Patents by Inventor Massimo Grasso

Massimo Grasso 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: 20240113705
    Abstract: A power switching assembly includes a first driver circuit and a second driver circuit. The first driver circuit is supplied via a first internal supply node and a first reference node and drives a first gate signal. The second driver circuit is supplied via a second internal supply node and a second reference node and drives a second gate signal. The first gate signal and the second gate signal are configured to be in phase with each other. The first reference node and the second reference node are separated. A first buffer capacitor is electrically connected between the first internal supply node and the first reference node. A second buffer capacitor electrically connected between the second internal supply node and the second reference node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Anton Mauder, Massimo Grasso, Edward Fürgut
  • Publication number: 20230275577
    Abstract: A transistor device is provided including a first device load terminal, a second device load terminal and a device control terminal. The device includes a transistor. A first transistor load terminal is coupled to the first device load terminal, a second transistor load terminal is coupled to a second device load terminal, and a transistor control terminal is coupled to the device control terminal via a variable impedance element. An overload detection circuit switches the variable impedance element from a first state with lower impedance to a second state with higher impedance in response to detecting an overload condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Massimo GRASSO, Daniele MIATTON
  • Publication number: 20230223472
    Abstract: A semiconductor assembly includes a semiconductor switching device, a conductive load base structure, and a current sense unit. The semiconductor switching device includes a drain structure and one or more array units, wherein each array unit includes a load pad and a plurality of transistor cells electrically connected in parallel between the load pad of the array unit and the drain structure. The current sense unit is electrically connected between a first one of the load pads and the load base structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Anton MAUDER, Stefano RUZZA, Massimo GRASSO, Richard KUCHCINSKI, Daniel DOMES
  • Patent number: 11605701
    Abstract: A multi-voltage domain device includes a semiconductor layer including a first voltage domain, a second voltage domain, and an isolation region that electrically isolates the first voltage domain and the second voltage domain in a lateral direction. The isolation region includes at least one deep trench isolation barrier. A layer stack is arranged on the semiconductor layer and includes a stack insulator layer, a first coil arranged in the stack insulator layer, and a second coil arranged in the stack insulator layer and laterally separated from the first coil in the lateral direction. The first and second coils are magnetically coupled to each other in the lateral direction. The first coil includes terminals arranged vertically over the first region and are electrically coupled to the first voltage domain, and the second coil includes terminals arranged vertically over the second region and are electrically coupled to the second voltage domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Massimo Grasso
  • Publication number: 20220020843
    Abstract: A multi-voltage domain device includes a semiconductor layer including a first voltage domain, a second voltage domain, and an isolation region that electrically isolates the first voltage domain and the second voltage domain in a lateral direction. The isolation region includes at least one deep trench isolation barrier. A layer stack is arranged on the semiconductor layer and includes a stack insulator layer, a first coil arranged in the stack insulator layer, and a second coil arranged in the stack insulator layer and laterally separated from the first coil in the lateral direction. The first and second coils are magnetically coupled to each other in the lateral direction. The first coil includes terminals arranged vertically over the first region and are electrically coupled to the first voltage domain, and the second coil includes terminals arranged vertically over the second region and are electrically coupled to the second voltage domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Massimo GRASSO
  • Patent number: 10862483
    Abstract: A gate driver includes a high-side region that operates in a first voltage domain, a low-side region that operations in a second voltage domain lower than the first voltage domain, a termination region interposed between the high-side region and the low-side region and configured to isolate the first voltage domain from the second voltage domain, a high-side gate driver disposed in the high-side region and configured to drive a high-side power transistor, a low-side gate driver disposed in the low-side region and configured to drive a low-side power transistor, and a plurality of termination diodes disposed in the termination region and configured to transmit information bits between the high-side region and the low-side region, where each of the plurality of termination diodes includes an anode coupled to the low-side region and a cathode coupled to the high-side region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Amedeo Paganini, Massimo Grasso, Sergio Morini, Davide Respigo
  • Publication number: 20200244265
