Abstract: A coiling limitation device for a timepiece barrel includes at least one non-return notch arranged to cooperate with a sliding flange of the spring of the barrel, which is integrated in a watch including a resonator cooperating with an escapement mechanism. This device includes an acoustic device for the acoustic monitoring of the coiling of the barrel of a watch positioned on a receptacle included by the device, which acoustic devices are arranged to identify a click noise during each start of cooperation between the sliding flange and a notch. The device includes piloting devices arranged to stop the coiling of the barrel at the instant of the perception of the click noise or the repetition of the click noise.

Abstract: The present description concerns a circuit (5) for monitoring the operation of a component (1) associated with equipment (3), comprising: at least one device (100) for measuring one or a plurality of physical quantities associated with the operation of the component; and a circuit for calculating a value representative of a remaining lifetime of a component, said monitoring circuit (5) being linked to the equipment.

Abstract: A circuit for comparing a voltage with a threshold, including: first and second nodes of application of the voltage; a first branch including a first transistor series-connected with a first resistor between first and second nodes; a second branch parallel to the first branch, including second and third series-connected resistors forming a voltage dividing bridge between the first and second nodes, the midpoint of the dividing bridge being connected to a control node of the first transistor; and a third branch including a second transistor in series with a resistive and/or capacitive element, between the control node of the first transistor and the first or second node, a control node of the second transistor being connected to the junction point of the first transistor and of the first resistor.

Abstract: Gyrometer including a substrate and an inertial mass suspended above the substrate, the inertial mass including an excitation part and a detection part, means of moving the excitation part is movable in at least one direction contained in the plane of the inertial mass, and capacitive detection device detecting movement of the detection part outside the plane of the mass. The capacitive detection device includes comprising at least one suspended electrode, located above the detection part located facing the substrate so as to form a variable capacitor with the detection part, the electrode being held above the detection part by at least one pillar passing through the inertial mass.

Abstract: A circuit for comparing a voltage with a threshold, including: first and second nodes of application of the voltage; a first branch including a first transistor series-connected with a first resistor between first and second nodes; a second branch parallel to the first branch, including second and third series-connected resistors forming a voltage dividing bridge between the first and second nodes, the midpoint of the dividing bridge being connected to a control node of the first transistor; and a third branch including a second transistor in series with a resistive and/or capacitive element, between the control node of the first transistor and the first or second node, a control node of the second transistor being connected to the junction point of the first transistor and of the first resistor.

Abstract: A converter circuit to be connected to an electrical energy source capable of showing major fluctuations in delivered power includes a chopper circuit with a variable duty cycle and connectable to the electrical energy source, an output circuit adapted for connection to the chopper circuit, a control loop for tracking an MPP of the energy source connected to an output of the energy source, and a control unit configured to command, at predefined intervals, changes in the chopper circuit's duty cycle as a function of the control loop's set-value signal. The control loop includes means for analog storage of pieces of information corresponding to output voltages from the energy source for at least three successive duty cycles, and an analog comparison unit delivering an output, as a function of the stored pieces of information, and a set-value signal for increasing or reducing of the duty cycle by the control unit.

Abstract: Gyrometer comprising a substrate and an inertial mass suspended above the substrate, the inertial mass comprising an excitation part and a detection part, means of moving the excitation part in at least one direction contained in the plane of said inertial mass, and capacitive detection means detecting movement of said detection part outside the plane of said mass, said capacitive detection means comprising at least one suspended electrode, located above the detection part located facing the substrate so as to form a variable capacitor with said detection part, said electrode being held above said detection part by at least one pillar passing through the inertial mass.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlling a device for converting charge into voltage comprising an amplifier and at least one capacitor mounted in inverse feedback between an input and an output of said amplifier, whereby said amplifier can be connected between at least one input stage, to receive a charge therefrom, and at least one output stage to deliver voltage thereto, said voltage being representative of the charge received at the input, said method comprising at least one phase comprising the voltage conversion of a charge received at the input. According to the invention the conversion phase comprises at least: one first sub-phase during which the amplifier is connected to the input stage and the amplifier is disconnected from the output stage; followed, by a second sub-phase during which the amplifier is disconnected from the input stage and the amplifier is connected to the output stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlling a device for converting charge into voltage comprising an amplifier and at least one capacitor mounted in inverse feedback between an input and an output of said amplifier, whereby said amplifier can be connected between at least one input stage, to receive a charge therefrom, and at least one output stage to deliver voltage thereto, said voltage being representative of the charge received at the input, said method comprising at least one phase comprising the voltage conversion of a charge received at the input. According to the invention the conversion phase comprises at least: one first sub-phase during which the amplifier is connected to the input stage and the amplifier is disconnected from the output stage; followed, by a second sub-phase during which the amplifier is disconnected from the input stage and the amplifier is connected to the output stage.

