Abstract: A circuit for measuring the duration of a cut-off period in the power supply to an electronic system, for example the control system of a motor vehicle starter, comprises a voltage splitting bridge and a processing unit receiving the output of the splitting bridge. The bridge supply voltage is derived from the power supply to the electronic system, and the bridge has a branch which includes a temperature variable resistor. The processing unit determines the duration of the cut-off period as a function of the value of the output voltage from the splitting bridge at the end of a cut-off period.

Abstract: The switch having at least two stable positions comprises a housing (30), an operating member (5), carried movably by the housing (30), and indexing means (1) partly carried by the operating member (5) and partly by the housing (30). The indexing means (1) comprise a magnetic circuit having at least one permanent magnet (2) associated with at least one counter-target (21) and a target (18) for closing the magnetic field and disposed in facing relationship to the counter-target at each stable position. One of the elements comprising the target and the counter-target with its permanent magnet being carried by the operating member (5), while the other one of the said elements is carried by the housing (30).

Abstract: A collector terminal is arranged to make electrical contact between a voltage source such as a battery and an electronic circuit, whereby the latter is supplied with power by the battery. The battery is placed, or pressed, against the collector terminal in order to obtain the required contact. The electronic circuit is typically that of a hand-held remote control unit for operating a central locking system of a motor vehicle. The occurrence of unsuccessful attempts, by a user, to obtain a remote control signal from the control unit, is reduced by improving the contact between the battery and the collector terminal. The collector terminal is substantially flat and includes a grid structure defining recesses in its contact surfaces. The apex or projecting point of a convex surface zone of the battery, existing at least locally around this apex, enters into a recess between two teeth forming part of the grid network, thus increasing the number of points of contact.

Abstract: An electronic assembly comprising a heat sink and a double-sided printed circuit card assembled to the heat sink by hot pressing. The card carries a plurality of surface-mounting components on its face remote from the heat sink. Further, the card carries at least one through component and the heat sink has a void over the zone of the printed circuit card which receives the through component. The ends of the pins of the component are bonded to the card inside the void.

Abstract: Controlling an H-bridge of switches, characterized in that during a cycle, the current takes a peak value of constant sign during a continuous portion corresponding to a cycle fraction equal to .vertline.<V>/U.vertline., where <V> is the mean voltage applied to the load and U is the voltage of the DC voltage source, said portion being preceded by a cycle portion corresponding to a cycle fraction equal to 1/2(1-.vertline.<V>/U.vertline.) during which the two switches (I1, I2) of the H-bridge which are connected to ground are closed (or open as the case may be), and followed by a cycle portion likewise corresponding to a cycle fraction equal to 1/2(1-.vertline.<V>/U.vertline.) during which the two switches (I1, I2) of the H-bridge which are connected to ground are open (or closed as the case may be).

Abstract: The device for the recovery of a timing signal comprises a oscillator (3) which includes an amplifier (4); a first impedance (Z1) connected between a first input and the output of the amplifier and a second impedance (Z2) also connected between the first input of the amplifier and ground. A third resistive impedance (R1) is connected between a second amplifier input and the amplifier output. A fourth resistive impedance (R2) is connected between the second amplifier input and an injection point of a voltage that corresponds the signal from which the timing signal is to be recovered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of governing a system such as a vehicle screen wiping system. It also relates to a governing apparatus for performing the method of the invention, and to a governed system of the simultaneous or synchronized type, for wiping a glass surface of a vehicle.The governing apparatus according to the invention includes a low level control module which effects, in the system, a reversion to a stable state. The command signal from the low level control module is generated by an intermediate level control module which operates as an open loop. Finally perturbations are compensated for by a high level control module which produces a modification of the command signals in such a way as to render the governing action convergent. The modification of the command signals consists in reducing the rate of propagation of the command signals when the load increases.

Abstract: The rotary contactor comprises a first part, referred to here for convenience as the fixed part (101), which is adapted to be fixed to the steering column (4), together with a second part, referred to here for convenience as the moving part (102) and adapted to be coupled in rotation to the steering wheel (7) of the motor vehicle. For the temporary coupling of the fixed part (101) in rotation with the moving part (102), retractable locking devices (83, 84) are interposed between the parts (101, 102). These means comprise a retractable first member (8) carried by the moving part (102) and adapted to engage with a second member (40) carried by the fixed part (101), with the first member including a manoeuvrable portion (82) which is adapted to be manoeuvred by the steering wheel (7).

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a DC/AC converter of a power supply circuit for a motor vehicle headlight discharge lamp, the circuit comprising a primary circuit, voltage-feed means for feeding the primary circuit with voltage, and a secondary circuit coupled to the primary circuit by mutual induction, the secondary circuit delivering a voltage controlling the non-conductive and conductive state of a MOSFET type transistor of the DC/AC converter, the voltage that the power supply means deliver to the primary circuit constituting a modulated high frequency carrier voltage, the secondary circuit including means for converting the high frequency voltage delivered to the primary circuit into a control voltage for the transistor that is greater than or less than a given non-conductive or conductive threshold, as a function of the modulation of said high frequency voltage, the conversion means of the secondary circuit including a switch connected between the grid and the source of the transistor, said switch being open

Abstract: A converter for powering a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, the converter comprising a primary circuit and a secondary circuit which includes two branches connected in parallel, each of which is coupled by mutual induction with the primary circuit, and two diodes connected in such a manner as to prevent either of the branches discharging into the other, the transformation ratio by mutual induction with the primary circuit of one of the two branches being greater than the transformation ratio of the other, the branch having the greater transformation ratio including a switch controlled by control electronics in such a manner as to be on whenever the voltage of the lamp is greater than a given threshold voltage, and to be off whenever said voltage becomes less than said threshold.

