Patents by Inventor Luca GUERINONI

Luca GUERINONI 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).

  • Publication number: 20240142235
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope with detection along a vertical axis is provided with a detection structure having a movable structure, suspended above a substrate so as to perform, as a function of an angular velocity around the vertical axis a sense movement along a first horizontal axis. The movable structure has at least one drive mass internally defining a window, elastically coupled to a rotor anchor, at an anchoring region, through elastic anchoring elements; at least one bridge element, rigid and of a conductive material, cantilevered suspended and extending within the window along the first horizontal axis, elastically coupled to the drive mass; movable electrodes, carried integrally by the bridge element with extension along a second horizontal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paola CARULLI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI, Patrick FEDELI, Luca GUERINONI
  • Patent number: 11971284
    Abstract: Embodiments of a Coriolis-force-based flow sensing device and embodiments of methods for manufacturing embodiments of the Coriolis-force-based flow sensing device, comprising the steps of: forming a driving electrode; forming, on the driving electrode, a first sacrificial region; forming, on the first sacrificial region, a first structural portion with a second sacrificial region buried therein; forming openings for selectively etching the second sacrificial region; forming, within the openings, a porous layer having pores; removing the second sacrificial region through the pores of the porous layer, forming a buried channel; growing, on the porous layer and not within the buried channel, a second structural portion that forms, with the first structural region, a structural body; selectively removing the first sacrificial region thus suspending the structural body on the driving electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Gattere, Francesco Rizzini, Luca Guerinoni, Lorenzo Corso, Domenico Giusti
  • Patent number: 11965739
    Abstract: The MEMS gyroscope is formed by a substrate, a first mass and a second mass, wherein the first and the second masses are suspended over the substrate and extend, at rest, in a plane of extension defining a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction. The MEMS gyroscope further has a drive structure coupled to the first mass and configured, in use, to cause a movement of the first mass in the first direction, and an elastic coupling structure, which extends between the first mass and the second mass and is configured to couple the movement of the first mass in the first direction with a movement of the second mass in the second direction. The elastic coupling structure has a first portion having a first stiffness and a second portion having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniele Prati, Luca Giuseppe Falorni, Luca Guerinoni
  • Patent number: 11906306
    Abstract: In an embodiment a circuit includes an inertial measurement unit configured to be oscillated via a driving signal provided by driving circuitry, a lock-in amplifier configured to receive a sensing signal from the inertial measurement unit and a reference demodulation signal which is a function of the driving signal and provide an inertial measurement signal based on the sensing signal, wherein the reference demodulation signal is affected by a variable phase error, phase meter circuitry configured to receive the driving signal and the sensing signal and provide, as a function of a phase difference between the driving signal and the sensing signal, a phase correction signal for the reference demodulation signal and a correction node configured to apply the phase correction signal to the reference demodulation signal so that, in response to the phase correction signal being applied to the reference demodulation signal, the phase error is maintained in a vicinity of a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giacomo Langfelder, Leonardo Gaffuri Pagani, Luca Guerinoni, Luca Giuseppe Falorni, Patrick Fedeli, Paola Carulli
  • Publication number: 20230358540
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope includes: the support structure; a sensing mass, coupled to the support structure with degrees of freedom along a driving direction and a sensing direction perpendicular to each other; and a calibration structure facing the sensing mass and separated from the sensing mass by a gap having an average width, the calibration structure being movable with respect to the sensing mass so that displacements of the calibration structure cause variations in the average width of the gap. A calibration actuator controls a relative position of the calibration structure with respect to the sensing mass and the average width of the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca GUERINONI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI
  • Patent number: 11808573
    Abstract: The MEMS gyroscope has a mobile mass carried by a supporting structure to move in a driving direction and in a first sensing direction, perpendicular to each other. A driving structure governs movement of the mobile mass in the driving direction at a driving frequency. A movement sensing structure is coupled to the mobile mass and detects the movement of the mobile mass in the sensing direction. A quadrature-injection structure is coupled to the mobile mass and causes a first and a second movement of the mobile mass in the sensing direction in a first calibration half-period and, respectively, a second calibration half-period. The movement-sensing structure supplies a sensing signal having an amplitude switching between a first and a second value that depend upon the movement of the mobile mass as a result of an external angular velocity and of the first and second quadrature movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Guerinoni, Luca Giuseppe Falorni, Matteo Fabio Brunetto
  • Publication number: 20230322548
