Patents by Inventor Sergio Vigna

Sergio Vigna 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: 8159172
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor by using the PWM technique including the steps of: applying to the clamps of the electric motor an electric voltage varying in time, which displays a square waveform and consists of a sequence of pulses having a uniform wave period and a variable width; adjusting the average value of the electric voltage by varying the width of the pulses; determining the overall required width variation; subdividing the overall required width variation in a determined number of partial variations, the overall sum of which is equivalent to the overall required width variation; and gradually varying the width amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage by applying in a sequence a corresponding partial variation to each pulse, so that the difference between the width amplitude of a pulse and the width of a following pulse is equivalent to the corresponding partial variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marcello Sciuto, Sergio Vigna, Piero Carbonaro, Francesco Del Mese
  • Publication number: 20090148138
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor by using the PWM technique; the control method includes the steps of: applying to the clamps of the electric motor an electric voltage varying in time, which displays a square waveform and consists of a sequence of pulses having a uniform wave period and a variable amplitude; adjusting the average value of the electric voltage applied to the clamps of the electric motor by varying the amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage; determining, in the case of a variation of the amplitude of the pulses, the overall required amplitude variation; subdividing the overall required amplitude variation in a determined number of partial variations, the overall sum of which is equivalent to the overall required amplitude variation; and gradually varying the amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage by applying in a sequence a corresponding partial variation to each pulse, so that the difference between the amplitude of a pulse and the amplitude of a following pulse is
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Marcello Sciuto, Sergio Vigna, Piero Carbonaro, Francesco Del Mese
  • Patent number: 6462557
    Abstract: A system for diagnosing a driver and detecting circuit anomalies therein includes: voltage comparator circuits for generating diagnostic logic signals, each of which indicates the existence of a corresponding type of anomaly; and a coding circuit to receive the diagnostic logic signals and to output information relating to an overall operating state of the driver. The coding circuit includes a first portion to provide at its output first logic input signals indicating the last anomaly to occur since a system reset operation. The coding circuit also includes a second portion for coding the first logic input signals. The second portion includes a sequential logic network to receive the first logic input signals and at least one second logic signal indicating the current operating phase of the driver. The second portion provides, as a function of the first and second logic signals, a stable internal state to determine the output information in the form of an N bit coded word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.R.L., Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Milanesi, Stefania Chicca, Vanni Poletto, Valerio Giorgetta, Stefano Sgatti, Sergio Vigna