Abstract: The optoelectronic module includes a photoreceptor circuit for picking up light from a light source by reflection on an external surface. The photoreceptor circuit and the light source circuit are mounted on a substrate, and contact pads of the circuits are electrically connected to pads of the substrate. The substrate pads are connected to conductive paths of the substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first portion on which the photoreceptor circuit and light source circuit are mounted and electrically connected, a second portion including electrical connection terminals and a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion. This connecting portion connects some conductive paths of the first portion to the connection terminals of the second portion. The connecting portion allows the height and/or spacing of the second portion to be adjusted relative to the first portion when the module is mounted, particularly in a computer mouse.

Abstract: The optoelectronic circuit includes a photoreceptor (1) made in a silicon semiconductor substrate (4), and a monomode VCSEL laser diode (2) made in a gallium arsenide substrate. The photoreceptor includes at least one photosensitive area with a pixel array for picking up light and an area with a control and processing unit for the signals supplied by the pixels. The laser diode is mounted and electrically connected directly on one part of the photoreceptor. The laser diode is connected by a conductive terminal (12) to a first contact pad (3) at the bottom of a cavity (13) made through a passivation layer (5) of the photoreceptor. An electrode (17) on the top of the diode is connected by a metal wire (15) to a second contact pad (3) of the photoreceptor. The photoreceptor controls the diode directly via the electrode and the conductive terminal to generate a laser beam (L).

Abstract: The method of making an optoelectronic module (10, 20), which includes a first light source circuit (5) and a second photoreceptor circuit (6) for picking up light from the first light source circuit reflected on an external surface. A first moulding (20) with an encapsulation material is made on one part of a lead frame (10) having several conductive paths (12) and an external frame (11) connecting all of the conductive paths. A first light source circuit (5) is placed on one portion of a first conductive path (13) of the lead frame that is not covered by the first moulding. A second photoreceptor circuit (6) is placed on one portion of a second conductive path (14) of the lead frame not covered by the first moulding. A through opening (21) is also made in the first moulding (20) between the external frame (11) and the location of the first light source circuit (5) to give access to the first connecting path (13) and to a third connecting path (15) for the first light source circuit.

Abstract: The integrated photoreceptor circuit includes a photosensitive area for picking up light and a processing unit area for processing the signals provided by the photosensitive area. This photoreceptor circuit includes electric contact pads, which are arranged symmetrically solely on the side of the processing unit area, which is juxtaposed with the photosensitive area. The integrated photoreceptor circuit is mounted on a first portion of a flexible substrate. The contact pads of the integrated photoreceptor circuit are electrically connected to electrical connection pads of the printed circuit of the flexible substrate. A second portion of the flexible substrate carries electrical connection terminals, which are connected to the connection pads via conductive paths, arranged in part on a connecting portion between the first and second portions. A through aperture in the first portion may be provided opposite the photosensitive area only of the photoreceptor circuit.

Abstract: The optoelectronic circuit includes a photoreceptor (1) made in a silicon semiconductor substrate (4), and a monomode VCSEL laser diode (2) made in particular in a gallium arsenide substrate. The photoreceptor includes at least one photosensitive area with a pixel array for picking up light and an area with a control and processing unit for the signals supplied by the pixels. The laser diode (2) is mounted and electrically connected directly on one part of the photoreceptor. This laser diode may be housed in a cavity (13) made through a passivation layer (5) of the photoreceptor, and connected by a conductive terminal (12) to a first contact pad (3) at the bottom of the cavity. An electrode (17) on the top of the diode can be connected by a metal wire (15) to a second neighbouring accessible contact pad (3) of the photoreceptor. The photoreceptor (1) controls the diode directly via the electrode and the conductive terminal to generate a laser beam (L).

Abstract: A medical electrical lead, which may be useful in coupling an implantable medical device, is comprised of a first and second lead. The first lead has a first electrode coupled adjacent a distal end portion thereof. The distal end portion of the first lead is anchorable in the coronary sinus of a patient. The second lead is coupled with and moveable along the first lead. The second lead has a second electrode located thereon wherein the position of the first and second electrodes may be varied relative to one another by movement of the second lead along the first lead. A rubber tip holds the relative position of each electrode.

