Patents by Inventor Jacopo Mulatti

Jacopo Mulatti 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: 6249172
    Abstract: Circuit for discharging to ground, supplied by a supply voltage, comprising a reference voltage, a negative potential node, first circuitry adapted to couple the negative potential node to the reference voltage in response to a control signal. Second circuitry is provided adapted to determine in the first circuitry the passage of a controlled current for the discharge of the negative potential node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Ghilardelli, Stefano Commodaro, Maurizio Branchetti, Jacopo Mulatti
  • Patent number: 6184670
    Abstract: A temperature-related voltage generating circuit has an input terminal receiving a control voltage independent of temperature, and an output terminal delivering a temperature-related control voltage. The input and output terminals are connected together through at least an amplifier stage adapted to set an output reference voltage from a comparison of input voltages. The voltage generating circuit also includes a generator element generating a varying voltage with temperature and connected between a ground voltage reference and a non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier stage. The amplifier stage has an output terminal adapted to deliver a multiple of the varying voltage with temperature to an inverting input terminal of a comparator stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Jacopo Mulatti, Matteo Zammattio, Andrea Ghilardelli, Marcello Carrera
  • Patent number: 6184741
    Abstract: A charge pump comprises at least one charge pump stage including a first diode having an anode and a cathode, and a capacitor having a first plate connected to the cathode of the diode and a second plate connected to a clock signal that periodically varies between a reference voltage and a supply voltage, the anode of said diode forming a first terminal of the charge pump. The charge pump further comprises a second diode having an anode connected to the cathode of the first diode and a cathode forming a second terminal of the charge pump, first switching means for selectively coupling the first terminal of the charge pump to the voltage supply and second switching means for selectively coupling the second terminal of the charge pump to the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Ghilardelli, Giovanni Campardo, Jacopo Mulatti
  • Patent number: 6153914
    Abstract: An output circuit for an integrated circuit, includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series between a first external voltage and a second external voltage external to the integrated circuit, respectively through first and second electrical connecting paths. The first transistor is for carrying an output line of the integrated circuit to the first external voltage, while the second transistor is for carrying the external line of the integrated circuit to the second external voltage. The second transistor is formed inside a first well of a first conductivity type contained inside a second well of a second conductivity type formed in a substrate of the first conductivity type. The second well of the second conductivity type is connected to the first external voltage through a third electrical connecting path distinct from the first electrical connecting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: STMicroelectronic S.r.l.
    Inventors: Jacopo Mulatti, Stefano Zanardi, Carla Maria Golla, Armando Conci
  • Patent number: 6130572
    Abstract: A negative charge pump circuit comprises a plurality of charge pump stages connected in series to each other. Each stage has a stage input terminal and a stage output terminal. A first stage has the stage input terminal connected to a reference voltage, a final stage has the stage output terminal operatively connected to an output terminal of the charge pump at which a negative voltage is developed; intermediate stages have the respective stage input terminal connected to the stage output terminal of a preceding stage and the respective stage output terminal connected to the stage input terminal of a following stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Ghilardelli, Jacopo Mulatti, Maurizio Branchetti
  • Patent number: 6101118
    Abstract: A voltage regulator for memory circuits has a differential stage having a non-inverting input terminal receiving a control voltage independent of the temperature; an inverting input terminal connected to a ground voltage reference; a feed terminal connected to a booster circuit adapted for producing a boosted voltage; and an output terminal connected to an output terminal of the voltage regulator, for producing an output voltage reference starting from the comparison of input voltages. The voltage regulator further comprises a connecting transistor inserted between the feed terminal and the output terminal of the differential stage, the connecting transistor being source follower having a control terminal connected to the output terminal of the differential stage, as well as a source terminal connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator, in such a way as to self-limit the transition of the voltage on the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Jacopo Mulatti, Marcello Carrera, Stefano Zanardi, Maurizio Branchetti
  • Patent number: 6075402
    Abstract: A charge pump comprises a plurality of stages connected in series, an input terminal of the charge pump being connected to a voltage supply and an output terminal of the charge pump providing an output voltage higher than the voltage supply. Each stage comprises unidirectional current flow MOS transistor means connected between a stage input terminal and a stage output terminal allowing current to flow only from said stage input terminal to said stage output terminal, and a first capacitor with one plate connected to said stage output terminal and another plate driven by a respective first digital signal periodically switching between ground and said voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Ghilardelli, Jacopo Mulatti, Stefano Ghezzi
  • Patent number: 6016073
    Abstract: A charge pump includes a plurality of stages connected in series between a reference potential and an output terminal of the charge pump. The plurality of stages includes a first group of stages, proximate to the reference potential, and a second group of stages proximate to the output terminal of the charge pump. Each stage of the first group includes a pass-transistor with first and second terminals respectively connected to an input and an output of the stage, and a first capacitor with a first plate connected to the output of the stage and a second plate driven by a digital signal switching between the reference voltage and a positive voltage. Each stage of the second group includes a junction diode having a first electrode connected to an input of the stage and a second electrode connected to an output of the stage, and a second capacitor having a first plate connected to the output of the stage and a second plate driven by a digital signal switching between the reference voltage and the voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Ghilardelli, Jacopo Mulatti, Maurizio Branchetti
  • Patent number: 5859797
    Abstract: A circuit for generating biasing signals in reading of a redundant UPROM cell incorporating at least one memory element of the EPROM or flash type and having a control terminal and a conduction terminal to be biased, as well as MOS transistors connecting the memory element with a reference low supply voltage comprises a voltage booster for generating a first voltage output signal to be applied to the control terminal of the memory element and a limitation network for the voltage signal connected to the output of the voltage booster. There is also provided a circuit portion for generating a second voltage output signal to be applied to the control terminal of one of the above mentioned transistors. This circuit portion comprises a timing section interlocked with the voltage booster of a section generating the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Maccarrone, Jacopo Mulatti, Carla Maria Golla