Abstract: Calibration instrument for an altimetric device delivering an indication of the altitude of the location where it is located on the basis of an atmospheric pressure measurement, characterized in that it includes means for transmitting a signal carrying data representative of the altitude at which it is placed. The invention also concerns a device delivering an indication of the altitude of the place where it is located on the basis of an atmospheric pressure measurement and a calibration system including a calibration instrument and an altimetric device.

Abstract: There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector array, the method comprising the steps of illuminating under a determined gradient by means of the coherent light source the surface portion at a determined flash rate; detecting by means of the photodetector array speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for a first flash; detecting a second speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for a second flash; extracting motion features of two different types from the detected first and second speckled light intensity patterns; determining a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated surface portion based on a comparison of motion features extracted; wherein before the step of determining a measurement of the relative motion, the method further comprises the step of keep

Abstract: The method is for fabricating a transparent or semi-transparent element, such as a glass (1), with capacitive touch keys, for a portable electronic instrument. This method includes the steps of placing an insulating film (3), on which are formed electrodes (2), acting as capacitive touch keys, conductive paths (4), each connected to a respective electrode, and external contact terminals (6), each connected via the conductive paths to the corresponding electrodes, in a transparent or semi-transparent plastic substance (5) in liquid form inside a mould. This liquid substance is then solidified inside the mould, to coat at least part of the film that includes the electrodes, the conductive paths and at least part of the external contact terminals of said film. Upon removal from the mould, a glass is obtained with capacitive touch keys integrated within said solidified plastic substance of the glass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radio-frequency identification tag (10) and a related method of operation, whereby the tag comprises an antenna (12) being adapted to draw a voltage from an externally applied RF field having a first frequency, and further comprises a tunable antenna resonant circuit (16) comprising a default resonance frequency and having tuning means (18) for shifting the resonance frequency to the first frequency, whereby non-volatile storage means (22) for storing frequency related data are provided, that are accessible at a reduced voltage level, which is below a “power-up” voltage level of the tag's operating unit (14).

Abstract: The invention concerns a test method for a transmitter-receiver circuit. This transmitter-receiver circuit includes an antenna, connected to a processing unit, arranged for receiving signals and converting their frequency. The transmitter-receiver circuit also includes a power amplifier connected to said antenna and arranged for sending transmission signals.

Abstract: The reading device enables a non-volatile memory consisting of a matrix of memory cells (TM) to be read. Once the memory cells have been selected to be read in a read cycle controlled by a microprocessor unit, sense amplifiers (4) activated at the start of each cycle supply a binary data word (dx) representing the reading of the selected memory cells. The reading device also comprises time-lag means (3, MF, TF, Cgap) activated at the start of each read cycle. These time-lag means supply a reference signal (rd_mon) that controls the read time of the cells selected independently of the microprocessor unit. This read time is determined so that it is sufficient for reading all the valid data of the selected memory cells in each read cycle.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical motion sensing device comprising a light source and a photodetector device, said method comprises the steps of: a) illuminating a surface portion with radiation by means of the light source; b) detecting radiation patterns reflected from the illuminated surface portion by means of the photodetector device; c) extracting motion features from the detected radiation patterns by comparing light intensity between neighbouring pixels of said photodetector device by means of comparators with a determined hysteresis threshold; d) detecting and measuring displacement with respect to the illuminated surface portion based on said extracted motion features; e) determining whether the optical motion sensing device is moving or at rest; f) adjusting said determined hysteresis threshold of the comparators between at least a low and a high hysteresis values, consisting in selecting said low hysteresis value when the optical motion sensing device is moving and selecting said high hysteresis v

Abstract: The active transponder includes an input amplifier (26) arranged between an envelope detector (8) and a demodulation circuit (28). It further includes an activation unit (30) for the input amplifier and also for the demodulation circuit, which is formed by a frequency changer or mixer circuit (32), which decreases a significant modulation frequency of the modulated signal received by the antenna to a low frequency, the resulting low frequency signal then being amplified and filtered by low frequency elements. The activation unit thus consumes little electric power and sends a wake up signal to the elements operating at a high frequency when it detects said significant modulation frequency, in a very selective manner.

Abstract: The electronic circuit (1) with a capacitive sensor (2) is used for measuring a physical parameter, such as an acceleration. The sensor includes two capacitors mounted in differential, whose common electrode (Cm) can move relative to each fixed electrode of the two capacitors to alter the capacitive value of each capacitor. The electronic circuit has an interface connected to the capacitive sensor, which includes a charge transfer amplifier unit (4) connected to the common electrode (Cm), an integrator unit (5) for integrating the charges supplied by the charge transfer amplifier unit, and an excitation unit (3) arranged between the output of the first integrator unit and the sensor to polarise each fixed electrode of the sensor capacitors at a determined voltage value. A compensation capacitor (Cc) is connected to the input of the integrator unit.

Abstract: The chip card (11) includes at least one integrated circuit (11) fitted with a memory unit, in which personal data and/or at least one chip card identification code and/or configuration parameters can be stored. The integrated circuit is enclosed in an insulating material (3) that forms said card. The chip card (1) also includes connecting means (2) for communicating with an electronic instrument. These connecting means are electrically connected to corresponding contact pads of the integrated circuit. The chip card further includes a measuring circuit with a sensor for measuring a physical parameter so as to provide at least one output signal relating to the measurement (SD) of the physical parameter. The measuring circuit containing a sensor is arranged in a rigid case to define an electronic module (10), which is enclosed in the insulating material (3) that forms said chip card.

