Patents by Inventor Mauro Fagnani

Mauro Fagnani 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: 20010036089
    Abstract: A self-disabling and self-recovering converter includes a transformer connected to a power source and has an auxiliary winding for providing a self-supply voltage after start-up, and an integrated circuit having circuitry and a plurality of pins connected thereto. The converter also includes at least one external line and a sensor connected thereto for an electrical or physical quantity to be monitored. The at least one external line is biased through a first pin with the self-supply voltage, and is functionally coupled to a second pin when a threshold is surpassed. A sectionable voltage clamp chain is connected between the auxiliary winding and a voltage reference. A self-recovery circuit having a first input is connected to the auxiliary winding and a second input is connected through the second pin to the at least one external line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l
    Inventors: Giuseppe Gattavari, Claudio Adragna, Mauro Fagnani
  • Patent number: 6011706
    Abstract: The power output of a static DC--DC converter employing a current mode PWM controller is controlled upon the varying of the switching frequency, by detecting the sawtooth signal produced by the local oscillator generating a DC signal with an amplitude inversely proportional to the frequency. The power output is controlled by alternatively clamping the output voltage of the error amplifier of the PWM controller at a voltage proportional to the amplitude of the DC signal, or by offsetting the signal present on the current sensing resistor by a voltage corresponding to the difference between a constant voltage and the DC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Adragna, Giuseppe Gattavari, Mauro Fagnani
  • Patent number: 5532645
    Abstract: A circuit for regulating the charging time of the output node of an amplifier at start up. The output node commonly comprises an external soft-start capacitor charged by a current delivered by a pull-up transistor of a push-pull output stage of the amplifier, through a decoupling diode that is functionally connected between the output node of the amplifier and a terminal of the external soft-start capacitor. The present application provides a current mirror feed back circuit capable of mirroring the charge current of the external soft-start capacitor onto the driving node of the pull-up transistor of the output stage of the amplifier. The regulating circuit permits use of an external capacitance of extremely small size. Upon the reaching of a fully charged condition by the external capacitor, the control circuit self-isolates and does not influence in any way the normal operation of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mauro Fagnani, Bruno Ferrario, Paolo Sandri