Patents by Inventor Marco Zamprogno

Marco Zamprogno 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: 10826268
    Abstract: A circuit includes a capacitance coupled between a high voltage node and ground, a laser diode having an anode coupled to the high voltage node and a cathode coupled to an output node, and a current source coupled between the output node and ground. The current source turns on based on assertion of a trigger signal and sinks current from the capacitance to ground to thereby cause the laser diode to lase, and turns off based on deassertion of the trigger signal. A clamping circuit is coupled between the output node and the high voltage node, and clamps voltage at the output node occurring when the current source switches off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Politecnico Di Milano
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Alireza Tajfar
  • Publication number: 20200304085
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing a common mode feedback current are provided. The common mode feedback current may flow through a common mode resistive divider of a piezoresistive bridge. A first current mirror mirrors the common mode feedback current and provides a first mirrored common mode current. A current aggregation stage receives the first mirrored common mode current and determines a bridge current of the piezoresistive bridge based on the first mirrored common mode feedback current. A second current mirror may be used to mirror the first current mirror before determining the bridge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Simone Zezza, Pasquale Flora
  • Patent number: 10778208
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor having respective control terminals coupled to receive first and second bias voltages. A first electronic switch is coupled in series with, and between current paths of the first and second transistors to provide an output current line between a circuit output node and ground. A second electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between a bias node and a charge transfer node in the output current line. A third electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between the charge transfer node and the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Alireza Tajfar
  • Publication number: 20200233206
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes pre-charging a parasitic capacitance of a control node that is coupled to a control terminal of first and second transistors that have respective current paths that form a switched current path coupled between a load node and a storage node. Pre-charging the parasitic capacitance includes: making conductive a first auxiliary transistor that has a current path coupled between the storage node and the control node, or making conductive a second auxiliary transistor that has a current path coupled between the load node and the control node. The method further includes, after pre-charging the parasitic capacitance, making the switched current path conductive to couple the load node to the storage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Marco Zamprogno
  • Publication number: 20200233009
    Abstract: A circuit configured to sense an input analog signal generated by a sensor at a first frequency and to generate an output digital signal indicative of the sensed input analog signal. The circuit includes a conditioning circuit, an ADC, a feedback circuit, and a low-pass filter. The conditioning circuit is configured to receive the input analog signal and to generate a conditioned analog signal. The ADC is configured to provide a converted digital signal based on the conditioned analog signal. The feedback circuit includes a band-pass filter configured to selectively detect a periodic signal at a second frequency higher than the first frequency and to act on the conditioning circuit to counter variations of the periodic signal at the second frequency. The low-pass filter is configured to filter out the periodic signal from the converted digital signal to generate the output digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Marco Zamprogno
  • Publication number: 20200083877
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor having respective control terminals coupled to receive first and second bias voltages. A first electronic switch is coupled in series with, and between current paths of the first and second transistors to provide an output current line between a circuit output node and ground. A second electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between a bias node and a charge transfer node in the output current line. A third electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between the charge transfer node and the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco ZAMPROGNO, Alireza TAJFAR
  • Patent number: 10541692
    Abstract: A delay locked loop includes a control loop receiving reference and feedback clock signals, and generating biasing voltages therefrom. A delay chain receives the reference clock signal and generates N successively delayed versions thereof, each at a successive tap thereof. The Nth delayed version is the feedback clock signal. The control loop has a phase detector asserting an up signal when a phase of the feedback clock signal lags that of the reference clock signal, asserting a down signal when the phase of the feedback clock signal leads that of the reference clock signal. A digital filtering block compares a number of assertions of the up signal during the period of the reference clock signal to those of the down signal, and asserts an up or down command signal based thereupon. A biasing voltage generation circuit receives the up and down command signals and generates the biasing voltages therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Politecnico Di Milano
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Alireza Tajfar
  • Patent number: 10505527
