Abstract: A metal screened (13) electronic labelling system having at least one information bearing electronic coded label including a label coil (12) and an interrogator including a transmitter coil (9). The system relies on a magnetic field coupling link containing the transmitter coil (9) and the label coil (12) for obtaining information from the label. The coupling link is arranged such that it operates in the near field thereof and substantially none or at most a minority of the magnetic flux which excites the label coil (12) also links the transmitter coil (9).

Abstract: A secure system and method for the transfer of value units between a plurality of gambling cards (CJ) and a plurality of gambling machines (200, 300). Each machine has a transcriber (210, 310) to debit value units of the gambling cards. The machines are connected via a secure network (123) to a central processing unit (1). Each gambling card (CJ1) stores data (S, Op1, Op2, Opx, Id, S) unique to the card and the use of that card in gambling. The central processing unit (1, BD) stores the same data as what is in the cards. The cards' and the CPU's data are maintained in parallel as the gambling progresses, and may include data from previous sessions. A monitor (BD) checks that the CPU (1, BD) data and the card (CJ1) data correspond. Thus the integrity of this smart card gambling is enhanced.

Abstract: A process for continuous manufacture of electronic modules (6) including the steps of providing a microcircuit and antenna receiving side on a continuous strip (8) and module surface areas; arranging, e.g., by printing, on the module surface area, a plane spiral antenna (2) wholly arranged to this area; fixing on said strip (8) a microcircuit (7) provided with contact pads (13, 14) after placing an insulator between the microcircuit the strip (8); making an electric connection between the antenna (2) and of the microcircuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating a coating layer (8) and a portable support (1) provided with such layer, comprising a support body (3) provided on one of its sides (4) with said coating layer (8). The process of the invention is characterized in that, for the fabrication of the coating layer (8), a transient thermoplastic layer (17) is cross-linked so as to make it thermosettable. The invention applies particularly to the fabrication of chip based cards.

Abstract: Releasable PCMCIA cards (10) suitable for plugging into the slot (12) of a micro-computer (14). To enable the releasable plug-in card (10) to be used as a smart card reader, it is altered in such a way that it can receive a smart card (22). For this purpose, the releasable card (10) includes a guide system (15) with a shape matching that of a smart card (22) so that the smart card is properly positioned relative to the reader. A micro-computer or PCMCIA card may thus be protected by means of a security smart card.

Abstract: Process aimed at the extraction of electrical signals emanating from the two ends of a two wire link between two installations exchanging data, wherein a probe comprising an attenuation cell is plugged in on either side of a break point situated on the line pair, then the connections thus established are isolated in such a way as to transfer the signals to the attenuation cell, the attenuation cell is activated by progressive withdrawal of active components, high-impedance signals are tapped off at the two ends of the attenuation cell, and signals which are images of the electrical signals dispatched by one or other of the ends of the line pair are obtained as output from the attenuation cell, after analogue calculation based on subtraction of the signals and multiplication by a constant which is directly related to the value of the attenuation of the cell.

Abstract: A data transfer network with at least one slot machine (200) having a value unit transfer element (300) and a data transfer link (123) connected to a central processing unit (1). Between each slot machine and the transfer link is a device (400) that provides a multichannel link including a first main channel (410) connecting to the central processing unit (1) via the network data transfer link (123), a second main channel (420) connecting to the slot machine (200), and a secondary channel (430) connecting to the value unit transfer element (300). A data transfer switching and coordinating means enables data to be transmitted between the slot machine (200) and the value unit transfer element (300), and data to be transmitted between the slot machine (200) and the data transfer link (123).

Abstract: The invention relates to the methods which make it possible to establish contacts between two conductive layers separated by an insulating layer. It consists in pressing the complex (101) formed by these three layers between a sonotrode (105) excited by ultrasound perpendicular to the plane of the complex and an anvil (106) whose face in contact with the complex has protruding ridges (107). Under the effect of the pressure and the ultrasound, the ridges deform the complex and make the insulating layer flow. When the conductive layers come into contact, after contraction of the insulating layer, they become welded to one another under the effect of the ultrasound. It makes it possible to obtain, at low cost, completely ohmic contacts between these two conductive layers.

