Abstract: The present invention relates to a voltage regulator and to a method of operating a voltage regulator that is operable in a reset mode and in a sampling mode. The voltage regulator comprises: a capacitive voltage divider having a first capacitor and a second capacitor in series with the first capacitor, wherein the capacitive voltage divider is connectable to an output of a voltage supply to activate the sampling mode, a comparator having an output connected to an input of the voltage supply, the comparator further having a first input connected to a sampling node arranged between the first capacitor and the second capacitor and the comparator having a second input connected to a reference voltage, wherein the sampling node is connectable to the reference voltage for activating the reset mode.

Abstract: The random number generator comprises a linear feedback shift register (10), which comprises a series of storage elements (14(1), 14(2), . . . , 14(n)), a first input (11) to receive a clock signal from a clock oscillator (28), a feedback line (20) connecting the output of a last storage element (14(n)) with an input of at least a first storage element (14(1)), a second input (22) coupled with the feedback line (20) via at least one cell (15) and wherein the output of the cell (15) is coupled to an input of at least one of the storage elements (14(1), 14(2), . . . , 14(n)).

Abstract: The electronic circuit (1) is for driving a resonator (2) of a MEMS resonator device. The resonator includes a mass (m) connected to a spring (k) and a damping element (d), an actuation element (Cact) for actuating the mass via an actuation signal (drive), and a detection element (Cdet) for detecting motion of the mass. The electronic circuit includes a conversion means (3) connected to the detection element to supply a mass oscillation derivative signal (der), a means (4, 5, 6) of comparing the derivative signal amplitude and a reference amplitude (ref) for supplying a control signal (cmd), and a decision unit (7) for supplying a digital actuation signal (drive). The actuation signal includes rectangular pulses determined on the basis of the derivative signal and of the control signal to adapt the mass oscillation amplitude according to the reference amplitude.

Abstract: Method for reading a barcode by means of an optical reader arranged to capture at a determined sampling frequency a series of partial images of the barcode by a sensor having at least one line of pixels. According to the invention it is provided to determine in each partial image a logical value as a function of the light intensity received by a central pixel of the line of pixels and a corresponding bar width when this bar is completely incorporated into the partial image in question. By only setting a maximum speed for the speed of movement of the barcode and dimensioning the line of pixels to ensure that each bar of this barcode is completely incorporated into a partial image at least once, the sequence of bits defined by the barcode is determined by means of an algorithm ignoring the duplications detected in consecutive partial images.

Abstract: The circuit is provided for the transmission of data amplitude modulated radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a local oscillator for generating an oscillating signal at a determined carrier frequency, a unit for shaping data pulses to supply a data amplitude modulation control signal (Vmod), and a power amplifier receiving the oscillating signal and the data amplitude modulation control signal (Vmod) for the transmission of data amplitude modulated radio frequency signals by an antenna or an antenna arrangement. The data pulse shaping unit (13) includes a pulse shaper (21) for digitally adapting the data transition edges on the basis of an incoming digital data signal (d), and a digital-analog conversion stage (26, 27) for converting a digital data signal shaped in the unit, in order to supply the data amplitude modulation control signal (Vmod) to the power amplifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring circuit comprising a control block for controlling said circuit, a time base for providing a clock signal (fclk) in order to time said circuit, a sensor block which is designed to provide an output signal, said measuring circuit comprising in addition a first counting block which is timed to the clock frequency and a second counting block which is timed by the frequency of the output signal of the sensor block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a narrow band receiver or transceiver for processing electrical signals. The narrow band receiver or transceiver comprises an amplifier, a voltage controlled oscillator and a tuning assembly comprising at least one control loop for tuning of the voltage controlled oscillator. At least a gain control of the amplifier is coupled to the control loop for simultaneously tuning the output amplitude of the voltage controlled oscillator and the gain of the amplifier. A compensation of the effect of variation on the gain of the amplifier, which includes an LC tank circuit, is performed by using an information in another LC tank circuit of the voltage controlled oscillator in the control loop.

Abstract: Process for adjusting a time base by inhibiting clock pulses supplied by a clock circuit, this adjustment process comprising the following steps: selecting an inhibition period; determining a first number N of clock pulses to be suppressed per inhibition period to adjust over each inhibition period the number of clock pulses activating a frequency divider circuit such that the frequency of the time base comes closest to a reference unit frequency; selecting a plurality K of sub-periods for each inhibition period; suppressing in each sub-period a second number N1 of clock pulses corresponding to the result of the integral division of the first number by the number of sub-periods, and in addition to the suppression of the preceding step, suppressing in each inhibition period a third number N2 of clock pulses corresponding to the remainder of said integral division.

Abstract: An RFID transponder chip includes at least one antenna to pick-up and transmit radio-frequency signals, a rectifier to store charge on at least one capacitor at a rectified voltage from the picked-up radio-frequency signals, a power-on reset circuit to maintain a logic unit in a reset state if the rectified voltage level is less than a power-on reset or wake-up voltage of the power-on reset circuit for operating the logic unit. The RFID transponder chip further includes a non-volatile memory, in which are stored one or several trim values. Said non-volatile memory is directly connected to the power-on reset circuit to be able to provide at least one trim value to trim the power-on reset circuit at a rectified voltage level below a wake-up voltage level.