    Abstract: A gate driver includes a high-side region that operates in a first voltage domain, a low-side region that operations in a second voltage domain lower than the first voltage domain, a termination region interposed between the high-side region and the low-side region and configured to isolate the first voltage domain from the second voltage domain, a high-side gate driver disposed in the high-side region and configured to drive a high-side power transistor, a low-side gate driver disposed in the low-side region and configured to drive a low-side power transistor, and a plurality of termination diodes disposed in the termination region and configured to transmit information bits between the high-side region and the low-side region, where each of the plurality of termination diodes includes an anode coupled to the low-side region and a cathode coupled to the high-side region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Amedeo PAGANINI, Massimo GRASSO, Sergio MORINI, Davide RESPIGO
  • Patent number: 9473043
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a logic circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The logic circuit is configured to generate modulation signals for controlling power switches of a power inverter. The logic circuit generates the modulation signals based on at least one input value. The IC further includes a voltage level shifter monolithically formed on the IC. The voltage level shifter is configured to shift the modulation signals to a voltage level suitable for driving the power switches of the power inverter. The logic circuit can be a digital logic circuit and the input value can be a digital input value. The IC can also include a sense circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The sense circuit is configured to generate the input value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Marco Giandalia, Toshio Takahashi, Massimo Grasso
  • Patent number: 9257983
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a level shifter includes a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit. The low voltage circuit is configured to provide a differential signal to the high voltage circuit through a capacitive isolation barrier. The high voltage circuit is configured to receive the differential signal from the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier so as to level shift the differential signal from a first ground of the low voltage circuit to a second ground of the high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is further configured to provide a feedback signal to the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier. The low voltage circuit can be configured to receive the feedback signal from the low voltage circuit between edges of the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Min Fang, Massimo Grasso, Niraj Ranjan
  • Publication number: 20150207432
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a logic circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The logic circuit is configured to generate modulation signals for controlling power switches of a power inverter. The logic circuit generates the modulation signals based on at least one input value. The IC further includes a voltage level shifter monolithically formed on the IC. The voltage level shifter is configured to shift the modulation signals to a voltage level suitable for driving the power switches of the power inverter. The logic circuit can be a digital logic circuit and the input value can be a digital input value. The IC can also include a sense circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The sense circuit is configured to generate the input value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Marco Giandalia, Toshio Takahashi, Massimo Grasso
  • Patent number: 9000829
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a logic circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The logic circuit is configured to generate modulation signals for controlling power switches of a power inverter. The logic circuit generates the modulation signals based on at least one input value. The IC further includes a voltage level shifter monolithically formed on the IC. The voltage level shifter is configured to shift the modulation signals to a voltage level suitable for driving the power switches of the power inverter. The logic circuit can be a digital logic circuit and the input value can be a digital input value. The IC can also include a sense circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The sense circuit is configured to generate the input value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Giandalia, Toshio Takahashi, Massimo Grasso
  • Patent number: 8988128
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a level shifter includes a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit. The low voltage circuit is configured to provide a differential signal to the high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is configured to receive the differential signal from the low voltage circuit so as to level shift the differential signal from a first ground of the low voltage circuit to a second ground of the high voltage circuit. The differential signal is provided by the low voltage circuit responsive to a feedback signal from the high voltage circuit. The feedback signal can indicate common mode noise in the level shifter. Furthermore, the low voltage circuit can be configured to refresh the differential signal responsive to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Min Fang, Massimo Grasso, Niraj Ranjan
  • Publication number: 20150054564
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a level shifter includes a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit. The low voltage circuit is configured to provide a differential signal to the high voltage circuit through a capacitive isolation barrier. The high voltage circuit is configured to receive the differential signal from the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier so as to level shift the differential signal from a first ground of the low voltage circuit to a second ground of the high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is further configured to provide a feedback signal to the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier. The low voltage circuit can be configured to receive the feedback signal from the low voltage circuit between edges of the differential signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Min Fang, Massimo Grasso, Niraj Ranjan
