Patents by Inventor Gianfranco Cerofolini

Gianfranco Cerofolini 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: 9515244
    Abstract: A novel and effective structure of a stackable element (A1, A2) or more generally adapted to be associated modularly to other similar elements to form a septum of relatively large dimensions for a Seebeck/Peltier thermoelectric conversion device, may be fabricated with common planar processing techniques. The structure basically consists of a stack (A1, A2) of alternated layers of a first dielectric material (2), adapted to be deposited in films of thickness lesser than or equal to about 50 nm, of low heat conductivity and which is etchable by a solution of a specific chemical compound, and of a second dielectric material (3) of low heat conductivity that is not etched by the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Consorzio Delta Ti Research
    Inventors: Dario Narducci, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 9269881
    Abstract: Significant phonon migration restraint is achieved within a relatively homogeneous polycrystalline doped semiconductor bulk by purposely creating in the crystal lattice of the semiconductor hydrocarbon bonds with the semiconductor, typically Si or Ge, constituting effective organic group substituents of semiconductor atoms in the crystalline domains. An important enhancement of the factor of merit Z of such a modified electrically conductive doped semiconductor is obtained without resorting to nanometric cross sectional dimensions in order to rely on surface scattering eventually enhanced by making the surface highly irregular and/or creating nanocavities within the bulk of the conductive material. A determinant scattering of phonons migrating under the influence and in the direction of a temperature gradient in the homogeneous semiconductor takes place at the organic groups substituents in the crystalline doped semiconductor bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Consorzio Delta Ti Research
    Inventors: Dario Narducci, Gianfranco Cerofolini, Elena Lonati
  • Publication number: 20150340583
    Abstract: A novel and effective structure of a stackable element (A1, A2) or more generally adapted to be associated modularly to other similar elements to form a septum of relatively large dimensions for a Seebeck/Peltier thermoelectric conversion device, may be fabricated with common planar processing techniques. The structure basically consists of a stack (A1, A2) of alternated layers of a first dielectric material (2), adapted to be deposited in films of thickness lesser than or equal to about 50 nm, of low heat conductivity and which is etchable by a solution of a specific chemical compound, and of a second dielectric material (3) of low heat conductivity that is not etched by the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Dario Narducci, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 9178127
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to Seebeck/Peltier effect thermoelectric conversion devices and in particular devices made of stack of dielectric layers alternated to treated semiconducting layers even of large size, not requiring lithographic patterning in a nano-micrometric scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Consorzio Delta Ti Research
    Inventors: Dario Narducci, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 8358010
    Abstract: A method for realizing a nanometric circuit architecture includes: realizing plural active areas on a semiconductor substrate; realizing on the substrate a seed layer of a first material; realizing a mask-spacer of a second material on the seed layer in a region comprised between the active areas; realizing a mask overlapping the mask-spacer and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction thereto; selectively removing the seed layer exposed on the substrate; selectively removing the mask and the mask-spacer obtaining a seed-spacer comprising a linear portion extending in that region and a portion substantially orthogonal thereto; realizing by MSPT from the seed-spacer an insulating spacer reproducing at least part of the profile of the seed-spacer; realizing by MSPT a nano-wire of conductive material from the seed-spacer or insulating spacer, the nano-wire comprising a first portion at least partially extending in the region and a second portion contacting a respective active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Publication number: 20120279542
    Abstract: A multilayered stack useful for constituting a Seebeck-Peltier effect electrically conductive septum with opposite hot-side and cold-side metallizations for connection to an electrical circuit, comprises a stacked succession of layers (Ci) of electrically conductive material alternated to dielectric oxide layers (Di) in form of a continuous film or of densely dispersed nano and sub-nano particles or clusters of particles of oxide; at least the electrically conductive layers having mean thickness ranging from 5 to 100 nm and surface irregularities at the interfaces with the dielectric oxide layers of mean peak-to-valley amplitude and mean periodicity comprised between 5 to 20 nm. Various processes adapted to build a multilayered stack of these characteristics are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Consorzio Delta Ti Research
    Inventors: Dario Narducci, Gianfranco Cerofolini, Elena Lonati
  • Publication number: 20120174954
