Patents by Inventor Paolo Ferraris

Paolo Ferraris 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: 20240124299
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a MEMS device, including: forming a dielectric region which coats part of a semiconductive substrate of a first semiconductive wafer; forming a region which is permeable to gases and coats the dielectric region; coupling the first semiconductive wafer to a second semiconductive wafer so as to form a first chamber, which houses a first movable mass and has a pressure equal to a first value, and a second chamber, which houses a second movable mass and has a pressure equal to the first value, the permeable region facing the second chamber; selectively removing a portion of the semiconductor substrate and an underlying portion of the dielectric region, so as to expose a part of the permeable region, so as to allow gas exchanges through the permeable region; placing the first and the second semiconductive wafers in an environment with a pressure equal to a second value, so that the pressure in the second chamber becomes equal to the second value; and subsequently forming, on the exposed p
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA
  • Patent number: 11871668
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generator includes a substrate and one or more thermoelectric elements on the substrate and each configured to convert a thermal drop across the thermoelectric elements into an electric potential by Seebeck effect. The thermoelectric generator includes a cavity between the substrate and the thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric generator includes, within the cavity, a support structure for supporting the thermoelectric elements. The support structure has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Ferrari, Flavio Francesco Villa, Luca Zanotti, Andrea Nomellini, Luca Seghizzi
  • Publication number: 20230389426
    Abstract: MEMS thermoelectric generator comprising: a thermoelectric cell including one or more thermoelectric elements partially extending on a cavity of the thermoelectric cell; a thermoplastic layer extending on the thermoelectric cell and having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other along a first axis, the bottom surface facing the thermoelectric cell and the thermoplastic layer being of thermally insulating material and configured to be processed through laser direct structuring, LDS, technique; a heat sink configured to exchange heat with the thermoelectric cell interposed, along the first axis, between the heat sink and the thermoplastic layer; and a thermal via of metal material, extending through the thermoplastic layer from the top surface to the bottom surface so that it is superimposed, along the first axis, on the cavity, wherein the thermoelectric cell may exchange heat with a thermal source through the thermal via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Marco DEL SARTO
  • Publication number: 20230301191
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a layer of a Silicon-based material having a first surface and a second surface, opposite to and separated from the first surface by a Silicon-based material layer thickness; forming a plurality of first thermoelectrically active elements of a first thermoelectric semiconductor material having a first Seebeck coefficient, and forming a plurality of second thermoelectrically active elements of a second thermoelectric semiconductor material having a second Seebeck coefficient, wherein the first and second thermoelectrically active elements are formed to extend through the Silicon-based material layer thickness, from the first surface to the second surface; forming electrically conductive interconnections in correspondence of the first surface and of the second surface of the layer of Silicon-based material, for electrically interconnecting the plurality of first thermoelectrically active elements and the plurality of second thermoelectri
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Lucia ZULLINO, Andrea NOMELLINI, Luca SEGHIZZI, Luca ZANOTTI, Bruno MURARI, Martina SCOLARI
  • Patent number: 11696504
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a layer of a Silicon-based material having a first surface and a second surface, opposite to and separated from the first surface by a Silicon-based material layer thickness; forming a plurality of first thermoelectrically active elements of a first thermoelectric semiconductor material having a first Seebeck coefficient, and forming a plurality of second thermoelectrically active elements of a second thermoelectric semiconductor material having a second Seebeck coefficient, wherein the first and second thermoelectrically active elements are formed to extend through the Silicon-based material layer thickness, from the first surface to the second surface; forming electrically conductive interconnections in correspondence of the first surface and of the second surface of the layer of Silicon-based material, for electrically interconnecting the plurality of first thermoelectrically active elements and the plurality of second thermoelectri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Ferrari, Flavio Francesco Villa, Lucia Zullino, Andrea Nomellini, Luca Seghizzi, Luca Zanotti, Bruno Murari, Martina Scolari
  • Publication number: 20230064114
