Abstract: The wireless data communication device (1) is mounted in a portable object, such as a wristwatch. The device includes an oscillator circuit (6), which produces high frequency signals (SH), and a signal processing unit (7), connected to the oscillator circuit. The connection structure of one part of the oscillator circuit (14, 15), which produces the high frequency signals, is arranged to act as antenna for the transmission of data by means of stray signals (SP) transmitted by the connection structure. The processing unit provides a control signal (CC) to the oscillator circuit depending upon the data to be transmitted by means of the stray signals by the connection structure. An amplitude modulation or a frequency modulation can be used for the transmission of data by means of the stray signals.

Abstract: The dual-modulus prescaler circuit for a frequency includes several dividers-by-two of the asynchronous type, connected in series, a phase selector unit (11) inserted between two of the dividers-by-two (10, 12a) and a control unit for supplying first control signals(S0, S1, S2, C1, C2) to the selector unit as a function of a selected mode. Said control unit receives four signals phase shifted by 90° with respect to each other from a first master-slave divider and supplies a selected one of the four phase shifted signals. The selector unit includes a first amplifying branch (21) receiving two first phase shifted signals (F2I, F2Ib), a second amplifying branch (22) receiving two second phase shifted signals (F2Q, F2Qb), and a selection element (23) connected to each branch. The first control signals (S0, S1, S2) are supplied to the first and second branches, and to the selection element for selecting one of the four phase shifted signals (F2) at one output in a determined division period.

Abstract: The apparatus includes at least one information storing unit (23), a unit (25) for processing said information, a management and control unit (20) receiving control signals from the processing unit (25) and a supply unit (27) controlled by said management unit and controlling the movement of said two stepping motors (24;26) above a dial bearing markings Ri representative of said information.

Abstract: In an electronic watch containing an electric battery assembly of large size, particularly a battery assembly including several batteries or accumulators (41, 42), the diameter of a removable cover (20) closing a large bottom opening of the back cover (14) of the watchcase is limited by the fact that the cover is provided with a bayonet fitting device having locking members (56) radially directed towards the interior. These locking members catch on a fixed support (22) having one or more housings for the battery assembly. They are arranged at the top of a substantially cylindrical annular portion (50) of the cover. A sealing gasket (52) is placed around this annular portion and compressed radially against a cylindrical surface (16) of the periphery of the opening in the back cover, which ensures water-resistance even if the bayonet fitting is not screwed all the way in. According to a variant, the cover can form the entire back cover of the case.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate arranged on a front side, i.e., arranged on the side receiving an incident light, and a second substrate arranged on a back side, so that this second substrate extends facing the front substrate parallel thereto, the first and second substrates being connected via a sealing frame in order to delimit between them a cavity for containing the liquid crystals and including on their opposite faces a first and a second group of electrodes, respectively. The display device is connected to a control circuit for supplying suitable control voltages to selected electrodes in order to modify the optical conditions of the liquid crystal into a reflective state or into a transparent state. The display device further includes an absorbent black layer made of an electrically non-conductive material, wherein the absorbent black layer is arranged either at the surface of the second substrate or on the second group of electrodes that is formed on the second substrate.

Abstract: The wristwatch includes in its case a resistive piezo-electric pressure and temperature sensor (26) exposed to a pressure chamber (42) communicating with the outside environment, for measuring ambient pressure. In order to provide individual calibration as a function of temperature followed by a permanent correction of the sensor pressure signals, the latter is fixed to the lower surface of a printed circuit board (30) bearing the electronic circuits (35) processing the sensor signals. The calibration parameters are stored in a non-volatile memory (36) of said circuits. A rigid and sealed separating wall (43) forms an internal bottom separating the pressure chamber (42) from the watch sealed part.

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 present invention concerns a timepiece including a barrel, a spring housed in the barrel, time display members mechanically coupled to said barrel, an electric energy generator also coupled to said barrel, and a regulator circuit for enslaving the frequency of said generator to a reference frequency. The regulator circuit includes for this purpose switching means arranged for electrically braking said generator during braking periods, when said regulator circuit detects that the frequency of said generator is higher than the reference frequency. The generator controls actuating means of an analogue power reserve member, via an electric quantity transmitted by electric coupling between the actuating means and the generator, during said braking periods.

