Patents by Inventor Stefano Saggini

Stefano Saggini 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: 7221135
    Abstract: A method regulates the time constant matching of a DC/DC converter phase, further to a variation of a load applied to an output of said phase. Such phase being associated with a coil network, with a series RL circuit and a reading network 10, with a series RC circuit connected in parallel to the coil network. The method includes an acquisition step, suitable to acquire the trend of a voltage detected across the capacitance CD of the reading network 10, transforming it into a current trend, a detection step suitable to identify a variation above a certain threshold value of said current trend, an identification step, enabled by said detection step, suitable to determine a slope of said current trend and a regulation step suitable to adapt the value of said resistance RD based on said slope determined by said identification step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Zafarana, Dario Zambotti, Stefano Saggini
  • Publication number: 20060238176
    Abstract: A method regulates the time constant matching of a DC/DC converter phase, further to a variation of a load applied to an output of said phase. Such phase being associated with a coil network, with a series RL circuit and a reading network 10, with a series RC circuit connected in parallel to the coil network. The method includes an acquisition step, suitable to acquire the trend of a voltage detected across the capacitance CD of the reading network 10, transforming it into a current trend, a detection step suitable to identify a variation above a certain threshold value of said current trend, an identification step, enabled by said detection step, suitable to determine a slope of said current trend and a regulation step suitable to adapt the value of said resistance RD based on said slope determined by said identification step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Zafarana, Dario Zambotti, Stefano Saggini
  • Patent number: 7084790
    Abstract: A device for effectuating a digital estimate of a periodic electric signal is described. The device comprising a linear DAC having an output signal, a comparator that compares the output signal of the linear DAC with the periodic electric signal, and logic circuitry having in input the output signal of the comparator and a pulse clock signal. The logic circuitry provides a first digital signal in input to the linear DAC and a second digital signal representative of the estimate of the periodic electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonio Borrello, Stefano Saggini, Aldo Novelli, Ignazio Bellomo
  • Patent number: 7062159
    Abstract: A device for correcting a digital estimate of an electric signal is described. The device includes a comparator that generates a current proportional to the difference between an analog estimate signal, which derives from the digital estimate, and the electric signal. The device also includes a capacitor positioned to be charged by the current, a transistor that discharges the capacitor, and a comparator that compares the voltage at the terminal of the capacitor with a reference voltage. The device also includes a controller that drives the transistor in response to the output signal of the comparator and a logic device that generates a correction digital signal to be added to or subtracted from the digital estimate of the electric signal in correspondence of an ascending or descending waveform of the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonio Borrello, Stefano Saggini, Aldo Novelli, Ignazio Bellomo
  • Publication number: 20060120699
    Abstract: A device for correcting a digital estimate of an electric signal is described. The device includes a comparator that generates a current proportional to the difference between an analog estimate signal, which derives from the digital estimate, and the electric signal. The device also includes a capacitor positioned to be charged by the current, a transistor that discharges the capacitor, and a comparator that compares the voltage at the terminal of the capacitor with a reference voltage. The device also includes a controller that drives the transistor in response to the output signal of the comparator and a logic device that generates a correction digital signal to be added to or subtracted from the digital estimate of the electric signal in correspondence of an ascending or descending waveform of the electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonio Borrello, Stefano Saggini, Aldo Novelli, Ignazio Bellomo
  • Publication number: 20060119495
    Abstract: A device for effectuating a digital estimate of a periodic electric signal is described. The device comprising a linear DAC having an output signal, a comparator that compares the output signal of the linear DAC with the periodic electric signal, and logic circuitry having in input the output signal of the comparator and a pulse clock signal. The logic circuitry provides a first digital signal in input to the linear DAC and a second digital signal representative of the estimate of the periodic electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonio Borrello, Stefano Saggini, Aldo Novelli, Ignazio Bellomo
  • Publication number: 20060077695
    Abstract: A method controls a Full Bridge converter with a Current-Doubler of the type including at least a first and a second half-bridges of diodes connected to respective control transistors. The method includes detecting a reference value, comparing, instant by instant, the reference value with an output voltage value of the converter, and carrying out a switching from a transfer phase to an energy recirculation phase in correspondence with instants when the output voltage value reaches the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Giovanni Garcea, Massimo Ghioni, Christian Beia, Stefano Saggini, Francesco Villa
  • Patent number: 6873140
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an input terminal adapted for being coupled to an input voltage and an output terminal adapted for being coupled to a load. The voltage regulator includes a first switch adapted for selectively coupling to the input terminal and to the output terminal, a current sensor for measuring an output current flowing towards the output terminal, a voltage sensor for measuring the output voltage from the output terminal, and a digital controller which drives the first switch. The controller closes the first switch when the error voltage is less than a first preset value of voltage and opens the first switch when the output current is greater than a first preset value of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano Saggini, Massimo Ghioni, Angelo Geraci, Francesco Villa
  • Publication number: 20040051510
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an input terminal adapted for being coupled to an input voltage and an output terminal adapted for being coupled to a load. The voltage regulator includes a first switch adapted for selectively coupling to the input terminal and to the output terminal, a current sensor for measuring an output current flowing towards the output terminal, a voltage sensor for measuring the output voltage from the output terminal, and a digital controller which drives the first switch. The controller closes the first switch when the error voltage is less than a first preset value of voltage and opens the first switch when the output current is greater than a first preset value of current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Stefano Saggini, Massimo Ghioni, Angelo Geraci, Francesco Villa