Abstract: The integrated circuit is provided with integrated calibrating circuit in order to calibrate at least one electronic module supplying at its output a reference voltage or a time base signal or a reference frequency signal. Said calibrating means are defined by a microcontroller which receives via an input pad of the integrated circuit an external reference signal which is compared to an internal reference signal of the reference module in order to be able to calibrate in an autonomous manner the integrated reference electronic module as a function of the external reference signal. The final calibrating parameters are permanently stored with an associated signature in a memory so that each time that voltage is subsequently applied to the circuit the final calibrating parameters are automatically applied to the corresponding reference module.

Abstract: Transponder (2) associated with a communication system for various different applications having different security levels. This transponder includes means (18, 26, 40, R) allowing the maximum communication distance between the transponder and a reader (4) to be varied as a function of the application selected or activated. A code, which determines the opening or closing of the switch (40) is associated with each application. In a first group of embodiments, the equivalent impedance of the electronic unit associated with the antenna (6) is varied, whereas in another embodiment, the electric characteristics of the antenna itself are varied.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of microstructures and in particular microstructures made via CMOS technology on semiconductor substrates intended to undergo micro-machining by wet chemical etching, in particular by a KOH etchant. According to the present invention, protection against the KOH reactive agent is provided to such a structure by the deposition of a metal film (40, 41, 43) including at least on external gold layer (43) on the surface of the structure. This metal film (40, 41, 43) advantageously allows the use of mechanical protective equipment to be omitted and thus allows the wafers to be processed in batches. The present invention also proves perfectly compatible with a standard gold bumping process.

Abstract: System for communication between a plurality of transceivers, transmitting in particular at a high frequency and arranged respectively in a plurality of delimited spaces each having at least one entrance, and portable electronic units fitted with means for radio-communication with the plurality of transceivers, in particular with a view to detecting each of them penetrating one of the delimited spaces. The communication between the transceivers and the portable electronic units for neighboring delimited spaces is effected at different exclusive frequencies or frequencies of sub-sets of frequencies associated with the exclusive frequencies.

Abstract: There is described a method, a sensing device as well as an optical pointing device including a sensing device for comparing light intensity between pixels. Light intensity between pairs of pixels of a photodetector array is compared as follows. First and second output signals generated by the photosensitive elements of a first and a second pixel of each pair are integrated over time to respectively provide first and second integrated signals. Integration of the first output signal is interrupted at the end of a first time period and the resulting first integrated signal is stored. Integration of the second output signal is continued until the end of a second time period and the resulting second integrated signal is compared to the stored first integrated signal to provide an output signal representative of an edge condition between the first and second pixel.

Abstract: The electronic system with semiconductor components according to the present invention allows electronic circuits with conventional semiconductor components to be used, having minimal supply voltages to guarantee stable operation, lowering said minimum supply voltages. Owing to the system according to the invention, the range of supply voltages of such a circuit for which operation is stable can be extended towards low values by the effect of mutual compensation of the respective behaviours of said semiconductor components in their respective transition regions.

Abstract: There is described a sensing device for an optical pointing device comprising a plurality of pixels, each one of the pixels comprising a photosensitive element for generating a pixel output signal in response to radiation reflected from an illuminated portion of a surface, the sensing device further comprising processing means for determining, based on said pixel output signals, a measurement of relative motion between the sensing device and the illuminated surface and for generating cursor control signals based on this measurement. The sensing device further comprises circuit means for summing the pixel output signals of subsets of pixels including at least two pixels and for generating, for each of the subsets of pixels, a summed output signal, the processing means determining the measurement of relative motion based on the summed output signals.

Abstract: There is described a current generator circuit (20) including means (200, 202, 203) for generating a reference current (IREF) and a current mirror (210) connected to a first supply potential (VHV) and including a reference branch (211) which the reference current (IREF) is applied and an output branch (212) delivering, at one output (B) of said current generator circuit, an output current (IOUT) which is the image of said reference current (IREF) and in a determined ratio with respect to said reference current (IREF). The reference current generating means include in particular a MOSFET transistor (202) series connected by its drain and source terminals in said reference branch (211). The current generator circuit (20) further includes limiting means (400) for limiting the potential level of the output (B) of the current generator circuit to an extreme value.

Abstract: A receiver circuit (30) for a contactless identification system, includes an antenna (32). The antenna (32) receives an amplitude modulated signal. A voltage envelope detector (34) is connected to the antenna (32). A current envelope detector (36) is connected to the antenna (32). A first comparator (38) has a first input (40) connected to an output of the voltage envelope detector (34) and a second input (42) connected to a threshold. A second comparator (44) has a first input (46) connected to an output of the current envelope detector (36) and a second input (48) connected to the threshold. A logic gate (50) combines an output (52) of the first comparator (38) and an output (54) of the second comparator (44).

Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of microstructures and in particular microstructures made via CMOS technology on semiconductor substrates intended to undergo micro-machining by wet chemical etching, in particular by a KOH etchant. According to the present invention, protection against the KOH reactive agent is provided to such a structure by the deposition of a metal film (40, 41, 43) including at least on external gold layer (43) on the surface of the structure. This metal film (40, 41, 43) advantageously allows the use of mechanical protective equipment to be omitted and thus allows the wafers to be processed in batches. The present invention also proves perfectly compatible with a standard gold bumping process.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling the sensitivity profile of a photodetector (1; 1a to 1d) comprising at least one well (10; 10a to 10d) of a first conductivity type (e.g. N) formed in a semiconductor substrate (20) of a second conductivity type (e.g. P), this method comprising the steps of determining a desired sensitivity profile for the photodetector, forming at least one diffusion region (15; 15a to 15d) of the first conductivity type in a determined region of the well and/or forming at least one diffusion region (25) of the second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the well, and connecting said at least one diffusion region of the first or second conductivity type to a positive or negative potential of a reverse-bias voltage applied across said well and said semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a low frequency oscillator device including a quartz resonator (1) and an electronic maintenance circuit for maintaining the vibrations of said quartz resonator. According to the present invention, the quartz resonator is arranged to vibrate according to a torsional mode and therefore has a single cutting angle defined by a rotation at a determined angle (&thgr;) about the crystallographic axis X of the quartz crystal. This resonator includes in particular at least one undesired fundamental flexural vibrating mode at a first frequency and a desired fundamental torsional vibrating mode at a second frequency higher than said first frequency. Moreover, the electronic maintenance circuit is an inverter circuit (2) whose transconductance value (gm) is determined such that said device cannot oscillate according to the undesired fundamental flexural vibrating mode but according to the desired fundamental torsional vibrating mode of said resonator.

Abstract: An injection current test circuit for an amplifier (24) includes a test current input pad (16). One (14) of a plurality of current mirrors (12) is connected to the test current input pad (16). A switch (20) is connected to a second (18) of the plurality of current mirrors (12) and connected to the amplifier (24). A test current output pad (22) is connected to the switch (20).

Abstract: There is disclosed a test apparatus with probes for checking the proper working of semiconductor devices (111) immediately after their manufacture. More precisely, such systems are provided with particular probes (1), in that they include at least two tips (8, 9, 18, 29) at their end, which enters into contact with the contact bumps (2) of said semiconductor devices during the test phases. In this way, tolerances existing on the deformations undergone by said probes during tests are greater than those of probes of the prior art.

Abstract: There is described a high-voltage regulator circuit (1) delivering at least a first regulated output voltage (VREG1, VREG2) from a high input voltage (VHV), this regulator circuit including an external regulation device (2) including an input terminal (21) to which said high input voltage is applied, an output terminal (22) at which said first regulated output voltage is delivered, and a control terminal (23) connected to a control circuit (10) of the external regulation device.

Abstract: The charge pump device includes, in a cascade arrangement, a plurality of stages (1 to N) for transferring a potential charge from one stage to the next in response to clock signals (PHI, PA, PHINOT, PB), each stage including, arranged between an input (Ai) and an output (Ai+1), a switching circuit (100, 200) and a storage capacitor (Ca; Cb). Each switching circuit is formed of a first transistor (110; 130) and a second transistor (120; 140), the drains of the first and second transistors being connected to the input (Ai) of the stage, the source of the first transistor (110; 130) being connected to the gate of the second transistor (120; 140) and the source of the second transistor being connected to output (Ai+1) of the stage and to the gate of the first transistor. At each of the stages (1 to N) there are provided starting-up means (300; 400; 500) for keeping said second transistor (120, 140) in a non conducting state between two activation cycles of said charge pump device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic device for monitoring the temperature of a medium to be monitored enabling one to make sure that the temperature has not reached at least a pre-established index limit value, characterised in that it includes:

Abstract: A regulating circuit for a high voltage generator, used in particular for supplying a non-volatile memory, includes an amplitude modulator (101) which receives at input terminals at least two clock signals (phi; nphi) and which supplies at output terminals at least two modulated clock signals (102; 103) to a charge pump (104). The circuit also includes a feedback loop, connecting an output of the charge pump to said amplitude modulator. This loop includes a comparator (109), which receives at a first input terminal an output quantity (Ibr) from the charge pump and at a second input terminal a reference quantity (Ipol), and which supplies at an output a comparison signal (Ucomp).

Abstract: The communication protocol between at least one transceiver unit (communication unit) and transponders or transceivers (transponders) associated with said unit is characterised in that at least one initial command is sent by said unit to generate interaction with said transponders entering its field of action, said initial command having at least partially a coding with a specific time structure which is different from the basic time structure used for encoding said coded data. The specific time structure has greater coding time periods than the coding time periods of the basic time structure. At least one coding period of the specific time structure has a constant characteristic electric value over a time interval greater than the duration of said constant characteristic electric value able to appear in any bit sequence having the basic time structure.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an active transponder (30) including an antenna (32) for exchanging a radioelectric signal (34), processing means (36), an accumulator (38) able to supply a first power supply signal (V1), and storage means (40) able to store the power originating from the received radioelectric signal, and to supply a second power supply signal (V2). This transponder further includes: two means (42, 46) for comparing the two power supply signals to a minimum threshold (Vmin) and, in response, providing two control signals (V3, V4); and charging means (50) controlled by the two control signals, so that the accumulator can be charged, via the charging means, from the stored power. One advantage of such a transponder is that the accumulator can be automatically recharged, as soon as the latter is no longer sufficiently charged to assure the functions of the transponder.