公开(公告)号：EP4340203A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-20

申请号：EP23195813.3

申请日：2023-09-06

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： FLORIANI, Ivan ,  CASTORINA, Stefano ,  ALTAMURA, Giulia ,  MORETTI, Emanuele

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M1/00

Abstract: The control device (55) is for a switching voltage regulator (50) having a switching circuit (53). The control device receives a set of measurement signals (V OUT , I L ) having a first measurement signal indicative of an output voltage of the switching voltage regulator. The control device has: a burst-mode controller (97) configured to monitor the output voltage with respect to a first threshold (V th,L ) and a second threshold (V th,H ) higher than the first threshold, and to provide, in response, a burst signal (BURST_M); and a driving-signal generation stage (92, 94, 95, 96) configured to provide at least one switching control signal (PWM, T1, T2, T3, T4) for the switching circuit starting from the burst signal and from the set of measurement signals. The driving-signal generation stage has a feedback module (92) configured to provide a control signal (V C , I C ) as a function of the burst signal and of an error signal (V E ) indicative of a difference between the first measurement signal and a reference signal (V REF ).

公开(公告)号：EP4297258A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-27

申请号：EP23178174.1

申请日：2023-06-08

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： CASTORINA, Stefano ,  BRIGO, Elena ,  FLORIANI, Ivan

IPC: H02M1/00 ,  H02M3/158

Abstract: The control device (55) is for a switching voltage regulator (50) having a switching circuit (53). The control device receives an input voltage (V in ) and an output voltage (V out ) of the switching circuit and a measurement signal indicative of a current (I L ) of the switching circuit. The control device has: a feedback module (92) that detects an error signal (V E ) indicative of a difference between the output voltage and a nominal voltage (V ref ), and provides a control signal (I c ) as a function of the error signal; a threshold-correction module (98, 100, 102) that provides an offset signal (I bias ) and a ramp signal (I slope ); and a driving-signal generation module (94, 96, 97) coupled to the feedback module and to the threshold-correction module, which receives the measurement signal, compares the measurement signal with a threshold (I th ) and, in response, provides a modulated signal (PWM, T1, T2, T3, T4) for driving the switching circuit. The threshold is a function of the control signal, of the offset signal, and of the ramp signal. The threshold-correction module provides the offset signal as a function of the input voltage and/or of the output voltage.

公开(公告)号：EP4137366A3

公开(公告)日：2023-05-03

申请号：EP22190946.8

申请日：2022-08-18

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： ARGENTO, Davide ,  PENNISI, Orazio ,  CASTORINA, Stefano ,  POLETTO, Vanni ,  LANDINI, Matteo ,  MAINO, Andrea

IPC: B60R21/017 ,  G01R27/26 ,  G01R31/00 ,  G01R31/64 ,  B60R21/01

Abstract: A system and method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitor (102) are provided. In embodiments, a resistor (112) is coupled to a terminal of the capacitor (102). A difference in voltage at the terminal between a first time and a second time during a discharge routine of the capacitor (102) is measured. The discharge routine includes sinking a current through a discharge circuit (108, 110) coupled to the resistor (112) from first to second. Integration of a difference in voltage at terminals of the resistor (112) during the discharge routine between the first and second times is also measured. The capacitance value is computed based on the measured difference in voltage, the measured integration, and the resistance value of the resistor (112). The health of the capacitor (102) is determined based on a difference between the computed capacitance value and a threshold value.

公开(公告)号：EP4137824A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-22

申请号：EP22190928.6

申请日：2022-08-18

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： ARGENTO, Davide ,  PENNISI, Orazio ,  CASTORINA, Stefano ,  POLETTO, Vanni ,  LANDINI, Matteo ,  MAINO, Andrea

IPC: G01R27/26 ,  B60R21/017 ,  G01R31/00 ,  G01R31/64 ,  B60R21/01

Abstract: A system and method is provided for measuring a voltage drop at a node (V IN ). In embodiments, a circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter (402), a current sink (406), and a controller. The input of the analog-to-digital converter (402) and the input of the current sink (406) is coupled to the node (V IN ) to be measured. A set point for the current sink (406) is determined. The output of the analog-to-digital converter (402) during the voltage drop is sampled. And a relative voltage drop value is computed by subtracting the sampled output of the analog-to-digital converter (402) during the voltage drop from a sampled output of the analog-to-digital converter (402) during a steady-state condition. The current sink (406) operating at the set point during the steady-state condition and during the voltage drop.