Abstract: A telecontrol system for the remote execution of functions comprising actuation of devices in a motor vehicle, for example operation of courtesy lights and locking and unlocking of the doors, comprises a receiver module mounted on the vehicle and an emitter unit carried by the user for transmitting coded radio signals to the receiver module. A data signal configuring circuit of the receiver module has a detection threshold level which is regulated according to predetermined zones of functional ranges between the emitter and the receiver module, around the vehicle, in such a way that a function on the vehicle which is controlled by the emitter is only validated if the emitter is in the appropriate zone of functional range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device for lighting the cabin of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an elongate light source disposed inside a housing. According to the invention, the lighting device further comprises: two windows transparent to the light flux emitted by the source, the windows being spaced apart from each other and comprising a top window through which light radiation is emitted in a generally horizontal direction, and a bottom window through which light radiation is emitted generally downwards; a first directional light reflector disposed between two respective first edges of the windows; and a second directional light reflector disposed between the two respective other edges of the windows; the directional light reflectors having shapes that combine to guide the light flux emitted by the source towards the transparent windows.

Abstract: An electronic circuit, more particularly an harmonic oscillator, is for example arranged as a transmitter for telecontrol signals, especially a remote transmitter for controlling devices such as door locks, anti-theft devices etc. in a motor vehicle. The circuit includes a device for linearising and symmetrizing the response of the amplifier of the harmonic oscillator, which is connected to the output of a means for generating telecontrol words, so as to reduce the output of harmonics.

Abstract: A multi-stage amplifier of low current consumption, such as an onboard receiver for a motor vehicle for receiving telecontrol systems for opening the doors or interrogation signals for the alarm system of the vehicle, has the polarising networks for the amplification stages connected in series in such a way as to reduce the power consumption of the circuitry in the static state. The amplifier stages are connected in series on the polarising bridge in the static state, and in the dynamic state they are connected in cascade. The output of the first stage is connected to the input of the next stage through an impedance matching reactance. In another aspect, gain is controlled by injection/extraction of current between the output terminal of the amplifier and an injection/extraction terminal on the input of the first stage.

Abstract: A drive motor for a motor vehicle screen wiping apparatus operates with repeated reversals of its direction of rotation, and is controlled by a control circuit which is connected to a transistor arranged in the power supply path for the motor, in series with it. The transistor is put into conduction at a time, and in a manner, such as to reduce the audible noise caused by the repeated reversals.

Abstract: A remote control system for locking and unlocking a passenger space in a motor vehicle has an on-board unit that includes an emitter of signals S.sub.E of a first type and receiver of signals S.sub.P of a second type. There also is a portable device that has a receiver of first type signals S.sub.E and an emitter of second type signals S.sub.P. The apparatus also detects that the portable device has been forgotten inside the passenger space by determining the relative position of the portable device in relation to the interior of the passenger space. The apparatus for determining the position of the portable device in relation to the interior of the passenger space is integrated into the portable device with the portable device emitter of the second type signal S.sub.pforgotten in the event of detection of the portable device having been forgotten inside the passenger space.

Abstract: Apparatus, for example vehicle screen wiping apparatus, is controlled by a control system comprising an emitter connected to a slave receiver through a single transmission channel. The emitter is arranged to deliver control or command signals, each of which is represented by a predetermined electrical quantity, so that at least one control signal can be passed along the transmission channel to the receiver connected to the other end of the latter. The receiver activates the electrical load such as the electric motor of the wiping apparatus. The emitter produces a plurality of values of an electrical quantity, representing control or command signals produced by a suitable device such as a switch. These control signals are passed to the slave receiver, via the single transmission channel, and are decoded by the receiver.

Abstract: An electronic device, for example a signal receiver mounted on a vehicle for opening and closing the doors of the vehicle in response to telecontrol signals from a remote source, includes an intermediate frequency amplifier. The intermediate frequency amplifier comprises two amplifier stages arranged in cascade with respect to the input signal, with the biasing terminals of the two stages being connected in series across the supply. The arrangement gives much reduced current consumption.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises, for example, a portable device or a signal receiver mounted on a vehicle for opening and closing the doors of the vehicle in response to telecontrol signals from a remote source. The device comprises two stages arranged in cascade with respect to the input signal, with the polarising terminals of the two stages being connected in series across the supply.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, which may be associated with further relays, has a supply circuit which includes means for generating a holding voltage for holding the relay contacts closed. This voltage generating means is activated and de-activated by receipt of an appropriate command signal for respectively closing and opening the relay contacts. The supply circuit includes a chopping circuit for chopping the highest unidirectional voltage available on the circuit, according to a cyclic ratio which is predetermined so as to provide a holding condition for the relay contacts at an intermediate voltage lower than the said highest available voltage, and with a low current. It also includes a circuit for generating a controlled closing voltage during the transition from the open to the closed position of the relay contacts. The invention is applicable especially to batteries of relays for use in motor vehicles.