Brevetti

Al fine di valorizzare in termini economici i risultati delle proprie ricerche la Fondazione Bruno Kessler tutela, quando opportuno, la proprietà intellettuale tramite brevetto. Ad oggi la Fondazione Bruno Kessler è titolare di 31 famiglie di brevetti che sono descritte nelle schede che seguono. I brevetti/domande brevettuali descritti possono essere il risultato di una ricerca interna ad FBK, il risultato di un progetto condotto in collaborazione con altri oppure il risultato di una commessa industriale. Nelle schede che seguono viene indicata la disponibilità per licenza o cessione di ogni singolo brevetto o domanda di brevetto. Manifestazioni di interesse possono essere inviate al seguente indirizzo: .

Scarica la lista di tutti i brevetti disponibili tramite questo link.

Biology and Medicine

  • Micro-manipulator and method for fabrication of said micro-manipulator
    A device and a fabrication method is proposed to obtain a micro-scale platform for the manipulation of cells and tissues and for assembly applications. The platform is monolithic, being fabricated on a single chip using micro electro mechanics (MEMS,) and includes one or more grippers, and one or more sample stages that can be moved along the X and Y axes and can rotate along the Z axis. The actuation is performed for example using capacitive combdrives. This platform can be scaled to operate in a wide range down to sub-micron resolution. The platform can be combined with the conjugate surface flexure hinge (CSFH) patented design to enhance its mechanical performance.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Bagolini Alvise (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Nicola Pio Belfiore (Università Roma Tre)
    IT Patent Application No. 102019000003941 ― priority date 2019-03-19
    ―
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Mini-invasive surgery, Biomedical
    Microgripper, Apparatus for the manipulation of samples, MEMS
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  • Sensor for the detection of biomolecules in a biological fluid by chemiluminescence reaction
    The present invention relates to sensors for the quantitative detection of biomolecules (for example, markers of a certain pathology) in biological fluids. Specific biomolecules are recognized by molecular elements immobilized on a functionalized nanostructured surface of a reaction chamber, and an optical sensor facing the reaction chamber detects the electromagnetic radiation generated by a chemiluminescence reaction.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Potrich Cristina (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Pederzolli Cecilia (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Lunelli Lorenzo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Boscardin Maurizio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Pancheri Lucio (Università di Trento), Pasquardini Laura (Indevinire srl)
    IT Patent Application No. 102018000008541 ― priority date 2018-09-12; International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2019/057489 ― filing date 2019-09-05
    ―
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Medical diagnostics
    Quantitative detection of biomolecules, Chemiluminescence
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Computer Vision

  • A method for increasing the dynamic range of an image sensor and circuit architecture of an image sensor configured to implement the aforementioned method
    The invention relates to a method aimed at increasing the Dynamic Range of an image sensor by controlling the exposure time of each photosensitive element of the array of pixels, thus avoiding saturation or under-exposure conditions. The invention concerns a circuit architecture configured to implement the aformentioned method.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems / ICT - Center for Information and Communication Technology
    Gottardi Massimo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Zou Yu (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Lecca Michela (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. 102019000003933 ― priority date 2019-03-19
    ―
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Machine vision, Surveillance, Automotive, Robotics
    Image sensors, High dynamic range vision sensors, Low-power vision sensors, Image compression
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  • Method and apparatus for tracking a number of objects or object parts in image sequences
    The present invention provides for a method for tracking a number of objects or object parts in image sequences, comprising following a Bayesian-like approach to object tracking, computing, at each time a new image is available, a probability distribution over all possible target configurations for that time, said Bayesian-like approach to object tracking comprising the following steps: - Prediction step: a probability distribution is computed for the previous image, at time (t-1), is propagated to the new image at time (t) according to a probabilistic model of target dynamics, obtaining a predicted distribution at time (t) ; - Update step: the predicted distribution at time (t) is then aligned with the evidence contained in the new image at time (t) according to a probabilistic model of visual likelihood.
