Abstract: The invention concerns an RF-type contactless chip card, comprising a sensor coil (1), an electronic circuit (2) connected to the coil and an antenna (3) made form a material with high magnetic permeability, including a first part located substantially in the plane of the coil upper surface (A), a second part located substantially in the plane of the coil lower surface (B) and a connecting part (C) located in the center of the coil. The latter part is dimensioned relative to the antenna (3) such that the voltages induced at its terminals are of the same order of magnitude, whether the antenna is parallel or perpendicular to the lines of flux generated by a reader.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing and assembling individual photovoltaic silicon cells on a metal substrate, including the operations of: making a metal plate (25) provided with cut out portions (26, 29) separated from each other by points of attachment (27) and delimiting the bases of a plurality of cells; depositing a stack of silicon layers then a metallization on said plate in order to form a group of individual cells (28a-b-c-d); transferring said group onto an interconnection support (30); and perforating the points of attachment in order to separate the cells from the rest of the plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a chip card associated with RF transmission means. Said chip card comprises on each surface high permeability zones arranged so as to concentrate the flux generated by the RF transmission means onto a sensor coil. To ensure the proper functioning of the system, the transmission means generate flux lines parallel to the surface of the chip card.

Abstract: The invention relates to a read or read-write label of an optical nature comprising a nonvolatile memory with its control circuit, a control or checking circuit for the charge of a buffer capacitor and a sequence generator making it possible to supply to the outside optical signal sequences in harmony with the states of the different circuits and analyze the optical signals coming from the outside.

Abstract: An electronic watch in which the position of the hands is managed by the electronic circuit for displaying data internal to the circuit, in particular time data. Said watch comprises means for detecting supply insufficiency combined for bringing and maintaining the hands on reference positions when such deficiency is detected, thus avoiding a discrepancy between the indications of the hands and the internal data which they must display when the supply source is back to normal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system which permits securing an electronic label on a test tube with the aid of a detachable support. The support allows also an easy connection between the label and a device for reading/writing the label, allowing a registration of the entirety of useful information of, for example, a blood analysis and a transfer of content of the label to a computer-assisted data base for data-treatment and storage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic label comprising typically a EEPROM-like memory device. Said label comprises electro-optical cells, allowing a power supply of the label when light hits said cells. Electro-optical components allow further to receive optical command signals and to transmit optical signals to the exterior, which light signals relate the content of said memory device.

Abstract: An electronic miniaturized memory device according to the invention has at least one integrated memory circuit (2,20) and an interconnection interface (3), said memory device comprises a case (1) being a housing for an electronic subsystem (17), said interconnection interface (3) comprises at least one central contact (7,70) for electrically contacting at least one integrated memory circuit (2,20) and said case (1) comprises projecting portion (14) facilitating the attaching of the memory device to a support (8), allowing the memory device to document information relative to the curriculum vitae of the support (8) or to elements in its environment.

Abstract: An electronic watch with a minute-repeater function wherein the strike is accompanied by characteristic movements of the hands. In a simple alternative embodiment, the watch comprises two independent hour and minute hands, driven by their own motor. When the minute-repeater function is activated, the two hands come first of all to 0, then return to their initial position making movements corresponding to each type of strike, hour strike=+1 hour, 15 minutes strike=+15 minutes, etc.

Abstract: In a method for bidirectional serial data transmission between an integrated memory circuit and a reading/writing circuit which are separated from each other, an integrated memory circuit having two electrical contact points and a reading/writing circuit with a connecting element having two contacts are provided. Data transmission is enabled by connecting the two-contact connecting element to the two electrical contact points of the integrated memory circuit. Data are transmitted from the reading/writing circuit to the integrated memory circuit by superimposing voltage pulses on the voltage supplied to the integrated memory circuit. Data are transmitted from the integrated memory circuit to the reading/writing circuit by modulating supply current consumed by the integrated memory circuit. The integrated memory circuit is driven with an internal clock output and signals corresponding with data to be transmitted to the reading/writing circuit.

Abstract: The memory device according to the invention has a rigid metallic part (1) ensuring a mechanical and electrical connection with a reading system. It incorporates an integrated EEPROM circuit with reading/writing by a power supply located internally of a hollow contact connected to the first power supply terminal of the IC and serving as a protective case. Everything is installed on a support (3) fixed in a slot (2) of the metallic part (1), which is connected to the second power supply terminal of the IC. It is possible to install several IC's in the same metallic part, so as to produce a multifunction device.