公开(公告)号：EP4340203A9

公开(公告)日：2024-05-01

申请号：EP23195813.3

申请日：2023-09-06

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： FLORIANI, Ivan ,  CASTORINA, Stefano ,  ALTAMURA, Giulia ,  MORETTI, Emanuele

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M1/00

CPC classification number: H02M1/0025 ,  H02M1/0035 ,  H02M3/1582 ,  H02M1/0009

Abstract: The control device (55) is for a switching voltage regulator (50) having a switching circuit (53). The control device receives a set of measurement signals (VOUT, IL) having a first measurement signal indicative of an output voltage of the switching voltage regulator. The control device has: a burst-mode controller (97) configured to monitor the output voltage with respect to a first threshold (Vth,L) and a second threshold (Vth,H) higher than the first threshold, and to provide, in response, a burst signal (BURST_M); and a driving-signal generation stage (92, 94, 95, 96) configured to provide at least one switching control signal (PWM, T1, T2, T3, T4) for the switching circuit starting from the burst signal and from the set of measurement signals. The driving-signal generation stage has a feedback module (92) configured to provide a control signal (VC, IC) as a function of the burst signal and of an error signal (VE) indicative of a difference between the first measurement signal and a reference signal (VREF).

公开(公告)号：EP4137366A2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-22

申请号：EP22190946.8

申请日：2022-08-18

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： ARGENTO, Davide ,  PENNISI, Orazio ,  CASTORINA, Stefano ,  POLETTO, Vanni ,  LANDINI, Matteo ,  MAINO, Andrea

IPC: B60R21/017 ,  G01R27/26 ,  G01R31/00 ,  G01R31/64 ,  B60R21/01

Abstract: A system and method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitor (102) are provided. In embodiments, a resistor (112) is coupled to a terminal of the capacitor (102). A difference in voltage at the terminal between a first time and a second time during a discharge routine of the capacitor (102) is measured. The discharge routine includes sinking a current through a discharge circuit (108, 110) coupled to the resistor (112) from first to second. Integration of a difference in voltage at terminals of the resistor (112) during the discharge routine between the first and second times is also measured. The capacitance value is computed based on the measured difference in voltage, the measured integration, and the resistance value of the resistor (112). The health of the capacitor (102) is determined based on a difference between the computed capacitance value and a threshold value.

公开(公告)号：EP4333281A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-06

申请号：EP23183518.2

申请日：2023-07-05

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： CASTORINA, Stefano ,  BRIGO, Elena

IPC: H02M1/00 ,  H02M1/32 ,  H02M3/158

Abstract: Control module for a buck-boost switching converter (101), which includes an inductor (12) and a shunt resistor (14) and is coupled to a load (13) which draws a load current (I LOAD ). The control module includes: a control stage (18,19) which performs charge (T' ON ) and discharge (T' OFF ) cycles of the inductor (12), during which the inductor (12) is traversed by an inductor current (I L ), the shunt resistor (14) being subject to a respective voltage (v dcm ) and being traversed by a resistor current (i dcm ); a first comparator stage (17A), which generates a first signal (sV1), which is indicative of the direction of the resistor current (i dcm ) and is provided to the control stage; a filtering circuit (102,104,106) of low-pass type, which generates a filtered electrical quantity (V filt ) as a function of the voltage (v dcm ) on the shunt resistor (14); a second comparator stage (52,56,117), which generates a second signal (sVx) indicative of a comparison between the filtered electrical quantity (V filt ) and a reference electrical quantity (V th ); and a detection stage (52,56) which detects the occurrence of an overcurrent in the load (13), on the basis of the second signal (sVx).

公开(公告)号：EP4160350A1

公开(公告)日：2023-04-05

申请号：EP22192568.8

申请日：2022-08-29

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： CIGNOLI, Marco ,  ERRICO, Nicola ,  VILMERCATI, Paolo ,  CASTORINA, Stefano ,  FERRARA, Enrico

IPC: G05F1/56 ,  H03K19/007

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single integrated circuit chip with a main logic (11) that operates a vehicle component such as a valve driver. Isolated from the main logic (11) within the chip is a safety area (12') that operates to verify proper operation of the main logic. The safety area (12') is internally powered by an internal regulated voltage (VREG) generated by an internal voltage regulator that generates the internal regulated voltage from an external voltage (PWR_IN) while protecting against shorts of the external line delivering the external voltage. The safety area (12') includes protection circuits (25) that level shift external analog signals downward in voltage for monitoring within the safety area, the protection circuits (25) serving to protect against shorts of the external line delivering the external analog signals.