    ICT - Center in Information and Communication Technology
    Lanz Oswald (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    EP Application No. 06116896.9 ― priority date 2006-07-10; US Patent Application No. 11/773,483 ― filing date 2007-07-05
    EP1879149 (A1) ― 2008-01-16; EP1879149 (B1) ― 2016-03-16; US20080031492 (A1) ― 2008-02-07; US7965867 (B2) ― 2011-06-21
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    EP1879149 (B1) ― 2016-03-16; US7965867 (B2) ― 2011-06-21
    Video surveillance, Video tracking
    Visual tracking, multiple moving targets
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  • Method for efficient target detection from images robust to occlusion
    The method for efficient target detection from images robust to occlusion disclosed by the present invention detects the presence and spatial location of a number of objects in images. It consists in (i) an off-line method to compile an intermediate representation of detection probability maps that are then used by (ii) an on-line method to construct a detection probability map suitable for detecting and localizing objects in a set of input images efficiently. The method explicitly handles occlusions among the objects to be detected and localized, and objects whose shape and configuration is provided externally, for example from an object tracker. The method according to the present invention can be applied to a variety of objects and applications by customizing the method’s input functions, namely the object representation, the geometric object model, its image projection method, and the feature matching function.
    ICT - Center for Information and Communication Technology
    Lanz Oswald (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Messelodi Stefano (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    EP Application No. 09425338.2 ― priority date 2009-09-01; US Patent Application No. 12/807,388 ― filing data 2010-09-01
    EP2302589 (A1) ― 2011-03-30; EP2302589 (B1) ― 2012-12-05; US2011050940 (A1) ― 2011-03-03; US8436913 (B2) ― 2013-05-07
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    EP2302589 (B1) ― 2012-12-05; US8436913 (B2) ― 2013-05-07
    Video surveillance, Video tracking
    Object detection, Target tracking
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  • Self-adaptive matrix completion for heart rate estimation from face videos under realistic conditions
    Recent studies in computer vision have shown that, while practically invisible to a human observer, skin color changes due to blood flow can be captured on face videos and, surprisingly, be used to estimate the heart rate (HR). While considerable progress has been made in the last few years, still many issues remain open. In particular, state-of-the-art approaches are not robust enough to operate in natural conditions (e.g. in case of spontaneous movements, facial expressions, or illumination changes). Opposite to previous approaches that estimate the HR by processing all the skin pixels inside a fixed region of interest, we introduce a strategy to dynamically select face regions useful for robust HR estimation. The present approach, inspired by recent advances on matrix completion theory, allows us to predict the HR while simultaneously discover the best regions of the face to be used for estimation. Thorough experimental evaluation conducted on public benchmarks suggests that the proposed approach significantly outperforms state-of-the-art HR estimation methods in naturalistic conditions.
    ICT - Center in Information and Communication Technology
    Sebe Niculae (Università degli Studi di Trento), Alameda-Pineda Xavier (Università degli Studi di Trento), Tulyakov Sergey (Università degli Studi di Trento), Ricci Elisa (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Yin Lijun (University of New York), Cohn Jeffrey F (University of Pittsburgh)
    US Provisional Patent Application No. 62/354,475 ― priority date 2016-06-24; US Patent Application No. 15/631,346 ― priority date 2017-06-23
    US2017367590 (A1) ― 2017-12-28; US10335045 (B2) ― 2019-07-02
    Università degli Studi di Trento (University of Trento), Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), The Research Foundation for The State University of New York, University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth of Higher Education
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    US10335045 (B2) ― 2019-07-02
    Heart rate estimation, Surveillance
    Video analysis, Heart rate estimation
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Systems installation

  • Installation optimization
    A computer-implemented method for determining a configuration of a plurality of components in a systems installation which satisfies one or more constraints.