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor having respective control terminals coupled to receive first and second bias voltages. A first electronic switch is coupled in series with, and between current paths of the first and second transistors to provide an output current line between a circuit output node and ground. A second electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between a bias node and a charge transfer node in the output current line. A third electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between the charge transfer node and the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Alireza Tajfar
  • Patent number: 10348258
    Abstract: A single-stage differential operational amplifier including an input stage formed by a pair of input transistors having control terminals connected to a respective first and second input, first conduction terminals coupled to a respective first and second output and second conduction terminals coupled to receive a polarization current. An output stage is formed by a pair of output transistors in diode configuration and having control terminals coupled to a relative first conduction terminal and connected to a respective first and second output, and second conduction terminals connected to a reference line. A coupling stage is interposed between the first conduction terminals of the output transistors and the first and second outputs to define the diode configuration of the output transistors and a gain value of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Maurizio Bongiorni, Pasquale Flora
  • Publication number: 20190199338
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor having respective control terminals coupled to receive first and second bias voltages. A first electronic switch is coupled in series with, and between current paths of the first and second transistors to provide an output current line between a circuit output node and ground. A second electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between a bias node and a charge transfer node in the output current line. A third electronic switch is selectively activated to a conductive state in order to provide a charge transfer current path between the charge transfer node and the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco ZAMPROGNO, Alireza TAJFAR
  • Patent number: 10187026
    Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier circuit includes a feedback control loop that generates a compensation current at an input of a transimpedance amplifier. The feedback control loop includes a differential integrator with an integration capacitor. A time constant associated with charging the integration capacitor is variable as a function of a pre-charge control signal. During a pre-charge phase, the pre-charge control signal is set to a first value so as to set the time constant associated with charging the integration capacitor to a first time constant value. During an operation phase, the pre-charge control signal is set to a second value so as to increase the time constant associated with charging the integration capacitor to a second time constant value greater than the first time constant value for the pre-charge phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Maurizio Bongiorni, Pasquale Flora
  • Publication number: 20180342994
    Abstract: A single-stage differential operational amplifier including an input stage formed by a pair of input transistors having control terminals connected to a respective first and second input, first conduction terminals coupled to a respective first and second output and second conduction terminals coupled to receive a polarization current. An output stage is formed by a pair of output transistors in diode configuration and having control terminals coupled to a relative first conduction terminal and connected to a respective first and second output, and second conduction terminals connected to a reference line. A coupling stage is interposed between the first conduction terminals of the output transistors and the first and second outputs to define the diode configuration of the output transistors and a gain value of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Maurizio Bongiorni, Pasquale Flora
  • Publication number: 20180131342
    Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier circuit includes a feedback control loop that generates a compensation current at an input of a transimpedance amplifier. The feedback control loop includes a differential integrator with an integration capacitor. A time constant associated with charging the integration capacitor is variable as a function of a pre-charge control signal. During a pre-charge phase, the pre-charge control signal is set to a first value so as to set the time constant associated with charging the integration capacitor to a first time constant value. During an operation phase, the pre-charge control signal is set to a second value so as to increase the time constant associated with charging the integration capacitor to a second time constant value greater than the first time constant value for the pre-charge phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Maurizio Bongiorni, Pasquale Flora
  • Patent number: 9667268
    Abstract: An analog input voltage is converted to a digital code by, generating a first set of confirmed bits based on a first series of comparisons of an output of a digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage and generating a second set of confirmed bits based on a second series of comparisons of the output of the digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage. The first set of confirmed bits is independent of the second series of comparisons. The bits of the digital output code corresponding to the analog input voltage are generated based on the first set of confirmed bits, the second set of confirmed bits and a constant value representative of a voltage shift introduced in the digital-to-analog converter between the first series of comparisons and the second series of comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International M.V.
