Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a plurality of proof-masses moveable along a measurement axis; a respective spring rigidly attached to each proof-mass, configured to exert an elastic recall on the proof-mass in the measurement axis; and a fixed stop associated with each proof-mass, arranged to intercept the proof-mass when the acceleration in the measurement axis increases by a step. The proof-masses are suspended in series with respect to one another by springs in the measurement axis, the stops being arranged to successively intercept the respective proof-masses for increasing thresholds of acceleration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating state detection circuit of a node, comprising a first conductivity type MOS transistor (M1) connected between the node (N) and a first power supply line (Vss); and a second MOS transistor (M2) of conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, controlled by the node (N) and connected between the gate of the first transistor (M1) and a second supply line (Vdd). In addition, a third MOS transistor (M3) of the first conductivity type connected between the gate of the first transistor (M1) and the first supply line (Vss) may be controlled by the node (N).

Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a plurality of proof-masses moveable along a measurement axis; a respective spring rigidly attached to each proof-mass, configured to exert an elastic recall on the proof-mass in the measurement axis; and a fixed stop associated with each proof-mass, arranged to intercept the proof-mass when the acceleration in the measurement axis increases by a step. The proof-masses are suspended in series with respect to one another by springs in the measurement axis, the stops being arranged to successively intercept the respective proof-masses for increasing thresholds of acceleration.

Abstract: The invention relates to an accelerometer comprising a plurality of proof-masses (M1-M4) moveable along a measurement axis (AB); a respective spring (K1-K4) rigidly attached to each proof-mass, configured to exert an elastic recall on the proof-mass in the measurement axis; a fixed stop (S1-S4) associated with each proof-mass, arranged to intercept the proof-mass when the acceleration in the measurement axis increases by a step; and an electrical contact associated with each stop, configured to be closed when the associated proof-mass reaches the stop. The proof-masses are suspended in series with respect to one another by springs in the measurement axis, the stops being arranged to successively intercept the respective proof-masses for increasing thresholds of acceleration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating state detection circuit of a node, comprising a first conductivity type MOS transistor (M1) connected between the node (N) and a first power supply line (Vss); and a second MOS transistor (M2) of conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, controlled by the node (N) and connected between the gate of the first transistor (M1) and a second supply line (Vdd). In addition, a third MOS transistor (M3) of the first conductivity type connected between the gate of the first transistor (M1) and the first supply line (Vss) may be controlled by the node (N).

Abstract: The invention relates to an accelerometer comprising a plurality of proof-masses (M1-M4) moveable along a measurement axis (AB); a respective spring (K1-K4) rigidly attached to each proof-mass, configured to exert an elastic recall on the proof-mass in the measurement axis; a fixed stop (S1-S4) associated with each proof-mass, arranged to intercept the proof-mass when the acceleration in the measurement axis increases by a step; and an electrical contact associated with each stop, configured to be closed when the associated proof-mass reaches the stop. The proof-masses are suspended in series with respect to one another by springs in the measurement axis, the stops being arranged to successively intercept the respective proof-masses for increasing thresholds of acceleration.

Abstract: A dual-conversion tuner firstly upconverts so as to place itself outside the receive band and then downconverts with zero intermediate frequency. A filter of the surface acoustic wave type is disposed between the two frequency transposition stages of the tuner. After baseband filtering, the signals are digitized then processed in a digital block comprising a channel decoding module. With the exception of the surface acoustic wave filter, the components are entirely embodied in integrated fashion.

Abstract: An electronic circuit, comprising at least an analog part, subjected to predefined input signals in the time domain, is broken down into at least one modeled elementary block. The input signal is transformed into a simulation signal which comprises at least one useful signal component representative of the spectral power density of the input signal. Application to an input of the simulation signal circuit is simulated. The useful component of the simulated signal is computed on output of each successive block. The useful component of the simulated signal output from the circuit is compared with at least one predefined signal to test at least one characteristic of the circuit. A noise component can be introduced in a simulation signal or in the output signal of a block passed through.

Abstract: A radio signal receiver includes an input for receiving an input signal having an input carrier frequency modulated by a payload signal to be detected. A frequency converter changes the carrier frequency of the input signal and produces an intermediate signal that is an image of the input signal, and has a carrier frequency equal to an intermediate frequency. A filter circuit filters the intermediate signal. A demodulator eliminates a component, with a frequency equal to the intermediate frequency, from the filtered intermediate frequency, and produces the payload signal. The receiver also includes a detection circuit to produce a level signal representative of a level of the payload signal. A control circuit applies a control signal representative of the level signal to a control input of the frequency converter, the filter circuit and the demodulator.