    ICT - Center in Information and Communication Technology
    Papadopoulos Christopher (Airbus Operations Ltd), Cavallo Antonella (Alenia Aermacchi SpA), Cimatti Alessandro (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Bozzano Marco (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    GB Patent Application No. 1116443.1 ― priority date 2011-09-23; EP Application No. 12185314.7 ― filing date 2012-09-20; US Patent Application No.13/623,977 ― filing date 2012-09-21
    GB201116443 (A) ― 2011-09-23; GB201116443 (D0) ― 2011-11-02; EP2573695 (A2) ― 2013-03-27; EP2573695 (A3) ― 2015-11-04; US2013076767 (A1) ― 2013-03-28; US9424391 (B2) ― 2016-08-23
    Airbus Operations Ltd, Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), Alenia Aermacchi SpA
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    GB201116443 (D0) ― 2011-11-02; EP2573695 (A3) ― 2015-11-04; US9424391 (B2) ― 2016-08-23
    Systems installation
    Automated reasoning, installation configuration
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Photonics and data transmission

  • Circuit architecture of an improved pixel for detecting and calculating the number of photons
    The invention is a pixel (1) for detecting photons, of the type comprising: a photodiode (2) having a first contact terminal (21) connected to the first contact terminal (31) of first electronic interruption means (3) and the second contact terminal (22) connected to a first input pin (11) of the pixel (1); the first electronic interruption means (3) having the switch over control terminal (33) connected to a second input pin (12) and the second contact terminal (32) connected to a third input pin (13); second electronic interruption means (4) having the first contact terminal (41) connected to a first charge accumulation element (101), the second contact terminal (42) connected to the first contact terminal (21) and the switch over control terminal (43) connected to a fourth input pin (14); third electronic interruption means (5) having the first contact terminal (51) connected to a fifth input pin (15) and the switch over control terminal (53) connected to the first charge accumulation element (101); fourth electronic interruption means (6) having the first contact terminal (61) connected to a third charge accumulation element (103) and to an output pin (10), the second contact terminal (62) connected to the first contact terminal (71) of fifth electronic interruption means (7) and to a second charge accumulation element (102) and the switch over control terminal (63) connected to the second contact terminal (52) of the third electronic interruption means (5); the fifth electronic interruption means (7) having the second contact terminal (72) connected to a sixth input pin (16) and the switch over control terminal (73) connected to a seventh input pin (17).
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Perenzoni Matteo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gasparini Leonardo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Massari Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. VI2015A000050 ― priority date 2015-02-19; 
International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2016/050906 ― filing date 2016-02-19; EP Application No. 16718003.3 ― filing date 2016-02-19
    WO2016132329 (A1) ― 2016-08-25; EP3259905 (A1) ― 2017-12-27; EP3259905 (B1) ― 2018-12-12
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or assignment
    EP3259905 (B1) ― 2018-12-12
    Scientific and medical applications
    Detecting and counting photons
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  • Device for measuring a distance and method for measuring said distance
    Measuring device (1) suited to measure the distance (d) of a reference object (O), configured so that it performs a plurality of measuring operations (A i ) in succession and comprising emission means (2) suited to emit a light radiation (R), receiving means (3) comprising a sensitive area (31) which is sensitive to the light radiation (R) and which is provided with a number M of sensitive units (4), each one of the sensitive units (4) being configured to generate an electrical signal (S), a first processing unit (5) comprising N e processing elements (6), each one of said N e processing elements (6) being configured to receive the electrical signal (S) for determining the time of impact (t) of a photon (F) on the sensitive units (4) and for calculating the value of said distance (d). The measuring device (1) comprises a second processing unit (7) configured to receive the electrical signals (S), processing the electrical signals (S) in such a way as to select a number N u of sensitive units (4) impacted by the photons (F), associating each one of the N u sensitive units (4) to one of the N e processing elements (6), in such a way that, at the moment of the successive measuring operation (A i+1 ), the distance (d) is determined by each one of the N u sensitive units (4) selected.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Perenzoni Daniele (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Stoppa David (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gasperini Leonardo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Perenzoni Matteo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Massari Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    EP Patent Application No. 17180791.0 priority date 2017-07-11; US Patent Application No. 16/031,640 ― filing date 2018-07-10; JP Patent Application No. 20180130963 ― filing date 2018-07-10
    EP3428574 (A1) ― 2019-01-16; US2019018118 (A1) ― 2019-01-17; CN109239724 (A) ― 2019-01-18; JP2019049531 (A) ― 2019-03-28
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    EP3428574 (A1) ― 2019-01-16; US2019018118 (A1) ― 2019-01-17; CN109239724 (A) ― 2019-01-18; JP2019049531 (A) ― 2019-03-28
    Factory automation, Logistics automation, Safety engineering
    Optoelectronic sensor, Time of flight principle, Distance measurement
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  • Hall effect magnetic sensor of the improved type and matrix comprising a plurality of said Hall effect magnetic sensors
    The invention is a Hall effect magnetic sensor (1 ) suited to measure the intensity of a magnetic field (M), comprising a semiconductor substrate (2) subjected to doping on which the following elements are defined: two diodes arranged side by side; means (6) suited to inject minority charge carriers (100) and provided on the semiconductor substrate (2) along the axis of symmetry (X) defined between the two diodes (3), wherein the injector means (6) are configured to inject the minority charge carriers (100) in the semiconductor substrate (2) in such a way as to generate a diffusion current suited to flow under the two diodes (3); processing means (7) operatively connected to each output channel (32) of the two diodes (3) and configured to count the number of events induced by the minority charge carriers (100) on both of the diodes (3) during a pre-established time observation window (T) and to calculate the difference between the counts at the end of the observation time window (T). The Hall effect magnetic sensor (1 ) furthermore comprises a quenching circuit (5) connected in series to each one of the output channels (32) of the diodes (3) and the processing means (7) are operatively connected in an intermediate position between the output channels (32) and the quenching circuits (5).