Abstract: The integrated photoreceptor circuit includes a photosensitive area for picking up light and a processing unit area for processing the signals provided by the photosensitive area. This photoreceptor circuit includes electric contact pads, which are arranged symmetrically solely on the side of the processing unit area, which is juxtaposed with the photosensitive area. The integrated photoreceptor circuit is mounted on a first portion of a flexible substrate. The contact pads of the integrated photoreceptor circuit are electrically connected to electrical connection pads of the printed circuit of the flexible substrate. A second portion of the flexible substrate carries electrical connection terminals, which are connected to the connection pads via conductive paths, arranged in part on a connecting portion between the first and second portions. A through aperture in the first portion may be provided opposite the photosensitive area only of the photoreceptor circuit.

Abstract: The optoelectronic module (1) includes a photoreceptor circuit (3) for picking up light from a light source by reflection on an external surface. The photoreceptor circuit and the light source circuit are mounted on a substrate (2), and contact pads (6) of the circuits are electrically connected to pads of the substrate. The substrate pads are connected to conductive paths of the substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first portion (2a) on which the photoreceptor circuit (3) and light source circuit are mounted and electrically connected, a second portion (2b) including electrical connection terminals (9) and a connecting portion (2c) between the first portion and the second portion. This connecting portion connects some conductive paths of the first portion to the connection terminals of the second portion. The connecting portion allows the height and/or spacing of the second portion to be adjusted relative to the first portion when the module is mounted, particularly in a computer mouse.

Abstract: The method of making an optoelectronic module (10, 20), which includes a first light source circuit (5) and a second photoreceptor circuit (6) for picking up light from the first light source circuit reflected on an external surface. A first moulding (20) with an encapsulation material is made on one part of a lead frame (10) having several conductive paths (12) and an external frame (11) connecting all of the conductive paths. A first light source circuit (5) is placed on one portion of a first conductive path (13) of the lead frame that is not covered by the first moulding. A second photoreceptor circuit (6) is placed on one portion of a second conductive path (14) of the lead frame not covered by the first moulding. A through opening (21) is also made in the first moulding (20) between the external frame (11) and the location of the first light source circuit (5) to give access to the first connecting path (13) and to a third connecting path (15) for the first light source circuit.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead, which may be useful in coupling an implantable medical device, is comprised of a first and second lead. The first lead has a first electrode coupled adjacent a distal end portion thereof. The distal end portion of the first lead is anchorable in the coronary sinus of a patient. The second lead is coupled with and moveable along the first lead. The second lead has a second electrode located thereon wherein the position of the first and second electrodes may be varied relative to one another by movement of the second lead along the first lead. A rubber tip holds the relative position of each electrode.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical sensing device having a light source and a photodetector device with at least one photosensitive element. A surface portion is illuminated with radiation by the light source and the radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion is detected with a photosensitive element. While said surface portion is being illuminated, an output signal of the photosensitive element over time is integrated, the output signal integration level is compared with a first integration reference level during integration; the integration step is interrupted if the output signal integration level has reached the first integration reference level, or the comparison step is repeated until a first integration period has elapsed if the output signal integration level has not reached the first integration reference level.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical sensing device having a light source and a photodetector device with at least one photosensitive element, said method comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating a surface portion with radiation by means of said light source; (ii) detecting radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion with said at least one photosensitive element; (iii)while said surface portion is being illuminated, integrating an output signal of said at least one photosensitive element over time; (iv)comparing the output signal integration level with a first integration reference level during integration; (v) interrupting said integration step (iii) if said output signal integration level has reached said first integration reference level, or getting back to comparison step (iv) until a first integration period has elapsed if said output signal integration level has not reached said first integration reference level, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: (vi) comparing said outp

Abstract: A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells (30), the optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device (10) for tracking motion with respect to a surface (S) and comprising motion sensing circuitry (12) coupled to an optical sensor (15) and at least one light source (14) for illuminating a portion of the surface. The method comprises the steps of (i) monitoring the power output of the said one or more battery cells (30), (ii) detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status (EOL) and (iii) upon detection of the low battery status, switching the optical pointing device into a low power consumption mode where power consumption of the optical pointing device is reduced and performance of the optical motion sensing device is partially degraded. An optical pointing device implementing this method.

