公开(公告)号：US09426563B2

公开(公告)日：2016-08-23

申请号：US14030584

申请日：2013-09-18

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alessandro Gasparini ,  Daniele Depascalis

IPC: H04R3/00 ,  H04R19/01 ,  H04R29/00

CPC classification number: H04R3/00 ,  H04R19/013 ,  H04R29/001

Abstract: A MEMS speaker device including a membrane that forms a first capacitor and a second capacitor, respectively, with a top plate and with a bottom plate. The device includes a driving circuit that operates, during a first operating period, to move the membrane into a first position, in which the membrane is close to the bottom plate, and during a second operating period, to move the membrane into a second position, in which the membrane is close to the top plate. The device includes a testing circuit having a measuring circuit, which generates a first signal, based on a capacitance of one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor and a second signal based on a capacitance of one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor; and a comparator, which compares the first and second signals with at least one first electrical reference quantity.

Abstract translation: 一种MEMS扬声器装置，包括分别与顶板和底板形成第一电容器和第二电容器的膜。 该装置包括驱动电路，该驱动电路在第一操作期间操作以将膜移动到第一位置，其中膜靠近底板，并且在第二操作期间，将膜移动到第二位置 ，其中膜接近顶板。 该装置包括具有测量电路的测试电路，其基于第一电容器和第二电容器之一的电容产生第一信号，基于第一电容器和第二电容器之一的电容产生第二信号; 以及比较器，其将第一和第二信号与至少一个第一电参考量进行比较。

公开(公告)号：US20140232189A1

公开(公告)日：2014-08-21

申请号：US14181063

申请日：2014-02-14

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alessandro Gasparini ,  Eugenio Miluzzi ,  Alberto Cattani ,  Stefano Ramorini

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M3/335

CPC classification number: H02M3/158 ,  H02M3/1584 ,  H02M3/33561 ,  H02M2001/0087 ,  H02M2001/009 ,  Y10T307/406

Abstract: A DC-DC converter independently supplies electrical loads. For each load, an output load signal is compared to a reference to generate a result indicating a need to supply the respective electrical load. A first detection is made as to whether a first electrical load needs to be supplied and a second detection is made as to whether any remaining electrical loads need to be supplied. The first electrical load is supplied if the first detection is positive and the second detection is negative.

Abstract translation: DC-DC转换器独立提供电气负载。 对于每个负载，将输出负载信号与参考值进行比较以产生指示需要提供相应的电负载的结果。 首先检查是否需要提供第一电负载，并且进行第二次检测以确定是否需要提供任何剩余的电负载。 如果第一次检测为正，第二个检测为负，则提供第一个电气负载。

公开(公告)号：US12081128B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-03

申请号：US17885901

申请日：2022-08-11

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alessandro Gasparini ,  Mauro Leoncini ,  Claudio Luise ,  Alberto Cattani ,  Massimo Ghioni ,  Salvatore Levantino

IPC: H02J1/10 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H05B45/3725

CPC classification number: H02M3/1582 ,  H02J1/102 ,  H05B45/3725

Abstract: A Single Input Dual Output converter includes a first switch coupling an input to a first inductor terminal, a second switch coupling a second inductor terminal to ground, a third switch coupling the second inductor terminal to a positive output, and a fourth switch coupling the first inductor terminal to a negative output. During time-shared control, the negative and positive outputs are independently served by conversion cycles. Each conversion cycle includes: a positive phase with a positive charge phase (closing only the first and second switches), followed by an additional phase (closing only the first and third switches for a given time duration), and followed by a positive discharge phase (closing only the third and fourth switches). Each conversion cycle further includes a negative phase with a negative charge phase (closing only the first and second switches) followed by a negative discharge phase (closing only the second and fourth switches).

公开(公告)号：US11646658B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-09

申请号：US17533338

申请日：2021-11-23

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Alberto Cattani

IPC: H02M3/07

CPC classification number: H02M3/077 ,  H02M3/076

Abstract: Charge pump stages are coupled between flying capacitor pairs and arranged in a cascaded between a bottom voltage line and an output voltage line. Gain stages apply pump phase signals having a certain amplitude to the charge pump stages via the flying capacitors. A feedback signal path from the output voltage line to the bottom voltage line applies a feedback control signal to the bottom voltage line. Power supply for the gain stages is provided by a voltage of the feedback control signal in order to control the amplitude of the pump phase signals. An asynchronous logic circuit generates the switching drive signals for the gain stages with a certain switching frequency which is a function of a logic supply voltage derived from the voltage of the feedback control signal.

