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 invention concerns a device for securing a pallet stone to an escapement pallet including at least one housing for receiving said pallet stone, characterized in that the portion of the pallet including said housing is made of a shape memory alloy able to undergo a reversible transformation from an austenitic crystallographic phase to a martensitic crystallographic phase.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timepiece (40) including optical means for forming a decorative pattern, in the form of a figurative image, in response to an action by the user. The optical means forming a figurative image include an optical guide (1, 51) having two large faces (10, 11) and at least one lateral face (12). Optical extractors (19) each having at least one light reflective surface (20) are arranged in at least one of the large faces (11). A light source (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the reflective surfaces (20), via the lateral face (12) of the optical guide. Thus, each of the reflective surfaces causes a reflected light beam to form in a well defined direction, the set of light beams forming a figurative image in that direction, which can typically be selected as the normal with respect to the mid-plane of the watch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timepiece (40) including optical means for forming a decorative pattern, in the form of a figurative image, in response to an action by the user. The optical means forming a figurative image include an optical guide (1, 51) having two large faces (10, 11) and at least one lateral face (12). Optical extractors (19) each having at least one light reflective surface (20) are arranged in at least one of the large faces (11). A light source (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the reflective surfaces (20), via the lateral face (12) of the optical guide. Thus, each of the reflective surfaces causes a reflected light beam to form in a well defined direction, the set of light beams forming a figurative image in that direction, which can typically be selected as the normal with respect to the mid-plane of the watch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timepiece (40) including optical means for forming a decorative pattern, in the form of a figurative image, in response to an action by the user. The optical means forming a figurative image include an optical guide (1, 51) having two large faces (10, 11) and at least one lateral face (12). Optical extractors (19) each having at least one light reflective surface (20) are arranged in at least one of the large faces (11). A light source (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the reflective surfaces (20), via the lateral face (12) of the optical guide. Thus, each of the reflective surfaces causes a reflected light beam to form in a well defined direction, the set of light beams forming a figurative image in that direction, which can typically be selected as the normal with respect to the mid-plane of the watch.

Abstract: The balance-spring is structured by photolithography and etching in a strip pre-cut from a quartz monocrystal such that the height h of the coils form, with the crystallographic axis z, an angle ? for adapting the thermal behaviour of the balance-spring to that of the balance, thereby reducing the variation of rate due to temperature variations.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a transparent element including transparent electrodes, said method including the steps of: depositing over at least one part of the surface of a transparent substrate (1) a layer (2) of a conductive oxide that is also transparent, and structuring in said conductive oxide layer (2) at least one electrode (4) connected to a contact pad (8) by a conductive path (6) by removing said oxide along the contour of the desired electrode (4, 6, 8) so as to create a trimming line (10) which will insulate the part (12) of the conductive oxide layer (2), which forms the electrode (4, 6, 8) and which is to be brought to an electric potential, from the rest (14) of the conductive oxide layer (2) which will be floating, this method being wherein at least a second trimming line (10?) is made around the first (10).

Abstract: The portable electronic device (1) allows functions and/or data of a vehicle to be controlled and managed. In order to do this, the portable device comprises, in a casing having an upper part (10) fixed, for example, in a removable manner on a lower part (11), means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals for short range personalised communication with the vehicle. It further comprises a microprocessor unit for processing functions and/or data of the device and of the vehicle, at least one display screen (3) having a portion which is visible from outside the casing for displaying different menus or data of the device or of the vehicle, and manual control means (5, 6) for controlling the execution of functions of the microprocessor unit. A power source, such as a battery, is provided in the casing for supplying electric power to all the electronic components of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable electronic object including a “voice” user interface containing sound signal-reception and a management unit which manages the received sound signals. The invention includes an ambient noise sensor which can be used to measure the level of ambient noise (Bm). The sensor is connected to the aformementioned control unit. The control unit also compares the measured ambient noise level with a pre-defined noise level (Bo), and includes controls that deactivate the sound signal-processing when the ambient noise level exceeds the pre-defined noise level (Bm>Bo).

Abstract: The substrate with electrodes is formed of a transparent material onto which is deposited a film (1) of a transparent conductive material of thickness e1 and of refractive index n1, said film being structured to form a set of electrodes (1a) whose contours (8) delimit insulating spaces (3), wherein the insulating spaces (3) are filled with a transparent dielectric material of thickness e2 and of refractive index n2 so that the respective thicknesses of the conductive material and the dielectric material are inversely proportional to the values of the refractive indices of said materials and said dielectric material forms neither depressions nor beads at the contour (8) of the electrodes. A hardcoating layer (7) may be disposed between the substrate (5) and the electrodes and a protective film (9) added. The substrate with electrodes is obtained by UV irradiation through a single mask.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic timepiece comprising manual control means (21, 23) for the selection of different modes and an analog display provided with indicators (26, 27, 28, 32, 34) moved separately by electric motors to indicate the time on a dial (22) in a time mode and other information in one or more other modes, said indicators comprising at least an hour hand (26), a minute hand (27), a day indicator (32) and a month indicator (34). In addition, at least one of the modes to be selected is an event indication mode, in which the Gregorian date of a movable event is delivered by the electronic circuits of the timepiece and is displayed at least by the day indicator (32) and month indicator (34), said timepiece having means for the display of the number of the Gregorian year.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing at least one device (2, 30, 48) defining a volume (8) for retaining a fluid or a sensitive material that is capable of changing its physical properties, particularly its optical properties, via the application of a voltage, or its electrical properties via stress or radiation, said device (2, 30, 48) including at least a first front substrate (4, 38, 56) and at least a second back substrate (6, 32, 50) maintained at a constant distance from each other, these two substrates (6, 32, 50; 4, 38, 56) being joined by a sealing joint (24, 46, 72) which defines the volume (8) for retaining the sensitive medium or fluid, said method being characterised in that it includes the steps of: structuring at least one wall (12, 44, 66), which defines via its inner lateral face the volume (8) for retaining the sensitive medium or fluid, on one of the substrates (6, 32, 50); joining the second substrate (4, 38, 56) to the first substrate (6, 32, 50); introducing a sea

