Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Stmicroelectronics (grenoble 2) Sas

Roberto La Rosa

Alessandro Finocchiaro

Jean Camiolo

Massimo Michele Antonio Sorbera

Giuseppe Palmisano

Natale Aiello

Salvatore Baglio

Salim Bouchene

Carlo Trigona

Sergio Castiglia

Laurent Yvan Louis Jamet

Pio Quarticelli

Luigi Malpighi

The present disclosure relates to a method for sanitization of a surface by emission of a plurality of sanitization wavelengths, and to a device for implementing the method. The method comprises emitting light using first LEDs configured to emit the sanitization wavelengths, receiving, by a circuit, a feedback signal from a light sensor indicating a light intensity received by the light sensor during the light emission, and controlling the first LEDs with the circuit based on the feedback signal.

Sanitization using light

An irrigation system includes a first valve fluidly-coupled between an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, and a second valve fluidly-coupled between the inlet pipe and a power harvester. The power harvester generates electrical power at a power output in response to fluid flowing therethrough. An energy storage unit is coupled to the power output to store generated voltage. Comparison circuitry compares the generated voltage to a threshold. Control circuitry causes the second valve to permit fluid to flow therethrough when the generated voltage is less than the threshold, causing generation of the electrical power by the power harvester when the generated voltage is less than the threshold. The comparison circuitry causes the second valve to prevent fluid flow when the generated voltage is at least equal to threshold, ceasing generation of the electrical power by the power harvester when the generated voltage is at least equal to the threshold.

Energy-autonomous battery-free system for smart irrigation

A wireless device includes an energy harvester and an energy storage that operate in a sequence of energy harvesting cycles to alternately harvest energy and release energy for supplying the wireless device. The wireless device also includes a processing circuit and a wireless communication circuit. A configuration method for the wireless device includes first step where a base station receives a signal from the wireless device indicating wireless communication circuit entry into a receiving operation mode. In a second step, the base station transmits configuration data to the wireless device. The received configuration data is temporarily stored in a memory area of the wireless communication circuit. In a third step, the temporarily stored configuration data is transmitted from the wireless communication circuit to the processing circuit for storage in a memory area. The second and third steps are carried out during distinct energy harvesting cycles of the wireless device.

Method of configuring a wireless device, corresponding wireless device and base station

A system to sanitize a surface includes an emitter. The emitter of the system to sanitize the surface includes: a light source configured to generate light at a sanitizing wavelength; a receiver configured to receive a wireless signal; and a processing circuit for the emitter configured to turn the light source on, turn the light source off, and adjust an intensity of light generated by the light source depending on the wireless signal. The system to sanitize the surface further includes a sensor. The sensor of the system to sanitize the surface includes: a photoelectric transducer configured to convert light at the sanitizing wavelength to a current; and a processing circuit for the sensor powered by the current and in communication with a transmitter to transmit the wireless signal, the processing circuit for the sensor being configured to control emission of the wireless signal depending on a power level supplied by the current.

Methods and devices for sanitization

A first RF-to-DC circuit receives a radiofrequency signal and produces a first converted signal delivered to an energy storage circuit. A second RF-to-DC circuit, which is a down-scaled replica of the first RF-to-DC circuit, produces a second converted signal from the radiofrequency signal that is indicative of an open-circuit voltage of the first RF-to-DC circuit. The first RF-to-DC section includes N sub-stages, with a sub-set of sub-stages being selectively activatable. A window comparison of the second converted signal generates a first signal and a second signal indicative of whether the second converted signal is within a range of values proportional to a voltage reference signal. The sub-set of sub-stages is selectively deactivated, respectively activated, when the performed window comparison has a first result, respectively, a second result.

Energy harvesting circuit, corresponding system and operating method

An energy harvester includes an elongated tubular casing extending around a longitudinal axis between opposed first and second ends. A body is arranged in the casing. A helical electrical winding is wound around the longitudinal axis. The body is arranged to move along the longitudinal axis with alternate motion away from the first end towards the second end and away from the second end towards the first end. As a result of this alternate motion, an electromotive force is produced in the at least one helical electrical winding. Furthermore, at least one of the first and second ends includes a piezoelectric transducer that is configured to co-operate in a kinetic energy transfer relationship with the at least one body to generate an electric voltage as a result of the at least one body reaching, in the alternate motion, an end-of-travel position towards the piezoelectric transducer.

