Abstract: The invention relates to protected keypad apparatus, in particular for machines actuated by insertion of an electronic smart card. The keypad proper (10) comprises n sensitive zones (Zi), each sensitive zone being associated with a respective sensor and with an individual processing circuit (14i) that includes in particular an encryption function. The sensor and the circuit form a monolithic unit. The apparatus further includes a driver unit (18) connected to each circuit (14i) via a bus (16). The circuits periodically and cyclically transmit encrypted signals indicating activation or non-activation of the sensitive zones.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining an encryption key associated with an integrated circuit having a memory plane that includes a matrix of electric contacts on it's surface and a layer of inhomogeneous electric resistivity material disposed on the matrix. An encryption key is determined by the integrated circuit on the basis of the random distribution of the electrical resistances connecting the various electric contacts of the matrix.

Abstract: An electronic switch comprising at least one switching device 70,72, a reference frequency source 58, a microprocessor 50 and means for applying to the microprocessor inputs representative of at least the current time and date and the latitude at which the time switch is to be used 31-36, the microprocessor being 50 responsive to the reference frequency source 58 and the current time and date inputs to implement a real time clock and calendar 62, and being arranged to calculate from the date provided by said real time clock and calendar and from the latitude input the respective times of at least one of sunrise and sunset at said location on each of a plurality of days, and to operate the switching device 70,72 at respective switching times dependent upon the calculated times.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of testing electronic components in parallel employs instructions which are contained in a memory. The instructions include information relating to test to be performed on a plurality of components to be tested in parallel after the components have been matched using a matching sequence. The method makes it possible to eliminate the matching sequence for matching a component after its matching sequence has not succeeded after a predetermined time period, while allowing the other components to be matched.

Abstract: The invention relates to ultrasound apparatus for measuring the flow speed of a fluid, the apparatus comprising first and second ultrasound transducers disposed at points that are spaced apart in the direction of fluid flow, a transmitter module, a receiver module, and switch means organized so that each of the first and second transducers operates alternately as a transmitter and as a receiver. The transmitter module includes at least one transmission signal generator whose output is permanently connected via two logic gates each followed by a respective resistive divider bridge to a respective first terminal of the first and second transducer, and in that the first and second switch means are interposed respectively between the first terminals of said first and second transducers and the receiver module.

Abstract: A vortex fluid meter (1) includes a pipe portion (2) of constant inside diameter in which the fluid flows, at least two obstacles disposed in the middle of the flow of the fluid in said pipe portion (2) each having a generally elongate shape with longitudinal and transverse dimensions perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid, and adapted to generate oscillatory fluid vortices, an upstream obstacle (4) having a substantially uniform trapezoidal transverse section and a downstream obstacle (6) having a generally T-shape transverse section, and means (10, 12, 14) for detecting the signal corresponding to the oscillations of said vortices and for deducing therefrom the fluid volume or flowrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively testing, in parallel, identical pins of a plurality of electronic components is provided. The apparatus enables testing of selective pins of selective electronic components according to different timing schemes.

Abstract: A system for diversifying information carried by a network to apparatuses for providing goods or services. The network includes a plurality of platforms each capable of creating messages including diversification data for diversifying the information to be carried. The diversification data is provided by a diversification-data generator in each platform. Each apparatus includes an access control module which stores the diversification data separately for each platform.

Abstract: A hose coupling assembly utilizes first and second hose collar halves interacting with a barbed connector for mounting to a PVC spiral hose with screws. The collar halves are identical and may be molded from flexible plastic material for ease of attachment to the spiral hose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidic oscillator which is symmetrical with respective to a longitudinal symmetry plane, comprising a fluid inlet intended to form a bidimensional fluid jet which oscillates transversally with respective to the symmetry plane, an obstacle wherein is arranged a cavity which faces said fluid inlet and which is scavenged by the oscillation jet, characterized in that the obstacle has a front wall which has two so-called front surfaces substantially planar and framing the cavity, the plane of each surface being substantially perpendicular to the symmetry plane, said cavity being defined by a surface which is substantially parallel to said plane at the points where said surface joins each of said front surfaces, the obstacle also having two side walls of which said side surfaces are substantially parallel to the symmetry plane at the points where each of them joins the corresponding front surface.

