Patents by Inventor Rosario Scollo
Rosario Scollo 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: 8294383Abstract: A driving device for a lamp, in particular an HID lamp, the device including a first circuit to convert a network input voltage into a output direct voltage, a second circuit that receives the direct voltage as an input and converts the direct voltage into an alternating signal for supplying the lamp. The first circuit includes a transformer provided with a secondary winding elements a center tap. The driving device further includes at least two capacitive elements connected to the center tap of the secondary winding of the transformer and coupled with the ends of the secondary winding and with the input of the second circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Giuseppe Catalisano
-
Patent number: 7852014Abstract: A method and system controls the power factor associated with a power supply line. The system includes a control circuit having a power factor control cell connected to the power supply line. The power factor control is performed by modulating the conduction time of a bipolar transistor in the control cell using the storage time of the bipolar transistor, and by regulating the modulation of the conduction time by feedback-driving a control terminal of the bipolar transistor.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Santina Leo
-
Patent number: 7701279Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a driving circuit for an emitter-switching configuration of transistors having at least one first and one second control terminal connected to the driving circuit to form a controlled emitter-switching device having in turn respective collector, source and gate terminals. Advantageously the driving circuit comprises at least one IGBT device inserted between the collector terminal and a first end of a capacitor, whose second end is connected to the first control terminal, the IGBT device having in turn a third control terminal connected, through a first resistive element, to the gate terminal, as well as a second resistive element inserted between the gate terminal and the second control terminal. Advantageously, the driving circuit further comprises an additional supply inserted between the first and second ends of the capacitor to ensure its correct biasing.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Massimo Nania
-
Publication number: 20100052559Abstract: A driving device for a lamp, in particular an HID lamp, the device including a first circuit to convert a network input voltage into a output direct voltage, a second circuit that receives the direct voltage as an input and converts the direct voltage into an alternating signal for supplying the lamp. The first circuit includes a transformer provided with a secondary winding elements a center tap. The driving device further includes at least two capacitive elements connected to the center tap of the secondary winding of the transformer and coupled with the ends of the secondary winding and with the input of the second circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Giuseppe Catalisano
-
Patent number: 7649401Abstract: A driving circuit for an emitter-switching configuration of transistors having first and second control terminals connected to the driving circuit, forms a controlled emitter-switching device having in turn respective collector, source and gate terminals. The driving circuit comprises a driving block coupled between the collector terminal and the source terminal of the controlled emitter-switching device and connected to the first control terminal of the emitter-switching configuration.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Massimo Nania
-
Patent number: 7449935Abstract: A drive circuit for an emitter switching configuration of transistors having a cascode connection of a power bipolar transistor and of a power MOS transistor control the saturation level of the configuration in applications which provide highly variable collector currents. The drive circuit includes a circuit operable to apply a varying voltage value to the control terminal of the bipolar transistor. A current/voltage converter senses a collector current flowing in the power bipolar transistor and controls conduction of a first transistor responsive thereto, the conduction of the first transistor controlling the conduction of a second transistor so as to vary the control terminal voltage in proportion to the sensed collector current of the power bipolar transistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo, Giovanni Vitale
-
Patent number: 7423890Abstract: A push-pull converter has a transformer provided with a primary winding and a secondary winding. A capacitive element is connected between the input terminals of the primary winding, and two switch elements are arranged between a respective input terminal of the primary winding through an inductor and a supply input of the converter. The current-input terminals of the switch elements are connected to one another, and the current-output terminals of the switch elements are each connected to the respective input terminals of the primary winding. The switch elements are made up of NPN bipolar transistors connected in common-collector configuration. The push-pull converter is particularly suited for driving a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2004Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Giuseppe Consentino
-
Publication number: 20080180158Abstract: A driving circuit for an emitter-switching configuration of transistors having first and second control terminals connected to the driving circuit, forms a controlled emitter-switching device having in turn respective collector, source and gate terminals. The driving circuit comprises a driving block coupled between the collector terminal and the source terminal of the controlled emitter-switching device and connected to the first control terminal of the emitter-switching configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Massimo Nania
-
Patent number: 7391198Abstract: A method for controlling the power factor of a power supply line is described, the method using a power factor control cell connected to the power supply line. Advantageously according to the invention, the power factor control is performed by adjusting the turn-on and turn-off time of a bipolar transistor comprised in the power factor control cell. A cell for controlling the power factor of a power supply line is also described, of the type comprising a first and a second input terminals, a first and a second output terminals, the first input terminal being connected to the first output terminal by means of the series of an inductor and a diode, connected to each other in correspondence with an internal circuit node and the second input terminal and the second output terminal being connected to each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Marc Laudani, Antonino Gaito
-
Publication number: 20080094120Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a driving circuit for an emitter-switching configuration of transistors having at least one first and one second control terminal connected to the driving circuit to form a controlled emitter-switching device having in turn respective collector, source and gate terminals. Advantageously the driving circuit comprises at least one IGBT device inserted between the collector terminal and a first end of a capacitor, whose second end is connected to the first control terminal, the IGBT device having in turn a third control terminal connected, through a first resistive element, to the gate terminal, as well as a second resistive element inserted between the gate terminal and the second control terminal. Advantageously, the driving circuit further comprises an additional supply inserted between the first and second ends of the capacitor to ensure its correct biasing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Massimo Nania
-
