公开(公告)号：US10680521B1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US16555262

申请日：2019-08-29

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alessandro Bertolini ,  Alberto Cattani

IPC: H02M3/156 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H02M3/155

Abstract: An inductor and a shunt switch circuit are connected in parallel between an input node and an intermediate node. A first power transistor is connected between the intermediate node and a ground node. A second power transistor is connected between the intermediate node and an output node. The first and second power transistors are driven in response to a pulse width modulation (PWM) drive cycle having an on-time and an off-time. The input node receives a DC input voltage and a DC output voltage is generated at the output node. A control circuit senses the input and output nodes and determines whether the DC input voltage is within a threshold voltage of the DC output voltage. In response to that determination, the shunt switch circuit is turned on only during the off-time of the PWM drive cycle.

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。

公开(公告)号：US20160099582A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-07

申请号：US14505029

申请日：2014-10-02

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Stefano Ramorini ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Alberto Cattani

IPC: H02J7/00

CPC classification number: H02J7/007 ,  H02J7/0052 ,  H02J7/345 ,  H02J2007/0059 ,  H02M3/158 ,  H02M2001/009

Abstract: An energy harvesting circuit receives an input voltage from a transducer and uses a single inductor operating in a DC-DC converter charging mode to generate charging current at a first output coupled to an energy storage device where a supply voltage is stored. The energy harvesting circuit further receives the supply voltage from the energy storage device and uses the same single inductor operating in a DC-DC converter regulating mode to generate load current at a second output where a regulated load voltage is provided. The energy harvesting circuit switches between the charging mode and the regulating mode in accordance with a discontinuous mode (DCM) control process.

Abstract translation: 能量收集电路接收来自换能器的输入电压，并使用以DC-DC转换器充电模式工作的单个电感器，在耦合到存储电源电压的能量存储装置的第一输出处产生充电电流。 能量收集电路还从能量存储装置接收电源电压，并且使用以DC-DC转换器调节模式工作的相同的单个电感器，以在提供调节负载电压的第二输出端产生负载电流。 能量收集电路根据不连续模式（DCM）控制过程在充电模式和调节模式之间切换。

公开(公告)号：US12301111B2

公开(公告)日：2025-05-13

申请号：US18089736

申请日：2022-12-28

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alessandro Bertolini ,  Alberto Cattani ,  Alessandro Gasparini

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M1/00 ,  H02M1/08 ,  H02M3/156 ,  H02M3/157

Abstract: A supply node receives supply voltage and an output node provides a regulated output voltage to a load. A switching transistor is coupled between the supply and output nodes. The switching transistor is controlled by a drive signal generated by a control circuit to control switching activity. The control circuit includes circuitry to sense a feedback voltage indicative of the regulated output voltage and a comparator generating a comparison logic signal dependent on a comparison of the feedback voltage to a reference. A logic circuit generates a skip signal in response to the comparison logic signal. A counter generates a termination signal. Signal processing circuitry controls the switching activity by asserting the drive signal as a function of the skip signal and the termination signal.

公开(公告)号：US20250028342A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-23

申请号：US18907071

申请日：2024-10-04

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alberto Cattani ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Stefano Ramorini

IPC: G05F1/56

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: providing a voltage setpoint to a voltage converter; generating an output voltage at a voltage rail with the voltage converter based on the voltage setpoint; when the voltage setpoint is transitioning from a first voltage setpoint to a second voltage setpoint that has a lower magnitude than the first voltage setpoint, providing a first constant current to a first node coupled to a control terminal of an output transistor to turn on the output transistor, where the output transistor includes a source terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first resistor, and where a current path of the output transistor is coupled to the voltage rail; and turning off the output transistor after the output voltage reaches the target output voltage corresponding to the second voltage setpoint.

公开(公告)号：US12135572B2

公开(公告)日：2024-11-05

申请号：US17694182

申请日：2022-03-14

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Alberto Cattani ,  Alessandro Gasparini ,  Stefano Ramorini

IPC: G05F1/56

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: providing a voltage setpoint to a voltage converter; generating an output voltage at a voltage rail with the voltage converter based on the voltage setpoint; when the voltage setpoint is transitioning from a first voltage setpoint to a second voltage setpoint that has a lower magnitude than the first voltage setpoint, providing a first constant current to a first node coupled to a control terminal of an output transistor to turn on the output transistor, where the output transistor includes a source terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first resistor, and where a current path of the output transistor is coupled to the voltage rail; and turning off the output transistor after the output voltage reaches the target output voltage corresponding to the second voltage setpoint.