Patents by Inventor Simone Fabbro
Simone Fabbro 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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Publication number: 20230370061Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Simone FABBRO, Davide GIACOMINI, Wolfgang FRANK
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Patent number: 11811396Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device configured to supply power from a primary side of an isolation barrier through the isolation barrier to a secondary side of the of the isolation barrier for driving a gate of a switch for controlling output of the switch at the secondary side. The apparatus comprises a monitoring component. The monitoring component is configured to monitor an operating state of the switch. The monitoring component is configured to evaluate the operating state to determine whether a fault has occurred, perform a countermeasure, and/or provide a signal of the fault.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AGInventors: Simone Fabbro, Paulus Petrus Bernardus Arts, Davide Giacomini
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Patent number: 11764774Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AGInventors: Simone Fabbro, Davide Giacomini, Wolfgang Frank
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Publication number: 20230275621Abstract: A device includes: first and second electronic sides; an isolation barrier galvanically isolating the electronic sides from one another and including a signal coupler configured to enable signaling between the electronic sides over the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling; and transceiver circuitry included in both electronic sides and configured to implement, based on a frequency response profile of the isolation barrier, full-duplex communication between the electronic sides using the same signal coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2022Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Simone Fabbro, Matteo Bassi, Saleh Karman, Karl Norling, Fabio Padovan, Natasa Pojak
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Publication number: 20230231552Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power source connected to a buffer capacitor. The apparatus comprises a first switch connected between the buffer capacitor and a driven switch. The buffer capacitor is charged by the power source when the first switch is turned off. The apparatus comprises a comparator. The comparator monitors the charging of the buffer capacitor. In response to the buffer capacitor reaching a threshold amount of charge, the comparator turns on the first switch to initiate a charge redistribution of charge from the buffer capacitor to the driven switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Simone FABBRO, Davide GIACOMINI, Wolfgang FRANK
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Publication number: 20230101061Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device configured to supply power from a primary side of an isolation barrier through the isolation barrier to a secondary side of the of the isolation barrier for driving a gate of a switch for controlling output of the switch at the secondary side. The apparatus comprises a monitoring component. The monitoring component is configured to monitor an operating state of the switch. The monitoring component is configured to evaluate the operating state to determine whether a fault has occurred, perform a countermeasure, and/or provide a signal of the fault.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Simone Fabbro, Paulus Petrus Bernardus Arts, Davide Giacomini
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Patent number: 11342855Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device that operates one or more input switches of an input side of an electrical isolation device to transfer energy through the isolation device to an output side of the electrical isolation device for activating a switch. The apparatus comprises a voltage conversion device that converts the energy from an input voltage of the input side to an output voltage to control the switch when the energy transfer is active. The apparatus comprises a passive turn off device that passively deactivates the switch when the energy transfer is inactive. The passive turn off device is disabled from deactivating the switch when the energy transfer is active.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventor: Simone Fabbro
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Publication number: 20210328519Abstract: An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device that operates one or more input switches of an input side of an electrical isolation device to transfer energy through the isolation device to an output side of the electrical isolation device for activating a switch. The apparatus comprises a voltage conversion device that converts the energy from an input voltage of the input side to an output voltage to control the switch when the energy transfer is active. The apparatus comprises a passive turn off device that passively deactivates the switch when the energy transfer is inactive. The passive turn off device is disabled from deactivating the switch when the energy transfer is active.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventor: Simone FABBRO
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Patent number: 10651723Abstract: A multi-output gate driver system comprises a power device having a gate node; a first driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a second driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a first comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a first reference voltage, and an output; a second comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a second reference voltage, and an output; and a logic circuit having an input for receiving a control signal, a first output coupled to the input of the first driver, and a second output coupled to the input of the second driver.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AGInventors: Wolfgang Frank, Simone Fabbro, Karl Norling
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Publication number: 20200127552Abstract: A multi-output gate driver system comprises a power device having a gate node; a first driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a second driver having an input and an output coupled to the gate node; a first comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a first reference voltage, and an output; a second comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the second driver, a second input coupled to a second reference voltage, and an output; and a logic circuit having an input for receiving a control signal, a first output coupled to the input of the first driver, and a second output coupled to the input of the second driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Wolfgang Frank, Simone Fabbro, Karl Norling
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Patent number: 9899923Abstract: Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for controlling a buck-boost converter. In one example, a device is configured to compare an output voltage at a voltage output with a low reference voltage and a high reference voltage. The device may compare a current at an inductor with a low threshold current and a high threshold current. The device may, responsive to the output voltage at the voltage output being lower than the low reference voltage, charge the inductor. The device may, responsive to the current at the inductor reaching the high threshold current, couple the inductor to the voltage output to transfer charge from the inductor to the voltage output. The device may, responsive to either the current at the inductor reaching the low threshold current or the output voltage reaching the high reference voltage, stop transferring charge from the inductor to the voltage output.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventor: Simone Fabbro
