Patents by Inventor Roberto Carminati

Roberto Carminati 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: 20220011567
    Abstract: A MEMS micromirror device is formed in a package including a containment body and a lid transparent to a light radiation. The package forms a cavity housing a tiltable platform having a reflecting surface. A metastructure is formed on the lid and/or on the reflecting surface and includes a plurality of diffractive optical elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto CARMINATI, Nicolo' BONI, Massimiliano MERLI, Enri DUQI
  • Publication number: 20210351338
    Abstract: The MEMS actuator is formed by a substrate, which surrounds a cavity; by a deformable structure suspended on the cavity; by an actuation structure formed by a first piezoelectric region of a first piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to cause a deformation of the deformable structure; and by a detection structure formed by a second piezoelectric region of a second piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to detect the deformation of the deformable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Marco FERRERA, Carla Maria LAZZARI, Luca SEGHIZZI, Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Fabio QUAGLIA
  • Patent number: 11086122
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes a body of semiconductor material, which forms a cavity, a mobile structure, and an actuation structure. The actuation structure includes at least one first deformable element which faces the cavity and is mechanically coupled to the body and to the mobile structure, and a piezoelectric-actuation system which can be controlled so as to deform the first deformable element and cause a consequent rotation of the mobile structure. The mobile structure includes a supporting region and at least one first pillar region, the first pillar region being mechanically coupled to the first deformable element, the supporting region being set on the first pillar region and overlying at least part of the first deformable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Carminati, Massimiliano Merli, Nicolo′ Boni
  • Publication number: 20210229984
    Abstract: To manufacture an oscillating structure, a wafer is processed by: forming torsional elastic elements; forming a mobile element connected to the torsional elastic elements; processing the first side of the wafer to form a mechanical reinforcement structure; and processing the second side of said wafer by steps of chemical etching, deposition of metal material, and/or deposition of piezoelectric material. Processing of the first side of the wafer is carried out prior to processing of the second side of the wafer so as not to damage possible sensitive structures formed on the first side of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enri DUQI, Nicolo' BONI, Lorenzo BALDO, Massimiliano MERLI, Roberto CARMINATI
  • Publication number: 20210188622
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device is formed by a fixed structure having a cavity. A tiltable structure is elastically suspended over the cavity and has a main extension in a tiltable plane and is rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the tiltable plane. A piezoelectric actuation structure includes first and second driving arms carrying respective piezoelectric material regions and extending on opposite sides of the rotation axis. The first and the second driving arms are rigidly coupled to the fixed structure and are elastically coupled to the tiltable structure. During operation, a stop structure limits movements of the tiltable structure with respect to the actuation structure along a planar direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. The stop structure has a first planar stop element formed between the first driving arm and the tiltable structure and a second planar stop element formed between the second driving arm and the tiltable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Massimiliano MERLI
  • Publication number: 20210191107
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical mirror device has a fixed structure defining a cavity. A tiltable structure carrying a reflecting surface is elastically suspended above the cavity with a main extension in a horizontal plane. Elastic elements are coupled to the tiltable structure and at least one first pair of driving arms, which carry respective regions of piezoelectric material, are biasable to cause rotation of the tiltable structure about at least one first axis of rotation parallel to a first horizontal axis of the horizontal plane. The driving arms are elastically coupled to the tiltable structure on opposite sides of the first axis of rotation and are interposed between the tiltable structure and the fixed structure. The driving arms have a thickness, along an orthogonal axis transverse to the horizontal plane, smaller than a thickness of at least some of the elastic elements coupled to the tiltable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Massimiliano MERLI
  • Publication number: 20210188620
    Abstract: For manufacturing an optical microelectromechanical device, a first wafer of semiconductor material having a first surface and a second surface is machined to form a suspended mirror structure, a fixed structure surrounding the suspended mirror structure, elastic supporting elements which extend between the fixed structure and the suspended mirror structure, and an actuation structure coupled to the suspended mirror structure. A second wafer is machined separately to form a chamber delimited by a bottom wall having a through opening. The second wafer is bonded to the first surface of the first wafer in such a way that the chamber overlies the actuation structure and the through opening is aligned to the suspended mirror structure. Furthermore, a third wafer is bonded to the second surface of the first wafer to form a composite wafer device. The composite wafer device is then diced to form an optical microelectromechanical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca SEGHIZZI, Nicolo' BONI, Laura OGGIONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Marta CARMINATI
