Patents by Inventor Giulio Zoppi
Giulio Zoppi 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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Publication number: 20230318589Abstract: A first input node receives a first input signal and a second input node receives a second input signal. The first and second input signals are in phase quadrature. An edge detector circuit senses the first input signal and produces a pulsed signal indicative of edges detected in the first input signal. A pulse skip and reset circuit senses the pulsed signal and the second input signal, and produces a reset signal indicative of pulses detected in the pulsed signal while the second input signal is de-asserted. A sampling circuit senses the second input signal and the reset signal, and produces an output signal that is deasserted in response to assertion of the second input signal and is asserted in response to a pulse being detected in the reset signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SASInventors: Giulio ZOPPI, Vincent Pascal ONDE, Giuseppe ROMANO
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Patent number: 10686388Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi
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Patent number: 10651691Abstract: Radiofrequency energy that is captured by a radiofrequency power harvester is stored in a storage capacitance. One or more user circuits are supplied with energy stored in the storage capacitance. The harvester operates in alternated charge and burst phases with captured radiofrequency energy stored in the storage capacitance in the charge phases and supplied to the user circuits in the burst phases to perform user circuit tasks. In response to detection of completion of the user circuit tasks in a burst phase, the harvester causes operation to shift to the next charge phase.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi
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Patent number: 10642331Abstract: An electronic device may include a transducer configured to generate an electrical output responsive to an input, and a data storage element configured to change state responsive to the transducer. The electronic device may include a power circuit configured to turn on and supply power responsive to the data storage element changing state, and a processing circuit configured to be powered by the power circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Daniele Mangano, Riccardo Condorelli, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello
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Publication number: 20190222136Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Laurent GONTHIER, Roberto LAROSA, Giulio ZOPPI
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Patent number: 10284107Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi
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Publication number: 20180331580Abstract: Radiofrequency energy that is captured by a radiofrequency power harvester is stored in a storage capacitance. One or more user circuits are supplied with energy stored in the storage capacitance. The harvester operates in alternated charge and burst phases with captured radiofrequency energy stored in the storage capacitance in the charge phases and supplied to the user circuits in the burst phases to perform user circuit tasks. In response to detection of completion of the user circuit tasks in a burst phase, the harvester causes operation to shift to the next charge phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto LAROSA, Giulio ZOPPI
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Patent number: 9979298Abstract: A rectifier bridge circuit includes a first SCR/IGBT switch and a second SCR/IGBT switch coupled to a circuit input to receive an ac input voltage. The first and second SCR/IGBT switches are alternatively switchable to generate a rectified voltage at a circuit output. Control currents coupled to control terminals of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches are power supply sourced from an auxiliary dc source generated by rectifying the ac input voltage. The control currents are generated by current sources coupled between the auxiliary dc source and the control terminals of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches. The current sources are selectively activatable to produce gating currents for switching on and off the first and second SCR/IGBT switches. A controller unit is provided to control the current sources via level shifter circuits. The control implements progressive conduction time of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches so as to provide inrush current limitation.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Tours) SASInventors: Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi, Laurent Gonthier
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Publication number: 20180081416Abstract: An electronic device may include a transducer configured to generate an electrical output responsive to an input, and a data storage element configured to change state responsive to the transducer. The electronic device may include a power circuit configured to turn on and supply power responsive to the data storage element changing state, and a processing circuit configured to be powered by the power circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Daniele Mangano, Riccardo Condorelli, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello
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Patent number: 9912227Abstract: A device for driving a power supply start-up circuit may include a logic unit for storing an operating state of equipment, where the logic unit is activatable by a start-up signal reaching a start-up threshold. The device may also include a detector, where the detector provides a signal to the logic unit indicating a drop in the signal below a drop threshold. The detector may enable the logic unit to continue operating in the presence of a failure of a power supply to store the operating state of the equipment upon occurrence of the failure of the power supply. In addition, the device may include a start-up circuit sensitive to a power supply signal, where the start-up circuit is activatable by the power supply signal as restored after the failure, and the start-up circuit may provide the start-up signal reaching the start-up threshold upon the power supply signal being restored.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Giulio Zoppi, Roberto Larosa, Natale Aiello
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Patent number: 9886074Abstract: An electronic device may include a transducer configured to generate an electrical output responsive to an input, and a data storage element configured to change state responsive to the transducer. The electronic device may include a power circuit configured to turn on and supply power responsive to the data storage element changing state, and a processing circuit configured to be powered by the power circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Daniele Mangano, Riccardo Condorelli, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello
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Patent number: 9673714Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit. The power-on circuit detects a remotely transmitted control signal and causes a transition of the power supply circuit to a turned on state. The power-on circuit includes a transducer configured to provide a power-on signal in response to the remote control signal. The transducer triggers transition to the turned on state through a switch driven by the power-on signal output from the transducer and arranged to supply a power supply circuit enable signal. A DC blocking capacitor is connected between an output of the transducer and a control terminal of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Natale Aiello, Giulio Zoppi, Roberto Larosa
