Patents by Inventor Massimo Mazzucco

Massimo Mazzucco 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: 10720840
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter circuit including at least: a first step down converter having a first pair of switching devices in a half bridge configuration. A second step down converter includes a second pair of switching devices in a half bridge configuration. The first and second step down converters are connected in parallel to an output node connected to an output coil and receive command signals. A feedback loop includes a synchronization module receiving the gate control signals of high side switching devices and adjusts as a function of the gate control signals a delay in a signal path from the command signal to each gate control signal of the high side switching device to synchronize the gate control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS DESIGN AND APPLICATION S.R.O.
    Inventors: Matthieu Thomas, Michele Suraci, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Publication number: 20190214910
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter circuit including at least: a first step down converter having a first pair of switching devices in a half bridge configuration. A second step down converter includes a second pair of switching devices in a half bridge configuration. The first and second step down converters are connected in parallel to an output node connected to an output coil and receive command signals. A feedback loop includes a synchronization module receiving the gate control signals of high side switching devices and adjusts as a function of the gate control signals a delay in a signal path from the command signal to each gate control signal of the high side switching device to synchronize the gate control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Matthieu Thomas, Michele Suraci, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Patent number: 9712060
    Abstract: A method manages hysteretic DC-DC buck converters each including a hysteretic comparator operating according to a respective hysteresis window. The method includes, in a given converter, verifying if a respective feedback voltage reaches a lower threshold in order to enter a switch-on period of the converter, The method comprises: while the verifying indicates that the lower threshold is not reached, detecting if another converter has entered a respective switch on period and, in the affirmative, entering a hysteresis voltage adjustment procedure, include increasing by a given amount the amplitude of the hysteresis window of the given converter by reducing the lower threshold of the hysteresis window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Pulici, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Publication number: 20170085180
    Abstract: A method manages hysteretic DC-DC buck converters each including a hysteretic comparator operating according to a respective hysteresis window. The method includes, in a given converter, verifying if a respective feedback voltage reaches a lower threshold in order to enter a switch-on period of the converter, The method comprises: while the verifying indicates that the lower threshold is not reached, detecting if another converter has entered a respective switch on period and, in the affirmative, entering a hysteresis voltage adjustment procedure, include increasing by a given amount the amplitude of the hysteresis window of the given converter by reducing the lower threshold of the hysteresis window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Paolo Pulici, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Patent number: 7224155
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting a power current from a power-controlling pass device, the power-controlling pass device being coupled to a supply voltage, comprises the following. A sense device is coupled to the supply voltage with the sense device being configured to draw a sense current that is proportional to the power current. A current mirror is coupled to the sense device and the supply voltage through a low impedance node, the current mirror being configured to draw a mirror current through the low impedance node that is relative to the sense current. A limiting device is coupled to the supply voltage, the power-controlling pass device, and the low impedance node, the limiting device being configured to limit the power current according to a voltage difference between the low impedance node and the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gian Marco Bo, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Patent number: 7173405
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting a power current from a power-controlling pass device, the power-controlling pass device being coupled to a supply voltage, comprises the following. A sense device is coupled to the supply voltage with the sense device being configured to draw a sense current that is proportional to the power current. A current mirror is coupled to the sense device and the supply voltage through a low impedance node, the current mirror being configured to draw a mirror current through the low impedance node that is relative to the sense current. A limiting device is coupled to the supply voltage, the power-controlling pass device, and the low impedance node, the limiting device being configured to limit the power current according to a voltage difference between the low impedance node and the supply voltage. A resistance device or PMOS transistor that generates the voltage difference and that may be controlled through a proper bias circuit to adjust the voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gian Marco Bo, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Publication number: 20050248326
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting a power current from a power-controlling pass device, the power-controlling pass device being coupled to a supply voltage, comprises the following. A sense device is coupled to the supply voltage with the sense device being configured to draw a sense current that is proportional to the power current. A current mirror is coupled to the sense device and the supply voltage through a low impedance node, the current mirror being configured to draw a mirror current through the low impedance node that is relative to the sense current. A limiting device is coupled to the supply voltage, the power-controlling pass device, and the low impedance node, the limiting device being configured to limit the power current according to a voltage difference between the low impedance node and the supply voltage. A resistance device or PMOS transistor that generates the voltage difference and that may be controlled through a proper bias circuit to adjust the voltage difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Gian Bo, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Publication number: 20050035749
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting a power current from a power-controlling pass device, the power-controlling pass device being coupled to a supply voltage, comprises the following. A sense device is coupled to the supply voltage with the sense device being configured to draw a sense current that is proportional to the power current. A current mirror is coupled to the sense device and the supply voltage through a low impedance node, the current mirror being configured to draw a mirror current through the low impedance node that is relative to the sense current. A limiting device is coupled to the supply voltage, the power-controlling pass device, and the low impedance node, the limiting device being configured to limit the power current according to a voltage difference between the low impedance node and the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Gian Bo, Massimo Mazzucco
  • Publication number: 20050007189
    Abstract: A circuit for limiting a power current from a power-controlling pass device, the power-controlling pass device being coupled to a supply voltage, comprises the following. A sense device is coupled to the supply voltage with the sense device being configured to draw a sense current that is proportional to the power current. A current mirror is coupled to the sense device and the supply voltage through a low impedance node, the current mirror being configured to draw a mirror current through the low impedance node that is relative to the sense current. A limiting device is coupled to the supply voltage, the power-controlling pass device, and the low impedance node, the limiting device being configured to limit the power current according to a voltage difference between the low impedance node and the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Gian Bo, Massimo Mazzucco