Patents by Inventor Santo Alessandro Smerzi
Santo Alessandro Smerzi 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).
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Patent number: 11898943Abstract: A stress sensor includes: a substrate, having a face and a recess, open to the face; and a sensor chip of semiconductor material, housed in the recess and bonded to the substrate, the sensor chip being provided with a plurality of sensing components of piezoresistive material. The substrate has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to a main dimension of the face. Further, the sensor chip has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to the thickness of the substrate, and a Young's module of the substrate and a Young's module of the sensor chip are of the same order of magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.L.Inventor: Santo Alessandro Smerzi
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Patent number: 11854977Abstract: An electronic device, comprising plurality of source metal strips in a first metal level; a plurality of drain metal strips in the first metal level; a source metal bus in a second metal level above the first metal level; a drain metal bus, in the second metal level; a source pad, coupled to the source metal bus; and a drain pad, coupled to the drain metal bus. The source metal bus includes subregions shaped in such a way that, in top-plan view, each of them has a width which decreases moving away from the first conductive pad; the drain metal bus includes subregions shaped in such a way that, in top-plan view, each of them has a width which decreases moving away from the second conductive pad. The first and second subregions are interdigitated.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Maria Concetta Nicotra, Ferdinando Iucolano
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Patent number: 11837558Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strained semiconductor device envisages: providing a die of semiconductor material, in which elementary components of the semiconductor device have been integrated by means of initial front-end steps; and coupling, using the die-attach technique, the die to a support, at a coupling temperature. The aforesaid coupling step envisages selecting the value of the coupling temperature at a value higher than an operating temperature of use of the semiconductor device, and moreover selecting the material of the support so that it is different from the material of the die in order to determine, at the operating temperature, a coupling stress that is a function of the different values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the die and of the support and of the temperature difference between the coupling temperature and the operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Michele Calabretta, Alessandro Sitta, Crocifisso Marco Antonio Renna, Giuseppe D'Arrigo
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Publication number: 20220120633Abstract: A stress sensor includes: a substrate, having a face and a recess, open to the face; and a sensor chip of semiconductor material, housed in the recess and bonded to the substrate, the sensor chip being provided with a plurality of sensing components of piezoresistive material. The substrate has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to a main dimension of the face. Further, the sensor chip has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to the thickness of the substrate, and a Young's module of the substrate and a Young's module of the sensor chip are of the same order of magnitude.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventor: Santo Alessandro SMERZI
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Patent number: 11237077Abstract: A stress sensor includes: a substrate, having a face and a recess, open to the face; and a sensor chip of semiconductor material, housed in the recess and bonded to the substrate, the sensor chip being provided with a plurality of sensing components of piezoresistive material. The substrate has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to a main dimension of the face. Further, the sensor chip has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to the thickness of the substrate, and a Young's module of the substrate and a Young's module of the sensor chip are of the same order of magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventor: Santo Alessandro Smerzi
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Publication number: 20220013982Abstract: An electronic device is couplable to a plurality of laser diodes and includes a control switch having a drain coupled to a drain metallization and having a source coupled to a first source metallization that is electrically couplable to cathodes of the laser diodes. Each of a plurality of first switches has a drain coupled to the drain metallization and a source coupled to a respective second source metallization that is couplable to an anode of the laser diodes. The second source metallizations are aligned with one another in a direction of alignment, overlie, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of alignment, the respective sources of the first switches, and can be aligned, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of alignment, to the respective laser diodes. At least one of the sources of the first switches can be aligned, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of alignment, to the respective laser diode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicants: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SASInventors: Antonio Filippo Massimo PIZZARDI, Santo Alessandro SMERZI, Ferdinando IUCOLANO, Romeo LETOR
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Publication number: 20210335730Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strained semiconductor device envisages: providing a die of semiconductor material, in which elementary components of the semiconductor device have been integrated by means of initial front-end steps; and coupling, using the die-attach technique, the die to a support, at a coupling temperature. The aforesaid coupling step envisages selecting the value of the coupling temperature at a value higher than an operating temperature of use of the semiconductor device, and moreover selecting the material of the support so that it is different from the material of the die in order to determine, at the operating temperature, a coupling stress that is a function of the different values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the die and of the support and of the temperature difference between the coupling temperature and the operating temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Santo Alessandro SMERZI, Michele CALABRETTA, Alessandro SITTA, Crocifisso Marco Antonio RENNA, Giuseppe D'ARRIGO