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Publication number: 20170139461Abstract: An electronic device may include a transducer configured to generate an electrical output responsive to an input, and a data storage element configured to change state responsive to the transducer. The electronic device may include a power circuit configured to turn on and supply power responsive to the data storage element changing state, and a processing circuit configured to be powered by the power circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Roberto LAROSA, Daniele Mangano, Riccardo Condorelli, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello
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Publication number: 20170110970Abstract: A rectifier bridge circuit includes a first SCR/IGBT switch and a second SCR/IGBT switch coupled to a circuit input to receive an ac input voltage. The first and second SCR/IGBT switches are alternatively switchable to generate a rectified voltage at a circuit output. Control currents coupled to control terminals of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches are power supply sourced from an auxiliary dc source generated by rectifying the ac input voltage. The control currents are generated by current sources coupled between the auxiliary dc source and the control terminals of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches. The current sources are selectively activatable to produce gating currents for switching on and off the first and second SCR/IGBT switches. A controller unit is provided to control the current sources via level shifter circuits. The control implements progressive conduction time of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches so as to provide inrush current limitation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Tours) SASInventors: Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi, Laurent Gonthier
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Publication number: 20160301325Abstract: An AC/DC converter includes a first terminal and a second terminal to receive an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal to deliver a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge is provided in the converter. A controllable switching or rectifying element has a control terminal configured to receive a control current. A first switch is coupled between a supply voltage and the control terminal to inject the control current. A second switch is coupled between the control terminal and a reference voltage to extract the control current. The first and second switches are selectively actuated by a control circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi
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Patent number: 9461534Abstract: A power supply includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit controlling transitioning of the power supply circuit to a turned-on state. The power-on circuit includes a code driver, a controller coupled to the power supply circuit and code driver, and a transducer to detect a wireless control signal and generate an enable signal based thereupon. A transistor has a first conduction terminal coupled to the code driver, a second conduction terminal coupled to the controller, and a control terminal coupled to the transducer to receive the enable signal so the transistor switches based thereupon. The code driver detects a code embedded in the wireless control signal based upon switching of the transistor, and generates a power on signal for the controller based upon the code. The controller causes the power supply circuit to transition from the turned-off state to the turned-on state based upon the power on signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello
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Publication number: 20160241130Abstract: A device for driving a power supply start-up circuit may include a logic unit for storing an operating state of equipment, where the logic unit is activatable by a start-up signal reaching a start-up threshold. The device may also include a detector, where the detector provides a signal to the logic unit indicating a drop in the signal below a drop threshold. The detector may enable the logic unit to continue operating in the presence of a failure of a power supply to store the operating state of the equipment upon occurrence of the failure of the power supply. In addition, the device may include a start-up circuit sensitive to a power supply signal, where the start-up circuit is activatable by the power supply signal as restored after the failure, and the start-up circuit may provide the start-up signal reaching the start-up threshold upon the power supply signal being restored.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Giulio ZOPPI, Roberto LAROSA, Natale AIELLO
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Publication number: 20150229222Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit. The power-on circuit detects a remotely transmitted control signal and causes a transition of the power supply circuit to a turned on state. The power-on circuit includes a transducer configured to provide a power-on signal in response to the remote control signal. The transducer triggers transition to the turned on state through a switch driven by the power-on signal output from the transducer and arranged to supply a power supply circuit enable signal. A DC blocking capacitor is connected between an output of the transducer and a control terminal of the switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Natale Aiello, Giulio Zoppi, Roberto Larosa
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Publication number: 20150194876Abstract: A power supply includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit controlling transitioning of the power supply circuit to a turned-on state. The power-on circuit includes a code driver, a controller coupled to the power supply circuit and code driver, and a transducer to detect a wireless control signal and generate an enable signal based thereupon. A transistor has a first conduction terminal coupled to the code driver, a second conduction terminal coupled to the controller, and a control terminal coupled to the transducer to receive the enable signal so the transistor switches based thereupon. The code driver detects a code embedded in the wireless control signal based upon switching of the transistor, and generates a power on signal for the controller based upon the code. The controller causes the power supply circuit to transition from the turned-off state to the turned-on state based upon the power on signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello
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Patent number: 9071158Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit. The power-on circuit detects a remotely transmitted control signal and causes a transition of the power supply circuit to a turned on state. The power-on circuit includes a transducer configured to provide a power-on signal in response to the remote control signal. The transducer triggers transition to the turned on state through a switch driven by the power-on signal output from the transducer and arranged to supply a power supply circuit enable signal. A DC blocking capacitor is connected between an output of the transducer and a control terminal of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Roberto Larosa, Giulio Zoppi, Natale Aiello