Abstract: A method for sampling an analogue radiofrequency signal comprising reception of the analogue radiofrequency signal, sending of the received signal on two analogue channels, each channel performing a first signal sampling operation, including a filtering step eliminating signal frequencies that could fold on the useful signal during sampling such that the sampled signal represents a filtered version of the received signal, wherein the sampling frequency is taken to be equal to the frequency of the signal carrier divided by a factor Ndiv1+½, Ndiv1 being an integer number, to bring the useful signal to half of the sampling frequency after sampling.

Abstract: A method for sampling an analogue radiofrequency signal comprising reception of the analogue radiofrequency signal, sending of the received signal on two analogue channels, each channel performing a first signal sampling operation, including a filtering step eliminating signal frequencies that could fold on the useful signal during sampling such that the sampled signal represents a filtered version of the received signal, wherein the sampling frequency is taken to be equal to the frequency of the signal carrier divided by a factor Ndiv1+½, Ndiv1 being an integer number, to bring the useful signal to half of the sampling frequency after sampling.

Abstract: A radio signal receiver includes an input for receiving an input signal having an input carrier frequency modulated by a payload signal to be detected. A frequency converter changes the carrier frequency of the input signal and produce an intermediate signal that is an image of the input signal, and has a carrier frequency equal to an intermediate frequency. A filter circuit filters the intermediate signal. A demodulator eliminates a component, with a frequency equal to the intermediate frequency, from the filtered intermediate frequency, and produces the payload signal. The receiver also includes a detection circuit to produce a level signal representative of a level of the payload signal. a control circuit to apply a control signal representative of the level signal to a control input of the frequency converter, the filter circuit and the demodulator.

Abstract: A switchable inductance that can be formed in an integrated circuit, including a spiral interrupted between two first points connected to two terminals via two metallizations running one above the other, one of the two metallizations being deformable; a hollowing between the two metallizations; and a switching device capable of deforming the deformable metallization to separate or to put in contact said two metallizations.

Abstract: A multiposition microswitch that includes a cavity, a mobile portion made of a deformable material extending above the cavity, at least three conductive tracks extending on the cavity bottom, and a contact pad on the lower surface of the mobile part. The mobile part is capable of deforming, under the action of a stressing mechanism, from an idle position where the contact pad is distant from the conductive tracks to an on position from among several distinct on positions. The contact pad electrically connects, in each distinct on position, at least two of the at least three conductive tracks, at least one of the conductive tracks connected to the contact pad in each distinct on position being different from the conductive tracks connected to the contact pad in the other distinct on positions.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal with a frequency equal to a product of a reference frequency and a real number includes providing an output signal from an oscillator, and performing a first integer division of a frequency of the output signal by a first integer divider to obtain a first intermediate signal. A first measurement signal representative of a time difference between the first intermediate signal and a reference signal having the reference frequency is determined. The method further includes generating a first comparison signal derived from the first measurement signal, and generating a second comparison signal dependent on a period of the reference signal, on integer and decimal parts of the real number and on the first integer divider. The first and second comparison signals are compared to obtain an error signal representative of a time difference between a period of a current output signal and the period of the reference signal.

Abstract: A switchable inductance that can be formed in an integrated circuit, including a spiral interrupted between two first points connected to two terminals via two metallizations running one above the other, one of the two metallizations being deformable; a hollowing between the two metallizations; and a switching device capable of deforming the deformable metallization to separate or to put in contact said two metallizations.

Abstract: A dual-conversion tuner firstly upconverts so as to place itself outside the receive band and then downconverts with zero intermediate frequency. A filter of the surface acoustic wave type is disposed between the two frequency transposition stages of the tuner. After baseband filtering, the signals are digitized then processed in a digital block comprising a channel decoding module. With the exception of the surface acoustic wave filter, the components are entirely embodied in integrated fashion.

Abstract: A multiposition microswitch that includes a cavity, a mobile portion made of a deformable material extending above the cavity, at least three conductive tracks extending on the cavity bottom, and a contact pad on the lower surface of the mobile part. The mobile part is capable of deforming, under the action of a stressing mechanism, from an idle position where the contact pad is distant from the conductive tracks to an on position from among several distinct on positions. The contact pad electrically connects, in each distinct on position, at least two of the at least three conductive tracks, at least one of the conductive tracks connected to the contact pad in each distinct on position being different from the conductive tracks connected to the contact pad in the other distinct on positions.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal with a frequency equal to a product of a reference frequency and a real number includes providing an output signal from an oscillator, and performing a first integer division of a frequency of the output signal by a first integer divider to obtain a first intermediate signal. A first measurement signal representative of a time difference between the first intermediate signal and a reference signal having the reference frequency is determined. The method further includes generating a first comparison signal derived from the first measurement signal, and generating a second comparison signal dependent on a period of the reference signal, on integer and decimal parts of the real number and on the first integer divider. The first and second comparison signals are compared to obtain an error signal representative of a time difference between a period of a current output signal and the period of the reference signal.