公开(公告)号：US08947150B2

公开(公告)日：2015-02-03

申请号：US14256689

申请日：2014-04-18

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Sandro Rossi ,  Antonio Ricciardo

IPC: H03L5/00 ,  H03K3/356

CPC classification number: H03K3/356113 ,  H03K5/12 ,  H03K19/00361

Abstract: A multi-level shifter includes a first branch having first and second transistors coupled between a higher voltage terminal and a lower voltage terminal. The multi-level shifter comprises a second branch, in parallel with the first branch, having: a third transistor, coupled between said higher voltage reference terminal and an output node, a fourth switching transistor coupled between said output node and said lower voltage terminal. Said third and fourth transistors have respective control terminals controlled by drain terminals of said first and second transistors, respectively. The shifter includes a bidirectional battery coupled between said drain terminals of said first and second transistors to supply first and second voltages having the same magnitude and different polarities. Said fourth transistor is controlled according to the first voltage when said first transistor is turned on and said third transistor is controlled according to the second voltage when said second transistor is turned on.

Abstract translation: 多电平移位器包括具有耦合在较高电压端子和较低电压端子之间的第一和第二晶体管的第一支路。 多电平移位器包括与第一分支并联的第二分支，具有：耦合在所述高电压参考端和输出节点之间的第三晶体管，耦合在所述输出节点和所述下电压端之间的第四开关晶体管。 所述第三和第四晶体管分别具有由所述第一和第二晶体管的漏极端子控制的各个控制端子。 移位器包括耦合在所述第一和第二晶体管的所述漏极端子之间的双向电池，以提供具有相同幅度和不同极性的第一和第二电压。 当所述第一晶体管导通时，所述第四晶体管根据所述第一电压被控制，并且当所述第二晶体管导通时，根据所述第二电压来控制所述第三晶体管。

公开(公告)号：US08710874B2

公开(公告)日：2014-04-29

申请号：US14071315

申请日：2013-11-04

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Sandro Rossi ,  Giulio Ricotti ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Antonio Ricciardo

IPC: H03K7/06

CPC classification number: G05F3/02 ,  H03K19/018521 ,  H03K19/09443

Abstract: A transmission channel configured to transmit high-voltage pulses and to receive echos of the high-voltage pulses includes a high voltage buffer, a voltage clamp and a switch. The voltage clamp may include clamping transistors and switching off transistors coupled together in series with body diodes in anti-series. The transmission channel may include a reset circuit configured to bias the transmission channel between pulses. The switch may include a bootstrap circuit.

Abstract translation: 配置成传输高电压脉冲并接收高电压脉冲的回波的传输通道包括高电压缓冲器，电压钳和开关。 电压钳可以包括钳位晶体管和截止与串联的体二极管串联在一起的晶体管。 传输信道可以包括被配置为在脉冲之间偏置传输信道的复位电路。 开关可以包括自举电路。

公开(公告)号：US20140055188A1

公开(公告)日：2014-02-27

申请号：US14071315

申请日：2013-11-04

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Sandro Rossi ,  Giulio Ricotti ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Antonio Ricciardo

IPC: G05F3/02

CPC classification number: G05F3/02 ,  H03K19/018521 ,  H03K19/09443

Abstract: A transmission channel configured to transmit high-voltage pulses and to receive echos of the high-voltage pulses includes a high voltage buffer, a voltage clamp and a switch. The voltage clamp may include clamping transistors and switching off transistors coupled together in series with body diodes in anti-series. The transmission channel may include a reset circuit configured to bias the transmission channel between pulses. The switch may include a bootstrap circuit.

Abstract translation: 配置成传输高电压脉冲并接收高电压脉冲的回波的传输通道包括高电压缓冲器，电压钳和开关。 电压钳可以包括钳位晶体管和截止与串联的体二极管串联在一起的晶体管。 传输信道可以包括被配置为在脉冲之间偏置传输信道的复位电路。 开关可以包括自举电路。

公开(公告)号：US10145728B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-04

申请号：US14750312

申请日：2015-06-25

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Antonio Davide Leone ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Fabio Quaglia

IPC: G01S7/52 ,  G01H11/06 ,  G10K11/18 ,  B06B1/02

Abstract: Described herein is a transceiver circuit for a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT), provided with: a transmitter stage, which generates excitation pulses for a first node of the CMUT transducer during a transmitting phase, a second node of the CMUT transducer being coupled to a biasing voltage; a receiver stage that is selectively coupled to the first node during a receiving phase and has an amplification stage; a switching stage that couples the receiver stage to the first node during the receiving phase and decouples the receiver stage from the first node during the transmitting phase. The amplification stage is provided with a charge amplifier that has an input terminal and is biased as a function of a biasing voltage; and the switching stage is coupled to the same biasing voltage thereby minimizing an injection of charge into the input terminal upon switching from the transmitting phase to the receiving phase.

公开(公告)号：US20180302080A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-18

申请号：US15944377

申请日：2018-04-03

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Marco Terenzi ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu

IPC: H03K17/082 ,  B06B1/02

Abstract: A high voltage driving circuit for driving a load receives a low voltage input signal and generates a high voltage output signal. A short circuit protection circuit including a first electronic switch operated by the low voltage input signal and a second electronic switch operated by a low voltage signal obtained by a voltage division of the output high voltage signal. The first electronic switch causing a first pull-up current to be sent to a capacitive element whose voltage controls an input of a threshold comparator. A second electronic switch causes a second pull-down current to be drawn from the capacitive element whose voltage controls the input of the threshold comparator. A short circuit detection signal is generated at an output of said threshold comparator, indicating a short circuit and capable of inhibiting operation of the driving circuit.