    Abstract: A MEMS angular rate sensor is presented with two pairs of suspended masses that are micromachined on a semiconductor layer. A first pair includes two masses opposite to and in mirror image of each other. The first pair of masses has driving structures to generate a mechanical oscillation in a linear direction. A second pair of masses includes two masses opposite to and in mirror image of each other. The second pair of masses is coupled to the first pair of driving masses with coupling elements. The two pairs of masses are coupled to a central bridge. The central bridge has a differential configuration to reject any external disturbances. Each of the masses of the two pairs of masses includes different portions to detect different linear and angular movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Giuseppe FALORNI, Paola CARULLI, Patrick FEDELI, Luca GUERINONI
  • Publication number: 20230280189
    Abstract: A gyroscopic sensor unit detects a phase drift between a demodulated output signal and demodulation signal during output of a quadrature test signal. A delay calculator detects the phase drift based on changes in the demodulated output signal during application of the quadrature test signal. A delay compensation circuit compensates for the phase drift by delaying the demodulation signal by the phase drift value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca GUERINONI, Gabriele GATTERE
  • Patent number: 11740088
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope includes: the support structure; a sensing mass, coupled to the support structure with degrees of freedom along a driving direction and a sensing direction perpendicular to each other; and a calibration structure facing the sensing mass and separated from the sensing mass by a gap having an average width, the calibration structure being movable with respect to the sensing mass so that displacements of the calibration structure cause variations in the average width of the gap. A calibration actuator controls a relative position of the calibration structure with respect to the sensing mass and the average width of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Guerinoni, Luca Giuseppe Falorni
  • Publication number: 20230228570
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope is provided with a detection structure having: a substrate with a top surface parallel to a horizontal plane (xy); a mobile mass, suspended above the substrate to perform, as a function of a first angular velocity (?x) around a first axis (x) of the horizontal plane (xy), at least a first detection movement of rotation around a second axis (y) of the horizontal plane; and a first and a second stator elements integral with the substrate and arranged underneath the mobile mass to define a capacitive coupling, a capacitance value thereof is indicative of the first angular velocity (?x).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Patrick FEDELI, Luca GUERINONI, Paola CARULLI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI
  • Patent number: 11668585
    Abstract: A gyroscopic sensor unit detects a phase drift between a demodulated output signal and demodulation signal during output of a quadrature test signal. A delay calculator detects the phase drift based on changes in the demodulated output signal during application of the quadrature test signal. A delay compensation circuit compensates for the phase drift by delaying the demodulation signal by the phase drift value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Guerinoni, Gabriele Gattere
  • Publication number: 20230168488
    Abstract: A MEMS shutter including: a substrate of semiconductor material traversed by a main aperture, and a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, which form a supporting structure fixed to the substrate; a plurality of deformable structures; a plurality of actuators; and a plurality of shielding structures, each of which is formed by a corresponding portion of at least one between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, the shielding structures being arranged angularly around the underlying main aperture so as to provide shielding of the main aperture, each shielding structure being further coupled to the supporting structure via a corresponding deformable structure. Each actuator may be controlled so as to cause a rotation of a corresponding shielding structure between a respective first position and a respective second position, thus varying shielding of the main aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico VERCESI, Fabrizio CERINI, Luca GUERINONI, Nicolo' BONI
  • Publication number: 20230168415
    Abstract: A MEMS shutter including: a semiconductor substrate traversed by an aperture; a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, which form a supporting structure fixed to the substrate; a plurality of deformable structures, each of which is formed by a corresponding portion of at least one between the first and second semiconductor layers; a plurality of actuators; a plurality of shielding structures, each of which is formed by a corresponding portion of at least one between the first and second semiconductor layers, the shielding structures being arranged angularly around the underlying aperture so as to provide shielding of the aperture, each shielding structure being further coupled to the supporting structure via a deformable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico VERCESI, Nicolo' BONI, Fabrizio CERINI, Luca GUERINONI
  • Publication number: 20230068616
    Abstract: A gyroscopic sensor unit detects a phase drift between a demodulated output signal and demodulation signal during output of a quadrature test signal. A delay calculator detects the phase drift based on changes in the demodulated output signal during application of the quadrature test signal. A delay compensation circuit compensates for the phase drift by delaying the demodulation signal by the phase drift value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca GUERINONI, Gabriele GATTERE
  • Publication number: 20230036566
