suitable for both the user interface mode and the TWS mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco RIZZINI, Nicolo' MANCA, Cristian DALL'OGLIO
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Publication number: 20230184806Abstract: An inertial structure is elastically coupled through a first elastic structure to a supporting structure so as to move along a sensing axis as a function of a quantity to be detected. The inertial structure includes first and second inertial masses which are elastically coupled together by a second elastic structure to enable movement of the second inertial mass along the sensing axis. The first elastic structure has a lower elastic constant than the second elastic structure so that, in presence of the quantity to be detected, the inertial structure moves in a sensing direction until the first inertial mass stops against a stop structure and the second elastic mass can move further in the sensing direction. Once the quantity to be detected ends, the second inertial mass moves in a direction opposite to the sensing direction and detaches the first inertial mass from the stop structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Francesco RIZZINI, Alessandro TOCCHIO
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Publication number: 20230160921Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor device has a detection structure, having: a substrate, with a top surface; an inertial mass, suspended above the top surface of the substrate and elastically coupled to a rotor anchor so as to perform an inertial movement relative to the substrate as a function of a quantity to be detected; and stator electrodes, integrally coupled to the substrate at respective stator anchors and capacitively coupled to the inertial mass so as to generate a differential capacitive variation in response to, and indicative of, the quantity to be detected. In particular, the inertial mass performs, as the inertial movement, a translation movement along a vertical axis orthogonal to the top surface of the substrate; and the stator electrodes are arranged in a suspended manner above the top surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Francesco RIZZINI, Cristian DALL'OGLIO
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Patent number: 11650221Abstract: A MEMS tri-axial accelerometer is provided with a sensing structure having: a single inertial mass, with a main extension in a horizontal plane defined by a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis and internally defining a first window that traverses it throughout a thickness thereof along a vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane; and a suspension structure, arranged within the window for elastically coupling the inertial mass to a single anchorage element, which is fixed with respect to a substrate and arranged within the window, so that the inertial mass is suspended above the substrate and is able to carry out, by the inertial effect, a first sensing movement, a second sensing movement, and a third sensing movement in respective sensing directions parallel to the first, second, and third horizontal axes following upon detection of a respective acceleration component.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Alessandro Tocchio, Francesco Rizzini
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Publication number: 20230128205Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer sensor has a mobile mass and a sensing capacitor. To self-test the sensor, a test signal having a variably controlled excitation voltage and a fixed pulse width is applied to the sensing capacitor. The leading and trailing edges of the test signal are aligned to coincide with reset phases of a sensing circuit coupled to the sensing capacitor. The variably controlled excitation voltage of the test signal is configured to cause an electrostatic force which produces a desired physical displacement of the mobile mass. During a read phase of the sensing circuit, a variation in capacitance of sensing capacitor due to the actual physical displacement of the mobile mass is sensed for comparison to the desired physical displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventors: Marco GARBARINO, Davy CHOI, Francesco RIZZINI, Yamu HU
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Publication number: 20230083632Abstract: A MEMS inertial sensor includes a supporting structure and an inertial structure. The inertial structure includes at least one inertial mass, an elastic structure, and a stopper structure. The elastic structure is mechanically coupled to the inertial mass and to the supporting structure so as to enable a movement of the inertial mass in a direction parallel to a first direction, when the supporting structure is subjected to an acceleration parallel to the first direction. The stopper structure is fixed with respect to the supporting structure and includes at least one primary stopper element and one secondary stopper element. If the acceleration exceeds a first threshold value, the inertial mass abuts against the primary stopper element and subsequently rotates about an axis of rotation defined by the primary stopper element. If the acceleration exceeds a second threshold value, rotation of the inertial mass terminates when the inertial mass abuts against the secondary stopper element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco RIZZINI, Gabriele GATTERE, Sarah ZERBINI
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Patent number: 11603310Abstract: A MEMS device with teeter-totter structure includes a mobile mass having an area in a plane and a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the plane. The mobile mass is tiltable about a rotation axis extending parallel to the plane and formed by a first and by a second half-masses arranged on opposite sides of the rotation axis. The first and the second masses have a first and a second centroid, respectively, arranged at a first and a second distance b1, b2, respectively, from the rotation axis. First through openings are formed in the first half-mass and, together with the first half-mass, have a first total perimeter p1 in the plane. Second through openings are formed in the second half-mass and, together with the second half-mass, have a second total perimeter p2 in the plane, where the first and the second perimeters p1, p2 satisfy the equation: p1×b1=p2×b2.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Francesco Rizzini, Alessandro Tocchio
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Publication number: 20230028797Abstract: A closed-loop microelectromechanical accelerometer includes a substrate of semiconductor material, an out-of-plane sensing mass and feedback electrodes. The out-of-plane sensing mass, of semiconductor material, has a first side facing the supporting body and a second side opposite to the first side. The out-of-plane sensing mass is also connected to the supporting body to oscillate around a non-barycentric fulcrum axis parallel to the first side and to the second side and perpendicular to an out-of-plane sensing axis. The feedback electrodes are capacitively coupled to the sensing mass and are configured to apply opposite electrostatic forces to the sensing mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele GATTERE, Jean Marie DARMANIN, Francesco RIZZINI, Carlo VALZASINA
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Patent number: 11543428Abstract: An inertial structure is elastically coupled through a first elastic structure to a supporting structure so as to move along a sensing axis as a function of a quantity to be detected. The inertial structure includes first and second inertial masses which are elastically coupled together by a second elastic structure to enable movement of the second inertial mass along the sensing axis. The first elastic structure has a lower elastic constant than the second elastic structure so that, in presence of the quantity to be detected, the inertial structure moves in a sensing direction until the first inertial mass stops against a stop structure and the second elastic mass can move further in the sensing direction. Once the quantity to be detected ends, the second inertial mass moves in a direction opposite to the sensing direction and detaches the first inertial mass from the stop structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Francesco Rizzini, Alessandro Tocchio