Abstract: The invention relates to the fabrication of optical microsystems for miniature cameras or miniature matrix displays. It is proposed that N dot matrix arrays and associated circuits should be collectively fabricated, on the front of a semiconductor wafer, to produce N identical chips, with on the side of each array, external connection lands; a plate, used to collectively form N identical optical image-forming structures, each optical image-forming structure covering a respective chip and being designed to form an overall image corresponding with the whole of the matrix array of the respective chip, is fabricated collectively and placed in close contact with the front of the semiconductor wafer; through the thickness of the wafer, conductive vias extending to the contact lands are opened, and, only after these various operations, the wafer is divided into N individual optical microsystems comprising an electronic chip covered by an optical structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to electronic circuits for measuring, by synchronous detection, weak signals whose reference level is not well known and is subject to large fluctuations. A first correlated double sampling is performed between a time T1 situated just before the start of the measurement pulse and a time T2 situated just before the end of the measurement pulse; subsequently, a second correlated double sampling is performed between time T2 and a time T3 situated after the end of the measurement pulse. Finally, the difference between signal levels coming from the two measurements is taken, this difference being a representation of the signal value Vm considered with respect to a reference level that is intermediate between the reference levels at times T1 and T3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographing device whose bulk is intended to be reduced. According to the invention, a permanent division of the object field observed by the device is associated with a catadioptric configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blocking sampler intended in particular to be used upstream of a fast analog digital converter. The blocking sampler comprises two main semi-samplers each having a respective differential input (E, E?) and a respective differential output (S, S?). With each main semi-sampler is associated a respective auxiliary blocking semi-sampler comprising an auxiliary tracking transistor (T1a, T1a?) powered by a voltage tapped off from the terminals of the storage capacitor (C?, C) of the other main blocking sampler, an auxiliary storage capacitor (Ca, Ca?) linked to the output of this auxiliary tracking transistor and an auxiliary current switch (T2a, T3a, SC1a; T2?a, T3?a, SC1a?) controlled in synchronism with the current switch of the main blocking sampler so as to authorize or block the passage of current in the auxiliary tracking transistor. The auxiliary samplers serve to improve the sampling dynamics in the cases where the signal to be sampled varies rapidly.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process and to a device for positioning an optical component between two optical fibers furnished at their end with lenses comprising: drilling a support in such a way as to fix therein a capillary tube whose inside diameter is designed to slip an optical fiber thereinto, fixing the capillary tube in the drilling of the support, making a blind cut of the support and of the capillary tube, in such a way as to separate the capillary tube into two parts, a first plane face of the cut being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the capillary tube, positioning the component on the first plane face, positioning an optical fiber in each of the parts. The device comprises a support through which is fixed a capillary tube, the support comprising a cut so as to separate the capillary tube into two parts. The cut comprises a first plane face perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the capillary tube. The component is positioned on the first plane face.

Abstract: The invention relates to tunable wavelength-selective optical filters for letting light of a narrow optical spectrum band, centered around an adjustable wavelength, to pass through and to stop wavelengths lying outside this band. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the collective fabrication of optical filtering components, consisting in producing a plurality of optical filtering components on a transparent substrate. The process further comprises covering the plurality of components with a transparent collective cover, in optically testing each component individually, and in separating the various components from one another. The invention also relates to a wafer of components, comprising a transparent substrate on which a plurality of optical filtering components has been produced, a transparent cover (8) collectively covering the components. The wafer further includes means for individually testing each component.

Abstract: The invention relates to matrix image sensors intended in particular for digital photography. The invention provides a driver in each pixel that allows exposure control common to the entire matrix. The driver comprises five transistors, a photodiode and, apart from a supply conductor and a ground, four control conductors, these being an exposure control conductor common to all the pixels of the matrix; a row selection conductor common to all the pixels of any one row; a reset conductor common to all the pixels of any one row; and a column conductor for collecting the signal read on the pixels during row-by-row reading of the charges photogenerated in the pixels of the matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to person authentication systems. The invention proposes incorporating on a chip card intended to be used in a conventional card reader a sensor for spectral information relating to the skin of the person holding the chip card between his thumb and index finger. Spectral recognition uses light-emitting diodes and photodiodes mounted on a flexible substrate comprising interconnecting tracks between the light-emitting diodes and photodiodes on the one hand, and a processor contained in the chip of the chip card on the other hand.

Abstract: The invention proposes an image sensor comprising a picture capture matrix having N rows and K columns of image dots, a read register at the free end of the K columns. In order to improve the read speed of the matrix, the invention proposes that the horizontal transfer into the read register be continued even while the vertical signals for shifting from one row to the other are operative, without however continuing the horizontal transfer while the transfer gate between columns and horizontal register is open. The unloading time of the horizontal read register therefore overlaps the time reserved for each vertical transfer step, instead of these times being added together. The gain in time, being repeated for each row, will be all the more significant the higher the number of rows. Means are provided for limiting the effect of the column transfer switching operations on the reading of the charges at the output of the read register.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fingerprint sensor device. The device comprises a sensor having a sensitive active region that is electrically connected to a substrate. The device further includes a first resin bump positioned proximate to the sensitive active region. The first resin bump forms a finger guide that positions the finger over the sensitive active region when the finger slides in contact with the first resin bump.