Publication number: 20070132437Abstract: A method and system controls the power factor associated with a power supply line. The system includes a control circuit having a power factor control cell connected to the power supply line. The power factor control is performed by modulating the conduction time of a bipolar transistor in the control cell using the storage time of the bipolar transistor, and by regulating the modulation of the conduction time by feedback-driving a control terminal of the bipolar transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2006Publication date: June 14, 2007Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Santina Leo
-
Patent number: 7218164Abstract: A driving network for an emitter-switching circuit comprises a pair of cascode-configured transistors, the one of the bipolar type and the other of the MOS type, and the driving network is of the type comprising a driving block for respective conduction terminals and of said pair of transistors. The driving network (20, 30) further comprises sensor means in the driving block suitable for measuring a voltage to be compared with a reference value in a first comparator block. A negative feedback network between the output of the comparator and the driving block to provides a voltage value to said driving block to bias the conduction terminal of the bipolar transistor of the emitter-switching circuit in order to regulate the storage time thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.Inventors: Giovanni Vitale, Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo
-
Patent number: 7053678Abstract: A driving circuit is provided for a control terminal of a bipolar transistor in an emitter-switching configuration. The emitter-switching configuration is between first and second voltage references. The driving circuit includes at least one first resistive element connected to the control terminal of the bipolar transistor and a first capacitor connected to the resistive element with respect to a first circuit node and to the second voltage reference. The driving circuit further includes a Zener diode connected between the first circuit node and a second circuit node, and a second capacitor between the second circuit node and the second voltage reference.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo
-
Publication number: 20060087261Abstract: A method for controlling the power factor of a power supply line is described, the method using a power factor control cell connected to the power supply line. Advantageously according to the invention, the power factor control is performed by adjusting the turn-on and turn-off time of a bipolar transistor comprised in the power factor control cell. A cell for controlling the power factor of a power supply line is also described, of the type comprising a first and a second input terminals, a first and a second output terminals, the first input terminal being connected to the first output terminal by means of the series of an inductor and a diode, connected to each other in correspondence with an internal circuit node and the second input terminal and the second output terminal being connected to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2005Publication date: April 27, 2006Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Marc Laudani, Antonino Gaito
-
Patent number: 7023246Abstract: A driving circuit is provided for a control terminal of a bipolar transistor in an emitter-switching configuration. The emitter-switching configuration is between a resonant load and a voltage reference. The driving circuit includes at least one capacitor between the control terminal of the bipolar transistor and the voltage reference. The driving circuit further includes an additional resonance capacitor between a collector terminal of the bipolar transistor and a circuit node, a first diode between the circuit node and the control terminal, and a second diode between the circuit node and the voltage reference.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo
-
Publication number: 20050231242Abstract: A driving network for an emitter-switching circuit comprises a pair of cascode-configured transistors, the one of the bipolar type and the other of the MOS type, and the driving network is of the type comprising a driving block for respective conduction terminals and of said pair of transistors. The driving network (20, 30) further comprises sensor means in the driving block suitable for measuring a voltage to be compared with a reference value in a first comparator block. A negative feedback network between the output of the comparator and the driving block to provides a voltage value to said driving block to bias the conduction terminal of the bipolar transistor of the emitter-switching circuit in order to regulate the storage time thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2005Publication date: October 20, 2005Inventors: Giovanni Vitale, Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo
-
Publication number: 20050194623Abstract: A drive circuit for an emitter switching configuration of transistors having a cascode connection of a power bipolar transistor and of a power MOS transistor control the saturation level of the configuration in applications which provide highly variable collector currents. The drive circuit includes a circuit operable to apply a varying voltage value to the control terminal of the bipolar transistor. A current/voltage converter senses a collector current flowing in the power bipolar transistor and controls conduction of a first transistor responsive thereto, the conduction of the first transistor controlling the conduction of a second transistor so as to vary the control terminal voltage in proportion to the sensed collector current of the power bipolar transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2005Publication date: September 8, 2005Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo, Giovanni Vitale
-
Publication number: 20050088859Abstract: A push-pull converter has a transformer provided with a primary winding and a secondary winding. A capacitive element is connected between the input terminals of the primary winding, and two switch elements are arranged between a respective input terminal of the primary winding through an inductor and a supply input of the converter. The current-input terminals of the switch elements are connected to one another, and the current-output terminals of the switch elements are each connected to the respective input terminals of the primary winding. The switch elements are made up of NPN bipolar transistors connected in common-collector configuration. The push-pull converter is particularly suited for driving a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2004Publication date: April 28, 2005Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.lInventors: Rosario Scollo, Giuseppe Consentino
-
Publication number: 20040256721Abstract: A package for at least two semiconductor devices is provided. The package includes a first die including a first semiconductor device, a second die including a second semiconductor device, a DBC layer, and a third metal layer. The DBC layer includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a ceramic material layer interposed between the first and second metal layers. The first metal layer of the DBC layer and the first die are attached to the third metal layer, and the second die is attached to the second metal layer of the DBC layer. In a preferred embodiment, the second semiconductor device is a MOS device (such as a MOS transistor) and the first semiconductor device is a bipolar device (such as a bipolar transistor).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Luca Difalco, Rosario Scollo
-
Publication number: 20040222839Abstract: A driving circuit is provided for a control terminal of a bipolar transistor in an emitter-switching configuration. The emitter-switching configuration is between a resonant load and a voltage reference. The driving circuit includes at least one capacitor between the control terminal of the bipolar transistor and the voltage reference. The driving circuit further includes an additional resonance capacitor between a collector terminal of the bipolar transistor and a circuit node, a first diode between the circuit node and the control terminal, and a second diode between the circuit node and the voltage reference.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Rosario Scollo, Simone Buonomo