Abstract: The integrated photoreceptor circuit includes a photosensitive area for picking up light and a processing unit area for processing the signals provided by the photosensitive area. This photoreceptor circuit includes electric contact pads, which are arranged symmetrically solely on the side of the processing unit area, which is juxtaposed with the photosensitive area. The integrated photoreceptor circuit is mounted on a first portion of a flexible substrate. The contact pads of the integrated photoreceptor circuit are electrically connected to electrical connection pads of the printed circuit of the flexible substrate. A second portion of the flexible substrate carries electrical connection terminals, which are connected to the connection pads via conductive paths, arranged in part on a connecting portion between the first and second portions. A through aperture in the first portion may be provided opposite the photosensitive area only of the photoreceptor circuit.

Abstract: The electronic device, in particular a transponder, includes a non volatile memory (EEPROM) having a plurality of words 1 to N whose read and/or write access can be locked. The protection register (22) is formed of two protection words A and B these two protection words are alternately active and inactive during the successive locking of words 1 to N of the programmable memory (16). The state of the protection register is defined by the active word. An initially active word is not deleted until the content thereof has been copied into the inactive word. Once the content has been altered in accordance with the lock command, the initially inactive word becomes the active word of the protection register.

Abstract: A transponder circuit includes an antenna (1) for receiving radio frequency signals and an extraction unit (30) for extracting therefrom at least a part of the energy necessary for the transponder circuit, a non volatile memory unit (60), a control logic unit (20) for the circuit that activates a received energy evaluation unit (71) when a write operation is received by the radio frequency signals. The evaluation unit is arranged directly at the antenna so as to provide the control logic unit with a signal (pwchok) representative of the status of the energy available in the antenna indicating whether the available energy is greater than a minimum level for ensuring a proper write operation or whether the available energy is less than the minimum level for ensuring a proper write operation, the control logic unit being arranged for performing, or respectively not performing, the write operation.

Abstract: The optoelectronic module (1) includes a photoreceptor circuit (3) for picking up light from a light source by reflection on an external surface. The photoreceptor circuit and the light source circuit are mounted on a substrate (2), and contact pads (6) of the circuits are electrically connected to pads of the substrate. The substrate pads are connected to conductive paths of the substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first portion (2a) on which the photoreceptor circuit (3) and light source circuit are mounted and electrically connected, a second portion (2b) including electrical connection terminals (9) and a connecting portion (2c) between the first portion and the second portion. This connecting portion connects some conductive paths of the first portion to the connection terminals of the second portion. The connecting portion allows the height and/or spacing of the second portion to be adjusted relative to the first portion when the module is mounted, particularly in a computer mouse.

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: A method for detecting a lift condition from an illuminated surface portion of an optical motion sensing device. According to a first embodiment, two different “loss-of-focus” thresholds are used. A first threshold is used when the optical pointing device is not moving, and a second threshold greater than the first one is used when the optical pointing device is moving. The optical device further requires means for detecting whether it is moving or not. According to a second embodiment, a dynamical loss-of-focus threshold depending on an average number of motion features that the surface exhibits to the sensor of the optical pointing device is used.

Abstract: The invention concerns an integrated radiofrequency circuit (1) including an antenna (2) for receiving radiofrequency signals, a rechargeable battery (3) and a battery charger (5) using said radiofrequency signals to charge said battery. The circuit is characterized in that said battery charger is integrated in the same substrate as the integrated radiofrequency circuit and in that said battery charger includes calibrating means, a current source calibrated by said calibrating means and delivering a charge current of constant maximum intensity drawn from the received radiofrequency signals and a comparator between a reference quantity representative of the end of battery charge level and a variable quantity representative of the battery charge level supplying at output a control signal (batchend) for charging or not charging the battery.

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 invention concerns an optical pointing device comprising a coherent light source for illuminating a surface portion with radiation, a driver of the coherent light source for controlling coherent light emissions, a photodetector device responsive to radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion, processing means for determining, based on the photodetector device response, a measurement of relative motion between the optical pointing device and the illuminated portion of the surface, wherein the coherent light source driver is a fault-tolerant driver comprising redundant power control means for limiting the output power of coherent light emissions.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical sensing device having a light source and a photodetector device with at least one photosensitive element. A surface portion is illuminated with radiation by the light source and the radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion is detected with a photosensitive element. While said surface portion is being illuminated, an output signal of the photosensitive element over time is integrated, the output signal integration level is compared with a first integration reference level during integration; the integration step is interrupted if the output signal integration level has reached the first integration reference level, or the comparison step is repeated until a first integration period has elapsed if the output signal integration level has not reached the first integration reference level.

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: A system and a method are described for detection of individuals (8) or objects in a plurality of delimited spaces (10), each having at least one entrance (6). The detection system comprises LF transmission means (4, 4*, 5, 5*) located at the entrance, for transmitting a LF electromagnetic signal, HF transmission-reception means (12, 13) for transmitting-receiving a HF electromagnetic signal (C, ACK), cards or portable electronic units (36) equipping each individual or object, for receiving the LF signal and for transmitting and receiving the HF signal, and a central processing unit (20) for recording data relating to the entry and exit of the portable electronic units. The system can operate according to at least two distinct modes of operation and the LF signal comprises selection information (SELECT) indicating which of the two modes of operation should be used by the electronic units during their passage through the entrance.