  • Publication number: 20210178430
    Abstract: A micro-machined ultrasonic transducer is proposed. The micro-machined ultrasonic transducer includes a membrane element for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves, during the transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves the membrane element oscillating, about an equilibrium position, at a respective resonance frequency. The equilibrium position of the membrane element is variable according to a biasing electric signal applied to the membrane element. The micro-machined ultrasonic transducer further comprises a cap structure extending above the membrane element; the cap structure identifies, between it and the membrane element, a cavity whose volume is variable according to the equilibrium position of the membrane element. The cap structure comprises an opening for inputting/outputting the ultrasonic waves into/from the cavity. The cap structure and the membrane element act as tunable Helmholtz resonator, whereby the resonance frequency is variable according to the volume of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Silvia ADORNO, Roberto CARMINATI
  • Patent number: 10914938
    Abstract: An oscillating structure includes first and second torsional elastic elements that define an axis of rotation and a moving element that is interposed between the first and second torsional elastic elements. The moving element, the first torsional elastic element and the second torsional elastic element lie in a first plane and are not in direct contact with one another. A coupling structure mechanically couples the moving element, the first torsional elastic element and the second torsional elastic element together. The moving element, the first torsional elastic element and the second torsional elastic element lie in a second plane different from the first plane. Oscillation of the moving element occurs as a result of a twisting of the first and second torsional elastic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Carminati, Sonia Costantini, Marta Carminati
  • Patent number: 10895740
    Abstract: A projective MEMS device, including: a fixed supporting structure made at least in part of semiconductor material; and a number of projective modules. Each projective module includes an optical source, fixed to the fixed supporting structure, and a microelectromechanical actuator, which includes a mobile structure and varies the position of the mobile structure with respect to the fixed supporting structure. Each projective module further includes an initial optical fiber, which is mechanically coupled to the mobile structure and optically couples to the optical source according to the position of the mobile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Guido Chiaretti, Fabio Luigi Grilli, Roberto Carminati, Bruno Murari, Lorenzo Sarchi
  • Publication number: 20200363629
    Abstract: A MEMS micromirror device includes a monolithic body of semiconductor material having a first main surface and a second main surface, with the monolithic body having an opening extending from the second main surface and including a suspended membrane of monocrystalline semiconductor material extending between the opening and the first main surface of the monolithic body. The suspended membrane includes a supporting frame and a mobile mass carried by the supporting frame and rotatable about an axis parallel to the first main surface, with the mobile mass having a width less than a width of the opening. A reflecting region extends over the mobile mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enri DUQI, Lorenzo BALDO, Roberto CARMINATI, Flavio Francesco VILLA
  • Publication number: 20200310110
    Abstract: A MEMS device is formed in a die of semiconductor material having a cavity defined therein and having an anchorage portion. A tiltable structure is elastically suspended over the cavity and has a main extension in a horizontal plane. First and second supporting arms extend between the anchorage portion and opposite sides of the tiltable structure. First and second resonant piezoelectric actuation structures are intended to be biased to thereby cause rotation of the tiltable structure about a rotation axis. The first supporting arm is formed by first and second torsion springs, which are rigid to movements out of the horizontal plane and compliant to torsion about the rotation axis and are coupled together at a constraint region. The first and second resonant piezoelectric actuation structures extend between the anchorage portion and the constraint structure, on first and second sides of the first supporting arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto CARMINATI, Nicolo' BONI, Massimiliano MERLI
  • Publication number: 20200301130
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical structure includes a body of semiconductor material having a fixed frame internally defining a cavity, a mobile mass elastically suspended in the cavity and movable with a first resonant movement about a first rotation axis and with a second resonant movement about a second rotation axis, orthogonal to the first axis. First and second pairs of supporting elements, extending in cantilever fashion in the cavity, are rigidly coupled to the frame, and are piezoelectrically deformable to cause rotation of the mobile mass about the first and second rotation axes. First and second pairs of elastic-coupling elements are elastically coupled between the mobile mass and the first and the second pairs of supporting elements. The first and second movements of rotation of the mobile mass are decoupled from one another and do not interfere with one another due to the elastic-coupling elements of the first and second pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Massimiliano MERLI
