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

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing a plurality of multi-layered cells, particularly liquid crystal display cells, or electrochemical photovoltaic cells, or a combination of such cells, each cell including at least two superposed sealed cavities each delimited by a sealing frame and filled with a liquid, this method comprising the step of collectively manufacturing a batch of cells including at least three plates common to all the display cells and connected to each other by patterns of sealing material connecting said plates to each other and forming the sealing frames which delimit the cavities of said cells, this method being characterised in that filling holes are pierced through the plates such that each of the cavities of a cell is fed by a different filling hole, each of the filling holes being in communication with at least two cells and feeding the cavities of the same level, i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controlling the compression ratio of digital images. This process consists of compressing a digitized image by means of a conventional process such as that known by the abbreviation JPEG. The compression ratio of the image is modified by modifying a parameter of the JPEG process, called the scale factor. According to the invention this scale factor is modified until the compression ratio obtained lies in a range of tolerance of the desired compression ratio. The process uses and approximation to the actual curve of the compression ratio as a function of the scale factor, in order to minimize the number of iterations needed to attain the desired compression ratio.

Abstract: The watch case includes a middle part (2) and a removable back cover (3). The back cover (3) is held under the middle part by means of at least one rail (5), this rail having a first portion (7) arranged to be slid into a groove (9) made in the middle part (2) and a second portion (11) arranged to cap an edge (13) of the back cover (3). Without using tools, the user can remove the rail, take off the back cover and change the battery or batteries powering the movement.

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: The telephone watch (1) includes a back cover (2) in which is arranged a housing (3) arranged to accommodate a SIM card (4). A cover (5) provided with a hinge (6) closes the back cover (2). Means are implemented to assure the sealing (8) of the cover (5) and to assure the locking thereof (7). The hinge (6) is arranged so as to be entirely confined within the back cover (2).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing and assembling individual photovoltaic silicon cells on a metal substrate, including the operations of: making a metal plate (25) provided with cut out portions (26, 29) separated from each other by points of attachment (27) and delimiting the bases of a plurality of cells; depositing a stack of silicon layers then a metallization on said plate in order to form a group of individual cells (28a-b-c-d); transferring said group onto an interconnection support (30); and perforating the points of attachment in order to separate the cells from the rest of the plate.

Abstract: The antenna (1) is formed of a first strip element (3) the length (L1) of which is tuned to a high frequency (fh) and at least a second strip (4), following the first (4), of length (L2). The sum of the lengths L1 and L2 results in an antenna whose length L3 is tuned to a low frequency (fb). A resonant circuit (5) including an inductor (6), connected in parallel to a capacitor (7) is located between the first and second strips (3, 4). The values of these components are chosen so that the resonant circuit resonates at the high frequency (fh). When the high frequency is active, the length of the antenna is reduced to that (L1) of the first strip. When the low frequency is active, the length of the antenna extends to the sum (L3) of the lengths of the first and second strips. The inductor (6) is a substantially rectilinear band integrally formed with at least one (3) of said strips and connected to said strip by one (8) of its ends.

Abstract: The wristwatch (1) provided with a telephone device (3) able to receive and transmit messages broadcast by an antenna (4). The antenna (4) is integrated in a tongue (5) one (7) of the ends of which is attached to the wristband. The tongue can be arranged in a first position in which it runs alongside the wristband at least partly and is merged with it or a second position in which it is moved away from the wristband and stands upright in a plane containing the circle defined by the wristband when it is worn.

Abstract: The method is one of wireless transmission of information between two units consisting primarily of a portable object, such as a personalised watch (1), and a computer station (20). Each unit includes signal transmitting and/or receiving means (2, 24, 26) switched alternately to a transmitting mode and into a receiving mode. Information is transmitted by transmitting a plurality of information frames alternately between the two units. Each information frame comprises a synchronisation field, which includes a particular number of synchronisation bytes, an information packet and filler bytes. On receiving a frame, the receiving unit counts the synchronisation bytes. The receiving unit transmits, in a heading of the information packet, a synchronisation indication which is a function of the number of synchronisation bytes received. The synchronisation indication is used to correct the size of the synchronisation field of the next frame received by the receiving unit.

Abstract: Lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type including a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device, said lighting device being characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light.

Abstract: The invention concerns a display assembly including two superposed, respectively upper (24) and lower (26) display devices, characterised in that the upper display device (24) includes a double structure formed of a display cell (28) arranged above an optical valve (30), said double structure being arranged so that said cell (28) and said valve (30) are transparent in a first state to make the lower display device visible (26), and that the cell (28) displays an item of data and that the valve (30) is opaque and masks at least partially the lower display device (26) in a second state, control means being provided for supplying a control voltage to the cell (28) and the optical valve (30) to cause them to switch from the first state to the second state and vice versa.

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 manual control device for executing functions of an electronic watch (1) particularly a diary watch, includes a certain number of sensors (C1 to C7) wherein one touch sensitive pad of each sensor is placed for example on an internal face of the crystal (4). When a user's finger (20) is placed on the watch crystal in a determined zone of the sensitive pad of a sensor to be activated, it causes an electronic circuit (14) of the device to execute an instruction or a function. In a first mode selected by the electronic circuit, at least two sensors are grouped such that the electronic circuit executes the same operation when a finger is placed on the crystal in a determined zone of the sensitive pad of one sensor or the other. However, in a second mode selected by the electronic circuit, each sensor (C1 to C7) activated by the finger (20) provides measuring signals to the electronic circuit (14) for the execution of a different specific operation for each sensor.

Abstract: The control method allows execution of various functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, and a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner. A determined number of sensors (C1 to C7) are provided with touch sensitive pads arranged on an inner or outer face of the crystal. These sensors are provided for carrying out the various controls of the method when they are individually activated by a user's finger. In order to consult data or parameters, the method includes a first series of steps consisting in displaying different menus (102 to 106) of the diary function on at least one liquid crystal display by activating at least one sensor (C4, C5) of a group of sensors (C4 to C7), and in selecting the menu or record to be consulted (107 to 111) by activating a validation sensor (C1).

Abstract: The device for managing memory in an electronic watch of the diary type includes a non-volatile memory (15) connected to a microprocessor unit (14). The unit is programmed to manage data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations in the memory. Activation of at least one key of the watch (C1) allows an instruction to be provided to the unit for managing data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations. The memory (15) includes a first static zone (100) for storing data and/or parameters in fixed memory locations and a second dynamic zone (101) for storing data records of different types. The memory location of each type of record is managed by the microprocessor unit (14) as a function of the modification or deletion of certain records and as a function of the storage of new records. Each record starts with a heading in which two pointers are placed to establish a link with a following record and a preceding record of the same type.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a display assembly including two superposed, respectively top (52) and bottom (54), display devices, the top display device (52) including a double structure formed of a display cell (56) arranged above an optical valve (58), said double structure being arranged so that said cell (56) and said valve (58) are transparent in a first state to make the bottom display device (54) visible, and so that the cell (56) displays an item of data and so that the valve (58) is opaque and at least partially masks the bottom display device (54) in a second state, control means supplying a control voltage to cause the display cell (56) and the optical valve (58) to pass from the first state to the second state and vice versa, characterised in that the display cell (56) is of the reflective type in the switched state, and in that the optical valve (58) is formed of a cell having an absorbent state in the switched state.