Abstract: A low power RF receiver (1) has an antenna (2), a reception and shaping stage (3) for the radio-frequency signals provided by the antenna, a 12-channel correlation stage (7) receiving intermediate signals (IF) shaped by the reception stage (3), and a microprocessor (12) connected to the correlation stage for calculating X, Y and Z position, velocity and time data as a function of data provided by the radio-frequency signals, such as GPS signals, transmitted by satellites. Each channel includes a correlator (8) associated with a controller (9), which also includes a digital signal processing algorithm to allow all the synchronisation tasks for acquiring and tracking a satellite to be performed autonomously when the channel (7?) is set in operation, and to lock onto the satellite. Buffer registers (11) are placed at the interface between the correlation stage (7) and the microprocessor (12) for the mutual transfer of data.

Abstract: The portable device (10) is used for determining horizontal and vertical positions. It includes a pressure sensor altimeter (15) calibrated to a predetermined initial altitude, a GPS signal receiver (12) arranged to receive, via an antenna (11), signals originating from several satellites (20) in order to calculate position data of the device, a processing unit (14) receiving the position data from the receiver (12) and an altitude value from the altimeter (15), and display means (16) for the horizontal and vertical positions of the device processed and provided by the processing unit. The processing unit sends the GPS receiver a signal corresponding to the altitude value of the calibrated altimeter to enable the receiver to determine, using the altitude value, the position data of the device. A memory (13) including cartographic data and associated with the GPS receiver (12) can provide the precise data to the processing unit (14) in particular for calibrating the altimeter.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timepiece having a mechanical clockwork-movement (10) driven by a barrel spring (14) and provided with a mechanical regulator, with a balance and a balance spring, which is associated, via electromagnetic coupling, with an electronic regulator driven by a quartz resonator. The rim of the balance (13) balance is provided with at least one pair of permanent magnets (38, 39). The electronic regulator includes a fixed coil (12) arranged for cooperating with said magnets via electromagnetic coupling, a rectifier (58) provided with at least one capacitor, and a circuit for enslaving the frequency of the mechanical regulator to the oscillator frequency by braking obtained by briefly short-circuiting the coil. In order to use a mechanical movement of a common type, in which only the balance is altered, the coil (12) is located on the side of the balance-cock (23) with respect to the balance rim.

Abstract: The watch is provided with a circular row of capacitive keys defined by transparent electrodes (21 to 32) arranged on the inner face of the crystal (5) of the watch and connected to a detection device via a multiplexer. These keys are activated by the person wearing the watch placing a finger (38) on the crystal facing one of the electrodes. The watch further includes means for detecting the position of at least one of the hands (8, 9) by means of the same detection device, using the electrodes (21 to 32) of the capacitive keys and/or other fixed electrodes (51).

Abstract: There is disclosed a wristwatch having a case containing a mechanical watch movement (10) driven by a spring barrel (14) and provided with a mechanical regulator with a balance and balance-spring, which is associated, via electromagnetic coupling, with an electronic regulator driven by a quartz resonator. The rim of the balance (13) is provided with a pair of permanent magnets (38, 39). The electronic regulator includes a fixed coil (12) arranged for cooperating with said magnets via electromagnetic coupling, a rectifier (58) provided with at least one capacitor, and a circuit (60) for enslaving the frequency of the mechanical regulator to the frequency of the oscillator by braking obtained by briefly short-circuiting the coil. In order to enable a common type of mechanical movement to be used, only the balance of which is altered, the electronic regulator is formed by a structural module (11) that is entirely separate from the mechanical watch movement (10).

Abstract: The method relates to the input of a security code by means of a touch screen of an electronic device such as a watch for access to a specific function, an apparatus or a given location. This touch screen comprises control keys, which can be activated by a manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus. Each key is linked to a microprocessor unit of the electronic device.

Abstract: The device (1) includes a mixer (4) which generates a signal (S4) having a frequency (F4) equal to the difference between two frequencies (F2, F3), which are those of two signals (S2, S3) each generated by a generator (2, 3) and which vary parabolically as a function of the temperature (T) with quadratic coefficients (&bgr;1,&bgr;2) that are different to each other. In order for the frequency (F4) of the signal (S4) generated by the mixer (4) to be at least substantially independent of the temperature (T), the generators (2, 3) are arranged such that the ratio of the quadratic coefficients (&bgr;1,&bgr;2) is equal to the inverse of the ratio of values (F2r, F3r) that the corresponding frequencies (F2, F3) have at a determined temperature (Tr).

