Patents by Inventor Giovanni Lombardo

Giovanni Lombardo 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: 10361633
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output terminal a first input terminal is configured to receive a signal proportional to a voltage between first and second terminals of the primary winding, and a second input terminal is configured to receive a signal proportional to a current flowing through the primary winding. A quasi-resonant (QR) circuit has a first input coupled to the first terminal, and a second input coupled to an output of an oscillator circuit. A selector circuit has a first input coupled to the output of the oscillator circuit, a second input coupled to an output of the QR circuit, and a select input. An output control circuit includes a first input coupled to the second input terminal, a second input coupled to an output of the selector circuit, and an output coupled to a control terminal of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro
  • Publication number: 20170353117
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output terminal a first input terminal is configured to receive a signal proportional to a voltage between first and second terminals of the primary winding, and a second input terminal is configured to receive a signal proportional to a current flowing through the primary winding. A quasi-resonant (QR) circuit has a first input coupled to the first terminal, and a second input coupled to an output of an oscillator circuit. A selector circuit has a first input coupled to the output of the oscillator circuit, a second input coupled to an output of the QR circuit, and a select input. An output control circuit includes a first input coupled to the second input terminal, a second input coupled to an output of the selector circuit, and an output coupled to a control terminal of the switching transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro
  • Patent number: 9780673
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching power supply adapted to convert an input voltage into an output voltage according to a switching rate of a switching element. The control device includes first control means for switching the switching element in a first working mode at a constant frequency and second control means for switching the switching element in a second working mode at a variable frequency, under a maximum frequency, in response to the detection of a predefined operative condition of the switching power supply. The control device further includes means for selecting the first working mode or the second working mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro
  • Publication number: 20140133195
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching power supply adapted to convert an input voltage into an output voltage according to a switching rate of a switching element. The control device includes first control means for switching the switching element in a first working mode at a constant frequency and second control means for switching the switching element in a second working mode at a variable frequency, under a maximum frequency, in response to the detection of a predefined operative condition of the switching power supply. The control device further includes means for selecting the first working mode or the second working mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni LOMBARDO, Claudio ADRAGNA, Salvatore TUMMINARO
  • Patent number: 8665614
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching power supply adapted to convert an input voltage into an output voltage according to a switching rate of a switching element. The control device includes first control means for switching the switching element in a first working mode at a constant frequency and second control means for switching the switching element in a second working mode at a variable frequency, under a maximum frequency, in response to the detection of a predefined operative condition of the switching power supply. The control device further includes means for selecting the first working mode or the second working mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro
  • Patent number: 8576930
    Abstract: A receiver of a signal communication apparatus; the apparatus including a transmitter adapted to transmit coded signals, the receiver for receiving the signal and a wireless interface interposed between the transmitter and the receiver and having a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The receiver includes a decoder configured to decode the received signal and circuitry coupled to the receiving antenna and capable of triggering the decoder if the value of the received signal is outside a logical hysteresis having a first logic threshold having a value smaller than the value of the direct current component of the received signal and a second logic threshold having a value greater than the value of the direct current component of the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: STMicoelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Giombanco, Michele Grande, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Patent number: 8478332
    Abstract: A receiver of a signal communication apparatus; the apparatus having a transmitter for transmitting the signals, the receiver for receiving the signals and a galvanically isolated wireless interface interposed between the transmitter and the receiver and having a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The receiver including a disturbance rejection circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and capable of compensating for the parasite currents flowing between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna at the potential variations between the input and output of the galvanic isolation interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.R.L.
    Inventors: Salvatore Giombanco, Michele Grande, Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Patent number: 8442100
    Abstract: A transmission and reception apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver and a galvanically isolated interface arranged between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter, receiver and interface are arranged so as to form a two-level isolated digital channel and the transmitter includes a block adapted to send a clock signal to the receiver. The receiver includes a circuit adapted to synchronize the receiver and the transmitter using the received clock signal and a circuit adapted to memorize information related to the synchronization in a storage element to hold the synchronization while the receiver is receiving the digital data. The transmitter block is adapted to send the digital data signal after the synchronization of the receiver and transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore Giombanco, Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Patent number: 8416717
    Abstract: A signal communication apparatus comprising first and second channels for communicating signals between two electronic devices; each of said first and second channels has a transmitter for transmitting signals, a receiver for receiving signals and an interface arranged between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitters code the signals in the form of a frame of H bits, with H being an integer, and adapted to serially transmit said frame of H bits through said interface, and the receivers decode the frames of H bits, a frame of H bits having P data bits, K redundancy bits and a sequence of L control bits adapted to identify the type of frame to be transmitted, with L, P and K being integers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Giombanco, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Publication number: 20110026544
    Abstract: A signal communication apparatus comprising first and second channels for communicating signals between two electronic devices; each of said first and second channels has a transmitter for transmitting signals, a receiver for receiving signals and an interface arranged between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitters code the signals in the form of a frame of H bits, with H being an integer, and adapted to serially transmit said frame of H bits through said interface, and the receivers decode the frames of H bits, a frame of H bits having P data bits, K redundancy bits and a sequence of L control bits adapted to identify the type of frame to be transmitted, with L, P and K being integers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Giombanco, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Publication number: 20110026612
    Abstract: A receiver of a signal communication apparatus; the apparatus including a transmitter adapted to transmit coded signals, the receiver for receiving the signal and a wireless interface interposed between the transmitter and the receiver and having a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The receiver includes a decoder configured to decode the received signal and circuitry coupled to the receiving antenna and capable of triggering the decoder if the value of the received signal is outside a logical hysteresis having a first logic threshold having a value smaller than the value of the direct current component of the received signal and a second logic threshold having a value greater than the value of the direct current component of the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Giombanco, Michele Grande, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Publication number: 20110028104
    Abstract: A receiver of a signal communication apparatus; the apparatus having a transmitter for transmitting the signals, the receiver for receiving the signals and a galvanically isolated wireless interface interposed between the transmitter and the receiver and having a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The receiver including a disturbance rejection circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and capable of compensating for the parasite currents flowing between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna at the potential variations between the input and output of the galvanic isolation interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore Giombanco, Michele Grande, Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Publication number: 20100329364
    Abstract: A transmission and reception apparatus for at least one digital data signal is described. The digital data signal is characterized by two logical levels, first and second logical levels, with said second logical level higher than the first logical level. The apparatus comprises a transmitter, a receiver and a galvanically isolated interface arranged between the transmitter and the receiver; said transmitter, receiver and interface are arranged so as to form a two-level isolated digital channel and the transmitter comprises a block adapted to send a clock signal to the receiver. The receiver comprises, a circuit adapted to synchronize the receiver and the transmitter using the received clock signal and a circuit adapted to memorize information related to the synchronization in a storage element to hold the synchronization while the receiver is receiving said digital data. The transmitter block is adapted to send said digital data signal after the synchronization of the receiver and transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Salvatore Giombanco, Giovanni Lombardo, Salvatore Tumminaro, Filippo Marino
  • Publication number: 20090086513
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a switching power supply adapted to convert an input voltage into an output voltage according to a switching rate of a switching element. The control device includes first control means for switching the switching element in a first working mode at a constant frequency and second control means for switching the switching element in a second working mode at a variable frequency, under a maximum frequency, in response to the detection of a predefined operative condition of the switching power supply. The control device further includes means for selecting the first working mode or the second working mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lombardo, Claudio Adragna, Salvatore Tumminaro