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Perenzoni Daniele (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Pancheri Lucio (Università di Trento)
    IT Patent Application No. VI2014A000224 ― priority date 2014-09-05; International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2015/056747 ― filing date 2015-09-04; EP Application No. 150788186.3 ― filing date 2015-09-04 WO2016035039 (A1) ― 2016-03-10; EP3194991 (A1) ― 2017-07-26
    WO2016035039 (A1) ― 2016-03-10; EP3194991 (A1) ― 2017-07-26
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    WO2016035039 (A1) ― 2016-03-10; EP3194991 (A1) ― 2017-07-26
    Measure the intensity of a magnetic field
    Hall effect magnetic sensors
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  • Improved solid-state photomultiplier device and method for controlling said photomultiplier device
    The invention is a solid-state photomultiplier device (SiPM) (1) for detecting one or more photons (F), comprising a sensitive surface (2) created on a semiconductor substrate (3), wherein the sensitive surface (2) is defined by a plurality of light sensitive microcells (4) connected to one another in parallel in such a way as to send out a common analog output signal (Sout), each one of the light sensitive microcells (4) comprising an avalanche photodiode (5) interposed between a first electrode (6) and a second electrode (7) suited to supply a reverse polarization voltage to the avalanche photodiode (5). The device is provided, for each one of the light sensitive microcells (4), with an interruption component (8) suited to interrupt electric continuity and interposed between the accumulation terminal (53) that accumulates the avalanche charge of the avalanche photodiode (5) and the first electrode (6). The interruption components (8) of the plurality of light sensitive microcells (4) are configured in such a way as to simultaneously switch over from a state of conduction to a state of inhibition or vice versa.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Piemonte Claudio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gola Alberto (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. VI2013A000263 ― priority date 2013-10-25; International Application No. PCT/IB2014/065566 ― filing date 2014-10-23; EP Application No. 14806724.2 ― filing date 2014-10-23
    ITVI2013A000263 (A1) ― 2015-04-26; WO2015059663 (A1) ― 2015-04-30;  IT0001420476 (B1) ― 2016-01-12; EP3061132 (A1) ― 2016-08-31; EP3061132 (B1) ― 2017-11-15
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    IT0001420476 (B1) ― 2016-01-12; EP3061132 (B1) ― 2017-11-15
    Positron emission tomography (PET), Medical applications
    Solid-state photomultiplier, Photon detection
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  • Laser fusion system and method
    The invention describes a system, a method and a target for producing nuclear fusion reactions. A laser is used to irradiate a single temporally shaped laser pulse comprising a pre-pulse and a main pulse or at least two consecutive laser pulses onto the target. A first of the plurality of consecutive laser pulses or a prepulse of the single laser pulse is used to generate a first plasma in front of the target. The system is configured such that this first plasma is capable to focus the second laser pulse or main iaser pulse onto the target, i.e. to reduce the focal spot size compared to the first or pre-pulse. The plasma initiates a so-called selffocusing of the second or main laser pulse onto the target. The focused second or main laser pulse can then be used to accelerate first particles such that these accelerated first particles produce nuclear fusion reactions with second particles contained in the target.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Margarone Daniele (Fyzikální ústav AV CR, v.v.i.), Korn Georg (Fyzikální ústav AV CR, v.v.i.), Picciotto Antonino (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Bellutti Pierluigi (FBK) (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    EP Application No. 13466015.8 ― priority date 2013-07-30
    EP2833365 (A1) ― 2015-02-04; EP2833365 (B1) ― 2018-03-21
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), Fyzikální ústav AV CR, v.v.i.
