Patents by Inventor Laurent Gonthier

Laurent Gonthier 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: 8994283
    Abstract: A circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprising: a first gate turn-off thyristor connected to first and second terminals of the circuit; and a control circuit for turning off the first thyristor when the voltage between the first and second terminals exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Patent number: 8988908
    Abstract: A capacitive power supply including: a first capacitive element and a first resistive element in series between a first terminal of a power switch and at least one rectifying element having a second terminal connected to a first electrode of at least one second capacitive element for providing a D.C. voltage; and a bidirectional switch in parallel on the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Patent number: 8982594
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a switch in series with a capacitive element. A circuit may include a bidirectional switch and a diode in parallel with first and second conduction terminals of the switch. The switch may be configured to control a capacitive element adapted to be coupled to an A.C. voltage. The switch includes first and second conduction terminals configured to conduct a same current when the switch is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Antoine Passal, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20150023078
    Abstract: A control circuit varies the power of a load powered by an alternating voltage, comprising: a first thyristor and a first diode connected in antiparallel between first and second nodes, the cathode of the first diode being on the side of the first node; a second thyristor and a second diode connected in antiparallel between the second node and a third node, the cathode of the second diode being on the side of the third node; third and fourth diodes connected in antiseries between the first and third nodes, the cathodes of the third and fourth diodes being connected to a fourth node; a transistor between the second and fourth nodes; and a control unit for controlling the first and second thyristors and the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Benoit Renard, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20140062422
    Abstract: A circuit can be used for charging a capacitor with an AC voltage. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a capacitor coupled to be charged with the AC voltage. An adjustment is configured to adjust a capacitor charge speed according to a value of the AC voltage. The adjustment circuit includes at least one bipolar transistor coupled to receive a voltage at a base of the bipolar transistor. The voltage is a function of the value of the AC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Publication number: 20140021872
    Abstract: A circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprising: a first gate turn-off thyristor connected to first and second terminals of the circuit; and a control circuit for turning off the first thyristor when the voltage between the first and second terminals exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Patent number: 8564209
    Abstract: A circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprising: a first gate turn-off thyristor connected to first and second terminals of the circuit; and a control circuit for turning off the first thyristor when the voltage between the first and second terminals exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Publication number: 20120163053
    Abstract: A circuit including a switch controlling a capacitive element intended to receive an A.C. voltage, and a diode in parallel with the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Antoine Passal, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20120163050
    Abstract: A circuit for converting an A.C. power supply voltage into a D.C. voltage, including: a first branch capable of providing a first power level; and a second parallel branch capable of providing a second power level greater than the first one, the second branch including a bidirectional activation switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Publication number: 20120155138
    Abstract: A capacitive power supply including: a first capacitive element and a first resistive element in series between a first terminal of a power switch and at least one rectifying element having a second terminal connected to a first electrode of at least one second capacitive element for providing a D.C. voltage; and a bidirectional switch in parallel on the resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent GONTHIER, Antoine PASSAL
  • Publication number: 20120087052
    Abstract: A method comprising: a) during at least part of a conduction phase of the triac, measuring the gate potential of the triac; and b) comparing a value based on said measurement with a reference threshold and deducing the presence or the absence of an overcurrent based on said comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Design & Application sro, STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Jan Dreser, Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 8004231
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for controlling a triac intended to be series-connected with a resistive element of positive temperature coefficient or a capacitive element, and a winding for starting an asynchronous motor, for supply by an A.C. voltage, the present invention including the steps of: detecting a voltage representative of the voltage across the series connection of the element and of the triac; comparing this detected voltage with respect to a threshold; and blocking a turning back on of the triac when the threshold has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Jean-Michel Simonnet