Abstract: There is described a portable device (1) including in particular a case (2) closed by a glass (3) and containing means for detecting the presence of water (20, 22) in contact with an external region of the assembly formed by the case and the glass. In a preferred embodiment, the means for detecting the presence of water include a plurality of capacitive sensors (20) arranged in a peripheral region of the device (1) so as to undergo a variation in their respective capacitances when the latter is immersed in water. Thus, a quantity characteristic of the capacitance value of each sensor (20) is periodically measured and stored. After each measurement, the new value obtained is compared to the preceding one to detect any variation in the corresponding capacitance. When a part of the capacitive sensors (20) simultaneously see their respective capacitances vary considerably between two measurements, detection of the presence of water is validated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a piezoelectric motor of the type including: a stator (2); a rotor (20) capable of moving in rotation in a plane (Pdm) called the mean movement plane perpendicular to a geometrical rotational axis (X1) on which the rotor (20) is centred; coupling means (8) for driving the rotor (20) arranged between the stator (2) and said rotor (20); piezoelectric means (12) capable of being electrically excited to impart a vibratory movement onto the coupling means (8); transmission means (40) able to transmit the vibratory movement from the coupling means (8) to the rotor (20) in order to drive said rotor (20) in rotation about its axis (X1), and holding means (44) for applying the rotor (20) onto the coupling means (8), characterised in that the coupling means (8) are arranged freely about the geometrical rotational axis (X1) on which they are centred, and in that the coupling means (8) rest on the stator (2) via support means (10) shaped to convert the vibratory movement of the point

Abstract: A level-shifter architecture with high-voltage driving capability and extremely low power consumption, exploiting dynamic control of the charge on the gate electrodes of the high-voltage output transistors, is provided. The architecture can be integrated in CMOS technology and can be applied to various applications, including monolithic integration of high-voltage display driver circuits in battery-powered applications.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic device for generating and displaying an item of information, including a flexible body (2) shaped to be able, for example, to be secured to a user's wrist, an electronic unit (18) for generating the information, at least a display cell (20) for displaying said information, and an electric power source (22) for powering the electronic unit (18), wherein the flexible body (2) has, at at least one location on its length, an overthickness of material forming a rigid receptacle (28) in the inner cavity of which is arranged said electronic unit (18).

Abstract: A double up-conversion modulator includes a first conversion stage (1) formed of two modulation units (101, 102), receiving at one input quadriphased baseband signals, controlled by four quadriphased carrier signals at a first intermediate frequency (IF1), and delivering at one output opposite up-converted signals (IF1C, IF1C_b) at said first intermediate frequency. The modulator further includes a second up-conversion stage (2) receiving at one input said up-converted signals at said first intermediate frequency, controlled by two other in phase opposition carrier signals at a second intermediate frequency (IF2), and delivering at one output a high frequency signal (HF_M), said high frequency (HF) corresponding to the sum of said first and second intermediate frequencies (IF1+IF2).

Abstract: An electronic diving watch (1) with an analog display is described, comprising bidirectional driving means respectively of an hour hand (11) and a minute hand (12). The watch has a diving operating mode in which the display hands of the current time are likewise used in order to display data relating to the dive. More precisely, the hour hand (11) is used for the indication of information which is vital for the wearer of the watch, i.e. either that his body has not been subjected to physiological modifications which are significantly substantial enough for him to be required to observe a decompression stage during the ascent, or the parameters of the stage(s) to be effected, if need be. Liquid crystal screens (14, 15) are furthermore provided in order to display complementary information.

Abstract: The timepiece, which is preferably a wristwatch, includes for each time position a capacitive sensor (C1 to C12), on a fixed bezel, including only four markings (R3, R6, R9, R12) at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock, and a single crown-push-button (9). The case contains, in particular, a non-acoustic vibration generator (20) and an electronic interpretation and coding circuit (15), associated with a time-keeper circuit (10), with the sensors and with the crown to control the vibration device, said circuit (15) being designed to identify the manipulations on the crown (brief, long application of pressure or pull) and on the sensors (positioning or movement).

Abstract: An electronic diving watch (1, 100) with analog display is described, comprising bidirectional means for moving the hour (13) and minute (14) hands respectively. The watch provides a diving mode of operation in which the hands displaying the current time are also used to display data relating to the dive. More particularly, the hour hand (13) is used to provide information vital to the wearer of the watch, namely the maximum remaining duration before it becomes necessary to effect a decompression stage during the ascent. An embodiment is described in which the duration of a single stage at 3 meters is also indicated once the maximum remaining duration has been exceeded.

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 present invention concerns chiral doping agents allowing a modification to be induced in the spiral pitch of a cholesteric liquid crystal, said doping agents including a biactivated chiral unit at least one of whose functions allows a chemical link to be established with an isomerisable group, for example by radiation, said group possibly having a polymerisable or co-polymerisable end chain. These new chiral doping agents find application in particular in a color display.

Abstract: The assembly includes a first display device (22) in front of which is arranged a second active liquid crystal display device including, starting from the exterior, a front polarizer (11) selective of a first color “V”, a liquid crystal display cell (26) which is switchable ON/OFF, an intermediate polarizer (13) selective of a second color “R”, an ON/OFF switchable optical liquid crystal valve (28) and a rear polarizer (15), which is reflective when the first display device (22) has a dark background and absorbent when it has a light background. A control unit (23) allows two switching states to be selected allowing the color of the information displayed, or that of the background on which said information is displayed to be reversed. Application to the display of information in a timepiece.

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