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 electronic circuit has a capacitive sensor that includes two capacitors mounted in differential, whose common electrode 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 connected to the common electrode, an integrator unit, and an excitation unit 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 is connected to the input of the integrator unit. The electronic circuit interface includes comparison means for comparing the output voltage with a comparison voltage to control disconnection of the compensation capacitor at the integrator unit input, if the deviation between the output voltage and the comparison voltage exceeds a determined voltage threshold.

Abstract: The electronic circuit is intended to form with an antenna a responder that operates without resetting to zero when the power supply of the electronic circuit is switched on (without POR). To increase efficiency and reduce the costs of testing a plurality of such integrated circuits in a wafer, means are provided that allow the logic circuit (8) to be reset to zero during such a test by electrical contact with the pads (P1, P2) of each circuit by using two extractors (12 and 14) of clock signals (CL1 and CL2) connected to the inputs of a generator (20) of a zero reset signal (SR). The state of the generator is essentially given by the difference in pulses received from the two clock signal extractors. As soon as the state of the generator corresponds to a value equal to or greater than a predefined integer, the logic circuit is reset to zero, which never occurs with the responder receiving an interrogation signal of a reader.

Abstract: The measuring method is for measuring a physical parameter using an electronic interface circuit (1) for a capacitive sensor (2) with at least two capacitors (C1X, C2X) whose common electrode (CM) is mobile between the fixed electrodes. The electronic circuit includes an amplifier (4) connected to the common electrode (CM) by a switching unit (3), a logic unit (5) connected to the amplifier for supplying first and second digital measuring signals, and a digital-analogue converter (7) for supplying a measurement voltage (VDAC) to the electrodes on the basis of a conversion of one of the digital signals.

Abstract: The transponder comprises an antenna and a receiver circuit (2) for receiving RF signals, this receiver circuit is implemented with a control mechanism to activate it at least periodically in a listening mode. This receiver circuit is comprises a decoding circuit (4), formed at least by a demodulator (8) and a decoder (10), and a wake-up circuit (14B) to analyze received RF signals in the listening mode and arranged for controlling the activation of the decoding circuit in this listening mode. The wake-up circuit comprises a frequency discriminator (17) and a digital modulation or preamble detector (18) downstream from a field clock generator (28). The wake-up circuit receives as entry an alternating signal branched from the signal chain through the receiver circuit upstream from the demodulator and it activates the decoding circuit only when a modulation or a preamble is detected in a received RF signal by the digital modulation or preamble detector.

Abstract: The self-powered detection device comprises a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) unit formed by at least a NVM cell and a sensor activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, the NVM unit arranged for storing in the NVM cell, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to it with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal and a base terminal of the NVM unit with at least a given set voltage.

Abstract: The self-powered detection device comprises a non-volatile memory cell and a sensor activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, this sensor forming an energy harvester transforming energy from the physical or chemical action orphenomenon into an electrical stimulus pulse, the memory cell arranged for storing, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, at least a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor of at least a first physical or chemical action or phenomenon. The non-volatile memory cell comprises a FET transistor having a control gate, a first diffusion defining a first input and a second diffusion defining a second input. This FET transistor is set to its written logical state from its initial logical state when, in a detection mode, it receives on a set terminal a voltage stimulus signal resulting from the first physical or chemical action or phenomenon.

Abstract: The self-powered detection device comprises a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) unit (52) formed at least by a NVM cell and a sensor which is activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, this sensor forming an energy harvester that transforms energy from said physical or chemical action or phenomenon into an electrical stimulus pulse, said NVM unit being arranged for storing in said NVM cell, by using the electrical power of said electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to the detection by said sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to it with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal (SET) and a base terminal (SET *) of said NVM unit with at least a given set voltage.

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. The method includes the steps (a)-(d). Step (a) includes illuminating with the coherent light source the surface portion at a determined flash rate. Step (b) includes detecting, using the array of pixels a speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for each flash. Step (c) includes extracting edge direction data of two different types from the detected speckled light intensity patterns. Step (d) includes measuring relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface based on extracted edge direction data.

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: The method adjusts a reference voltage of an electronic circuit based on a band-gap voltage supplied by a first band-gap stage. The band-gap stage includes a current source connected to a first branch, which includes a first configurable resistor in series with a first diode, and to a second branch, which includes a second configurable resistor connected to a complementary resistor in series with a second diode. The current source is a PMOS transistor controlled by an output voltage of a first operational amplifier of a current control loop. The appropriate binary word for configuring the configurable resistors is determined based on four band-gap voltage values measured at two different temperatures and two resistive values of the resistors configured by the same first binary word and by the same second binary word which is different from the first binary word.