Patents by Inventor Marco Sammartano
Marco Sammartano 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: 20230412080Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch configured to be coupled intermediate a high-voltage node and low-voltage circuitry and configured to couple the low-voltage circuitry to the high-voltage node. A voltage-sensing node is configured to be coupled to the high-voltage node via a pull-up resistor. A further electronic switch can be switched to a conductive state to couple the voltage-sensing node and the control node of the electronic switch. A comparator compares a threshold with a voltage at the voltage-sensing node and causes the further electronic switch to switch on in response to the voltage at said voltage-sensing node reaching said threshold. A charge pump coupled to the current flow-path of the electronic switch is activated to the conductive state to pump electric charge from the current flow-path of the electronic switch to the control node of the electronic switch via the further electronic switch switched to the conductive state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Salvatore TUMMINARO, Alfio PASQUA, Marco SAMMARTANO
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Patent number: 11791728Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch configured to be coupled intermediate a high-voltage node and low-voltage circuitry and configured to couple the low-voltage circuitry to the high-voltage node. A voltage-sensing node is configured to be coupled to the high-voltage node via a pull-up resistor. A further electronic switch can be switched to a conductive state to couple the voltage-sensing node and the control node of the electronic switch. A comparator compares a threshold with a voltage at the voltage-sensing node and causes the further electronic switch to switch on in response to the voltage at said voltage-sensing node reaching said threshold. A charge pump coupled to the current flow-path of the electronic switch is activated to the conductive state to pump electric charge from the current flow-path of the electronic switch to the control node of the electronic switch via the further electronic switch switched to the conductive state.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Salvatore Tumminaro, Alfio Pasqua, Marco Sammartano
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Publication number: 20220255428Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch configured to be coupled intermediate a high-voltage node and low-voltage circuitry and configured to couple the low-voltage circuitry to the high-voltage node. A voltage-sensing node is configured to be coupled to the high-voltage node via a pull-up resistor. A further electronic switch can be switched to a conductive state to couple the voltage-sensing node and the control node of the electronic switch. A comparator compares a threshold with a voltage at the voltage-sensing node and causes the further electronic switch to switch on in response to the voltage at said voltage-sensing node reaching said threshold. A charge pump coupled to the current flow-path of the electronic switch is activated to the conductive state to pump electric charge from the current flow-path of the electronic switch to the control node of the electronic switch via the further electronic switch switched to the conductive state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Salvatore TUMMINARO, Alfio PASQUA, Marco SAMMARTANO
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Patent number: 11258354Abstract: An embodiment PFC control circuit includes a first terminal providing a drive signal to an electronic switch of a boost converter, a second terminal receiving a feedback signal indicative of an output voltage generated by the boost converter, and a third terminal connected to a compensation network. An error amplifier generates a current as a function of the voltage at the second terminal and a reference voltage, wherein an output of the error amplifier is coupled to the third terminal. A driver circuit generates the drive signal as a function of the voltage at the third terminal, and selectively activates or deactivates the generation of the drive signal as a function of a burst mode enable signal. A detection circuit generates the burst mode enable signal as a function of the voltage at the second terminal.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Alfio Pasqua, Salvatore Tumminaro, Marco Sammartano, Claudio Adragna
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Publication number: 20210226527Abstract: An embodiment PFC control circuit comprises a first terminal providing a drive signal to an electronic switch of a boost converter, a second terminal receiving a feedback signal indicative of an output voltage generated by the boost converter, and a third terminal connected to a compensation network. An error amplifier generates a current as a function of the voltage at the second terminal and a reference voltage, wherein an output of the error amplifier is coupled to the third terminal. A driver circuit generates the drive signal as a function of the voltage at the third terminal, and selectively activates or deactivates the generation of the drive signal as a function of a burst mode enable signal. A detection circuit generates the burst mode enable signal as a function of the voltage at the second terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Alfio Pasqua, Salvatore Tumminaro, Marco Sammartano, Claudio Adragna
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Patent number: 9787192Abstract: A power-supply circuit includes a transformer with primary and secondary windings, and an energy accumulator on the secondary winding. A circuit monitors the secondary winding and generates a feedback signal that is transferred by a transmission circuit through the secondary winding by selectively transferring energy from the energy accumulator. The transmission circuit includes: a) an electronic switch having a control terminal; and b) a driver circuit for driving the electronic switch. The driver circuit includes a charge-accumulation capacitor connected to the control terminal, and a charge circuit configured to draw energy from the secondary winding and charge the charge-accumulation capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea Rapisarda, Marco Sammartano, Salvatore Tumminaro
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Patent number: 9595861Abstract: A circuit includes a transformer with a primary, secondary, and auxiliary. A first control circuit actuates a first switch circuit based on a wake-up signal to cause the primary to transmit power to the secondary. A second control circuit actuates a second switch circuit based on an output voltage at the secondary being less than a threshold to generate the wake-up signal to the secondary for transmission to the auxiliary. The second switch circuit has a transistor with a source coupled to a reference node, a gate coupled to the second control circuit. A first diode has an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain, and blocks flow of current from the drain to the source. A second diode has an anode coupled to the substrate and a cathode coupled to the drain, and blocks flow of current from the drain to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Salvatore Tumminaro, Andrea Rapisarda, Alfio Pasqua, Marco Sammartano
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Publication number: 20160043647Abstract: A power-supply circuit includes a transformer with primary and secondary windings, and an energy accumulator on the secondary winding. A circuit monitors the secondary winding and generates a feedback signal that is transferred by a transmission circuit through the secondary winding by selectively transferring energy from the energy accumulator. The transmission circuit includes: a) an electronic switch having a control terminal; and b) a driver circuit for driving the electronic switch. The driver circuit includes a charge-accumulation capacitor connected to the control terminal, and a charge circuit configured to draw energy from the secondary winding and charge the charge-accumulation capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea Rapisarda, Marco Sammartano, Salvatore Tumminaro
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Publication number: 20150303816Abstract: A circuit includes a transformer with a primary, secondary, and auxiliary. A first control circuit actuates a first switch circuit based on a wake-up signal to cause the primary to transmit power to the secondary. A second control circuit actuates a second switch circuit based on an output voltage at the secondary being less than a threshold to generate the wake-up signal to the secondary for transmission to the auxiliary. The second switch circuit has a transistor with a source coupled to a reference node, a gate coupled to the second control circuit. A first diode has an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain, and blocks flow of current from the drain to the source. A second diode has an anode coupled to the substrate and a cathode coupled to the drain, and blocks flow of current from the drain to the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Salvatore Tumminaro, Andrea Rapisarda, Alfio Pasqua, Marco Sammartano