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Patent number: 9825546Abstract: Circuits that provide an auxiliary power supply on the secondary side of an isolated switched-mode power converter are described. Such an auxiliary supply may be used to provide power to a secondary side controller or to other circuitry in the secondary side of the power converter. During at least a start-up phase of the power converter, the secondary side auxiliary power supply is supplied power by use of a self-starting primary side driver that operates autonomously until the secondary side controller is fully operational. Circuits and methods for such a self-starting primary side driver are provided. The techniques disclosed provide for a secondary side auxiliary power supply that uses minimal additional circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventors: Benjamim Tang, Darryl Tschirhart, Simone Fabbro, Giuseppe Bernacchia, Alan Huang
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Publication number: 20170288556Abstract: Circuits that provide an auxiliary power supply on the secondary side of an isolated switched-mode power converter are described. Such an auxiliary supply may be used to provide power to a secondary side controller or to other circuitry in the secondary side of the power converter. During at least a start-up phase of the power converter, the secondary side auxiliary power supply is supplied power by use of a self-starting primary side driver that operates autonomously until the secondary side controller is fully operational. Circuits and methods for such a self-starting primary side driver are provided. The techniques disclosed provide for a secondary side auxiliary power supply that uses minimal additional circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Benjamim Tang, Darryl Tschirhart, Simone Fabbro, Giuseppe Bernacchia, Alan Huang
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Patent number: 9628036Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described where input signals are supplied to a translinear mesh. In some embodiments an output of the translinear mesh is regulated to a desired value.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Dieter Draxelmayr, Simone Fabbro
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Patent number: 9570979Abstract: A power stage of a voltage regulator includes a first switch for connecting a load to a supply voltage in a first switching state of the power stage, a second switch for connecting the load to ground in a second switching state of the power stage and driver circuitry for setting the power stage in the first switching state, the second switching state or a non-switching state in which both switches are off responsive to a switching control signal received by the power stage. A power management unit moves the power stage from a nominal power mode to a first low power mode if the power stage is in the non-switching state for a predetermined time period.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventors: Benjamim Tang, Jens Ejury, Giuseppe Bernacchia, Simone Fabbro, Aliaksandr Subotski, Karl Norling
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Patent number: 9467053Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a switching converter using a duty cycle associated with either a buck mode or a boost mode of the switching converter. More particularly, a controller determines when to change between buck mode and boost mode based on the duty cycle associated with one of the buck mode or the boost mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Simone Fabbro
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Publication number: 20150303799Abstract: A power stage of a voltage regulator includes a first switch for connecting a load to a supply voltage in a first switching state of the power stage, a second switch for connecting the load to ground in a second switching state of the power stage and driver circuitry for setting the power stage in the first switching state, the second switching state or a non-switching state in which both switches are off responsive to a switching control signal received by the power stage. A power management unit moves the power stage from a nominal power mode to a first low power mode if the power stage is in the non-switching state for a predetermined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Benjamim Tang, Jens Ejury, Giuseppe Bernacchia, Simone Fabbro, Aliaksandr Subotski, Karl Norling
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Patent number: 9152163Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for regulating a kILIS factor (i.e., a load current-to-sensing current ratio) of a current sensing power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The techniques may include generating a reference voltage based on a configurable function that defines the reference voltage as a function of two or more main terminal voltages which are obtained at two or more different locations on a metallization that forms a main terminal of a current sensing power MOSFET, and regulating a sensing terminal of the current sensing power MOSFET at a voltage that is determined based on the reference voltage. Using a configurable function of two or more main terminal voltages to regulate a sensing terminal of a current sensing power MOSFET may allow the voltage at which the sensing terminal is regulated to be trimmed in order to improve the accuracy of the kILIS factor produced by the current sensing power MOSFET.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventors: Simone Fabbro, Emiliano Puia, Giacomo Cascio
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Publication number: 20150171744Abstract: Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for controlling a buck-boost converter. In one example, a device is configured to compare an output voltage at a voltage output with a low reference voltage and a high reference voltage. The device may compare a current at an inductor with a low threshold current and a high threshold current. The device may, responsive to the output voltage at the voltage output being lower than the low reference voltage, charge the inductor. The device may, responsive to the current at the inductor reaching the high threshold current, couple the inductor to the voltage output to transfer charge from the inductor to the voltage output. The device may, responsive to either the current at the inductor reaching the low threshold current or the output voltage reaching the high reference voltage, stop transferring charge from the inductor to the voltage output.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventor: Simone Fabbro
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Publication number: 20140139289Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described where input signals are supplied to a translinear mesh. In some embodiments an output of the translinear mesh is regulated to a desired value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Dieter DRAXELMAYR, Simone FABBRO