Abstract: A digital time converter with an embodiment including a coarse measuring circuit and a fine measuring circuit. The fine measuring circuit allows an accurate determination of the temporal position of an event inside a period of the time base, by interpolation or averaging of sinusoids in quadrature, sampled coincidentally with a burst of impulses generated by the converter's triggering circuit.

Abstract: In a modular data acquisition system (4), a module comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter (12) for converting an analog input signal (IN1, IN2, IN3, IN4) into a digital signal (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, OUT4), and a clock generating circuit (20) for supplying an internal clock signal (209). The module further comprises a connector for plugging in a removable connecting element (3) on the front side of the module (1) in order to connect it to a synchronization bus connecting several modules in said system. A clock selecting circuit (204) enables the selection of either a slave-clock status, wherein the converters (12) are synchronized by an external synchronization signal supplied by said synchronization bus, or of a master-clock status, wherein the converters are synchronized by said internal clock signal which is also used a external synchronization signal on said synchronization bus. Trigger signals can also be transmitted by the synchronization bus and by the connecting elements.

Abstract: A digital time converter with an embodiment including a coarse measuring circuit and a fine measuring circuit. The fine measuring circuit allows an accurate determination of the temporal position of an event inside a period of the time base, by interpolation or averaging of sinusoids in quadrature, sampled coincidentally with a burst of impulses generated by the converter's triggering circuit.

Abstract: Portable precision caliper comprising a slide (2) and a shaft (1) each fitted with a jaw (10, respectively 20). The slide is further equipped with electronic means (11) which enable the distance between the jaws (10, 20) to be displayed on an electronic display (12). The electronic means are powered by a battery (110, 111). The shaft (2) is fitted with a magnetized scale (21) with a period of magnetization &lgr;. The electronic means (11) include a sensor (112) equipped with an array of magnetoresistive electrodes disposed opposite said scale (21). The resistance values of the magnetoresistive electrodes are a sinusoidal function of the longitudinal position of the sensor (112) along the scale (21). The set of magnetoresistive electrodes includes at least certain sets of magnetoresistive electrodes formed of at least 8 electrodes connected in series, so as to increase the electric resistance of the sets and to reduce the electricity consumption of the whole device.

Abstract: In a modular data acquisition system (4), a module comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter (12) for converting an analog input signal (IN1, IN2, IN3, IN4) into a digital signal (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, OUT4), and a clock generating circuit (20) for supplying an internal clock signal (209). The module further comprises a connector for plugging in a removable connecting element (3) on the front side of the module (1) in order to connect it to a synchronization bus connecting several modules in said system.

Abstract: The electronic circuit (3) comprises an electric feed circuit (42) supplying at least one feed voltage (EPEN) intended to feed a network of magnetoresistive electrodes (100) and a measuring circuit (30-39) including two differential inputs (C, C′, S, S′) connected to the network. The measuring circuit uses a rough counter and a fine interpolation circuit to determine the position of the sensor along the scale on the basis of the two sinusoidal input signals received. The feed circuit periodically reduces the electric feed voltage supplied so as temporarily to lessen the dissipation of energy in the magnetoresistive electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring linear or angular dimension. The sensor can be moved with respect to a magnetized scale with a period &lgr;. It is equipped with magnetoresistive electrodes provided with barber-pole structures and connected so as to form n measuring bridges, each measuring bridge formed by four sets of magnetoresistive electrodes. The magnetoresistive electrodes making up each set are connected in series, the magnetoresistive electrodes being distributed spatially so as to constitute x groups. Each group being formed by more than eight consecutive magnetoresistive electrodes coming from two sets of a same measuring bridge.