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Patent number: 11075172Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strained semiconductor device envisages: providing a die of semiconductor material, in which elementary components of the semiconductor device have been integrated by means of initial front-end steps; and coupling, using the die-attach technique, the die to a support, at a coupling temperature. The aforesaid coupling step envisages selecting the value of the coupling temperature at a value higher than an operating temperature of use of the semiconductor device, and moreover selecting the material of the support so that it is different from the material of the die in order to determine, at the operating temperature, a coupling stress that is a function of the different values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the die and of the support and of the temperature difference between the coupling temperature and the operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Michele Calabretta, Alessandro Sitta, Crocifisso Marco Antonio Renna, Giuseppe D'Arrigo
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Patent number: 10900849Abstract: A sensing bridge includes first and second branches in parallel, the first branch including a first resistor in series with a first switch, the second branch including a second resistor in series with a second switch. Resistances of the resistors vary with a sensed physical variable. The branches switch between first and second phases, with the first switch closed and the second switch open during the first phase, and the first switch open and the second switch closed during the second phase. A reference block generates a control signal from the resistance of the variable resistors during the first and second phases. An oscillator generates an oscillating signal during the first and second phases from the variable sense current during the first and second phases. Processing circuitry determines a value of the sensed physical value from an algebraic combination of the oscillating signal during the first and second phases.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Santo Alessandro Smerzi
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Publication number: 20200152572Abstract: An electronic device, comprising plurality of source metal strips in a first metal level; a plurality of drain metal strips in the first metal level; a source metal bus in a second metal level above the first metal level; a drain metal bus, in the second metal level; a source pad, coupled to the source metal bus; and a drain pad, coupled to the drain metal bus. The source metal bus includes subregions shaped in such a way that, in top-plan view, each of them has a width which decreases moving away from the first conductive pad; the drain metal bus includes subregions shaped in such a way that, in top-plan view, each of them has a width which decreases moving away from the second conductive pad. The first and second subregions are interdigitated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Santo Alessandro SMERZI, Maria Concetta NICOTRA, Ferdinando IUCOLANO
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Publication number: 20190339144Abstract: A sensing bridge includes first and second branches in parallel, the first branch including a first resistor in series with a first switch, the second branch including a second resistor in series with a second switch. Resistances of the resistors vary with a sensed physical variable. The branches switch between first and second phases, with the first switch closed and the second switch open during the first phase, and the first switch open and the second switch closed during the second phase. A reference block generates a control signal from the resistance of the variable resistors during the first and second phases. An oscillator generates an oscillating signal during the first and second phases from the variable sense current during the first and second phases. Processing circuitry determines a value of the sensed physical value from an algebraic combination of the oscillating signal during the first and second phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Santo Alessandro SMERZI
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Publication number: 20190326231Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strained semiconductor device envisages: providing a die of semiconductor material, in which elementary components of the semiconductor device have been integrated by means of initial front-end steps; and coupling, using the die-attach technique, the die to a support, at a coupling temperature. The aforesaid coupling step envisages selecting the value of the coupling temperature at a value higher than an operating temperature of use of the semiconductor device, and moreover selecting the material of the support so that it is different from the material of the die in order to determine, at the operating temperature, a coupling stress that is a function of the different values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the die and of the support and of the temperature difference between the coupling temperature and the operating temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Santo Alessandro SMERZI, Michele CALABRETTA, Alessandro SITTA, Crocifisso Marco Antonio RENNA, Giuseppe D'ARRIGO
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Publication number: 20190285509Abstract: A stress sensor includes: a substrate, having a face and a recess, open to the face; and a sensor chip of semiconductor material, housed in the recess and bonded to the substrate, the sensor chip being provided with a plurality of sensing components of piezoresistive material. The substrate has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to a main dimension of the face. Further, the sensor chip has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to the thickness of the substrate, and a Young's module of the substrate and a Young's module of the sensor chip are of the same order of magnitude.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventor: Santo Alessandro SMERZI