Abstract: There is described a method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells (30), the optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device (10) for tracking motion with respect to a surface (S) and comprising motion sensing circuitry (12) coupled to an optical sensor (15) and at least one light source (14) for illuminating a portion of the surface. The method comprises the steps of (i) monitoring the power output of the said one or more battery cells (30), (ii) detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status (EOL) and (iii) upon detection of the low battery status, switching the optical pointing device into a low power consumption mode where power consumption of the optical pointing device is reduced and performance of the optical motion sensing device is partially degraded. There is also described an optical pointing device implementing this method.

Abstract: There is described a method of providing indication of low battery status of a battery-powered pointing device designed for detecting motion and outputting motion reports representative of the detected motion, the method comprising the steps of detecting low battery status of the pointing device and affecting output of the motion reports, upon detection of the low battery status, by adding determined and/or pseudo-random components of motion to the motion reports.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead, which may be useful in coupling an implantable medical device, is comprised of a first and second lead. The first lead has a first electrode coupled adjacent a distal end portion thereof. The distal end portion of the first lead is anchorable in the coronary sinus of a patient. The second lead is coupled with and moveable along the first lead. The second lead has a second electrode located thereon wherein the position of the first and second electrodes may be varied relative to one another by movement of the second lead along the first lead. A rubber tip holds the relative position of each electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for continually monitoring the occurrence of contraction during stimulation of skeletal muscle which is employed in a cardiac assist-type system. During delivery of a periodic burst, or train of stimulus pulses, the impedance of the muscle between the electrodes through which the pulses are delivered is monitored, and evaluated to determine whether or not stimulation has been achieved. In a particular embodiment, the impedance and impedance derivative values are accumulated throughout the burst, and assessed to determine whether the impedance change corresponded to a full muscle contraction. In the event of failure to stimulate the muscle to contraction, the system can automatically adjust the pulse output parameters to achieve reliable contraction.

Abstract: Photosensor comprising a network (R) of cells ( . . . , Cn-1, Cn, Cn+1, Cn+2, . . . ) each comprising a photosensitive component (PH) and an exploitation circuit (CE) for allowing the transfer of a measurement signal coming from the cell ( . . . , Cn-1, Cn, Cn+1, Cn+2, . . . ) and due to the illumination of this cell, to a common output (SC) of the photosensor. An addressing signal allows to sequentially connect all the cells to said common output. According to the invention, each cell also comprises an integrated conductive region (RC) forming together with said photosensitive component (PH) a test capacitor (CPT) which is coupled to the parasite capacitor (CP).

Abstract: A wafer (10) is described comprising several integrated optoelectronic circuits of a first type (11), such circuits of the first type each comprising electronic modules (13) and at least a first photodiode (14).Said wafer (10) is characterised in that it further comprises at least one integrated optoelectronic circuit of a second type (21) comprising electronic modules (23), at least one second photodiode (24) and at least one bonding pad (25) intended to be connected to an external measuring apparatus, said at least one bonding pad (25) being superposed onto said at least one second photodiode (24) so that said at least one circuit (21) of the second type may be used as a circuit for verifying the manufacturing of said wafer.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead having active fixation which readily flexes within the cardiac tissue through a fixation mechanism which is temporarily rigid. In a preferred embodiment, the medical electrical lead features a fixation helix constructed from an absorbable material, such as mannitol. In an alternate embodiment a medical electrical lead is disclosed which features a fixation mechanism having a multi-layer construction. In that embodiment the fixation mechanism is fashioned of a first, rigid and absorbable, material and a second, readily pliable and nonabsorbable, material. Through such a construction the lead may be fixed in the tissue such that over time the first material is absorbed by the body and the second material is left in position to flexibly fix the lead in place. In one embodiment the second material is conductive and is used to achieve an electrical coupling to the body tissue.