Abstract: The invention relates to small dimension image recorders, such as an image recorder, comprising a matrix of rows and columns of photosensitive points, arranged on a chip of a generally square or rectangular form with believed corners, characterised in comprising a reading register arranged at the base of the matrix. The register is bent to follow the bevelled corners of the chip and thus comprises a horizontal piece and two oblique pieces. The sensor further comprises means (ZIn) to direct the photosensitive charges form the columns terminating opposite the beveled corners towards the stage of the reister situated in the oblique part along the beveled corners. The above is of application to intraoral dental radiological sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to wavelength-selective optical filters for allowing light of a narrow optical spectral band, centered around a wavelength (?c) to pass through them, while reflecting the wavelengths lying outside this band. According to the invention, the transfer function (T1,2(?)) of the component is defined by multiplying two transfer functions of spectrally offset Fabry-Perot filters.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention related to fingerprint sensors is described. The sensor comprises an integrated-circuit chip having a sensitive surface, a substrate provided with electrical connections and wire-bonding wires connecting the chip to the electrical connections. The sensor further includes a molded protective resin at least partly covering the substrate and the chip and completely encapsulating the wire-bonding wires. The resin forms, on at least one side of the chip and at most three sides, a bump rising to at least 500 microns above the sensitive surface, this bump encapsulating the wire-bonding wires and constituting a guide for a finger, the fingerprint of which it is desired to detect.

Abstract: The invention relates to fast analogue-to-digital converters having differential inputs and a parallel structure, comprising at least one network of N series resistors with value r and one network of N comparators. The series resistor network receives a reference voltage and is traversed by a fixed current Io and the row i (i varying from 1 to N) comparator essentially comprises a dual differential amplifier with four inputs; two inputs receive a differential voltage VS?VN to be converted, a third being connected to a row i resistor of the network, and a fourth input being connected to an N-i row resistor of the network. The resistor network is supplied by a variable reference voltage originating from a servoloop circuit which locks the voltage level of the middle of the resistor network at a voltage equal to the common mode voltage (VS?VSN)/2 present at the output of the sample-and-hold module.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a comparison circuit for an analog/digital converter. In order to reduce the effect of the offset voltages of the various comparators of the comparison circuit, voltage followers and a resistor network delivering at its outputs, mean voltages that are the average of those present on outputs of the comparators are linked downstream of the outputs of the comparators.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated electronic circuits, and notably to those comprising analog functions. The invention relates more particularly to a starter circuit designed to ensure the automatic start-up of a biasing circuit following an interruption in the operation of the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to wavelength-selective and tunable optical filters for transmitting the light in a narrow optical spectral band, centered around an adjustable wavelength, and for blocking the transmission of wavelengths lying outside of this band. In a micromachined monolithic structure containing the optical filter proper, the component comprises a low-absorption light detection element used for slaving the tuning control of the filter to a wavelength received by the filter, this element transmitting the majority of the radiation at this wavelength. The filter is a Fabry-Pérot interferometric filter, the cavity (C) of which is tuned to a value that maximizes the power detected by the light detection element. The filter is preferably based on layers of indium phosphide and air gaps. The detection element preferably comprises a layer of gallium-indium arsenide 74 suitable for detection of the intended wavelength band.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated electronic circuits, and notably to those comprising analog functions. The invention relates more particularly to a starter circuit designed to ensure the automatic start-up of a biasing circuit following an interruption in the operation of the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to very small-sized color image sensors. The sensor according to the invention is made by the following method: the formation, on the front face of the semiconductive wafer (10), of a series of active zones (ZA) comprising image detection circuits and each corresponding to a respective image sensor, each active zone comprising photosensitive zones (12) covered with conductive and insulating layers (14, 16) enabling the collection of electrical charges generated in the photosensitive zones, the transfer of the wafer (10) by its front face against the front face of a supporting substrate (20), the elimination of the major part of the thickness of the semiconductive wafer, leaving a very fine semiconductive layer (30) on the substrate, this fine semiconductive layer comprising the photosensitive zones, the deposition and etching of color filters (18) on the semiconductive layer thus thinned.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid crystal matrix micro displays, and in particular those which are embodied on a monolithic silicon substrate in which are integrated the electronic circuits for control of a matrix array of liquid crystal cells. The matrix comprises, for each dot at the crossover of a row and of a column, an elementary electronic circuit for controlling an elementary liquid crystal cell situated at this crossover. This circuit comprises at least one storage capacitor for storing for the duration of an image frame an analogue voltage applied by the column, a first terminal of the storage capacitor being linked to the gate of the transistor, and, in series between two voltage supply terminals, an elementary current source and a switching transistor, the drain of the switching transistor being linked to the liquid crystal cell. A periodic voltage ramp, common to all the cells of at least one row, is applied to a second terminal of the storage capacitor of the cells of this row.