Abstract: An enhanced telephony call waiting feature and apparatus is provided wherein identifying information related to a third party wishing to converse with a first party already communicating with a second party is provided to the first party during a mute condition in a manner that minimizes the time period of the mute condition. The method is fully compatible with existing services while allowing for new services. The method comprises the steps of the local switching office sending a call waiting tone having predetermined characteristics to the first party and its apparatus responding thereto by generating an acknowledgment signal. The apparatus then initiates a mute condition simultaneous with the ACK signal generation, or in response to detection of a carrier signal, or at some other time after exchange of the call waiting tone and/or the acknowledgment signal has occurred.

Abstract: The invention concerns an adaptor (100) adapted to establish an electric connection with a portable electronic instrument (200) and to allow transmission of electric signals. The portable instrument is controlled via at least one control member (210) having first electric contact means (213) accessible from the exterior of the instrument. The control member is capable of occupying a first non pushed-in position and a second pushed-in position. The adaptor includes a support (101) having a pattern cavity (102) dimensioned to receive the instrument. The pattern cavity includes at least one housing (110) in which are arranged second electric contact means (119). The housing is dimensioned to receive the control member, such that, on the one hand, the control member is brought into the pushed-in position and, on the other hand, the first and second electric contacts are brought into contact, when the instrument is placed in the pattern cavity.

Abstract: This method uses a tester (T) capable of being connected to an integrated circuit (CI) to be tested. A random number (RNG-C) is generated and ciphered using a key (k) by a cipher algorithm to obtain a password (Gk(RNG)-C). The random number (RNG-C) is sent to the tester (T) in which the received random number (RNG-C) is ciphered using the same key (k) by a same cipher algorithm to generate therein a second password (Gk(RNG)-T). This latter is sent to the integrated circuit (CI) to be compared to the first password (Gk(RNG)-C). The test of the confidential parts (1) of the circuit is only authorised if the two passwords exhibit the required match.

Abstract: A semiconductor high-voltage device comprising a voltage sustaining layer between a n+-region and a p+-region is provided, which is a uniformly doped n(or p)-layer containing a plurality of floating p (or n)-islands. The effect of the floating islands is to absorb a large part of the electric flux when the layer is fully depleted under high reverse bias voltage so as to the peak field is not increased when the doping concentration of voltage sustaining layer is increased. Therefore, the thickness and the specific on-resistance of the voltage sustaining layer for a given breakdown voltage can be much lower than those of a conventional voltage sustaining layer with the same breakdown voltage. By using the voltage sustaining layer of this invention, various high voltage devices can be made with better relation between specific on-resistance and breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A telecommunication device comprising a base unit and a cordless handset, wherein said telecommunication device is operable in a plurality of modes of operation. The base unit includes: (1) a ring signal detection module communicatively coupled to a telephone network; (2) a voice communication channel also communicatively coupled to said telephone network; (3) a wireless communication transmitter module; (4) a wireless receiver module; and (5) a controller for executing program instructions. The cordless handset includes: (1) a ringer module; (2) an ear piece; (3) a microphone; (4) a talk request command input device; (5) a wireless communication transmitter; and (6) a wireless communication receiver.

Abstract: There is described a stacked assembly of a plurality of modules (32, 33, 36) and a timepiece (1) including such an assembly forming a movement (3). The modules are mounted via assembly orifices on a plurality of mounting pins (24) and assembled by compression between first and second planes (23, 25). In order to absorb variations in thickness (e) in a first element (34) of the assembly, the latter includes a plurality of tube-shaped intermediate elements, called stepped tubes (8), mounted respectively on the mounting pins, each stepped tube being inserted in an assembly orifice (34a) of the first element.

Abstract: A single crystal semiconductor region is fabricated in a semiconductor wafer. The region is either cantilevered, supported at one or both ends, or midpoint, or supported at multiple locations. After a pattern and etch step, a dielectric fill step is performed to define the boundaries of the region in the semiconductor wafer. Oxygen or nitrogen is implanted in the semiconductor wafer on a surface area of the semiconductor wafer that corresponds to a top surface of the region. The annealing of the oxygen or nitrogen ions convert the silicon to an oxide or a nitride beneath the surface area. The silicon dioxide or silicon nitride is etched away to produce a semiconducting region of a single crystal material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising of the steps of creating an oxide layer on a first surface of an epitaxial layer having damage layer located at a predetermined depth from the first surface, the damaged layer being in parallel alignment with the first surface. Then, using the oxide layer as a masked, etch the epitaxial layer to create a plurality of pillars, the plurality of pillars being enclosed in a first area of the top surface of the epitaxial layer, the first area having a predefine perimeter and the plurality of pillars being separated from each other by inner trenches and from the perimeter by a perimeter trench, the inner trenches and perimeter trench extend from the first surface to at least the predetermined depth of damaged layer. Form an oxide layer that coats the pillars, fills the perimeter trench and coats the sides and bottoms of the inner trenches prior to removing the oxide layer from at least the sidewalls and bottom of the inner trenches.