    Inventors: Francesca Girardi, Alberto Minuti, Germano Nicollini, Marco Zamprogno
  • Patent number: 9627879
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for protecting a circuit (200) from an input volume comprises a switchable element (10) arranged to couple the input voltage (VIN) to the circuit (200) in response to a first control signal (DRV1) having a first value and to decouple the input voltage (VIN) from the circuit (200) in response to the first control signal (DRV1) having a second value. A monitor stage (20) compares a monitored voltage (VMON) to a threshold (VIN). A controller (30) provides the first control signal (DRV1) to the switchable element (10), the first control signal (DRV1) having the first value when the monitored voltage (VMON) is on one side of the threshold (VTH) and the second value when the monitored voltage (VMON) is on the other side of the threshold (VTH), wherein the first value is independent of the input voltage (VIN) and the second value is equal to the input voltage (VIN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: OPTIS CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Alberto Minuti, Germano Nicollini
  • Publication number: 20160373129
    Abstract: An analog input voltage is converted to a digital code by, generating a first set of confirmed bits based on a first series of comparisons of an output of a digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage and generating a second set of confirmed bits based on a second series of comparisons of the output of the digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage. The first set of confirmed bits is independent of the second series of comparisons. The bits of the digital output code corresponding to the analog input voltage are generated based on the first set of confirmed bits, the second set of confirmed bits and a constant value representative of a voltage shift introduced in the digital-to-analog converter between the first series of comparisons and the second series of comparisons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Francesca Girardi, Alberto Minuti, Germano Nicollini, Marco Zamprogno
  • Patent number: 9473162
    Abstract: An analog input voltage is converted to a digital code by, generating a first set of confirmed bits based on a first series of comparisons of an output of a digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage and generating a second set of confirmed bits based on a second series of comparisons of the output of the digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage. The first set of confirmed bits is independent of the second series of comparisons. The bits of the digital output code corresponding to the analog input voltage are generated based on the first set of confirmed bits, the second set of confirmed bits and a constant value representative of a voltage shift introduced in the digital-to-analog converter between the first series of comparisons and the second series of comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Francesca Girardi, Alberto Minuti, Germano Nicollini, Marco Zamprogno
  • Patent number: 9337829
    Abstract: An electronic USB or similar device 101 with a CMOS audio output stage 105 for driving, in a first mode, e.g., a headset via a port commonly used also in a second mode by a digital data transmission stage 103 for digital data and supply, the audio output stage P-channel transistor MP being switchably back-gate biased by a bias circuit 107 according to the operating mode to achieve high-voltage tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventors: Germano Nicollini, Marco Zamprogno
  • Patent number: 9219491
    Abstract: An electronic analog-to-digital conversion device includes an analog-to-digital conversion block having a first input for receiving a voltage signal to be converted based on a reference voltage signal provided to a second input, and an input block connected to the first input of the analog-to-digital conversion block. The input block receives an input signal at a first resistive network connected to a second resistive network, which is then connected to a reference potential. The input block also includes an active network connected between an output of the first resistive network and the first input of the analog-to-digital conversion block. The active network has a first input terminal directly connected to the second input of the analog-to-digital conversion block for receiving the same reference voltage signal so that the input voltage signal received at a second input of the active network is processed based on the reference voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventors: Alberto Minuti, Francesca Girardi, Germano Nicollini, Marco Zamprogno
  • Publication number: 20150171881
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic analog-to-digital conversion device (100) which comprises: an analog-to-digital conversion block (101) having a first input (1) for receiving a voltage signal (Vout) to be converted on the basis of a reference voltage signal (VREF) provided to a second input (2) of the same analog-to-digital conversion block (101);—an input block (102) having an input terminal (3) and an output terminal (4) connected to the first input (1) of the analog-to-digital conversion block (101). The input block (102) is arranged for processing an input voltage signal (Vin) applied to the input terminal (3) to generate the voltage signal (Vout) at the output terminal (4). The input block (102) comprises:—a first resistive network (103) operatively connected to both the input terminal (3) and the output terminal (4);—a second resistive network (104) connected between the output terminal (4) and a reference potential (GND).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Alberto Minuti, Francesca Girardi, Germano Nicollini, Marco Zamprogno