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    EP2833365 (B1) ― 2018-03-21
    Generation of energy and of electricity
    Nuclear fusion reaction, Laser beam of high intensity
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  • Method of managing a silicon photomultiplier device
    A method for managing a silicon photomultiplier device (SiPM) (1) for detecting one or more photons, comprising a surface (3) that is sensitive to photons, provided on a first side (4) of a semiconductor substrate (2) and defined by a plurality of sectors (6), each one of which comprises a plurality of photodiodes (5) operating in Geiger mode and connected to one another in parallel through conductor means (7) so as to define an analog output signal. The semiconductor substrate (2) comprises a plurality of extraction points (8) electronically insulated from one another, each one of which is connected to a corresponding sector (6) through the conductor means (7) so that the analog signals can be picked up and processed independently by a logic unit (9). According to this method, one or more of the sectors (6) are inhibited in the case where at least one of the photodiodes (5) belonging to the sectors (6) is not operating or is noisy.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Piemonte Claudio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    ITVI2010A000110 (A1) ― 2011-10-23; (A2) ― 2011-10-26; EP2381475 (A3) ― 2013-05-01; EP2381475 (B1) ― 2015-03-04
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    EP2381475 (B1) ― 2015-03-04
    Positron emission tomography (PET), Medical applications
    Silicon photomultiplier,  Photon detection
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  • Optoelectronic sensor and method for measuring a distance
    An optoelectronic sensor (10) for measuring a distance of an object (18) in accordance with a time of flight principle comprises a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a light signal (14), a light receiver (22) for receiving the light signal (20) after reflection or remission by the object (18), the light receiver (22) having a first plurality of pixel elements (24, 24a) each configured as an avalanche photo diode element biased with a bias voltage greater than a breakdown voltage and thus operated in a Geiger mode in order to trigger an avalanche event upon light reception, a distance measuring unit (34) having a second plurality of time of flight measuring units (34a) connected to pixel elements (24a) for determining a time of flight between transmission and reception of a light signal, the second plurality being less than the first plurality, switching means (32, 32a) for connecting selected pixel elements (24a) to time of flight measuring units (34a) in a one-to-one fashion, and a pixel selection unit (28, 30) for determining pixel elements (24a) to be connected by the switching means (32, 32a) based on an intensity measurement.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Perenzoni Matteo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Massari Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Stoppa David (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gasparini Leonardo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Perenzoni Daniele (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    EP Patent Application No. 17180828.0 ― priority date 2017-07-11; US Patent Application No. 16/031,625 ― filing date 2018-07-10; CN109239694 (A) ― 2019-01-18; JP2019032305 (A) ― 2019-02-28
    EP3428683 (A1) ― 2019-01-16; US2019018117 (A1) ― 2019-01-17; CN109239694 (A) ― 2019-01-18; JP2019032305 (A) ― 2019-02-28; EP3428683 (B1) ― 2019-08-28
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    EP3428683 (B1) ― 2019-08-28
    Factory automation, Logistics automation, Safety engineering
    Optoelectronic sensor, Time of flight principle, Distance measurement
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  • Photodetector
    The present Invention relates to a photodetector (PD) comprising a plurality of pixels (PXL); each one of said pixels (PXL) comprises: - a group of detection devices (SPD-1, SPD-2, SPD-3, SPD-4) provided with respective outputs, each one of said detection devices (SPD-1, SPD-2, SPD-3, SPD-4) being of the SPAD type and therefore being adapted to generate an electrical pulse at the output thereof as a result of an event corresponding to a photon that hits thereon, - a combinational circuit (G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5A, G-5B, G-6, G-7) which has an output and a group of inputs that corresponds to said group of detection devices (SPD-1, SPD-2, SPD-3, SPD-4) and which implements a logic function between inputs and output, - a digital counter (CNT) having an input, the outputs of said detecting devices (SPD-1, SPD-2, SPD-3, SPD-4) of said group are connected respectively to the inputs of said combinational circuit (G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5A, G-5B, G-6, G-7) and the output of said combinational circuit (G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5A, G-5B, G-6, G-7) is connected to the input of said digital counter (CNT); whereby said digital counter (CNT) provides as output the sum of all the events detected by said detecting devices (SPD-1, SPD-2, SPD-3, SPD-4) of said group.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Huf Campos Braga Leo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Stoppa David (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Pancheri Lucio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gasparini Leonardo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. CO2011A000022 ― priority date 2011-06-30; EP Application No. 12173436.2 ― filing date 2012-06-25;