Abstract: The integrated circuit device (1) backs up the configuration of output terminals (O, SP) of said integrated circuit in low-power mode. To do this, the device includes several voltage level shift units (2, 2?, 2?, 2??) and an output stage (3) connected to each output of the level shift units and connected to at least one external contact pad (SP) of said integrated circuit. Each level shift unit includes an input stage powered by a regulated internal voltage (VREG) and a part for transferring the state of a specific output function, which is powered by a supply voltage (VDD) of the integrated circuit. Each level shift unit also includes a memory cell at output powered by the supply voltage, for storing the output state of a specific function of the level shift unit in the idle mode of the integrated circuit where the regulated voltage is cut off.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of verifying the proper working of a transponder mounted on a rotating mobile element of a vehicle, characterized in that it includes the steps of: a) measuring a temperature value by means of a temperature sensor connected to the transponder; b) detecting breach of a overheat threshold; c) a monitoring operation carried out by a reader arranged in the vehicle and provided for communicating with the transponder, consisting in executing a command on one of the temperature sensitive elements of the transponder; d) the reader determining the state of the transponder as a function of the response or absence of any response to the command to be executed: (i) if the response is correct, the transponder is operational; (ii) if the response is incorrect, or in the absence of any response, the transponder is not operational.

Abstract: The method of making an optoelectronic module (10, 20), which includes a first light source circuit (5) and a second photoreceptor circuit (6) for picking up light from the first light source circuit reflected on an external surface. A first moulding (20) with an encapsulation material is made on one part of a lead frame (10) having several conductive paths (12) and an external frame (11) connecting all of the conductive paths. A first light source circuit (5) is placed on one portion of a first conductive path (13) of the lead frame that is not covered by the first moulding. A second photoreceptor circuit (6) is placed on one portion of a second conductive path (14) of the lead frame not covered by the first moulding. A through opening (21) is also made in the first moulding (20) between the external frame (11) and the location of the first light source circuit (5) to give access to the first connecting path (13) and to a third connecting path (15) for the first light source circuit.

Abstract: The electronic card comprises at least one integrated circuit disposed on a printed circuit board, connection means to an electrical supply source connected to the printed circuit board in order to supply said integrated circuit, and control means which can be actuated manually and are connected to the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is provided for processing signals generated by the control means. Said integrated circuit, the control means at least a part of connection means to and the supply source are enclosed in at least one layer of insulating material forming said card. The control means are formed by an assembly of electrodes in order to define a touch screen with capacitive keys which can each be activated by means of a finger (D) of a user or a pen placed on one contact surface of the card opposite at least one touch key for introduction of data or a command.

Abstract: A method for automatically testing an electronic circuit with a capacitive sensor having two capacitors is provided, wherein the common electrode of the capacitors moves relative to each fixed electrode. The electronic circuit includes a sensor interface that includes a charge transfer amplifier unit, an integrator unit connected to the amplifier unit to provide measurement output voltage, and an excitation unit. The excitation unit inversely polarizes each fixed electrode at high or low voltage or discharges the capacitors. The method includes several successive measurement cycles each divided into a first phase discharging capacitors by output voltage and a second phase for polarizing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at high voltage and inversely polarizing the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at low voltage. In the measuring cycles, a test phase replaces a second polarizing phase in at least one cycle in every two successive measurement cycles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for accessing a non-volatile watch memory, the watch comprising two supply terminals accessible from the outside that define a potential difference corresponding to a standard supply voltage, and a control circuit of the non-volatile memory produced using a technology supporting a predefined maximum supply voltage, the access procedure consisting of transmitting the following to the control circuit of the non-volatile memory by means of a supply terminal of the watch: a) an opening key to authorise access to the non-volatile memory; b) an instruction for access to the non-volatile memory; the procedure being characterised in that the opening key is a predefined instruction transmitted by modulation of the standard supply voltage such that this does not exceed the predefined maximum supply voltage.

Abstract: The low-power relaxation oscillator comprises a first module (21) having a ramp generator formed by a reference current source (31) and a storage capacitor (32) defining a ramp voltage (Vramp1), and a voltage comparator (m1, m2) for comparing the ramp voltage with a reference voltage, a second module (22, 41, 42, Vramp2, m3, m4) similar to the first module and an asynchronous flip-flop (23) receiving the output signal of the comparator of the first module at a first input (s) and the output signal of the comparator of the second module at a second input (r). For each module a generator of said reference voltage is configured by adding a reference resistance (33, 43) between the reference current source and the storage capacitor. Thus, the generation of the reference voltage and the ramp voltage is conducted on the very same current branch. This enables the electrical power consumption of the oscillator to be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radio-frequency identification tag (10) and a related method of operation, whereby the tag comprises an antenna (12) being adapted to draw a voltage from an externally applied RF field having a first frequency, and further comprises a tunable antenna resonant circuit (16) comprising a default resonance frequency and having tuning means (18) for shifting the resonance frequency to the first frequency, whereby non-volatile storage means (22) for storing frequency related data are provided, that are accessible at a reduced voltage level, which is below a “power-up” voltage level of the tag's operating unit (14).

Abstract: The integrated circuit device (1) backs up the configuration of output terminals (O, SP) of said integrated circuit in low-power mode. To do this, the device includes several voltage level shift units (2, 2?, 2?, 2??) and an output stage (3) connected to each output of the level shift units and connected to at least one external contact pad (SP) of said integrated circuit. Each level shift unit includes an input stage powered by a regulated internal voltage (VREG) and a part for transferring the state of a specific output function, which is powered by a supply voltage (VDD) of the integrated circuit. Each level shift unit also includes a memory cell at output powered by the supply voltage, for storing the output state of a specific function of the level shift unit in the idle mode of the integrated circuit where the regulated voltage is cut off.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having primary and secondary parts respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of this electrical installation or device. This power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on said primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on said primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of said primary part. The control circuit receives from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in said primary power path, said power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“Power-down” mode) when said first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied anymore.