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical device. The method includes the steps of forming, on a substrate, a first protection layer of crystallized aluminum oxide, impermeable to HF; forming, on the first protection layer, a sacrificial layer of silicon oxide removable with HF; forming, on the sacrificial layer, a second protection layer of crystallized aluminum oxide; exposing a sacrificial portion of the sacrificial layer; forming, on the sacrificial portion, a first membrane layer of a porous material, permeable to HF; forming a cavity by removing the sacrificial portion through the first membrane layer; and sealing pores of the first membrane layer by forming a second membrane layer on the first membrane layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Roberto CAMPEDELLI, Luca LAMAGNA, Enri DUQI, Mikel AZPEITIA URQUIA, Silvia NICOLI, Maria Carolina TURI
  • Publication number: 20230061430
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical system, MEMS, integrating a first MEMS device and a second MEMS device. The first MEMS device is a capacitive pressure sensor and the second MEMS device is an inertial sensor. The steps of manufacturing the first and second MEMS devices are, at least partly, shared with each other, resulting in a high degree of integration on a single die, and allowing to implement a manufacturing process with high yield and controlled costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Lorenzo CORSO, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Silvia NICOLI, Luca LAMAGNA
  • Publication number: 20220411256
    Abstract: MEMS device formed in a semiconductor body which is monolithic and has a first and a second main surface. A buried cavity extends into the semiconductor body below and at a distance from the first main surface. A diaphragm extends between the buried cavity and the first main surface of the semiconductor body and has a buried face facing the buried cavity. A diaphragm insulating layer extends on the buried face of the diaphragm and a lateral insulating region extends into the semiconductor body along a closed line, between the first main surface and the diaphragm insulating layer, above the buried cavity. The lateral insulating region laterally delimits the diaphragm and forms, with the diaphragm insulating layer, a diaphragm insulating region which delimits the diaphragm and electrically insulates it from the rest of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Enri DUQI, Igor VARISCO, Filippo D'ERCOLI
  • Publication number: 20220169498
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a transduction microstructure integrated in the substrate; a cap joined to the substrate and having a first face adjacent to the substrate and a second, outer, face; and a channel extending through the cap from the second face to the first face and communicating with the transduction microstructure. A protective membrane made of porous polycrystalline silicon permeable to aeriform substances is set across the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Enri DUQI, Lorenzo BALDO, Paolo FERRARI, Benedetto Vigna, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Laura Maria CASTOLDI, Ilaria GELMI
  • Publication number: 20210359189
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a layer of a Silicon-based material having a first surface and a second surface, opposite to and separated from the first surface by a Silicon-based material layer thickness; forming a plurality of first thermoelectrically active elements of a first thermoelectric semiconductor material having a first Seebeck coefficient, and forming a plurality of second thermoelectrically active elements of a second thermoelectric semiconductor material having a second Seebeck coefficient, wherein the first and second thermoelectrically active elements are formed to extend through the Silicon-based material layer thickness, from the first surface to the second surface; forming electrically conductive interconnections in correspondence of the first surface and of the second surface of the layer of Silicon-based material, for electrically interconnecting the plurality of first thermoelectrically active elements and the plurality of second thermoelectri
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Lucia ZULLINO, Andrea NOMELLINI, Luca SEGHIZZI, Luca ZANOTTI, Bruno MURARI, Martina SCOLARI
  • Publication number: 20210242387
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generator includes a substrate and one or more thermoelectric elements on the substrate and each configured to convert a thermal drop across the thermoelectric elements into an electric potential by Seebeck effect. The thermoelectric generator includes a cavity between the substrate and the thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric generator includes, within the cavity, a support structure for supporting the thermoelectric elements. The support structure has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Paolo FERRARI, Flavio Francesco VILLA, Luca ZANOTTI, Andrea NOMELLINI, Luca SEGHIZZI
  • Patent number: 11001061
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a microfluidic delivery device comprising a semiconductor structure, such as silicon, are provided. In particular, the structure for delivering fluid may be formed from polycrystalline silicon, also called polysilicon, or epitaxial silicon. The microfluidic delivery device that predominantly uses semiconductor material, such as silicon, to form the structures that are in contact with the dispensed fluid results in a device that is compatible with a wide set of fluids and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Dino Faralli, Laura Maria Castoldi, Paolo Ferrari, Marta Carminati
  • Publication number: 20200048804