    ITCO2011A000022 (A1) ― 2012-12-31; EP2541219 (A1) ― 2013-01-02; EP2541219 (B1) ― 2019-09-04
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    EP2541219 (B1) ― 2019-09-04
    Positron emission tomography (PET), Medical applications
    Detecting and counting photons
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  • Radiation detection element, radiation detector and radiation detection apparatus
    A radiation detection element comprises: a semiconductor part generating an electric charge by entrance of radiation; a signal output electrode provided at the semiconductor part and outputting a signal caused by the electric charge; a potential gradient generation electrode provided at the semiconductor part, for applying voltage such that a potential gradient in which a potential varies toward the signal output electrode is generated inside the semiconductor part; a collection electrode provided at the semiconductor part, for collecting electric charges not derived from radiation; an insulating film provided on a side of the semiconductor part where the signal output electrode is located; and a conductive layer provided between the insulating film and a part of the semiconductor part, and having electric resistance lower than the electric resistance of the semiconductor part and higher than the electric resistance of the collection electrode. The conductive layer is located at a position where a distance from the signal output electrode is equal to or longer than a distance between the collection electrode and the signal output electrode.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Zorzi Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Giacomini Gabiriele (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Borghi Giacomo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Picciotto Antonino (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Ficorella Francesco (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Matsunaga Daisuke (Horiba Ltd)
    JP Patent Application No. 134023 ― priority date 2017-07-07; US Patent Application No. 16/028,597 ― filing date 2018-07-06; EP Application No. 18182286.7 ― filing date 2018-07-06
    EP3425428 (A1) ― 2019-01-09; US2019011577 (A1) ― 2019-01-10; JP2019015639 (A) ― 2019-01-31; US10379231 (B2) ― 2019-08-13
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), Horiba Ltd
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    US10379231 (B2) ― 2019-08-13
    Radiation detection
    Radiation detection apparatus
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  • Radiation detector and radiation detection device
    Provided are: a radiation detector which has improved detection efficiency of radiation by being increased in the portion where radiation is able to be detected; and a radiation detection device. A radiation detector (1) according to the present invention comprises a plate-like semiconductor part (12), while being provided with a through hole (11) that penetrates through the semiconductor part (12); and one surface of the semiconductor part (12) serves as an incident surface (121) for radiation. The semiconductor part (12) has a sensitive portion (18) which is capable of detecting incident radiation; and the sensitive portion (18) includes an inner edge (122) of the incident surface (121).
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Picciotto Antonino (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Ficorella Francesco (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Zorzi Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Matsunaga Daisuke (Horiba Ltd), Yasui Kengo (Horiba Ltd)
    JP Patent Application No. 110697 ― priority date 2017-06-05; International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2018/20376 ― filing date 2018-05-28
    WO2018225563 (A1) ― 2018-12-13
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), Horiba Ltd
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    WO2018225563 (A1) ― 2018-12-13
    Radiation detection apparatus
    Radiation detection
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  • Semiconductor detector, radiation detector and radiation detection apparatus
    Provided are a semiconductor detector (1), a radiation detector (2) and a radiation detection apparatus that allow for reduction in size of the radiation detector (2) and enhancement in accuracy of radiation detection by loosening the condition of cooling. A semiconductor detector (1) for detecting radiation comprises a first semiconductor part (11) in which an electron and a hole are generated by incident radiation; a signal output electrode (14) outputting a signal base on the electron or the hole; and a gettering part (13) gettering impurities in the first semiconductor part (11). In addition, the semiconductor detector (1) further comprises a second semiconductor part (12) doped with a type of dopant impurities and having dopant impurity concentration higher than that of the first semiconductor part (11). The second semiconductor part (12) is in contact with the first semiconductor part (11). The gettering part (13) is in contact with the second semiconductor part (12) and not in contact with the first semiconductor part (11).