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to Seebeck/Peltier effect thermoelectric conversion devices and in particular devices made of stack of dielectric layers alternated to treated semiconducting layers even of large size, not requiring lithographic patterning in a nano-micrometric scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Universita degli Studi di Milano - Biococca
    Inventors: Dario Narducci, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 7952173
    Abstract: A nanometric device comprising a substrate; a plurality of conductive spacers of a conductive material, each conductive spacer being arranged on top of and transverse to the substrate, the conductive spacers including respective pairs of conductive spacers defining respective hosting seats each of less than 30 nm wide; and a plurality of nanometric elements respectively accommodated in the hosting seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini, Gianguido Rizzotto
  • Patent number: 7945867
    Abstract: A method for realizes electric connections in a semiconductor electronic device between a nanometric circuit architecture and standard electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 7928578
    Abstract: A semiconductor electronic device that includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; a seed layer positioned on the substrate and having a notched wall extending transversely with respect to the substrate top surface, the wall defining a first recess extending into the seed layer with a height equal to a thickness of the seed layer; a first conductive nanowire in contact with the notched wall, the first conductive nanowire having a contact portion extending into the first recess and covering opposite sidewalls and a bottom of the first recess; a first insulating nanowire in contact with a sidewall of the first conductive nanowire; an insulating layer on the contact portion of the first conductive nanowire and having a first window substantially in correspondence with the contact portion of the first conductive nanowire; and a first conductive die on the insulating layer that includes a conductive contact extending into the first window and contacting the contact portion of the first conductive nano
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Cerofolini, Danilo Mascolo
  • Patent number: 7867402
    Abstract: A method realizes a multispacer structure including an array of spacers having same height. The method includes realizing, on a substrate, a sacrificial layer of a first material; b) realizing, on the sacrificial layer, a sequence of mask spacers obtained by SnPT, which are alternately obtained in at least two different materials; c) chemically etching one of the two different materials with selective removal of the mask spacers of this etched material and partial exposure of the sacrificial layer; d) chemically and/or anisotropically etching the first material with selective removal of the exposed portions of the sacrificial layer; e) chemically etching the other one of the two different materials with selective removal of the mask spacers of this etched material and obtainment of the multispacer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 7834344
    Abstract: A hosting structure of nanometric components is described advantageously comprising: a substrate; n array levels on said substrate, with n?2, arranged consecutively on growing and parallel planes, each including a plurality of conductive spacers alternated with a plurality of insulating spacers and substantially perpendicular to said substrate, with definition between consecutive conductive spacers of at least a gap, conductive spacers of consecutive array levels lying on distinct and parallel planes, said gaps of different array levels being at least partially aligned along a direction substantially perpendicular to said substrate with definition of a plurality of transversal hosting seats extended along said direction and suitable for hosting at least a nanometric component. A nanometric electronic device is also described comprising such a hosting structure and a method for realizing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini, Gianguido Rizzotto
  • Patent number: 7692953
    Abstract: A method and device demultiplex a crossbar non-volatile memory that includes a first array of row nano-wires and a second array of column nano-wires, which cross the row nano-wires at a plurality of cross-points, hosting plural memory cells. A first electrode and a second electrode respectively cross a modulated doping portion of the row nano-wires and a modulated doping portion of the column nano-wires. A first contact and a second contact respectively the row nano-wires and the column nano-wires. The first electrode and the second electrode are biased respectively with a first and a second adjustable voltage value that progressively switch one by one said memory cells from the OFF state to the ON state, and this state can be memorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Publication number: 20100019389
