Abstract: The method for hermetically encapsulating microsystems in situ consists, in a first phase, of mounting on a common substrate (1), several microsystems (6) surrounded by a metal adhesion layer (4) deposited on the substrate (1). In a second phase, in a common deposition step a first metal layer (7) is deposited by electrolytic means on each microsystem (6) and on an annular zone (7a) of the adhesion layer (4) surrounding each microsystem (6), so as to completely cover each microsystem by overlap. Subsequently a second metal layer (9) is deposited by electrolytic means on the first metal layer (7) and on the adhesion layer so as to cover most of the first layer with the exception of at least one passage (10) per microsystem (6), providing access to the first layer (7). The metal of the first layer is different from the metals of the adhesion layer, the second layer and the microsystem.

Abstract: Solid optical guide (10) with microprisms (20) of refractive index n, for uniformly illuminating a surface (4) in grazing incidence at an angle &thgr;1 in which a plane angle &dgr; of the cross-section develops with respect to the surface (4) a substantially perpendicular face (15) and a substantially parallel face (14), in which microprisms (20) are structured in hollows, one facet (21) of said microprisms oriented towards the face (15) has its edge (22) formed with the parallel face (14) inclined at an angle {right arrow over (&agr;)} with respect to the axis of the guide and its edge (23) formed with the perpendicular face (15) inclined at an angle {right arrow over (&ggr;)} with respect to the perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated, the values {right arrow over (&agr;)} and {right arrow over (&ggr;)} being determined from characteristics n, &thgr;1 and &dgr; of the guide.

Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid crystal display cell including two close substrates (2), separated by a sealing frame which delimits a sealed enclosure in which the liquid crystal molecules (4) are confined, and spacers (8) intended to maintain a constant spacing between said substrates (2), characterised in that the sealing frame and/or the spacers (8) are formed of an anisotropic polymer which is used to align and orient the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object such as, in particular, a timepiece (1) including means for controlling at least an electronic function such as an horological function, these control means including at least a touch-sensitive key (16) for selecting the desired electronic function, characterized in that the control means further include a strain gauge (22) allowing the selection of the desired electronic function to be confirmed and/or the electronic function to be activated, the confirmation and/or activation of said electronic function being effected by applying pressure to the portable object via the effect of which the strain gauge (22) generates a control signal which will be applied to an electronic data processing circuit, said portable object also being able to include means able to emit an acoustic signal to indicate to a user that the desired function has actually been switched on.

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.

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 present invention concerns a liquid crystal display device (1) including a substrate (2) arranged on a front side, i.e. arranged on the side receiving an incident light, and a second substrate (4) arranged on a back side, so that this second substrate (4) extends facing the front substrate (2) and parallel thereto, the first and second substrates (2, 4) being connected via a sealing frame (6) in order to delimit between them a cavity for containing the liquid crystals (8) and including on their opposite faces a first (10) and a second (12) group of electrodes respectively, the display device (1 ) being connected to a control circuit for the electrodes (10, 12), this circuit being able to supply suitable control voltages to selected electrodes in order to modify the optical conditions of the liquid crystal (8) at the crossing point of the electrodes in question, i.e.

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.

Abstract: Planar magnetic sensor, made in particular via CMOS techniques on a semiconductor substrate (1) of for example parallelepiped shape. It includes an amorphous ferromagnetic core (10) in the shape of a Greek cross which occupies the two diagonals of the square defined by the outer contour (90) of the excitation coil (9), the latter being made in the form of a planar winding of square shape. One thus measures, via flat detection coils (70, 80 and 71, 81) which are mounted in series and in a differential arrangement, the two orthogonal components (H1, H2) of the external magnetic field (Hext).

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: The present invention concerns an antenna arrangement (29) including: an antenna (A) able to transmit data in the form of a radiofrequency signal; a transmitter (32) including a preamplifier (33) and a first transistor (36) connected in cascade, this transmitter being able to provide a radiofrequency signal containing the data to be transmitted to the antenna; and coupling means (30) connected between the antenna and the transmitter, and including a phase lag circuit (42) able to achieve the coupling of the antenna and the transmitter. The coupling means further include switching means (43) connected between the system's earth and the source terminal of the first transistor of the transmitter, so as to be able to switch the latter to an ON state, respectively to an OFF state, when said antenna is, respectively is not, in transmission phase.