Abstract: A series of connections of photodiodes has a plurality of alternating N-type conductivity surface areas with P-type conductivity surface areas with each member of the P-type conductivity surface areas being separated by a member of N-type conductivity surface areas. Metal conductors connect the P-type conductivity areas to the N-type conductivity areas at an N+ implanted area within the N-type conductivity surface area to form the series connection of photodiodes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed and includes a drain region of a first conductivity type, having a first major surface. Diffused into the drain region is a body region of a second conductivity type. A source region is diffused in the body region and it has a general polygonal shape when viewed at the first major surface with two notches directed towards the center of the source region from opposite sides. The body region is accessible through the notches. An oxide layer covers the source and body regions except for a contact opening position over the source region between the two notches exposing only that portion of the source region that is between the two notches and at least a portion of the accessible body region in each of the two notches to facilitate a source contact.

Abstract: The system comprises an off-premises voice or fax mail system and an on-premises CPE device that can periodically interrogate the telephone line to monitor for signals indicating that a voice or fax message has been received at the off-premises message system. The on-premises CPE device contains, or is connectable to, an incoming message storage means, an automatic dialing means, a message counter means, and a means for establishing an off-hook/on-hook condition with the telephone line. When a call comes in while the telephone line is busy, the call is directed to an off-premises message center where a message is stored. Then, the central office of the telephone network generates a special signal such as a stutter dial tone to be transmitted to the called party location upon the next off-hook condition after the previous call has been completed.

Abstract: A timepiece is disclosed allowing a reading of a first conventional time information by means of first analogue display means including a dial (5) and hours (4a) and minutes (4b) indicator members driven by a movement of the timepiece, this timepiece including second analogue display means allowing a simultaneous reading of second time information based on a decimal system wherein time is divided at least into thousandths of a day. The second analogue display means include the dial and the minutes indicator member in addition to complementary analogue display means (4a, 7; 4a, 7*; 4a, 8; 4c, 9; 4c, 9*; 4c, 10; 11, 12) indicating at least approximate decimal values (71; 81; 91; 101; 111) of the full hours expressed in thousandths of a day.

Abstract: The timepiece carries a date with a large aperture including a units indicator (9) and a tens indicator (10). Between these indicators and a date control crown-wheel (14) are located mechanisms (17, 18) for driving said indicators, these mechanisms each being provided with a locking system (30, 52) preventing any inadvertent movement of these indicators when shocks are applied to the timepiece.

Abstract: There is described an FM receiver (29) including; an antenna (2) able to receive a high frequency signal from a transmitter; a high frequency stage (3); an oscillator (5); a mixer unit (30) able to provide a signal (S6) at an intermediate frequency (fIF); an FM demodulation stage (8); and an automatic frequency control stage (36) able to control the oscillator, so as to keep said intermediate frequency (fIF) of said signal (S6) constant. This receiver further includes a locked loop (32) arranged to enslave said intermediate frequency (fIF) from a pilot frequency (fp) present in the demodulated signal. One advantage of such a locked loop is that the intermediate frequency is enslaved so that the aliasing phenomenon does not prevent demodulation of the signals containing the RDS data.

Abstract: The method consists in using a setting device for jewel holes or prismatic jewels including at least a reference plane, on which the jewel to be fixed is wedged, said plane including at least spatial positioning means for said jewel, such as studs or cavities. Once the jewel is set in place, it is secured to its housing by applying a laser beam to its edge, possibly with the addition of a fusible material.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling a navigation device, such as a satellite navigation device like a GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO or other receiver, and a navigation device allowing this control method to be implemented. According to the invention, the operation of the navigation device is adjusted as a function of a measurement of the velocity (v) of the navigation device for the purpose of saving energy. In particular, the operating frequency (fck) of the processing unit (18) with which the navigation device is fitted is adjusted to a plurality of so-called reduced operating frequencies (fck2, fck3, fck4, fck5) lower than the normal operating frequency (fck1) as a function of the value of the velocity measurement (v). The invention is intended in particular to allow a navigation device to be integrated in a portable object of small volume powered by a battery or a rechargeable accumulator, such as a timepiece.

Abstract: The integrated circuit is provided with integrated calibrating circuit in order to calibrate at least one electronic module supplying at its output a reference voltage or a time base signal or a reference frequency signal. Said calibrating means are defined by a microcontroller which receives via an input pad of the integrated circuit an external reference signal which is compared to an internal reference signal of the reference module in order to be able to calibrate in an autonomous manner the integrated reference electronic module as a function of the external reference signal. The final calibrating parameters are permanently stored with an associated signature in a memory so that each time that voltage is subsequently applied to the circuit the final calibrating parameters are automatically applied to the corresponding reference module.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of microstructures and in particular microstructures made via CMOS technology on semiconductor substrates intended to undergo micro-machining by wet chemical etching, in particular by a KOH etchant. According to the present invention, protection against the KOH reactive agent is provided to such a structure by the deposition of a metal film (40, 41, 43) including at least on external gold layer (43) on the surface of the structure. This metal film (40, 41, 43) advantageously allows the use of mechanical protective equipment to be omitted and thus allows the wafers to be processed in batches. The present invention also proves perfectly compatible with a standard gold bumping process.