Abstract: A converter circuit to be connected to an electrical energy source capable of showing major fluctuations in delivered power includes a chopper circuit with a variable duty cycle and connectable to the electrical energy source, an output circuit adapted for connection to the chopper circuit, a control loop for tracking an MPP of the energy source connected to an output of the energy source, and a control unit configured to command, at predefined intervals, changes in the chopper circuit's duty cycle as a function of the control loop's set-value signal. The control loop includes means for analog storage of pieces of information corresponding to output voltages from the energy source for at least three successive duty cycles, and an analog comparison unit delivering an output, as a function of the stored pieces of information, and a set-value signal for increasing or reducing of the duty cycle by the control unit.

Abstract: A converter circuit for connecting to a source of electrical energy that is capable of major fluctuations in delivered power. The circuit includes a chopper circuit having a variable duty cycle, a variable-size chopper switch and an input terminal connectable to said electric energy source; at least one first output circuit adapted to being connected via a variable-size chopper switch to an output terminal of the chopper circuit; and a control circuit configured to control firstly the duty cycle of the chopper circuit and secondly the size of said variable-size switches as a function of the power delivered by said electrical energy source.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlling a device for converting charge into voltage comprising an amplifier and at least one capacitor mounted in inverse feedback between an input and an output of said amplifier, whereby said amplifier can be connected between at least one input stage, to receive a charge therefrom, and at least one output stage to deliver voltage thereto, said voltage being representative of the charge received at the input, said method comprising at least one phase comprising the voltage conversion of a charge received at the input. According to the invention the conversion phase comprises at least: one first sub-phase during which the amplifier is connected to the input stage and the amplifier is disconnected from the output stage; followed, by a second sub-phase during which the amplifier is disconnected from the input stage and the amplifier is connected to the output stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlling a device for converting charge into voltage comprising an amplifier and at least one capacitor mounted in inverse feedback between an input and an output of said amplifier, whereby said amplifier can be connected between at least one input stage, to receive a charge therefrom, and at least one output stage to deliver voltage thereto, said voltage being representative of the charge received at the input, said method comprising at least one phase comprising the voltage conversion of a charge received at the input. According to the invention the conversion phase comprises at least: one first sub-phase during which the amplifier is connected to the input stage and the amplifier is disconnected from the output stage; followed, by a second sub-phase during which the amplifier is disconnected from the input stage and the amplifier is connected to the output stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microgyroscope, that is to say an inertial micromechanical sensor dedicated to the measurement of angular velocities, which is produced by micromachining techniques, and has a novel arrangement of the modules for measuring the movement of the vibrating masses. The gyroscope comprises two symmetrical moving assemblies (30, 50; 30?, 50?) that are coupled by a coupling structure (20, 20?, 22). Each of the two assemblies comprises a moving mass (30) surrounded by a moving intermediate frame (50). The frame (50) is connected to the coupling structure (20, 20?, 22) and can vibrate in two degrees of freedom in orthogonal directions Ox and Oy of the plane of the wafer. The mass (30) is connected, on one side, to the frame and, on the other side, to fixed anchoring regions (34, 36) via linking means (40-46; 52-58) that allow the vibration movement in the Oy direction to be transmitted to the mass without permitting any movement of the mass in the Ox direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of correcting the effects of aging of a measurement sensor upon turning on the sensor. It also relates to a device delivering measurements corrected for the effects of aging of the device. According to the invention, the method of correcting the effects of aging of a sensor starts by on turning on the processing unit. The absolute time information is transmitted from a satellite positioning receiver to a processing unit. The age of the sensor is determined by comparison of the date of manufacture of the sensor and the absolute time information. Corrections to be made to a sensor measurement, based on the age of the sensor and on the degradation law, are determined. The corrections are applied to the sensor measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of correcting the effects of aging of a measurement sensor upon turning on the sensor. It also relates to a device delivering measurements corrected for the effects of aging of the device. According to the invention, the method of correcting the effects of aging of a sensor starts by on turning on the processing unit. The absolute time information is transmitted from a satellite positioning receiver to a processing unit. The age of the sensor is determined by comparison of the date of manufacture of the sensor and the absolute time information. Corrections to be made to a sensor measurement, based on the age of the sensor and on the degradation law, are determined. The corrections are applied to the sensor measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microgyroscope, that is to say an inertial micromechanical sensor dedicated to the measurement of angular velocities, which is produced by micromachining techniques, and has a novel arrangement of the modules for measuring the movement of the vibrating masses. The gyroscope comprises two symmetrical moving assemblies (30, 50; 30?, 50?) that are coupled by a coupling structure (20, 20?, 22). Each of the two assemblies comprises a moving mass (30) surrounded by a moving intermediate frame (50). The frame (50) is connected to the coupling structure (20, 20?, 22) and can vibrate in two degrees of freedom in orthogonal directions Ox and Oy of the plane of the wafer. The mass (30) is connected, on one side, to the frame and, on the other side, to fixed anchoring regions (34, 36) via linking means (40-46; 52-58) that allow the vibration movement in the Oy direction to be transmitted to the mass without permitting any movement of the mass in the Ox direction.