Abstract: Clockwork movement fitted with a generator powering the circuit for regulating the rotation of the generator rotor. This generator is formed of at least one coil (11a, 11b, 11c) placed between magnets respectively secured to two flanges (8) mounted at the ends of a shaft of the rotor (5). The coils are arranged on a substrate (6) one part of which, carrying at least one coil, includes means allowing said coil to be moved relative to the rotor. There is also provided a device for adjusting and memorising the position of said stator part (1, 15). The adjustment of the position of said stator part allows the amplitude of the induced voltage across the terminals of the coils (11) to be adjusted.

Abstract: The assembly includes on the one hand a first device I determining a first colour, said device being formed of a liquid crystal display module (CL; CL1, CL2), including at the front and at the back a linear polariser (PAb1, PAb2) selective of said first colour, and on the other hand a second device 11 including a coloured filter (Fy) corresponding to the second colour. The assembly is characterised in that the axes of polarisation of the selective polarisers (PAb1, PAb2) are parallel to each other, in that the coloured filter (Fy) includes at the front a reflective polariser (PR1) whose axis of polarisation is parallel to the axes of polarisation of the two polarisers (PAb1, PAb2), and at the back a reflective element (R, PR2), and in that a control unit (7) enables a switching configuration to be defined displaying an item of information in the first colour on a background corresponding to the second colour or vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a structure forming an antenna (10) intended for a portable unit of small volume, such as a timepiece, and including a radiating element (20) of substantially rectangular shape arranged at a determined distance from a ground plane and short-circuited with this ground plane by one (20b) of its ends (20a, 20b), the opposite end (20a) of said radiating element (20) being left free. According to the present invention, said structure (10) includes a case (11) forming an integral part of said ground plane and including at least a cover (12), a bottom (14), and a lateral wall (13b) facing which is arranged said radiating element (20), said case (11) forming a shielded housing able to accommodate all or part of an electronic circuit and/or other components of the portable unit. The present invention also concerns a timepiece incorporating the aforementioned antenna structure.

Abstract: A zirconia based article having a core of ZrO2 and/or partially reduced ZrO2, is characterized in that it includes, over at least part of its surface, a superficial layer integral with the article, the thickness of the superficial layer including a plurality of regions of which one external region is formed of zirconium nitride having a gold metallic appearance.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article having a gold metallic external appearance, the method including the steps of: providing at least one zirconia article previously shaped into its finished or semi-finished shape; partially reducing the zirconia forming said article; placing said article in a reaction vessel in which a plasma is generated from ammonia, or a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen, or a combination of this gas and this mixture; and maintaining the article in the plasma for a period of at least 5 minutes, while adjusting the conditions so that the average temperature of the article is settled between 500 and 900° C.

Abstract: The invention concerns a subassembly intended to be mounted in a portable device enabling the reception and/or emission of radio diffused messages as well as the selection of predetermined digital information. This subassembly comprises an antenna (4) and position sensors (6.1 to 6.12) disposed an a same isolating support (30). The subassembly is realised in manner such that mutual perturbations created by the combination of the antenna (4) and the position sensors (6.1 to 6.12) are avoided. The invention further relates to a horological piece (1) comprising such a subassembly wound in a peripheral region of the watch case (2).

Abstract: Electrochemical system for measuring a value representing the coagulation time of a drop of whole blood including: an electrochemical sensor in the shape of a strip of small dimensions bearing at least a reference electrode and a working electrode on which a specific reagent is immobilized, including at least one chemical substrate one terminal link of which can be cut off by the thrombin enzyme to give charged groups (LG), and a measuring apparatus intended to receive said sensor allowing a given voltage or current to be imposed across the electrodes of the sensor, the electric signal resulting from the migration of the charged groups to be processed, said signal to be correlated with a value representing the coagulation time, and said value to be displayed on a display panel. The specific reagent preferably includes an oligopeptidic derivative as a substrate, a thromboplastin and a buffer medium.

Abstract: Timepiece including a clockwork movement (2) provided with an analogue display (14). The wheel (4) includes a plate (8) with a toothing (6) defined by its external edge and a shaft (10). A device for detecting the angular position of the wheel (4) includes a magnetic or capacitive sensor (20) whose detection element, in particular a flat spiral coil (24), is used for detecting a variation in presence of the material, in particular a non magnetic conductive metal, forming the plate (8). The plate has at least one opening (16) situated in the intermediate region thereof between a central hole (18), and the tooth (6). The opening (16) defines a reference geometric semi-axis of the wheel (4) whose angular position is determined by the detection device provided.