  • Publication number: 20110006721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the speed and the rotation direction of an asynchronous motor (1), comprising a first circuit (7) with two bi-directional switches (T?4, T?5) individually controlled and having first conducting terminals connected to a common terminal (6) for applying a direct potential (Vcc) and having second conducting terminals that can be respectively connected to the first ends (12, 14) of windings (15, 16) of the motor stator, and a second circuit (3?) with at least two parallel bi-directional switches (T1, T2, T3) individually controlled and having first respective conducting terminals (Ki) connected to the common terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Raynald Achart
  • Publication number: 20100315006
    Abstract: A circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprising: a first gate turn-off thyristor connected to first and second terminals of the circuit; and a control circuit for turning off the first thyristor when the voltage between the first and second terminals exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
  • Publication number: 20090174359
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for controlling a triac intended to be series-connected with a resistive element of positive temperature coefficient or a capacitive element, and a winding for starting an asynchronous motor, for supply by an A.C. voltage, the present invention including the steps of: detecting a voltage representative of the voltage across the series connection of the element and of the triac; comparing this detected voltage with respect to a threshold; and blocking a turning back on of the triac when the threshold has been exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: STMcroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Gonthier, Jean-Michel Simonnet
  • Patent number: 7514897
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for controlling a triac intended to be series-connected with a resistive element of positive temperature coefficient or which is at least capacitive, and a winding for starting an asynchronous motor, for supply by an A.C. voltage, the present invention including the steps of: detecting a voltage representative of the voltage across the series connection of the element and of the triac; comparing this detected voltage with respect to a threshold; and blocking a turning back on of the triac when the threshold has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 7483280
    Abstract: A capacitive power supply circuit, comprising a power storage element between two output terminals for providing a rectified output voltage; in series between a first input terminal for applying an A.C. voltage and a first of the output terminals, at least one capacitor and a first diode; a switch controllable by application of a signal on a triggering terminal; and means for controlling said switch to the on state when the output voltage is in a predetermined range of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Ghafour Benabdelaziz, Laurent Gonthier
  • Patent number: 7479744
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power in a load supplied by an A.C. voltage and directly connected to a first terminal of application of the A.C. voltage, including two isolated-gate bipolar transistors, connected in anti-parallel between a second terminal of application of the A.C. voltage and the load; circuitry for detecting the zero crossing of the A.C. supply voltage in a first direction; circuitry for generating, at each period of the supply voltage, a pulse of predetermined duration for controlling a first one of said transistors, the time of occurrence of the pulse being conditioned by the detection of the zero crossing of the A.C. voltage and by a desired power reference setting a variable delay of occurrence of the pulse with respect to the detected zero crossing; and circuitry for inverting and transferring said pulse to the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Raynald Achart, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20080157747
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power in a load supplied by an A.C. voltage and directly connected to a first terminal of application of the A.C. voltage, including two isolated-gate bipolar transistors, connected in anti-parallel between a second terminal of application of the A.C. voltage and the load; circuitry for detecting the zero crossing of the A.C. supply voltage in a first direction; circuitry for generating, at each period of the supply voltage, a pulse of predetermined duration for controlling a first one of said transistors, the time of occurrence of the pulse being conditioned by the detection of the zero crossing of the A.C. voltage and by a desired power reference setting a variable delay of occurrence of the pulse with respect to the detected zero crossing; and circuitry for inverting and transferring said pulse to the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Raynald Achart, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20070216375
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power in a load supplied by an A.C. voltage and directly connected to a first terminal of application of the A.C. voltage, including two isolated-gate bipolar transistors, connected in anti-parallel between a second terminal of application of the A.C. voltage and the load; circuitry for detecting the zero crossing of the A.C. supply voltage in a first direction; circuitry for generating, at each period of the supply voltage, a pulse of predetermined duration for controlling a first one of said transistors, the time of occurrence of the pulse being conditioned by the detection of the zero crossing of the A.C. voltage and by a desired power reference setting a variable delay of occurrence of the pulse with respect to the detected zero crossing; and circuitry for inverting and transferring said pulse to the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Raynald Achart, Laurent Gonthier