    Abstract: A semiconductor electronic device that includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; a seed layer positioned on the substrate and having a notched wall extending transversely with respect to the substrate top surface, the wall defining a first recess extending into the seed layer with a height equal to a thickness of the seed layer; a first conductive nanowire in contact with the notched wall, the first conductive nanowire having a contact portion extending into the first recess and covering opposite sidewalls and a bottom of the first recess; a first insulating nanowire in contact with a sidewall of the first conductive nanowire; an insulating layer on the contact portion of the first conductive nanowire and having a first window substantially in correspondence with the contact portion of the first conductive nanowire; and a first conductive die on the insulating layer that includes a conductive contact extending into the first window and contacting the contact portion of the first conductive nano
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Cerofolini, Danilo Mascolo
  • Patent number: 7605066
    Abstract: A method realizes an electric connection between a nanometric circuit and standard electronic components. The method includes: providing, above a semiconductor substrate, a seed having a notched wall substantially perpendicular to the substrate, the wall having n recesses spaced apart from one another; and realizing n conductive nanowires alternated with insulating nanowires. Each realization of a conductive nanowire fills a corresponding recess by a respective elbow-like portion of the conductive nanowire, and partially fills the other recesses by respective notched profile portions, thereby forming the nanometric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Cerofolini, Danilo Mascolo
  • Publication number: 20090154223
    Abstract: A method and device demultiplex a crossbar non-volatile memory that includes a first array of row nano-wires and a second array of column nano-wires, which cross the row nano-wires at a plurality of cross-points, hosting plural memory cells. A first electrode and a second electrode respectively cross a modulated doping portion of the row nano-wires and a modulated doping portion of the column nano-wires. A first contact and a second contact respectively the row nano-wires and the column nano-wires. The first electrode and the second electrode are biased respectively with a first and a second adjustable voltage value that progressively switch one by one said memory cells from the OFF state to the ON state, and this state can be memorized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 7492624
    Abstract: A method and device demultiplex a crossbar non-volatile memory that includes a first array of row nano-wires and a second array of column nano-wires, which cross the row nano-wires at a plurality of cross-points, hosting plural memory cells. A first electrode and a second electrode respectively cross a modulated doping portion of the row nano-wires and a modulated doping portion of the column nano-wires. A first contact and a second contact respectively the row nano-wires and the column nano-wires. The first electrode and the second electrode are biased respectively with a first and a second adjustable voltage value that progressively switch one by one said memory cells from the OFF state to the ON state, and this state can be memorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Publication number: 20090020747
    Abstract: A nanometric device comprising a substrate; a plurality of conductive spacers of a conductive material, each conductive spacer being arranged on top of and transverse to the substrate, the conductive spacers including respective pairs of conductive spacers defining respective hosting seats each of less than 30 nm wide; and a plurality of nanometric elements respectively accommodated in the hosting seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini, Gianguido Rizzotto
  • Publication number: 20090003063
    Abstract: A method and device demultiplex a crossbar non-volatile memory that includes a first array of row nano-wires and a second array of column nano-wires, which cross the row nano-wires at a plurality of cross-points, hosting plural memory cells. A first electrode and a second electrode respectively cross a modulated doping portion of the row nano-wires and a modulated doping portion of the column nano-wires. A first contact and a second contact respectively the row nano-wires and the column nano-wires. The first electrode and the second electrode are biased respectively with a first and a second adjustable voltage value that progressively switch one by one said memory cells from the OFF state to the ON state, and this state can be memorized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini
  • Patent number: 7456508
    Abstract: A hosting structure of nanometric components is described comprising a substrate, a first multi-spacer level comprising a first plurality of spacers including first conductive spacers parallel to each other, and at least a second multi-spacer level realized above said first multi-spacer level and comprising a second plurality of spacers arranged transversally to said first plurality of spacers and including at least a lower discontinuous insulating layer and an upper layer, including in turn second conductive spacers. In particular, each pair of spacers of the second multi-spacer level defines with a spacer of the first multi-spacer level a plurality of nanometric hosting seats having at least a first and a second conduction terminal realized by portions of the first conductive spacers and of the second conductive spacers faced in the hosting seats. A method for manufacturing such a structure is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Mascolo, Gianfranco Cerofolini, Gianguido Rizzotto