Abstract: The invention relates to a digital transmission method, which can be used between two items of computer equipment. This digital transmission mode is characterized in that: the data are transmitted in the form of a series of digital signal frames (8), each frame (8) comprises at least successively, from start to end, frame synchronization signals (10), data signals (12) and control signals (14) for the transmitted data, and the characteristics of the synchronization signals (10) and of the data signals (12) and control signals (14) for the transmitted frames are specific to an item of reference computer equipment and are known to the follower computer equipment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a large format smart card having a card body and a minicard connected thereto by at least a strap. The strap includes a first portion arranged on the minicard side and shaped to form an imposed rupture zone for detaching the minicard by pressing with the finger. The strap also has a second portion, arranged on the card body side and capable of forming a hinge.

Abstract: A method for making an electronic device having an integrated circuit chip connected to an antenna. A chip is transferred into an impression provided in a substrate made of insulating material. The chip is connected to an antenna by hot lamination of an insulating support-sheet bearing the antenna. The method ensures a high quality electrical connection between the chip and the antenna, and enables the connection of a chip matrix with a plurality of antennae in a large-size circuit to be produced in one single step.

Abstract: Smart card readers dedicated to a particular application use both a microcontroller whose read only memory determines the running of the application, and a security component executing, under the control of the microcontroller, subroutines related to the security of the application (authentication, confidential programs, etc.). So that the manager of the application can have access to certain memory areas of the security component, provision is made for the microcontroller to be able to pass automatically to a so-called “transparent” mode, when a specific access code issued by a test card is recognized. In this mode, the read or write instructions for a memory area, issued by the test card, are interpreted by the microcontroller as being read or write instructions for a memory area of the security component rather than the microcontroller.

Abstract: A method for mounting, on a support, at least a microcircuit in the form of a chip produced on a very thin semiconductor substrate. An interconnection point is provided at the chip in the form of a bump contact in weldable material. The bump contact has a welding surface in the same plane as at least one of the chip faces. An interconnection pad is provided on the support that is designed to be welded with a corresponding bump contact of the chip. The welding face of each bump contact of the chip is placed opposite each corresponding interconnection pad of the support. Each bump contact of the chip is welded with each corresponding interconnection pad of the support. The method can be applied to a device such as a chip card.

Abstract: A load modulation device in a remotely powered integrated circuit includes an oscillating circuit, and a voltage device for regenerating first and second power supply voltages. The voltage device includes at least one MOS transistor in a well on at least one terminal of the oscillating circuit. The at least MOS transistor includes a source or drain connected to the at least one terminal. A bias circuit biases the well to the first or second power supply voltage based upon a modulation signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing occupancy of descriptors used for protecting files in storage. The method includes separating the functions files are going to be subjected to from the protection modes to which said functions subscribe. The descriptors comprise a number of octets equal to the number of protection modes proposed. The bits of these octets, depending on whether they are active or inactive, refer to function memory words whose number is directly equal to the number of active bits in the mode memory words. The function memory words comprise references to secret codes to be used for implementing the desired security functions.

Abstract: A method for making a contactless chip card of the type having an electronic module, and an antenna connected to the module, includes the following steps: producing, on a first support sheet, the antenna with connection terminals provided at its ends; producing an insulating bridge partly covering the antenna coils except for the connection terminals; depositing a drop of filling material on the insulating bridge; transferring the electronic module, with its connection pads being oriented towards the insulating bridge; and providing an electric connection between the module contact pads and the antenna connection terminals.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a contact chip card, a dielectric support film is provided in the form of a strip. A metal grid which defines contact pads on the upper surface thereof and connection pads on the lower surface thereof is created. The dielectric support film is irremovably fixed on the upper surface of the metal grid in such a way that the contact pads of the grid are free. The chip is glued and connected to the connection pads of the grid, and the metal grid is cut to obtain a micromodule to be inserted in the cavity of a body of the card. In one particular embodiment, the grid is arched in order to encase the thickness of the dielectric.