    Media
     
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Picciotto Antonino (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Bellutti Pierluigi (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Boscardin Maurizio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Zorzi Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Matsunaga Daisuke (Horiba Ltd)
    IT Patent Application No. 102015000087736 ― priority date 2015-12-24; EP Application No. 160206743.3 ― filing date 2016-12-23; US Patent Application No.15/388,254 ― filing date 2016-12-22; JP Patent Application No. JP2016249917A ― filing date 2016-12-22
    IT102015000087736 (A1) ― 2017-06-24; EP3185313 (A1) ― 2017-06-28; US2017184734 (A1) ― 2017-06-29; JP2017118115 (A) ― 2017-06-29; US10094939 (B2) ― 2018-10-09
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), Horiba Ltd
    Patent granted. Available for license or assignment
    US10094939 (B2) ― 2018-10-09
    Radiation detection 
    Semiconductor detector, Radiation detector
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  • Solid state image sensor with distributed photomultiplier with high spatial resolution
    Object of the present invention is to provide an image sensor for time-of-flight applications able to guarantee a higher spatial resolution with respect to the image sensors of the known art with the same physical dimensions of the sensitive surfaces. One of the distinctive features is the ability to reject background light without penalty in the pixel area.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Perenzoni Matteo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. 102019000007225 ― priority date 2019-05-24
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    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Automotive, 3D Imaging
    Image sensors, Time-of-flight, Range Imaging, High spatial resolution, Photon correlation
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  • Solid-state photomultiplier device with high spatial resolution and control method for said photomultiplier device.
    A solid-state photomultiplier device comprising a surface (2) sensitive to photons (F) provided on a semiconductor substrate (3) and provided with a plurality of light sensitive microcells (4) divided into a plurality of sub-groups arranged one after the other according to a pre-established trajectory. The device comprises a plurality of current dividers (7), each of which is electrically connected to at least one of the sub-groups, and where each of the current dividers (7) comprises a first resistor (71) and a second resistor (72) to implement a current partition of the resistive type. The first resistors (71) and the second resistors (72) respectively have a gradually descending and gradually increasing conductance value in proportion to the position along the pre-established trajectory of the sub-group to which each of the current dividers (7) is electrically connected. The device also comprises a first output channel (10) electrically connected to one end of the first resistors (71) and a second output channel (11) electrically connected to one end of the second resistors (72).  
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Piemonte Claudio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gola Alberto (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. VI2013A000266 ― priority date 2013-10-30; International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2014/065694 ― filing date 2014-10-29; EP Application No. 140812605.5 ― filing date 2014-10-29
    ITVI2013A000266 (A1) ― 2015-05-01; WO2015063704 (A1) ― 2015-05-07; EP3063559 (A1) ― 2016-09-07; EP3063559 (B1) ― 2018-09-12
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    EP3063559 (B1) ― 2018-09-12
    Positron emission tomography (PET), Medical applications
    Solid-state photomultiplier device, Silicon photomultiplier
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  • System for detecting particles
    The present invention relates to a system for the detection of charged particles, in particular a system for detecting a beam of charged particles particularly suitable for use in the medical diagnostic field and in hadronic therapy.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Maurizio Boscardin (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gianluigi Casse (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    IT Patent Application No. 102018000004638 ― priority date 2018-04-18
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    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Medical and industrial diagnostics, Hadronic therapy
    Silicon detectors of charged particles, Diagnosis and treatment of diseases
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  • Use of a semiconductor device for generating random numbers
    The present invention concerns the use of an improved semiconductor device for the generation of random numbers (Random Number Generator, RNG), in particular of truly random numbers, with the extraction based on a quantum physics principle (True Random Number Generator, TRNG). The main advantage is the integration in high-volume and low-cost CMOS technology.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Massari Nicola (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Gasparini Leonardo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Perenzoni Matteo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Pancheri Lucio (Università di Trento)
    IT Patent Application No. 102018000009281 ― priority date 2018-10-09
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    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Random number generation
