Abstract: Method of driving an acoustic piezoelectric transducer (6) characterized in that a signal (8), resulting from the time multiplexing of at least two rectangular periodic signals (12a, 12b) of different frequencies and having pulses of fixed duration and whose duty cycle is less than 0.5, is applied to the terminals of the transducer (6). This signal may result from the time sum of at least two undulating logic signals of different durations.

Abstract: The variable gain analog-to-digital conversion device (1) for an image sensor comprises at least one N-bit non-linear coarse first converter (21) receiving a pixel voltage signal (Vpix) and at least one M-bit linear fine second converter (22) connected to the first converter (21) in order for the device to supply a binary word of N+M bits relating to the voltage level of the pixel. The first converter (21) comprises comparison means (33) for comparing the voltage level of the pixel with one or more voltage thresholds (V0 to V4) delimiting voltage ranges within the voltage dynamic range of the sensor. The successive voltage ranges represent areas of illumination of the pixel ranging from a weakly lit area to a strongly lit area. The first comparator supplies an N-bit binary word relating to the area of illumination determined for the pixel.

Abstract: The variable gain analog-to-digital conversion device (1) for an image sensor comprises at least one N-bit non-linear coarse first converter (21) receiving a pixel voltage signal (Vpix) and at least one M-bit linear fine second converter (22) connected to the first converter (21) in order for the device to supply a binary word of N+M bits relating to the voltage level of the pixel. The first converter (21) comprises comparison means (33) for comparing the voltage level of the pixel with one or more voltage thresholds (V0 to V4) delimiting voltage ranges within the voltage dynamic range of the sensor. The successive voltage ranges represent areas of illumination of the pixel ranging from a weakly lit area to a strongly lit area. The first comparator supplies an N-bit binary word relating to the area of illumination determined for the pixel.