Energy harvester and corresponding device

An energy-harvesting generator provides energy for storage in a capacitor. A sensing circuit senses a voltage across the capacitor and generates an activation signal as a function of the sensed voltage. The activation signal switches from a first value to a second value when the sensed voltage reaches an upper threshold and switches from the second value to the first value when the sensed voltage reaches a lower threshold. A signal transmitter powered by stored energy in the capacitor responds to the activation signal being switched to the second value by activating and transmitting a transmission signal. The signal transmitter further responds to the activation signal being switched to the first value by discontinuing transmission of the transmission signal and deactivating. A duration of time elapsing between de-activation and activation of the transmitter is indicative of an amount of energy harvested by the energy-harvesting electric generator.

Sensor, corresponding system and operating method

A first generator produces a first signal that is supplied to an energy storage circuit. Energy transfer circuitry coupled to the energy storage circuit transfers energy stored in the energy storage circuit to an output node. A driver circuit coupled to the energy transfer circuitry switches the energy transfer circuitry between a state where energy from the first signal is stored in the energy storage circuit and a state where energy stored in the energy storage circuit section is delivered to the output node. A voltage at the energy storage circuit varies between an upper value and a lower value around a voltage setting point. A second generator, which is a scaled-down replica of the first generator, produces a second signal that is indicative of an open-circuit voltage of the first generator. The driver circuit uses the second signal to set the voltage setting point.

Power tracking circuit, corresponding system and method

A radiofrequency-powered device such as a wireless passive sensor node, for instance, comprises a radiofrequency energy harvesting circuit configured to be coupled to an antenna to harvest radiofrequency energy captured by the antenna from a radiofrequency signal. The radiofrequency energy harvesting circuit is configured to be coupled to an energy storage component to store therein energy harvested via the radiofrequency energy harvesting circuit. The device comprises user circuitry configured to be supplied with energy harvested via the radiofrequency energy harvesting circuit and to operate in accordance with one of a plurality of configurations as a function of configuration data supplied thereto. A receiver circuit coupled to the radiofrequency energy harvesting circuit is configured to receive a configuration data signal modulating the radiofrequency signal and supply to the user circuitry configuration data extracted from the configuration data signal received.

Radiofrequency-powered device, corresponding system and method

A first Radio-Frequency-to-Direct-Current (RF2DC) transducer receives a first signal from a sensing antenna and generates energy stored by an energy storage circuit. An energy transfer circuit is controllably switched between an energy storage state where energy is stored in the energy storage state and an energy transfer state where stored energy is transferred to a load. The voltage at the energy storage circuit is alternatively variable between an upper value and a lower value around a voltage setting point. A second RF2DC transducer, which is a down-scaled replica of the first RF2DC transducer, produces a second signal indicative of an open-circuit voltage of the first RF2DC transducer. The voltage setting point is set as a function of the second signal indicative of the open-circuit voltage of the first RF2DC transducer.

Energy harvesting circuit, corresponding system and method

A power supply circuit for an electrical appliance, including a turning-on stage configured for determining a transition from a turned-off state, in which the power supply circuit is off and does not supply electric power, to a turned-on state of the power supply circuit. The turning-on stage includes a transducer of the remote-control type configured for triggering the transition in response to the reception of a wireless signal. In some embodiments, operating power is transmitted from a remote controller to a control circuit of the electronic equipment, such that the electronic equipment can be turned on remotely but draws zero standby power.

Power supply circuit for remotely turning-on electrical appliances

An embodiment of a driving device is proposed for supplying at least one regulated global output current to a load. The driving device includes programming means for programming a value of the global output current within a global current range. Reference means are provided for supplying a reference voltage, which has a value corresponding to the value of the global output current. Conversion means are then used for converting the reference voltage into the global output current. The conversion means may further include a plurality of conversion units for corresponding partial current ranges, which partition the global current range.

Constant current driving device having an improved accuracy

Driving a light-emitting element by a driver capable of testing at least an open or short condition of the light-emitting element. In particular, a driving signal is generated to drive the light-emitting element. It is evaluated based on the value of the driving signal whether a predetermined condition is reached. If so, a latch signal is output indicating that the testing has finished.

Automatic method to detect short and open conditions on the outputs of a LED driver device

An embodiment of a driving device is proposed for supplying at least one regulated global output current to a load. The driving device includes programming means for programming a value of the global output current within a global current range. Reference means are provided for supplying a reference voltage, which has a value corresponding to the value of the global output current. Conversion means are then used for converting the reference voltage into the global output current. In the driving device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the conversion means include a plurality of conversion units for corresponding partial current ranges, which partition the global current range. Each conversion unit is adapted to convert the reference voltage into a partial output current that contributes to the global output current, with the partial output current that is within the corresponding partial current range. The driving device further includes control means for selectively enabling the conversion units according to the partial current range wherein the global output current falls and for controlling the reference voltage so as to swing in a partial voltage range for each partial current range (with the partial voltage ranges that are at least partly superimposed).

Growing community of inventors

Catania, Italy

Roberto La Rosa