公开(公告)号：US20180243791A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15691292

申请日：2017-08-30

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Sandro Rossi ,  Andrea Gambero

IPC: B06B1/02 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G01S7/524

Abstract: A circuit for an ultrasonic channel has a first and a second terminal between which extend a resistive and diode signal paths including a pair of diodes with opposing polarities, for example in anti-parallel. Switching circuitry is coupled with the resistive and diode signal paths and is switchable between first and second states. In the first state, the first and the second terminals are coupled with one another via the resistive signal path. In the second state, the first and the second terminals are coupled with one another via the diode signal path. The switching circuitry includes first and second transistor discharge circuits coupled between first and second drive lines and current paths of these transistors, and coupled to control terminals of these transistors. The control terminals are coupled to the first or second drive line and are non-conductive and conductive in first and second operating states, respectively.

公开(公告)号：US20180226964A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-09

申请号：US15946595

申请日：2018-04-05

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Marco Terenzi ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu

IPC: H03K17/16 ,  H03K17/041 ,  H03K5/08

CPC classification number: H03K17/162 ,  H03K5/08 ,  H03K17/04106 ,  H03K17/102 ,  H03K17/6874 ,  H03K2217/0054

Abstract: A high-voltage electronic switch includes first and second transistors defining a current flow path between an input and output of the switch. The transistors have a common point of the current flow path and a common control terminal. A control circuit includes a voltage line receiving a limit operating voltage and first and second branches coupled between the voltage line and the common point and common control terminal, respectively. Further transistors are activated, upon turning-off of the first and second transistors, for coupling the branches to the voltage line. The branches include a parallel connected resistor, diode, and string of diodes with opposite polarities. The diode of the first branch plus string of diodes of the second branch and diode of the second branch plus string of diodes of the first branch provide coupling paths between the voltage line and, respectively, the common point and common control terminal.

公开(公告)号：US20170317670A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-02

申请号：US15655389

申请日：2017-07-20

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Marco Terenzi ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu

IPC: H03K17/16 ,  H03K17/041 ,  H03K5/08

CPC classification number: H03K17/162 ,  H03K5/08 ,  H03K17/04106 ,  H03K17/102 ,  H03K17/6874 ,  H03K2217/0054

Abstract: A high-voltage electronic switch includes first and second transistors defining a current flow path between an input and output of the switch. The transistors have a common point of the current flow path and a common control terminal. A control circuit includes a voltage line receiving a limit operating voltage and first and second branches coupled between the voltage line and the common point and common control terminal, respectively. Further transistors are activated, upon turning-off of the first and second transistors, for coupling the branches to the voltage line. The branches include a parallel connected resistor, diode, and string of diodes with opposite polarities. The diode of the first branch plus string of diodes of the second branch and diode of the second branch plus string of diodes of the first branch provide coupling paths between the voltage line and, respectively, the common point and common control terminal.

公开(公告)号：US09722596B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-01

申请号：US15193914

申请日：2016-06-27

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.

Inventor： Marco Terenzi ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu

IPC: H03K17/00 ,  H03K17/16 ,  H03K17/041 ,  H03K5/08

CPC classification number: H03K17/162 ,  H03K5/08 ,  H03K17/04106 ,  H03K17/102 ,  H03K17/6874 ,  H03K2217/0054

Abstract: A high-voltage electronic switch includes first and second transistors defining a current flow path between an input and output of the switch. The transistors have a common point of the current flow path and a common control terminal. A control circuit includes a voltage line receiving a limit operating voltage and first and second branches coupled between the voltage line and the common point and common control terminal, respectively. Further transistors are activated, upon turning-off of the first and second transistors, for coupling the branches to the voltage line. The branches include a parallel connected resistor, diode, and string of diodes with opposite polarities. The diode of the first branch plus string of diodes of the second branch and diode of the second branch plus string of diodes of the first branch provide coupling paths between the voltage line and, respectively, the common point and common control terminal.

公开(公告)号：US20170179943A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US15193914

申请日：2016-06-27

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.

Inventor： Marco Terenzi ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu

IPC: H03K17/16 ,  H03K5/08 ,  H03K17/041

CPC classification number: H03K17/162 ,  H03K5/08 ,  H03K17/04106 ,  H03K17/102 ,  H03K17/6874 ,  H03K2217/0054

Abstract: A high-voltage electronic switch includes first and second transistors defining a current flow path between an input and output of the switch. The transistors have a common point of the current flow path and a common control terminal. A control circuit includes a voltage line receiving a limit operating voltage and first and second branches coupled between the voltage line and the common point and common control terminal, respectively. Further transistors are activated, upon turning-off of the first and second transistors, for coupling the branches to the voltage line. The branches include a parallel connected resistor, diode, and string of diodes with opposite polarities. The diode of the first branch plus string of diodes of the second branch and diode of the second branch plus string of diodes of the first branch provide coupling paths between the voltage line and, respectively, the common point and common control terminal.