Abstract: A method of making an electronic component, in particular a contactless card which includes an antenna. The card has an insulating substrate provided with conductive tracks, and a semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate. Conductive tracks are formed on the substrate by screen printing using a conductive ink. A semiconductor chip as provided with contact areas is supplied, and conductive terminals, or “bumps”, are formed on at least some of the contact areas. The chip is disposed on the substrate, before the conductive ink is dry, so that the ends of the bumps penetrate into the ink at the corresponding locations. The chip is fixed mechanically to the substrate by polymerizing an insulating adhesive resin disposed between the bottom face of the chip and the top face of the substrate.

Abstract: A system for exchanging data between a portable payment terminal and a stationary base terminal in communication with a payment center. The portable terminal and the base terminal each include a central unit and a radio transmit-receive module. Each central unit is adapted to generate/read binary messages transmitted/received in the form of radio waves by the transmit-receive module. The portable payment terminal or the stationary base terminal include means for storing the binary messages and means for deactivating the central unit such that the radio transmit-receive module is operable only when the central unit is deactivated.

Abstract: Conformance testing apparatus for testing the consumption of an electronic component in a testing machine. The apparatus includes a power supply circuit having current-measuring circuitry for measuring the current taken, a test sequencer, and a measurement sequencer in which each row contains a measurement flag representative of a command to perform or not to perform a current measurement. The measurement sequencer includes a multiple acquisition memory in which each acquisition row corresponds to a row of the measurement sequence whose measurement flag is positive. The memory includes, for each acquisition row, at least one limit value zone in which a limit value for the current is written, and at least one conformance zone in which a conformance flag is written representative of the result of a comparison between the current as measured and the limit value.

Abstract: Detecting fraud involving an electronic memory card having a given operating frequency (F0) and used in a telephone set. An excitation signal (si) of variable frequency is applied to the card, and a response pattern (M) produced by the card responsive to a low frequency excitation is recorded. A determination is made that fraud is taking place when the response pattern becomes distorted at an excitation frequency that is lower than the operating frequency (F0) of the card.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for inserting an electronic module (13) on a thermoplastic substrate (131) in a cavity (12) provided in a card with electronic memory in thermoplastic material. The invention is characterized in that it consists in the following steps: a) depositing in said cavity (12) an adhesive (14) for gluing the electronic module (13) thermoplastic substrate (131) on the card body (11) thermoplastic material; b) arranging the electronic module (13) in the cavity (12); c) simultaneously applying a pressing force (F) on the electronic module (13) and ultrasonic energy (US) on the cavity (12) thermoplastic material, in contact with the electronic module (13) thermoplastic substrate (131). The invention is useful for making cards with electronic memory.

Abstract: An IC card includes card including a memory containing files classified in a tree structure of various levels, each file having an associated access path. Each file is physically located in the memory independently of its location in the virtual tree structure, and contains information specifying the full access path associated with the file.

Abstract: The invention relates to a memory card of the type comprising a card body (1) having an integrated circuit (2) embedded in one face thereof, with said face carrying a conductor pattern (3) made up of a plurality of conductive areas (4) and of associated conductive tracks (5). According to the invention, a reinforcing element (10) implemented in the form of a closed ring is disposed in the thickness of the card body (1), in register with the zone occupied by the integrated circuit (2) so as to stiffen locally the zone of the card which carries the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Power supply circuit of an electronic component in a test machine and intended to provide the component with a supply current in a given range under a nominal polarization voltage. The power supply circuit includes two identical elementary circuits each able to provide a supply current in half the given range on respective output terminals thereof which are connected in parallel. The elementary circuits each include a regulation circuit for maintaining on the electronic component a polarization voltage equal to the nominal polarization voltage, and a power circuit which is controlled by the regulation circuit to provide the supply current in half the given range. The regulation circuit of a first elementary circuit also controls the power circuit of the second elementary circuit, the power circuit of the second circuit being disconnected from the regulation circuit of the second elementary circuit.

Abstract: A memory card of the contactless type having a laminated card body of plastic material including a support sheet carrying a coupling antenna and an integrated circuit connected to the antenna. The integrated circuit has two contact pads resting directly on two conductive areas connected to the coupling antenna, and also rests on two compensation areas that are not connected. The integrated circuit and the support sheet are also associated mechanically with each other by an adhesive material disposed in the empty space defined by their respective facing faces.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring pollution generated by motor vehicles in an urban area, said area being equipped with a plurality of items of street furniture, each of which is provided with data acquisition and processing means (11, 21) for acquiring and processing data, and with communication means (12, 22) for communicating the data to a central site (30). The monitoring apparatus includes at least one item of street furniture (10, 20) further provided with at least one detector (13, 23) for detecting a magnitude characteristic of pollution, and suitable for delivering a measurement of said magnitude to the data acquisition and processing means (11, 21).

Abstract: The security method is associated with an authentication method comprising steps of obtaining a calculated result from a random number subjected to a secret key algorithm, the security method includes steps of calculating a test result from a reference random number subjected to the secret key algorithm, of comparing the test result with a reference result, and of ensuring that the calculated result is transmitted only when the test result is identical to the reference result.

Abstract: A method for storing a plurality of electronic smart cards each comprising a card body with a front surface and a rear surface, as well as an electronic module arranged in a recess in the front surface of the card body. The cards are stacked in series so as to be arranged in a number P of different directions such that the electronic module of a card having rank n is facing the rear surface of the card having rank n+P, while the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P are separated by an air space with a thickness that is P-1 times that of the card body.

Abstract: A device for measuring the viscosity of a fluid includes a viscosensitive unit through which the fluid flows under laminar flow conditions, a first turbulent flow flowmeter in series with the viscosensitive unit, and a second turbulent flow flowmeter shunting at least the viscosensitive unit. The flowmeters are adapted to determine the head loss .DELTA.p and the flowrate q of the fluid through the viscosensitive unit, the dynamic viscosity .mu. being given by the equation .mu.=.DELTA.p/kq where k is a constant dependent on the viscosensitive unit. The device is applicable to accurate measurement of fluid volumes.

Abstract: A selector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way of payment into a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice (10), the device comprising a transport member (100) provided with a housing (110) designed to receive the objects singly and suitable for bringing an object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurement zone (ZM) where sensors (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifying conformity of the object (1). According to the invention, the selector device also comprises drive mechanisms (200, 210) suitable for imparting a non-reversible continuous movement to said transport member (100) along a path during which the housing (110) passes from an initial position (P1) of communication with the insertion orifice (10) to a final or waiting position (P2), while passing through the measurement zone (ZM) in continuous manner, the sensors (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformity receiving sampling signals sampling the movement of the transport member (100).