Abstract: A data-collection and monitoring system for a production line ensures the traceability, that is, the detailed reconstruction, of the entire production process for each finished product output by the line, by the separate filing of data relating to the manufacturing steps and to the products, with the use of time as the unifying factor. The system advantageously provides for the two sets of data to be correlated only when necessary, permitting considerably savings in both hardware and software requirements.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for controlling an analog quartz clock, particularly for installation in automobiles, has first and second counters for generating control pulses at different rates according to whether the clock is to be operated in a normal mode, or a time-setting mode. In addition, a single 11-bit counter allows "fast" or "slow" resetting of the time by a single push button.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring an unknown capacitance using a known reference capacitance, wherein a first electrode of the unknown capacitance is connected to ground.

Abstract: The circuit including a capacitor which is alternately discharged and charged in synchronism with the signal which develops across the terminals of a resistor operating to detect the current in the lamp. A sawtooth wave form is thus obtained, which is compared with a threshold level which is varied in dependence on the current which it is necessary to provide to the lamp. On the basis of this comparison logic signals are produced which are utilized to control the power switches of the inverter which controls the lamp.

Abstract: The amplitude of the hysteresis of the circuit is determined principally by the intensity of the current produced by a generator by means of a "band gap" reference voltage, an internal resistance of the circuit, and the resistances connected to the emitters of the input-stage transistors, enabling a high degree of precision to be achieved. The inputs of the circuit are defined by the bases of the input-stage transistors and therefore have high impedance. The preferred application is for forming interface circuits for sensors to be fitted in motor vehicles.

Abstract: The circuit includes a differential voltage/current converter (V/I) for connection to the sensor (S), a differential transresistance amplifier (TDA) whose inputs are connected to the outputs of the converter (V/I), and a double-ended/single-ended converter (D/S) connected to the outputs of the amplifier (TDA). The circuit is conveniently formed as an integrated circuit by CMOS P-well technology.

Abstract: An H-bridge circuit which includes four power transistors (an npn pull-down and a pnp pull-up for each of the output terminals). Two control circuits are connected to drive these transistors in a complementary crossover configuration, so that each control circuit can turn on the pull-up transistor on one side of the load and the pull-down transistor on the opposite side of the load. Each of the power transistors is paralleled (base-to-base) by a smaller transistor which provides a scaled current output (proportional to that of the corresponding power transistor) to the opposite control circuit. The control circuit includes static current-thresholding disable logic, which prevents turn-on until the currents through the opposite power devices have declined to threshold levels. Thus, as long as either control circuit is driving one of the pull-up transistors into in the on-state, the other control circuit will not be able to turn on the pull-down transistor which is in series with the active pull-up transistor.

Abstract: The circuit includes sensors for supplying electrical signals indicative of the current flowing in the field winding of the generator in operation and a control circuit operatively connected to the sensors. The control circuit is arranged to control the transistor which drives the field winding so that the voltage at the battery terminals remains substantially constant with variations in the current supplied to the battery by the generator.

Abstract: A monitoring circuit for an electrical generator for recharging a motor vehicle battery. The monitoring circuit includes a driver transistor, a field coil current sensor, and driver circuit. The collector-emitter path of the driver transistor is connected in series to the field coil of the generator and a direct current voltage source. The field coil current sensor provides a signal indicative of the current flowing in the field coil. The driver circuit drives the transistor as a function of the voltage produced by the generator and the signal provided by the field coil current sensor. The driver circuit includes a detector circuit and a processing and comparison circuit. The detector circuit is connected to a phase of the generator and provides a signal indicative of the generator's rotation speed.

Abstract: The interface circuit described comprises a plurality of control stages, each of which can detect and indicate a short-circuit in the corresponding load or the associated power transistor.In particular, the interface circuit is arranged to disable a transistor permanently when short-circuits occur repeatedly in the load in order to prevent damage to the transistor.

Abstract: The voltage-regulator circuit includes:a driver transistor whose collector-emitter path is in series with the field winding between two poles of a source of a direct-current voltage, anda control circuit adapted to drive the transistor in an on-off manner in dependence on the value assumed by the voltage supplied by the generator in comparison with a reference voltage and in dependence on the field current detected by a resistor connected to the transistor.