Abstract: The device includes data entry means (10), control means (14) connected to means (12) for displaying said data. The invention is characterised in that it further includes a processing unit (16) inserted between the data entry means (10) and the control means (14). The processing unit (16) includes a memory (11) for storing reference times and particularly the Time Out, a counter (18) storing the time TC that elapses from the start of a manipulation and the time TM the elapses between two manipulations, and a comparator (21) including a first comparison unit (23), which acts on the one hand on an ON/OFF switch (24) to interrupt, via control means (14) the energy supply when TC>TO and which, on the other hand, enables TO to be altered at the end of a series of manipulations as a function of certain reference times of the memory and the speed at which the manipulations have been carried out.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic instrument worn on the wrist including a case (2) at least a part (4) of which is electrically conductive and in which are housed an electronic module (6) including a printed circuit board (60) and an electric power source (10) for powering the electronic module. The printed circuit board (60) has, at its periphery, a mechanical contact zone with the electrically conductive part (4) of the case (2), and includes a conductive path (65) extending at the periphery of the printed circuit board, over the mechanical contact zone, and establishing an electric contact with the electrically conductive part (4) of the case (2).

Abstract: The portable electronic device, preferably a wristwatch, includes a radiofrequency signal receiver for receiving, in particular, GPS signals via an antenna, a magnetic compass, a microprocessor data processing unit for processing data provided by the receiver and the compass, and storage means in which almanac and ephemeredes data relating to satellites is stored. The compass is arranged for provide an orientation signal to the data processing device. In this manner, the unit can control means for indicating a direction to indicate a preferred orientation for searching for satellites visible to the user in a reading position of the watch. These indicating means can be formed by the time indicating hands moved above a watch dial. The preferred orientation is calculated by the processing unit on the basis of the almanac and ephemeredes data, time data and the orientation signal.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a water-resistant portable apparatus including a case in which there is mounted an electroacoustic transducer separated from an inlet cavity in a water-resistant manner by a deformable membrane. This inlet cavity is arranged in said case in direct communication with the exterior. The electroacoustic transducer and the inlet cavity are arranged collaterally such that at least one part of said transducer, respectively of the cavity, of a determined thickness is arranged in the same slice of the case and in that an acoustic channel connects the transducer to the membrane to transmit acoustic vibrations.

Abstract: The substrate with electrodes is formed of a transparent material onto which is deposited a film (1) of a transparent conductive material of thickness e1 and of refractive index n1, said film being structured to form a set of electrodes (1a) whose contours (8) delimit insulating spaces (3), wherein the insulating spaces (3) are filled with a transparent dielectric material of thickness e2 and of refractive index n2 so that the respective thicknesses of the conductive material and the dielectric material are inversely proportional to the values of the refractive indices of said materials and said dielectric material forms neither depressions nor beads at the contour (8) of the electrodes. A hardcoating layer (7) may be disposed between the substrate (5) and the electrodes and a protective film (9) added. The substrate with electrodes is obtained by UV irradiation through a single mask.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for securing a pallet stone to an escapement pallet including at least one housing for receiving said pallet stone, characterized in that the portion of the pallet including said housing is made of a shape memory alloy able to undergo a reversible transformation from an austenitic crystallographic phase to a martensitic crystallographic phase.

Abstract: There is disclosed a CMOS technology image sensor and a method for operating such an image sensor. This sensor includes a plurality of pixels (50) each including a photo-sensor element (PD) producing charge carriers in proportion to its illumination and storage means (C1) capable of being coupled and uncoupled from the photo-sensor element at a determined instant in order to store, on a memory node (B) of the pixel, a measuring signal representative of the charge carriers produced by said photo-sensor element during an exposure phase. Each pixel includes at least one MOS transistor (M1; M3) connected in series via its drain or source terminals to the photo-sensor element, and the transistor is configured such that it operates at least partially in weak inversion so that, during the exposure phase, the pixel has a logarithmic response for illumination levels higher than a determined illumination level. This at least partially logarithmic response enables the pixel dynamic range to be increased.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a multi-layered cell, particular a liquid crystal display cell (1), or an electrochemical photovoltaic cell, or a combination of a liquid crystal display cell and an electrochemical photovoltaic cell, this multi-layered cell comprising n superposed substrates (2, 4, 6, 8), n being an integer number greater than or equal to three, these substrates (2, 4, 6, 8) being joined by sealing frames (14, 16, 18) delimiting (n?1) sealed cavities (20, 22, 24) for containing an optically or electro-optically active medium, the upper surface (10) of the first substrate (2) and the lower surface (12) of the last substrate (8) forming the external faces of the cell (1), said multi-layered cell (1) being characterised in that it includes (n?1) filling holes (26, 28, 30) arranged, at least in part, on one side or other of the cell (1), said (n?1) filling holes (26, 28, 30) each communicating with a different cavity and passing through at least one cavity to reach the cavity with which they are co