Abstract: An analogue display golf counter comprises a first example four hands independent of each other driven by four stepping motors. The position of the hands is controlled by an electronic system comprising counting, storing, processing and control means in response to programmed algorithms and to data introduced by means of two pushers. The first hand indicates the course position (hole), the second the operating mode, and the last two the number of points, one displaying the units with the sign and the other the tens. There are three operating modes, namely "simple total", "cumulative total" and "programming". In this latter mode, it is possible to program a standard course to which reference may be made.

Abstract: A miniature electronic label or tag includes a metal card, and an integrated memory circuit attached to a surface of said card. The integrated memory circuit has an outer surface facing the card, an electrically conductive region on the surface and two input/output conductors. A first conductor is electrically connected to the card and the second conductor is electrically connected to the electrically conductive region. An opening through said card adjacent said electrically conductive portion permits electrical connection to be made to the first conductor by electrical contact with said card and electrical connection to the second conductor can be made by contact with the electrically conductive region through the opening, either directly or indirectly.

Abstract: A watch comprising several hands driven independently of each other by several motors, and comprising a date function whereby the date is displayed on two scales, the first for the tens and the second for the units. Specific design features also allow the month, leap year and phases of the moon to be displayed. In a specific embodiment, the hands may be replaced by graduated discs.

Abstract: A method of analyzing the voltage induced in an exciter coil of a stepping motor. After energization the exciter coil is loaded by a low impedance so that the induction voltage can produce a current. Subsequently, it is attempted to maintain the current through said coil equal to zero by periodically connecting said coil to a positive or negative voltage. The pattern of consecutive polarities of these periodic energizations is analyzed.

Abstract: A control device for a stepping motor provided with a coil and a rotor performing a rotary movement when a current passes through the coil, comprising means for producing a plurality of time base signals, means for producing pulses for controlling the motor in response to said time base signals, means responsive to the control pulses for supplying the motor while maintaining the current in the coil at a substantially constant and given value. The device also comprises means for analyzing the voltage signal present on the coil or a signal which is representative thereof, and for supplying data concerning the voltage induced in the coil by the rotor movement.

Abstract: The timepiece includes a detector of the direction of the current in the winding of the motor which is used to detect the first reversal in current direction after the end of the driving pulse and to deliver a signal which is representative of this current direction. A comparator circuit (34-36, 38, 39, 48) is used to compare the moment of the appearance of this signal with a reference time which is fixed in relation to the driving pulse and to control a circuit (28-31, 33, 40, 44, 51, 46, 47) which controls the duration of the driving pulses in such a way that the instant at which the signal appears coincides with the reference time. This enables minimum energy to be imparted to the motor for a given variable load.

Abstract: The timepiece comprises a detector and control circuit for the stepping motor. This circuit comprises on the one hand an amplifier including at least a MOS transistor receiving on a first terminal a voltage representative of the current in the driving coil of the motor and having a second terminal joined up to a condenser connected to one of the poles of a power source. The amplifier delivers signals representative of the current in the condenser. The circuit comprises on the other hand means connected to the amplifier for controlling the driving pulses. The circuit is easy to integrate and it has a very low power consumption.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for a time-piece including an oscillator, a frequency divider, an electronic circuit for effecting at least one auxiliary function depending on information delivered to the inputs thereof, a circuit for controlling a display and a circuit for setting the time. The integrated circuit is provided with a first group of terminals for enabling connection of the integrated circuit with external components such as a piezo-electric resonator, the display, and the time-setting circuit.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprising means to appreciably increase the number of distinctive information which can be introduced and, if necessary memorized, for a given number of terminals intended for that purpose, information needed for the adjustment of the frequency. The integrated circuit of the timepiece is provided with a first group of m terminals and it comprises an introduction circuit having inputs reserved to introduce the desired information, these inputs being connected to a second group of n terminals of the integrated circuit. The introduction circuit has also control inputs and each of the n terminals of the second group is capable to be connected, by a connection external to the integrated circuit, with one of the m terminals of the first group. The introduction circuit is arranged in such a way as to deliver to its outputs, at least periodically, one distinctive information for each of the m.sup.n possible combinations of the mentioned connections.