Abstract: The portable device (10) is used for determining horizontal and vertical positions. It includes a pressure sensor altimeter (15) calibrated to a predetermined initial altitude, a GPS signal receiver (12) arranged to receive, via an antenna (11), signals originating from several satellites (20) in order to calculate position data of the device, a processing unit (14) receiving the position data from the receiver (12) and an altitude value from the altimeter (15), and display means (16) for the horizontal and vertical positions of the device processed and provided by the processing unit. The processing unit sends the GPS receiver a signal corresponding to the altitude value of the calibrated altimeter to enable the receiver to determine, using the altitude value, the position data of the device. A memory (13) including cartographic data and associated with the GPS receiver (12) can provide the precise data to the processing unit (14) in particular for calibrating the altimeter.

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: There is disclosed an electronic multi-function wristwatch one of whose operating modes is a memory game which uses the time display means of the watch. In the preferred version comprising an analogue time display, the watch randomly generates a sequence of visual indications such as time values and displays it by means of the hands (3, 4). Then, the player attempts to repeat these indications by entering a sequence of answers by means of control keys (14-19) arranged facing the hour symbols (7) of the dial. These keys preferably comprise electrodes affixed under the watch glass. The watch displays successive sequences each comprising one or more indications more than the preceding sequence. It can also emit corresponding sequences of sounds. The watch/user interface can further comprise push-buttons (11-13) and an alphanumerical LCD display (9).

Abstract: The numerically controlled oscillator (8) is mounted in particular in a radiofrequency signal receiver which further includes means (3) for receiving and shaping the radiofrequency signals, a correlation stage (4) and a clock signal generator. The oscillator receives at one input a clock signal with a first frequency (CLK) which clocks the oscillator operations, and a binary word of several bits (Nb) to provide at one output at least an output signal (Mb) with a frequency determined as a function of said binary word and the clock signal. The oscillator includes a first accumulation stage (12) for a first number of most-significant bits (Ob) of the binary word and a second accumulation stage (12) for a second number of least-significant bits (Pb) of said binary word. The first accumulation stage is clocked at the first clock frequency (CLK) to supply the determined frequency output signal (Mb), while the second stage is clocked at a second clock frequency (CLK/N) N times lower than the first clock frequency.

Abstract: A wristwatch (1) includes a keyboard whose control keys (4) are distributed over the length of the wristband (3), a processing unit (19) for data introduced via the keyboard, at least one display device (6) for displaying time functions and/or data provided by the processing unit, and a power source for the electric power supply of the electronic components of the wristwatch. In order to allow the use of its keyboard, the wristwatch (1) is placed on a work surface, the length of the wristband (3) facing a user. The display of the alphanumerical characters (7a) occurs in the direction of the length of the wristwatch, i.e., rotated by 90° with respect to the usual time display (7b). At least one integrated encoding circuit (9) acts as a communication interface between the keys (4) of the keyboard and the processing unit (19) integrated in the case of the wristwatch. The encoding circuit is placed in the wristband (3) and communicates with the unit via one of the two electric supply wires of said circuit.

Abstract: The inductive micro-sensor includes a flat micro-coil (2) formed on an integrated circuit (4) by long conductive segments Si with a high aspect ratio, each segment Si being arranged along a perpendicular direction with respect to the next segment Si+1 to form a spiral type structure with an overall square or rectangular contour. It is characterised in that each long segment Si is connected to the next long segment Si+1 by means of a short segment si forming, with the two long segments Si, Si+1, angles &agr; and &agr;′ greater than 90°.

Abstract: The device (1) includes a mixer (4) which generates a signal (S4) having a frequency (F4) equal to the difference between two frequencies (F2, F3), which are those of two signals (S2, S3) each generated by a generator (2, 3) and which vary parabolically as a function of the temperature (T) with quadratic coefficients (&bgr;1,&bgr;2) that are different to each other.

