Patents by Inventor Thierry Castagnet

Thierry Castagnet 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: 7791226
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for controlling a switch intended to apply an AC signal, by application of a control signal on a terminal of a circuit, at least one signal of information as to the state of the switch or of a load that it controls being provided to said terminal in a time multiplexing with said control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, SA
    Inventors: Pascal Paillet, Thierry Castagnet
  • Publication number: 20080179965
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for controlling a switch intended to apply an AC signal, by application of a control signal on a terminal of a circuit, at least one signal of information as to the state of the switch or of a load that it controls being provided to said terminal in a time multiplexing with said control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Pascal Paillet, Thierry Castagnet
  • Patent number: 7091633
    Abstract: A circuit of interface between a logic sensor and a logic input isolation barrier of a processing circuit, including an element of protection against input overvoltages, a current-limiting circuit connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal of the interface circuit, and a control stage connected in parallel with the galvanic isolation element to be controlled to control the logic states thereof, the control stage inhibiting the operation of the galvanic isolation element if the input current is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Thierry Castagnet, Olivier Ladiray
  • Publication number: 20030048008
    Abstract: A circuit of interface between a logic sensor and a logic input isolation barrier of a processing circuit, including an element of protection against input overvoltages, a current-limiting circuit connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal of the interface circuit, and a control stage connected in parallel with the galvanic isolation element to be controlled to control the logic states thereof, the control stage inhibiting the operation of the galvanic isolation element if the input current is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thierry Castagnet, Olivier Ladiray
  • Patent number: 5162984
    Abstract: A rectifier power supply automatically adjusts to operate over either of two separate ranges of AC line voltages by reconfiguring filter capacitors so as to charge the capacitor serially when operated over the higher range of voltages and to charge the capacitors separately over each half cycle when operated over the lower voltage range. A triac device, used to control charging of the capacitors, is selectively activated only during a small portion of each half cycle to minimize power consumption. The device includes a bridge rectifier circuit receiving an AC line voltage and supplying pulsating DC to the serially connected two filter capacitors. The triac is used as a switch and is connected between one input terminal of the diode bridge and a node point between the two capacitors. An AC line voltage range detector and triac control circuit responsive to the range detector causes the triac to conduct when the AC line voltage is detected within the lower range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Thierry Castagnet, Jean-Claude Bielli