Abstract: A method of determining, by a first device capable of transmitting a two-state signal over a single-wire connection to a second device, the binary state of data transmitted by the second device over said connection, the state being determined according to the slope of a rising edge of the two-state signal.

Abstract: A method of detection of the presence of a contactless communication element by a terminal emitting an electromagnetic field, in which an oscillating circuit of the terminal is excited at a frequency which is made variable between two values surrounding a nominal tuning frequency of the oscillating circuit; a signal representative of the load of the oscillating circuit being interpreted to detect that a reference voltage has not been exceeded, which indicates the presence of an element in the field. A presence-detection circuit and a corresponding terminal.

Abstract: A photolithography method includes projecting a light beam through a mask onto a photosensitive layer to form on the photosensitive layer an image of a mask pattern formed by the mask, and controlling a layer of active elements of the mask so that the light beam after having traversed the layer of active elements, reproduces the mask pattern onto the photosensitive layer. The active elements are distributed throughout the layer of active elements in conformance with a matrical organization of lines and columns, each active element being individually controllable to take a state transparent to the light of the light beam, or else a state opaque to or reflecting of the light of the light beam, as a function of a command signal supplied to the active element.

Abstract: A method of detection of the presence of a contactless communication element by a terminal emitting an electromagnetic field, in which an oscillating circuit of the terminal is excited at a frequency which is made variable between two values surrounding a nominal tuning frequency of the oscillating circuit; a signal representative of the load of the oscillating circuit being interpreted to detect that a reference voltage has not been exceeded, which indicates the presence of an element in the field. A presence-detection circuit and a corresponding terminal.

Abstract: A method of determining, by a first device capable of transmitting a two-state signal over a single-wire connection to a second device, the binary state of data transmitted by the second device over said connection, the state being determined according to the slope of a rising edge of the two-state signal.

Abstract: A method and a device of transmission/reception by inductive coupling including circuitry for generating an AQ.C. signal intended to drive an oscillating circuit and circuitry intended to modulate the impedance of the oscillating circuit when data is to be transmitted, the oscillating circuit including an inductive element forming an antenna in parallel with a first capacitive element; and at least one second capacitive element in series with a switch, all in parallel with the first capacitive element and the antenna, the modulating circuitry being connected between the terminals of the antenna and the circuitry for generating the AQ.C. signal being connected to the junction point of the second capacitive element and of the switch.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transponder comprising: an oscillating circuit; a first rectifying bridge having its A.C. input terminals connected across the oscillating circuit and having its rectified output terminals connected at least to a voltage regulator in charge of providing a supply voltage; and a second rectifying bridge, of dimension smaller than that of the first bridge, having its two A.C. input terminals connected across the oscillating circuit and having at least one output terminal connected to a demodulator of data sensed by the oscillating circuit.

Abstract: A dual-mode smart card comprising several pads of physical contact with an external reader and two pads of connection to an antenna for a contactless operation, and comprising a voltage regulator capable of extracting from a radio frequency excitation reaching the antenna, a supply voltage of the chip's processing circuits, this regulator being controllable by a central circuit to be deactivated in the presence of a supply voltage on contacts of the chip.

Abstract: An amplitude demodulator comprising a capacitive element for filtering a first D.C. component of a received signal, an element for detecting edges in the signal provided by the capacitive element, and at least one switching element for forcing, at least after detection of an edge, the returning of the signal provided by the capacitive element to a second D.C. component.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transponder intended to draw the power necessary to its operation of from a field radiated by a terminal of transmission of a carrier at a first supply frequency and to back-modulate the received signal at the rate of a sub-carrier at a second frequency lower than the first one, and comprising means capable of demodulating and decoding signals modulated by said sub-carrier, as well as a system of communication between such transponders.

Abstract: An amplitude demodulator comprising a capacitive element for filtering a first D.C. component of a received signal, an element for detecting edges in the signal provided by the capacitive element, and at least one switching element for forcing, at least after detection of an edge, the returning of the signal provided by the capacitive element to a second D.C. component.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transponder comprising: an oscillating circuit; a first rectifying bridge having its A.C. input terminals connected across the oscillating circuit and having its rectified output terminals connected at least to a voltage regulator in charge of providing a supply voltage; and a second rectifying bridge, of dimension smaller than that of the first bridge, having its two A.C. input terminals connected across the oscillating circuit and having at least one output terminal connected to a demodulator of data sensed by the oscillating circuit.

Abstract: A dual-mode smart card comprising several pads of physical contact with an external reader and two pads of connection to an antenna for a contactless operation, and comprising a voltage regulator capable of extracting from a radio frequency excitation reaching the antenna, a supply voltage of the chip's processing circuits, this regulator being controllable by a central circuit to be deactivated in the presence of a supply voltage on contacts of the chip.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transponder intended to draw the power necessary to its operation of from a field radiated by a terminal of transmission of a carrier at a first supply frequency and to back-modulate the received signal at the rate of a sub-carrier at a second frequency lower than the first one, and comprising means capable of demodulating and decoding signals modulated by said sub-carrier, as well as a system of communication between such transponders.

Abstract: A control circuit (52) for controlling power supplied to an igniter element (54), includes a first input (70) for receiving an encoded input signal generated in response to the initiation of a firing mode and a diagnostic mode. The encoded input signal comprises a code portion (100) having at least two pulses, and a power portion (102). Logic circuitry (74) determines whether the code portion (100) is valid, the code portion (100) being determined valid when it meets predefined conditions within a predetermined time window, and provides an unlocking signal (Sfire) at an output (76) when the code portion (100) is determined to be valid. A switch (78), which has a control input coupled to the output (76) of the logic circuitry (74), is enabled on receipt of the unlocking signal so that power at the first input (70) of the control circuit (52) is supplied to the output of the switch for energizing the igniter element (54).