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Patent number: 10393601Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor includes a resistive sensing bridge with a first sensing resistor and a second sensing resistor, each having variable resistance values in response to change in a sensed physical variable. An oscillator generates an oscillation signal with a frequency or period that is a function of an oscillator control signal. A sensor reference module generates the oscillator control signal as a function of the resistance value of a resistor coupled therewith. This sensor reference module is couplable with the first sensing resistor or second sensing resistor. A processing circuit coupled to the oscillator provides a sensor signal indicative of the frequency or period of the oscillation signal. The sensor signal has first and second values with the sensor reference module coupled with the first sensing resistor and with the second sensing resistor, respectively, the first and second values being thus jointly indicative of the physical variable sensed.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Santo Alessandro Smerzi
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Publication number: 20170356813Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor includes a resistive sensing bridge with a first sensing resistor and a second sensing resistor, each having variable resistance values in response to change in a sensed physical variable. An oscillator generates an oscillation signal with a frequency or period that is a function of an oscillator control signal. A sensor reference module generates the oscillator control signal as a function of the resistance value of a resistor coupled therewith. This sensor reference module is couplable with the first sensing resistor or second sensing resistor. A processing circuit coupled to the oscillator provides a sensor signal indicative of the frequency or period of the oscillation signal. The sensor signal has first and second values with the sensor reference module coupled with the first sensing resistor and with the second sensing resistor, respectively, the first and second values being thus jointly indicative of the physical variable sensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Santo Alessandro Smerzi
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Patent number: 8364195Abstract: An embodiment of a wireless galvanic isolator device is formed by a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, and a wireless coupling structure, arranged between the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit. The wireless coupling structure is formed by a pair of antennas each arranged on an own die and integrated together with the respective transmitter and receiver circuit. The two dice may be arranged adjacent to each other in a planar configuration or arranged on top of each other and bonded together.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Nunzio Spina, Giovanni Girlando, Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Giuseppe Palmisano
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Patent number: 8026753Abstract: A prescaling stage includes bistable circuit in turn including respective master and slave portions inserted between a first and a second voltage reference and feedback connected to each other. Each portion is provided with at least one differential stage supplied by the first voltage reference and connected, by a transistor stage, to the second voltage reference, as well as a differential pair of cross-coupled transistors, supplied by output terminals of the differential stage and connected, by the transistor stage, to the second voltage reference. Advantageously, each master and slave portion includes a degeneration capacitance inserted in correspondence with respective terminals of the transistors of the differential pair.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Tino Copani, Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Giovanni Girlando, Giuseppe Palmisano
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Publication number: 20100109719Abstract: A prescaling stage includes bistable circuit in turn including respective master and slave portions inserted between a first and a second voltage reference and feedback connected to each other. Each portion is provided with at least one differential stage supplied by the first voltage reference and connected, by a transistor stage, to the second voltage reference, as well as a differential pair of cross-coupled transistors, supplied by output terminals of the differential stage and connected, by the transistor stage, to the second voltage reference. Advantageously, each master and slave portion includes a degeneration capacitance inserted in correspondence with respective terminals of the transistors of the differential pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Tino Copani, Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Giovanni Girlando, Giuseppe Palmisano
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Patent number: 7663414Abstract: A prescaling stage includes bistable circuit in turn including respective master and slave portions inserted between a first and a second voltage reference and feedback connected to each other. Each portion is provided with at least one differential stage supplied by the first voltage reference and connected, by a transistor stage, to the second voltage reference, as well as a differential pair of cross-coupled transistors, supplied by output terminals of the differential stage and connected, by the transistor stage, to the second voltage reference. Advantageously, each master and slave portion includes a degeneration capacitance inserted in correspondence with respective terminals of the transistors of the differential pair.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Tino Copani, Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Giovanni Girlando, Giuseppe Palmisano
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Publication number: 20080311862Abstract: An embodiment of a wireless galvanic isolator device is formed by a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, and a wireless coupling structure, arranged between the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit. The wireless coupling structure is formed by a pair of antennas each arranged on an own die and integrated together with the respective transmitter and receiver circuit. The two dice may be arranged adjacent to each other in a planar configuration or arranged on top of each other and bonded together.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Nunzio Spina, Giovanni Girlando, Santo Alessandro Smerzi, Giuseppe Palmisano