Abstract: There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a photodetector array, which includes a plurality of rows and columns of pixels respectively aligned along first and second axes, the method allowing to determine a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface based on a comparison of motion features extracted from light intensity patterns obtained with the photodetector array, wherein said method includes a checking process between two light intensity patterns for discarding erroneous motion features due to the surface design.

Abstract: 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 device comprising an array of pixels and comparators for extracting motion features, said method comprising the steps of: a) illuminating by means of said coherent light source said surface portion at a determined flash rate; b) detecting by means of said array of pixels a speckled light intensity pattern of said illuminated portion of the surface for each flash; c) extracting edge direction data of two different types from said detected speckled light intensity patterns by comparing light intensity between pixels; d) determining a measurement of the relative motion between said optical sensing device and said illuminated portion of the surface based on extracted edge direction data; wherein the extracting edge direction data step comprises a preliminary step consisting of introducing a selecting factor which promotes detection of one ty

Abstract: A method for detecting lift from a surface portion of an optical pointing device comprising a coherent light source, a photodetector device including an array of pixels, and means for extracting motion features including comparators with an adjustable offset value, the method comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating said surface portion with radiation by means of said coherent light source; (ii) detecting radiation patterns reflected from the illuminated surface portion by means of said photodetector device; (iii) comparing light intensity between neighbouring pixels in said detected radiation patterns; (iv) extracting motion features as a function of the result of said comparison; (v) counting the total number of motion features extracted; (vi) increasing, respectively decreasing, said comparator offset value when said total number of motion features increases, respectively decreases; wherein the method further comprises the steps of: (vii) comparing said comparator offset value with an offset threshold; (v

Abstract: The method allows authentication and secure wireless data exchange between a chip with an identification code (1?) and a dedicated server (35) via a read unit (5). This read unit is arranged for carrying out contactless read and/or write operations on the chip. The read unit is connected to a computer terminal (30) connected to a communication network (300) of computer terminals. For the method, a first connection is first of all established to the communication network from the computer terminal connected to the read unit to the dedicated server using a defined secure data communication protocol. A second connection to the communication network from the read unit to the dedicated server is then established. For this second connection, the computer terminal is used as a secure data transmission tunnel in order to directly exchange encrypted data between the read unit and the server in a manner invisible to the computer terminal.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical sensing device having a light source and a photodetector device with at least one photosensitive element, said method comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating a surface portion with radiation by means of said light source; (ii) detecting radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion with said at least one photosensitive element; (iii)while said surface portion is being illuminated, integrating an output signal of said at least one photosensitive element over time; (iv)comparing the output signal integration level with a first integration reference level during integration; (v) interrupting said integration step (iii) if said output signal integration level has reached said first integration reference level, or getting back to comparison step (iv) until a first integration period has elapsed if said output signal integration level has not reached said first integration reference level, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: (vi) comparing said outp

Abstract: A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells (30), the optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device (10) for tracking motion with respect to a surface (S) and comprising motion sensing circuitry (12) coupled to an optical sensor (15) and at least one light source (14) for illuminating a portion of the surface. The method comprises the steps of (i) monitoring the power output of the said one or more battery cells (30), (ii) detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status (EOL) and (iii) upon detection of the low battery status, switching the optical pointing device into a low power consumption mode where power consumption of the optical pointing device is reduced and performance of the optical motion sensing device is partially degraded. An optical pointing device implementing this method.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-application transponder circuit for a contactless electronic identification and/or access system including, in particular, a non-volatile memory (18) having a segmented programmable memory space for receiving data relating to a plurality of distinct applications, this memory space including (i) a first memory zone (A) segmented into several memory words each dedicated to storage of data relating to a determined application from among said plurality of distinct applications, (ii) a second memory zone (B), called a shared zone, segmented into several memory words each able to be allocated to storage of data relating to any application from among said plurality of distinct applications, and (iii) a third memory zone (C) containing indications relating to the allocation of memory words of said second memory zone, at least, and for determining which memory word or words of said second memory zone are allocated to storage of data relating to a given application from among said plurality o

Abstract: The electronic interface circuit (1) of a capacitive sensor (2) is used for measuring a physical parameter, such as an acceleration. The sensor includes two differential mounted capacitors (C1, C2) whose common electrode (Cm) can move relative to each other fixed electrode in order to alter the capacitive value of each capacitor. The electronic circuit includes a charge transfer amplifier unit (4) connected to the common electrode (Cm), a first integrator unit (5) for integrating the charges supplied by the charge transfer amplifier and a first excitation unit (3) arranged between the output of the first integrator unit and the sensor for polarizing each fixed electrode of the capacitors to a determined voltage value.