公开(公告)号：US11527956B2

公开(公告)日：2022-12-13

申请号：US17335523

申请日：2021-06-01

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alessandro Bertolini ,  Alberto Cattani ,  Alessandro Gasparini

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M1/00

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling switching operation of a switching stage of a converter includes a phase detector circuit that generates a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal in response to a phase comparison of two clock signals. A first clock signal has a frequency determined as a function of a first feedback signal proportional to converter output voltage. A first transconductance amplifier generates a first current indicative of a difference between a reference voltage and the first feedback signal, and a second transconductance amplifier generates a second current indicative of a difference between the reference voltage and a second feedback signal proportional to a derivative of the converter output voltage. A delay line introduces a delay in the first clock signal that is dependent on the first and second currents as well as a compensation current dependent on a selected operational mode of the converter.

公开(公告)号：US10566940B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-18

申请号：US16539478

申请日：2019-08-13

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alberto Cattani ,  Germano Nicollini ,  Alessandro Gasparini

IPC: H03F3/21 ,  H03F3/217 ,  H03F3/45

Abstract: A switching amplifier, such as a Class D amplifier, includes a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit is formed by replica loop circuits that are selectively coupled to corresponding output inverter stages of the switching amplifier. The replica loop circuits operated to produce respective replica currents of the output currents generated by the output inverter stages. A sensing circuitry is coupled to receive the replica currents from the replica loop circuits and operates to produce an output sensing signal as a function of the respective replica currents.

公开(公告)号：US10326418B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-18

申请号：US15982548

申请日：2018-05-17

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alberto Cattani ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Germano Nicollini

IPC: H03M1/66 ,  H03F3/45 ,  H03M1/12 ,  H03M1/68 ,  H03M1/74 ,  H03M1/76

Abstract: A circuit includes an input transistor pair with first and second input transistors, the first input transistor having a control terminal configured to receive an input signal and a cascode transistor pair including a first and second cascode transistors having a common control node. A bias circuit has a bias input configured to receive the input signal and a first bias output coupled to the common node of the first and second cascode transistors. The bias circuit includes a signal tracking circuit operating to generate the first bias output to track the input signal. A pair of load transistors are coupled to the input transistor pair and biased by a second bias output of the bias circuit.

公开(公告)号：US10211722B2

公开(公告)日：2019-02-19

申请号：US15132958

申请日：2016-04-19

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Alberto Cattani

IPC: H02M3/04 ,  H02J50/10 ,  H02J7/02

Abstract: An energy harvesting interface receives an electrical signal from an inductive transducer and outputs a supply signal. An input branch includes a first switch and a second switch connected in series between a first input terminal and an output terminal, and further a third switch and a fourth switch connected in series between a second input terminal and the output terminal. A first electrical-signal-detecting device coupled across the second switch detects a first threshold value of an electric storage current in the inductor of the transducer. A second electrical-signal-detecting device coupled across the fourth switch detects whether the electric supply current that flows through the fourth switch reaches a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value.

公开(公告)号：US10116208B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-30

申请号：US14603597

申请日：2015-01-23

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Alberto Cattani

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M1/36 ,  H02M1/00

Abstract: A converter includes an inductor configured to receive an input signal and output configured to supply an electrical load with an output signal. The converter operates to charge the inductor until a maximum pre-set current value is reached during a first operating condition in which the electrical load is not supplied. Next, the converter actively supplies the electrical load by partially discharging the inductor during a first time interval of a second operating condition. Then, the converter passively supplies the electrical load by the residual charge of the inductor during a second time interval, subsequent to the first time interval, of the second operating condition, by discharging the inductor completely.

公开(公告)号：US09379615B2

公开(公告)日：2016-06-28

申请号：US14749254

申请日：2015-06-24

Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Alberto Cattani

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02J7/35

CPC classification number: H02M3/02 ,  H02J3/385 ,  H02J7/32 ,  H02J7/35 ,  H02M3/158 ,  Y02B10/14

Abstract: An electrical-energy harvesting system envisages a transducer for converting energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal, an electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the transduced signal and for supplying a harvesting signal, and an energy storage element coupled to the electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the harvesting signal. The electrical-energy harvesting system also includes a voltage converter connected to the electrical energy harvesting interface for generating a regulated voltage. The harvesting interface samples an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal, generates an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value, and generates an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage on the basis of the optimized voltage value. The harvesting interface controls the voltage converter in switching mode so that the harvesting signal has a value between the upper and lower threshold voltages in at least one operating condition.

Abstract translation: 电能收集系统设想用于将来自环境能源的能量转换成转换信号的换能器，用于接收转换信号并用于提供收获信号的电能收集界面，以及耦合到电能收集的能量存储元件 用于接收收获信号的接口。 电能收集系统还包括连接到电能收集界面的电压转换器，用于产生调节电压。 采集接口采样转换信号的开路电压值，从开路电压值开始产生优化的电压值，并根据优化电压值生成上阈值电压和下阈值电压。 采集接口以开关模式控制电压转换器，使得收集信号在至少一个操作条件下具有在上限和下限阈值电压之间的值。