Abstract: The receiver (1) for radio-frequency signals (SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4), modulated by specific codes of transmitting sources, such as satellites (S1, S2, S3, S4), includes receiving and shaping means with frequency conversion for the radio-frequency signals for generating intermediate signals, a correlation stage formed of several correlation channels for receiving the intermediate signals and microprocessor means connected to the correlation stage in order to process the extracted data after correlation. Each channel includes a correlator in which the intermediate signals are correlated with at least two early and late replicas of the specific code of a visible transmitting source to be searched and tracked. The correlator further includes integration means for the correlated signals to provide a first amplitude value of the auto-correlation function of the early signals and a second amplitude value for the late signals.

Abstract: The receiver for radio-frequency signals, particularly of the GPS type, includes receiving and shaping means with frequency conversion for the radio-frequency signals (3) for generating intermediate signals (IF), a correlation stage (7) formed of several correlation channels (7′) for receiving the intermediate signals in order to correlate them, in operating channel control loops, with the frequency carrier and specific code replicas of visible emitting satellites to be searched and tracked, each channel being provided with a correlator (8) in which at least one integrator counter (28, 29, 30, 31) is capable of providing, at the end of each determined integration period of the correlated signals, a binary output word whose value, compared to a determined detection threshold level, allows detection of the presence or absence of the visible satellite to be searched and tracked, microprocessor means (12) connected to the correlation stage for processing the data drawn, after correlation, from the radio-fre

Abstract: A first (5) of the indicators and a first pipe (1) form part of an angular position indicating moving part (MR1) carrying a plate (9) co-operating with a first sensor (11) for generating a position signal for said indicator as a result of discontinuities in the material of said plate. A second display indicator (6) coaxial to said first indicator is coupled to a second angular position indicating moving part (MR2). The latter, which is mounted at a distance from the first moving part, is in a meshing relationship with a second pipe (2) carrying said second indicator. This second moving part carries a second plate (18) co-operating with a second sensor (20), for generating a position signal for said second indicator as a result of discontinuities in the material of said second plate.

Abstract: The radiofrequency signal receiver (1) includes means (3) for receiving and shaping radiofrequency signals into intermediate signals (IF), a correlation stage (7) which includes several correlation channels (7′) for receiving the intermediate signals (IF), microprocessor means (12) connected to said correlation stage for the transfer of control and/or data signals. The receiver also includes channel selection means, such as a priority decoder (13), connected to all the channels (7′) of the correlation stage (7) and to the microprocessor means (12). These selection means allow the channel with the highest priority among the operating channel or channels which have each transmitted an interruption signal for a data transfer from the selected channel to the microprocessor means (12), to be placed first in a virtual channel, in accordance with a defined order of priority for all the channels.

Abstract: The correlation and demodulation circuit (6) in particular for a pseudo-random code radio-frequency signal receiver (1) includes a correlation stage (7) connected to control means (12) in particular for configuring said correlation stage in normal operating mode or in test mode. In normal operation said stage receives intermediate signals (IF) corresponding to the radio-frequency signals shaped in means (3) for receiving the modulated signals from the receiver. Said intermediate signals are correlated in a correlator control loop (8) of said correlation stage (7) with a replica of the first code supplied by a code generator (25). The code generator (25) is adapted via control means (12) to generate a replica of a pseudo-random code of shorter repetition length than the pseudo-random code of the radio-frequency signals.

Abstract: The numerically controlled oscillator (8) is mounted in particular in a radiofrequency signal receiver which further includes means (3) for receiving and shaping the radiofrequency signals, a correlation stage (4) and a clock signal generator. The oscillator receives at one input a clock signal with a first frequency (CLK) which clocks the oscillator operations, and a binary word of several bits (Nb) to provide at one output at least an output signal (Mb) with a frequency determined as a function of said binary word and the clock signal. The oscillator includes a first accumulation stage (12) for a first number of most-significant bits (Ob) of the binary word and a second accumulation stage (12) for a second number of least-significant bits (Pb) of said binary word. The first accumulation stage is clocked at the first clock frequency (CLK) to supply the determined frequency output signal (Mb), while the second stage is clocked at a second clock frequency (CLK/N) N times lower than the first clock frequency.