  • Patent number: 8878591
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a level shifter includes a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit. The low voltage circuit is configured to provide a differential signal to the high voltage circuit through a capacitive isolation barrier. The high voltage circuit is configured to receive the differential signal from the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier so as to level shift the differential signal from a first ground of the low voltage circuit to a second ground of the high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is further configured to provide a feedback signal to the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier. The low voltage circuit can be configured to receive the feedback signal from the low voltage circuit between edges of the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Min Fang, Massimo Grasso, Niraj Ranjan
  • Publication number: 20140028371
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a level shifter includes a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit. The low voltage circuit is configured to provide a differential signal to the high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is configured to receive the differential signal from the low voltage circuit so as to level shift the differential signal from a first ground of the low voltage circuit to a second ground of the high voltage circuit. The differential signal is provided by the low voltage circuit responsive to a feedback signal from the high voltage circuit. The feedback signal can indicate common mode noise in the level shifter. Furthermore, the low voltage circuit can be configured to refresh the differential signal responsive to the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Min Fang, Massimo Grasso, Niraj Ranjan
  • Publication number: 20140028369
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, a level shifter includes a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit. The low voltage circuit is configured to provide a differential signal to the high voltage circuit through a capacitive isolation barrier. The high voltage circuit is configured to receive the differential signal from the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier so as to level shift the differential signal from a first ground of the low voltage circuit to a second ground of the high voltage circuit. The high voltage circuit is further configured to provide a feedback signal to the low voltage circuit through the capacitive isolation barrier. The low voltage circuit can be configured to receive the feedback signal from the low voltage circuit between edges of the differential signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Min Fang, Massimo Grasso, Niraj Ranjan
  • Publication number: 20130271201
    Abstract: According to an exemplary implementation, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a logic circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The logic circuit is configured to generate modulation signals for controlling power switches of a power inverter. The logic circuit generates the modulation signals based on at least one input value. The IC further includes a voltage level shifter monolithically formed on the IC. The voltage level shifter is configured to shift the modulation signals to a voltage level suitable for driving the power switches of the power inverter. The logic circuit can be a digital logic circuit and the input value can be a digital input value. The IC can also include a sense circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The sense circuit is configured to generate the input value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Giandalia, Toshio Takahashi, Massimo Grasso
  • Patent number: 8013612
    Abstract: An integrated ground fault detection circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a shunt resistor provided on a positive rail of a DC bus, a high voltage pocket including a sensory circuit connected to the shunt resistor and operable to detect a fault condition indicating a short circuit and a transmitter section operable to continuously transmit a fault condition signal indicating the fault condition and a low voltage pocket including a receiver operable to receive the fault condition signal from the sensory circuit and a logic unit, connected to the receiver, and operable to provide a fault output signal indicating the presence of a fault condition based on the fault condition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Sergio Morini, Marco Giandalia, David Respigo, Stefano Ruzza, Massimo Grasso
  • Patent number: 7864018
    Abstract: A planar transformer arrangement and method provide isolation between an input signal and an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Giandalia, Massimo Grasso, Marco Passoni
  • Patent number: 7719223
    Abstract: A circuit for indirectly measuring a sign of a current flowing in an inverter stage coupled to a phase of a motor or indirectly measuring the sign of the voltage induced by a counter Electromotive Force (EMF) in a coil of the phase of the motor, the inverter stage being connected between a power supply and the ground. The circuit includes a gate driver circuit coupled to the inverter stage for alternatively connecting the phase of the motor to the power supply and to ground, the gate driver circuit having a current sign detection circuit, wherein the current sign detection circuit senses the sign of the current flowing in the inverter stage, or the sign of the counter EMF for controlling the commutation of switches in the inverter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Massimo Grasso, Andrea (Francesco) Merello, Christian Locatelli