Abstract: The invention is a dial inbound MIU which includes a rechargeable power supply, such as a double layer capacitor (sometimes called a "supercapacitor" or a "SuperCap") or a rechargeable battery. The power supply can be recharged from the telephone line, either from the DC current available when the phone line is on-hook or off-hook or from the AC current which is available when the telephone line is ringing.

Abstract: A physical parameter represented by variation in time of a physical magnitude G capable of varying between a minimum value G.sub.min and a maximum value G.sub.max is determined. The physical magnitude G is measured at variable time intervals referred to as sampling times. After each measurement of the physical magnitude G, the corresponding value of the physical parameter, and also the theoretical maximum error that could have occurred in the determination of the physical parameter are determined. The sampling time prior to each new measurement of the physical magnitude G is determined in such a manner as to ensure that a predetermined error threshold E.sub.max is not exceeded while determining the value of the physical parameter corresponding to the new measurement of the physical magnitude G.

Abstract: An electronic electricity meter comprising a measuring circuit and a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit comprises a main capacitor and a transformer controlled by a switching mode circuit. The transformer has an additional winding between the core and the primary and an integrator circuit rated to supply at its output a voltage image substantially proportional to the main capacitor voltage.

Abstract: The invention concerns an ultrasonic fluid counter including at least two ultrasonic transducers collectively defining an ultrasonic measuring path and emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the fluid along said ultrasonic measuring path according to at least one ultrasonic frequency, wherein attenuation means for attenuating parasitic ultrasonic waves generated outside said fluid counter and transmitted by the fluid according to the ultrasonic frequency or frequencies are associated with the fluid counter.

Abstract: A single jet liquid meter includes a measurement chamber connected to an injector and an ejector and equipped with a turbine having a plurality of blades, two consecutive blades being disposed at an angle .beta., the measurement chamber having two end walls opposite to each other and perpendicular to the axis of the chamber, one of the two end walls being constituted by a plate equipped with an even number of ribs, n, greater than four, projecting in the chamber and equally distributed in two sets, two consecutive ribs of the same set being disposed at an angle .alpha. which is determined by the following conditions: .alpha.=(I+2/n).beta./(n/2-1) and (n/2-1).alpha.<90.degree., where I is an integer value greater or equal to zero.

Abstract: A method for predicting the accuracy of a water meter includes measuring a plurality of characteristics of each water meter of a plurality of installed water meters, one of the characteristics being water meter accuracy. A regression model is determined that relates water meter accuracy to the one or more other characteristics by performing a linear regression of measurements of the other water meter characteristics against measurements of water meter accuracy.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a fluid flow from a first area to a second area downstream from the first area. The flow coming from the first area is directed in a longitudinal direction. The cross-section of flow is increased, and the flow is split by means of an impact surface substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal flow direction. The split is caused to flow symmetrically relative to the longitudinal flow direction over a predetermined distance from the splitting to the second area without reducing the rate. The split flow is accelerated over at least a portion of said predetermined distance. The flow is mixed to achieve a conditioned fluid flow in the second area.

Abstract: A data collection system in which a number of remote terminals (RT) transmit data packets for reception by one or more fixed data collectors (FDC) or a portable data collector (PDC). Each remote terminal (RT) transmits data in two frequency sub-bands to which the fixed and portable data collectors are respectively tuned. Channel capacity is improved in at least the fixed data collector (FDC) sub-band by the use in the remote terminal of minimum shift keying (MSK) encoding and pseudo-random variation of a frequency error applied to the packet transmission frequency for successive packets. In the fixed data collectors dual fast-Fourier transform signal processing enables the interpretation of simultaneous packets with different error frequencies. The use of a single design of remote terminal (RT) in conjunction with portable data collectors (PDC) simplifies system set-up, with the portable collectors providing coverage for those areas where a fixed data collector (FDC) network has yet to be established.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively testing, in parallel, identical pins of a plurality of electronic components is provided. The apparatus enables selective pins of selective electronic components to be disabled during testing so that testing can continue in connection with the identical pins of the remainder of the plurality of electronic components.