  • Publication number: 20200302205
    Abstract: A substrate and a covering structure coupled to the substrate form a chamber. The chamber houses an emitter configured to emit a radiation, a resonant reflector, a detector, and a fixed reflector. First and second windows extend through the covering structure. The emitter, the first reflector and the second reflector are reciprocally arranged such that radiation emitted from the emitter is reflected by the fixed reflector towards the MEMS reflector for further reflection towards the first window to form an output signal. The detector and the second window are reciprocally arranged such that an incoming radiation passing through the second window is received by the detector. The electronic module can be used for a 3D sensing application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto CARMINATI, Fabio BOTTINELLI
  • Patent number: 10768408
    Abstract: A buried cavity is formed in a monolithic body to delimit a suspended membrane. A peripheral insulating region defines a supporting frame in the suspended membrane. Trenches extending through the suspended membrane define a rotatable mobile mass carried by the supporting frame. The mobile mass forms an oscillating mass, supporting arms, spring portions, and mobile electrodes that are combfingered to fixed electrodes of the supporting frame. A reflecting region is formed on top of the oscillating mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enri Duqi, Lorenzo Baldo, Roberto Carminati, Flavio Francesco Villa
  • Patent number: 10725286
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device, wherein a platform is formed in a top substrate and is configured to turn through a rotation angle. The platform has a slit and faces a cavity. A plurality of integrated photodetectors is formed in a bottom substrate so as to detect the light through the slit and generate signals correlated to the light through the slit. The area of the slit varies with the rotation angle of the platform and causes diffraction, more or less marked as a function of the angle. The difference between the signals of two photodetectors arranged at different positions with respect to the slit yields the angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Carminati, Enri Duqi, Sebastiano Conti
  • Patent number: 10689251
    Abstract: MEMS device, in which a body made of semiconductor material contains a chamber, and a first column inside the chamber. A cap of semiconductor material is attached to the body and forms a first membrane, a first cavity and a first channel. The chamber is closed on the side of the cap. The first membrane, the first cavity, the first channel and the first column form a capacitive pressure sensor structure. The first membrane is arranged between the first cavity and the second face, the first channel extends between the first cavity and the first face or between the first cavity and the second face and the first column extends towards the first membrane and forms, along with the first membrane, plates of a first capacitor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Enri Duqi, Lorenzo Baldo, Roberto Carminati
  • Publication number: 20200192081
    Abstract: A MEMS device is obtained by forming a temporary biasing structure on a semiconductor body, and forming an actuation coil on the semiconductor body, the actuation coil having at least one first end turn, one second end turn and an intermediate turn arranged between the first and the second end turns and electrically coupled to the first end turn through the temporary biasing structure. In this way, the intermediate turn is biased at approximately the same potential as the first end turn during galvanic growth, and, at the end of growth, the actuation coil has an approximately uniform thickness. At the end of galvanic growth, portions of the temporary biasing structure are selectively removed to electrically separate the first end turn from the intermediate turn and from a dummy biasing region adjacent to the first end turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto CARMINATI, Sonia COSTANTINI, Riccardo GIANOLA, Linda MONTAGNA, Francesca Maria Carla CARPIGNANO
  • Publication number: 20200192199
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes a fixed structure defining a cavity with a tiltable structure that is elastically suspended in the cavity. A piezoelectrically driven actuation structure, interposed between the tiltable structure and the fixed structure, is biased for causing rotation of the tiltable structure about a first rotation axis belonging to a horizontal plane in which the tiltable structure rests. The actuation structure includes a pair of driving arms carry respective regions of piezoelectric material and are elastically coupled to the tiltable structure on opposite sides of the first rotation axis through respective elastic decoupling elements. The elastic decoupling elements exhibit stiffness in regard to movements out of the horizontal plane and compliance to torsion about the first rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Nicolo' BONI, Roberto CARMINATI, Massimiliano MERLI
  • Patent number: 10649202
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) device is formed in a first wafer overlying and bonded to a second wafer. The first wafer includes a fixed part, a movable part, and elastic elements that elastically couple the movable part and the fixed part. The movable part further carries actuation elements configured to control a relative movement, such as a rotation, of the movable part with respect to the fixed part. The second wafer is bonded to the first wafer through projections extending from the first wafer. The projections may, for example, be formed by selectively removing part of a semiconductor layer. A composite wafer formed by the first and second wafers is cut to form many MEMS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sonia Costantini, Marta Carminati, Daniela Angela Luisa Gatti, Laura Maria Castoldi, Roberto Carminati