    Abstract: The MEMS gyroscope is formed by a substrate, a first mass and a second mass, wherein the first and the second masses are suspended over the substrate and extend, at rest, in a plane of extension defining a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction. The MEMS gyroscope further has a drive structure coupled to the first mass and configured, in use, to cause a movement of the first mass in the first direction, and an elastic coupling structure, which extends between the first mass and the second mass and is configured to couple the movement of the first mass in the first direction with a movement of the second mass in the second direction. The elastic coupling structure has a first portion having a first stiffness and a second portion having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniele PRATI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI, Luca GUERINONI
  • Publication number: 20220390234
    Abstract: In an embodiment a circuit includes an inertial measurement unit configured to be oscillated via a driving signal provided by driving circuitry, a lock-in amplifier configured to receive a sensing signal from the inertial measurement unit and a reference demodulation signal which is a function of the driving signal and provide an inertial measurement signal based on the sensing signal, wherein the reference demodulation signal is affected by a variable phase error, phase meter circuitry configured to receive the driving signal and the sensing signal and provide, as a function of a phase difference between the driving signal and the sensing signal, a phase correction signal for the reference demodulation signal and a correction node configured to apply the phase correction signal to the reference demodulation signal so that, in response to the phase correction signal being applied to the reference demodulation signal, the phase error is maintained in a vicinity of a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Giacomo Langfelder, Leonardo Gaffuri Pagani, Luca Guerinoni, Luca Giuseppe Falorni, Patrick Fedeli, Paola Carulli
  • Publication number: 20220380202
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes a substrate, a first structural layer, and a second structural layer of semiconductor material. A sensing mass extends in the first structural layer and is coupled to the substrate by first elastic connections to enable oscillation of the sensing mass in a sensing direction perpendicular to the substrate by a maximum amount relative to a resting position of the sensing mass. An out-of-plane stopper structure includes an anchorage fixed to the substrate and a mechanical end-of-travel structure, which extends in the second structural layer, faces the sensing mass, and is separated therefrom by a gap having a width smaller than the maximum displacement distance of the sensing mass. The mechanical end-of-travel structure is coupled to the anchorage by second elastic connections that enable movement of the mechanical end-of-travel structure in the sensing direction in response to an impact of the sensing mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca GUERINONI, Patrick FEDELI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI
  • Publication number: 20220252397
    Abstract: The MEMS gyroscope has a mobile mass carried by a supporting structure to move in a driving direction and in a first sensing direction, perpendicular to each other. A driving structure governs movement of the mobile mass in the driving direction at a driving frequency. A movement sensing structure is coupled to the mobile mass and detects the movement of the mobile mass in the sensing direction. A quadrature-injection structure is coupled to the mobile mass and causes a first and a second movement of the mobile mass in the sensing direction in a first calibration half-period and, respectively, a second calibration half-period. The movement-sensing structure supplies a sensing signal having an amplitude switching between a first and a second value that depend upon the movement of the mobile mass as a result of an external angular velocity and of the first and second quadrature movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Luca GUERINONI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI, Matteo Fabio BRUNETTO
  • Publication number: 20220170745
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope includes: the support structure; a sensing mass, coupled to the support structure with degrees of freedom along a driving direction and a sensing direction perpendicular to each other; and a calibration structure facing the sensing mass and separated from the sensing mass by a gap having an average width, the calibration structure being movable with respect to the sensing mass so that displacements of the calibration structure cause variations in the average width of the gap. A calibration actuator controls a relative position of the calibration structure with respect to the sensing mass and the average width of the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca GUERINONI, Luca Giuseppe FALORNI
  • Patent number: 11340069
    Abstract: The MEMS gyroscope has a mobile mass carried by a supporting structure to move in a driving direction and in a first sensing direction, perpendicular to each other. A driving structure governs movement of the mobile mass in the driving direction at a driving frequency. A movement sensing structure is coupled to the mobile mass and detects the movement of the mobile mass in the sensing direction. A quadrature-injection structure is coupled to the mobile mass and causes a first and a second movement of the mobile mass in the sensing direction in a first calibration half-period and, respectively, a second calibration half-period. The movement-sensing structure supplies a sensing signal having an amplitude switching between a first and a second value that depend upon the movement of the mobile mass as a result of an external angular velocity and of the first and second quadrature movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Guerinoni, Luca Giuseppe Falorni, Matteo Fabio Brunetto