    Quantum random number generator, True random number generator, CMOS technology
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  • Wideband power attenuators in RF-MEMS technology
    A wideband power attenuator in RF-MEMS multilayer technology, for attenuating an electromagnetic signal, includes an upper layer with two RF ground planes, and between said two RF ground planes a central RF-MEMS movable switch as a floating electrode, an RF input, an RF output of an RF line running across the attenuator, a number of lower layers including in sequence: a ground floor of an electrically insulating substrate; two DC biasing electrodes to electrostatically control said movable switch, and DC biasing lines to feed the DC biasing electrodes; two DC-RF decoupling resistors, each decoupling resistor being connected on one side to respective terminals of said movable switch, and on the other side to respective one of the two RF ground planes; a resistive load adapted to be connected to the RF line to attenuate the electromagnetic signal on the basis of the floating movable switch configuration, between a non-contact RF position and a contact RF position with said RF line.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Iannacci Jacopo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
    US Patent Application No. 15/497,662 ― priority date 2017-04-26
    US9847801 (B1) ― 2017-12-19
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent granted. Available for license or patent assignment
    US9847801 (B1)
    5th generation of mobile networks (5G)
    5G, RF-MEMS technology
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Greentech and environment

  • Process to manufacture an anode for lithium ion batteries
    The present invention relates to the field of lithium-ion batteries, one of the most widespread technologies for energy storage. A method for manufacturing an innovative anode is reported, which improves the gravimetric capacity of the battery, defined as the amount of charge stored per unit of mass (mAh/g). The novelty consists in the material used to manufacture the anode and in the construction simplicity of this anode, since the active material is directly deposited on the current collector without the need for any additional binder. The process is also easily scalable to industrial production level exploiting well established deposition and etching techniques.
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Vincenzi Donato (Università degli Studi di Ferrara), Fugattini Silvio (Università degli Studi di Ferrara), Andreoli Alfredo (Università degli Studi di Ferrara), Giubertoni Damiano (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Proietti Zaccaria Remo (Fondazione Istituto Italiao di Tecnologia), Gulzar Umair (Università degli Studi di Genova - Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia), Chen Lin (Università degli Studi di Genova - Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)
    IT Patent Application No. 102018000006103 ― priority date 2018-06-07
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    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation), Università degli Studi di Ferrara (University of Ferrara), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology Foundation), , Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology Foundation), Università degli Studi di Genova (University of Genoa)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    ―
    Electricity storage
    Lithium-ion batteries, Battery anode, Porous Germanium, Binder-free
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  • Volumetric receiver
    The invention is a volumetric receiver (100, 200) configured to absorb the radiation (R) emitted by a heat source (S) and incident on an exposed face (102, 202) of the same volumetric receiver (100, 200) and to transfer the thermal energy induced by said absorption to a surrounding heat transfer fluid (F). This volumetric receiver (100, 200) comprises a plurality of hollow cells (1 ) whose longitudinal axes are substantially orthogonal with respect to the exposed face (102, 202), wherein the hollow cells (1 ) are adjacent and stably connected to one another in such a way as to define at least one level (104; 204a, 204b, 204c) substantially parallel to the exposed face (102, 202), each one of the hollow cells (1 ) defining a channel open at both its ends opposite each other according to said longitudinal axis and each one of the hollow cells (1 ) being also provided with an opening (3) made on its lateral surface (2).
    CMM - Center for Materials and Microsystems
    Alberti Fabrizio (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Roccabruna Mattia (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Crema Luigi (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), Romero Alvarez Manuel (IMDEA Energy Foundation), Gonzalez-Aguilar José (IMDEA Energy Foundation), Santiago Sacristan Sergio (IMDEA Energy Foundation)
    IT Patent Application No. 102015000059704 ― priority date 2015-10-08 ; International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2016/056050 ― filing date 2016-10-10; EP Application No. 160801559 ― filing date 2016-10-10
    IT102015000059704 (A1) ― 2017-04-08; WO2017060882 (A1) ― 2017-04-13; EP3359886 (A1) ― 2018-08-15; EP3359886 (B1) ― 2019-08-07
    Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
    Patent pending. Available for license or assignment
    EP3359886 (B1) ― 2019-08-07
    Production of solar thermal energy
    Solar heat collector, Volumetric effect
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New materials, advanced materials and microsystems