Abstract: A power supply system for uninterruptedly sensitive equipment having a supply interface with a local power line, e.g., of 230V/50 Hz. It has downstream of a high voltage/low voltage transformation station, a direct connection towards at least one Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS), enabling elimination of the Normal/Standby switch between the local electric network and a replacement source. The UPS, which comprises batteries in parallel and a quick switching device (t<20 ms), automatically ensures the launching (or triggering) of the standby source in case of breakdown of the local electric power supply network. Reciprocally a standby source, which is directly coupled with the UPS batteries, delivers the direct current required for maintaining the charge of said batteries.

Abstract: The invention features a public key cryptography method based on the discrete logarithm which computes a value Gkmod p. Two solutions are proposed to reduce the number of multiplications, one consisting in generating “hollow” k exponents with a few bits of value 1, but of sufficient length to maintain the total security of the system, and the other consisting of performing calculations of the powers of g in parallel while combining the exponents with each other in order to prevent repeating the same power computations twice for a given exponent. The invention is useful for generating digital signatures, authentication and encryption.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for an antenna (A) having the general shape of a loop, directly in the proximity of at least a metallic element (10). The invention is characterised in that each metallic element (10) comprises an orifice (18) arranged substantially opposite the surface defined by the antenna (A), and a slot (16) forming a gap width, arranged through the thickness of the metallic element (10), between the internal edge (21) delimiting the orifice (18) and the external edge (20) of said metallic element (10). The invention is applicable to scanners and radio frequency communication devices.

Abstract: A smart card, which in normal use in a network allows the transfer of goods/services to a user of the card from a network operator by subtracting prepaid units of value stored in the card. The card has an embedded integrated circuit with a serial number unique to each card, and a prepaid units register for storing a number of remaining units of prepaid value. In response to an interrogation, the serial number and the number of remaining prepaid units may be read out. A key number is also stored in the circuit. It has a first portion unique for each card, and a second portion which is common to a plurality of cards, but unique for a network operator. The key number in normal use of the card cannot be read from the card. An algorithm is also stored in the card, and in normal use it also is not readable from the card. A microprocessor calculates a certificate in accordance with the algorithm as a function of the key number and the number in said prepaid register, and the certificate is readable from the card.

Abstract: A service control and management systems, and more specifically a system to manage hourly working services, that has service beneficiaries' and/or service providers' smart cards, smart card readers at service sites, and a central server capable of communicating with the readers. In the system each reader has means for initializing a service time count after initialization of the transaction until a service ending time. Also, there are means for recording, periodically on a non-volatile memory, information relating to the performance of the services, and means for transmitting the information from the reader to the central server.

Abstract: The invention concerns a particular structure of enhanced short message, and a method for synchronizing and ensuring the security of exchanged enhanced short messages having this structure. Conventionally, an enhanced message is transmitted by a message service centre to a subscriber identification module (or SIM module) of a mobile station. The body (2) of this enhanced message contains in particular a first field (3) for remote commands pertaining to a remote application. This body (2) also contains a second field (4) for storing the current value of a synchronizing counter, to be compared to a previous value of the synchronizing counter, stored in the SIM module. The body (2) can contain another field (6) for storing a certificate, the body signature, for proving the authenticity of the enhanced message and the identity of its transmitter. The enhanced message is accepted or refused by the SIM module depending on the coherence of these values with the internal status of the SIM module.

Abstract: A method for making cards with an electronic module is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a card body (1) having a cavity (3, 4), an electronic module (5) shaped to fit said cavity, and a cyanoacrylate adhesive, depositing said adhesive in said cavity, inserting said module into the cavity in a substantially centered position, and pressing said adhesive between the card and the module. According to the method, said adhesive is deposited in an amount sufficient to cover an adhesion surface constituting 50-100% of the surface of said cavity, after pressing, at a temperature of 15-30° C. and at a humidity level of 50-75%. The cards produced by carrying out the method are also disclosed.