    Abstract: Process for transforming synthetic and vegetable fibres into a non-woven fabric of the type which provides the following sequence of processing steps: flock opening step, during which fibrous materials of different shapes and sizes are transformed into fibre flocks of different lengths; drawing and treatment step of the material selected in the previous step; cutting and trimming step: once the drawing and treatment step of the material has been completed, the non-woven fabric is subject to longitudinal cutting and trimming, to make a series of rolls, usually two or three, for final use, characterised in that, after the opening step, the flocks are transferred to a condenser, where the long-fibre flocks are separated from the short-fibre flocks, by means of a perforated mesh screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Paolo Ferrari
  • Patent number: 10308731
    Abstract: A method for feeding an antistatic compound to a polymerization reactor comprising the steps of: a) dispersing, under mixing conditions, a catalyst powder and an antistatic compound in an oil, so as to form a suspension of catalyst powder and antistatic compound in said oil; b) successively adding, under mixing conditions, a molten thickening agent to said suspension from step a), while maintaining said suspension at a temperature such that said thickening agent solidifies on contact with said suspension; c) transferring the product obtained from b) to a polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Pietro Baita, Paolo Ferrari, Ines Mingozzi, Lorella Pedriali, Maria Di Diego, Roberta Pica
  • Publication number: 20180318528
    Abstract: Device and method to deliver at least a substance with a liquid base for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, medical and/or trichological use, comprising at least one tank containing the substance (11) and a nebulizing group to nebulize and deliver the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: FERRARI BRANDS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo FERRARI
  • Patent number: 9527726
    Abstract: A microfluidic device, comprising: a semiconductor body, having a first side and a second side, opposite to one another in a first direction; and at least one well, configured for containing a fluid, extending in the semiconductor body starting from the first side and being delimited at the bottom by a bottom surface. The microfluidic device further comprises a stirring structure integrated in the well at the bottom surface, the stirring structure including a first stirring portion coupled to the semiconductor body and provided with at least one first suspended beam configured for being moved in a second direction so as to generate, in use, agitation of the fluid present in said well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Sabrina Conoci, Paolo Ferrari
  • Patent number: 9469109
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose herein are directed to a microfluidic delivery device that has a predominantly semiconductor structure, such as silicon. In particular, the structure for delivering fluid may be formed from polycrystalline silicon, also called polysilicon, or epitaxial silicon. The microfluidic delivery device that predominantly uses silicon based materials to form the structures that are in contact with the dispensed fluid results in a device that is compatible with a wide set of fluids and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Dino Faralli, Laura Maria Castoldi, Paolo Ferrari, Marta Carminati
  • Patent number: 9394160
    Abstract: A microfluidic device, comprising: a semiconductor body, having a first side and a second side, opposite to one another in a first direction; and at least one well, configured for containing a fluid, extending in the semiconductor body starting from the first side and being delimited at the bottom by a bottom surface. The microfluidic device further comprises a stirring structure integrated in the well at the bottom surface, the stirring structure including a first stirring portion coupled to the semiconductor body and provided with at least one first suspended beam configured for being moved in a second direction so as to generate, in use, agitation of the fluid present in said well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Sabrina Conoci, Paolo Ferrari
  • Publication number: 20160121612
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose herein are directed to a microfluidic delivery device that has a predominantly semiconductor structure, such as silicon. In particular, the structure for delivering fluid may be formed from polycrystalline silicon, also called polysilicon, or epitaxial silicon. The microfluidic delivery device that predominantly uses silicon based materials to form the structures that are in contact with the dispensed fluid results in a device that is compatible with a wide set of fluids and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Dino Faralli, Laura Maria Castoldi, Paolo Ferrari, Marta Carminati
  • Publication number: 20160121607
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose herein are directed to a microfluidic delivery device that has a predominantly semiconductor structure, such as silicon. In particular, the structure for delivering fluid may be formed from polycrystalline silicon, also called polysilicon, or epitaxial silicon. The microfluidic delivery device that predominantly uses silicon based materials to form the structures that are in contact with the dispensed fluid results in a device that is compatible with a wide set of fluids and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Dino FARALLI, Laura Maria CASTOLDI, Paolo FERRARI, Marta CARMINATI