Abstract: In a method for producing a portable electronic device with an integrated circuit, a resin band is deposited around the chip of an integrated circuit and connection wires. The resin is highly viscous and can be polymerized with U.V. radiation. A low-viscosity filling resin which can be polymerized with U.V. radiation is deposited in the space defined by the resin band, and the protected resins are polymerized by exposure to U.V. radiation. The filling resin contains mechanically reinforcing fibers. The entire process can be carried out in a continuous manner.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electronic device having a chip and/or an antenna, such as a contactless or hybrid or label chip card. The electronic device includes at least one decorative sheet having a visible outer face, and at least one interface comprising an antenna. The method includes a step in which the antenna is formed on that face of the decorative sheet which is opposite its visible outer face by screen-printing using a conductive ink. The invention also relates to the resulting electronic device.

Abstract: A data transfer network with at least one slot machine (200) having a value unit transfer element (300) and a data transfer link (123) connected to a central processing unit (1). Between each slot machine and the transfer link is a device (400) that provides a multichannel link including a first main channel (410) connecting to the central processing unit (1) via the network data transfer link (123), a second main channel (420) connecting to the slot machine (200), and a secondary channel (430) connecting to the value unit transfer element (300). A data transfer switching and coordinating means enables data to be transmitted between the slot machine (200) and the value unit transfer element (300), and data to be transmitted between the slot machine (200) and the data transfer link (123).

Abstract: A memory card fitted with contacts contains a memory and its access circuits. The memory access circuits are modified to allow recording or reading the memory via electric signals supplied by a terminal according to an asynchronous-type communication protocol with integrity check of the codes transmitted. The signals received on the contacts are analysed by an analysis circuit, then switched to address and data registers by a switch circuit. The analysis circuit and a control circuit transmit messages and codes to the terminal via a transmission circuit.

Abstract: A smart card that is compatible with the USB protocol and may be compatible with multiple different protocols includes a standard set of contacts that comply with the protocols of a published standard. Another contact, not designated by the standard, may be added and used to indicate whether the card is to operate in one of a number of protocol modes. When the card is to operate in the USB mode, a simple start-up procedure is employed which does not require strict timing constraints, enabling a less expensive interface device to be used. The interface device can be connected to any bus of a computer which operates in accordance with a desired protocol. Due to the flexibility and functionality offered by smart cards that have microprocessors incorporated therein, the multi-protocol smart card can be used to drive, or otherwise communicate with, any of a variety of peripheral devices, whether or not a personal computer is present in the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protected slot machine system including means of paying by smart card (300), a smart card reader-validator (200) and means (360, 400) of managing the credits available for games. In order to prevent any fraud with respect to the sums of money actually won in the game, the system has control means (200, 450, 300) able to record, on the card (300) of a player, game-significant information (D) specific to the said card and able to effect a verification of this information.

Abstract: A portable integrated circuit device has a supporting body and a detachable mini-card bearing an integrated circuit. The mini-card is disposed on one end of the supporting body which has an elongated shape. The invention can be used for SIM cards in new generation mobile telephones.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of making contactless smart cards. To facilitate the fixing of an integrated circuit chip in a contactless smart card, and in particular the chip connection with the antenna incorporated in the card, the method consists in soldering on the chip contact pads a gold wire with at least one end projecting above the chip. The wire is preferably soldered while the chip is still part of a semiconductor wafer. The wire can be soldered between two contact pads on a common chip; it can also be soldered between two contact pads of two adjacent chips on the wafer and then sawed during dicing. When the chip is incorporated in the card, it is pressed against the antenna so that the soldered wire is in contact with the coiled or printed antenna feeder end.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cross-linking photosensitive inks in particular polymersible inks (36) by ultraviolet radiation consisting in a step (35) inking dots (31) on a base (38) and a subsequent step consisting in applying a concentrated ultraviolet beam (32) on the inked dots (31), except for the base non-inked surfaces (30). The beam is in particular an ultraviolet laser beam. The invention is applicable to jet dot-matrix printing and polychromy.

Abstract: A method for effecting transactions through a telecommunication network by smart cards and telecommunication terminals provided with at least two smart card reading interfaces, one for receiving a subscriber identification smart card dedicated to telephony, the other for receiving a smart card dedicated to one or more applications other than telephony. Communication facilities are added to the subscriber identification card to enable it to control any application card through the telecommunication terminal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes a card body having an integrated circuit electrically connected to contact pads formed by electrically conductive ink. An interface terminal strip provided with a series of terminals is electrically connected to the integrated circuit contacts. The contact pads are formed on the card body upper surface such that each pad comprises a portion which covers, at least partially, a terminal of the interface terminal strip.