Abstract: During the piloting of the load, the current intensity and the voltage present in the load are monitored by the comparison of their values with a current threshold and with a window of permissible voltage values. When the voltage is outside the window of permissible values and/or the current falls below its threshold, a fault message is generated and the nature of the fault (open load, short circuit to earth, short circuit to the supply voltage) is also identified by the emission of a corresponding signal of a diagnostic nature. The identification of the faulty stage or stages is also provided for in the case of a circuit including several stages in parallel.

Abstract: The circuit comprises an amplitude limiter made up with the use of two CMOS transistors and a circuit connected to the output of the amplitude limiter for filtering the signal and changing its level. The filtering and level-changing circuit is arranged, in particular, to achieve band-pass filtering in order to prevent aliasing effects which might arise during the sampling of the signal by subsequent switched-capacitance processing circuits, and to attenuate low-frequency components of the signal.

Abstract: The device includes a circuit for generating signals indicative of a reference current which is variable in steps and, during successive time intervals defined by a clock-signal generator, decreases according to respective predetermined functions as the voltage detected across the lamp increases, these functions corresponding substantially to respective predefined constant values of the power supplied to the lamp, and a differential comparator circuit which compares the values of the reference current generated with the current detected in the lamp and generates an error signal in dependence on the difference between them. The error signal can be used to control the device for supplying the lamp.

Abstract: The system includes a current generator including an alternator and an associated rectifier whose output is connected by a cable to a terminal of a battery. A switch is connected to that terminal of the battery and an indicator lamp connected in series with the switch is switched on when no current is supplied by the generator. A voltage regulator is connected to the field winding of the generator and has first and second inputs connected to the output of the generator and to the lamp respectively. The voltage regulator includes a control circuit for monitoring the potential difference between the first and second inputs of the voltage regulator and for switching on the lamp if that potential difference is greater than a pre-established reference value when the generator is operating. This enables any interruption of the connection between the generator and the battery to be indicated to the user.

Abstract: The device includes two channels for detecting and processing the signal provided by an accelerometric sensor, operating in two frequency bands in which peaks indicative of pinking (knocking) may occur. In each combustion phase, a third channel, also connected to the sensor, provides a signal representative of the noise component of the signal from the sensor, in a frequency band in which the peaks do not occur. The signals provided by the first and second channels are integrated and then compared with a reference signal generated in dependence on the noise component detected cylinder by cylinder. The device thus enables pinking to be detected cylinder by cylinder.

Abstract: A switched-capacitor circuit is described, which performs the functions of a full-wave rectifier and of an integrator and has a single operational amplifier and a comparator. The circuit is insensitive to the stray capacitances and offsets of the comparator and the operational amplifier. In particular, the input signal is sampled during only one phase of the clock which pilots the operation of the switched-capacitance network.

Abstract: A system for recharging a battery includes a current generator, a switch operable by a key and connected to the battery, an indicator lamp connected in series with the switch, and a voltage regulator with first and second inputs connected to the output of the generator and to the lamp, respectively. The regulator includes a circuit for regulating the current supplied to the field winding of the alternator in dependence on the voltage supplied by the generator, a supply circuit for supplying the voltage regulator circuit, and control circuit for enabling the supply circuit to operate when a current is flowing in the lamp and when the generator is in operation. The control circuit includes a comparator connected to the second input of the regulator, and hence to the lamp, and adapted to supply an enabling signal to the supply circuit when the voltage at the second terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The system comprises: at least one spark plug, at least one ignition coil whose secondary winding is connected to the plug, a power transistor whose output path is in series with the primary winding of the coil between the two terminals of a direct-current voltage supply, and a control circuit for switching the transistor from the cut-off condition to the saturated condition to enable current to flow in the primary winding of the coil in order to generate a spark. Conveniently, the control circuit is arranged to switch the transistor progressively from the cut-off condition to the saturated condition, in dependence on the voltage detected between the terminals of its output path by the application of a driver signal which is first continuous and then pulsed.

Abstract: A system for the assembly and connection of electronic circuits formed on a plurality of substrate or boards of identical size is described. Each board is mounted in a respective module between two elements of resilient, electrically-insulating material. The terminals of each board are connected to one or more multicore ribbon cables clamped between the resilient elements.The modules are arranged next to each other in sequence and are clamped by tie bolts so that the resilient elements are compressed to a predetermined extent. The pack of modules thus formed is disposed in a housing, preferably of metal, carrying at least one multipole electrical connector to which at least some of the cables are connected so that the circuits carried by the boards can be connected to external devices and/or circuits.