Abstract: A conductive pattern, made of a transparent conductive oxide, such as ITO including electrodes (2) and conductive paths (4) is formed on one face of a transparent substrate (3) made of sapphire or toughened glass, then coated with a first layer (5) of a transparent dielectric with a low refractive index, such as MgF2 or LiF2, and then a second layer (7) of another transparent dielectric having a higher refractive index than the first, such as Al2O3, Ta2O5 or DLC.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a transparent element including transparent electrodes, said method including the steps of: depositing over at least one part of the surface of a transparent substrate (1) a layer (2) of a conductive oxide that is also transparent, and structuring in said conductive oxide layer (2) at least one electrode (4) connected to a contact pad (8) by a conductive path (6) by removing said oxide along the contour of the desired electrode (4, 6, 8) so as to create a trimming line (10) which will insulate the part (12) of the conductive oxide layer (2), which forms the electrode (4, 6, 8) and which is to be brought to an electric potential, from the rest (14) of the conductive oxide layer (2) which will be floating, this method being wherein at least a second trimming line (10?) is made around the first (10).

Abstract: The present invention is a lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type. The invention includes a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light. The invention also concerns a method for controlling the lighting of an apparatus of the aforementioned type.

Abstract: A light source (15) is housed in a housing (6) of a case, underneath the dial (10) opposite a guide (17) directing the light onto a reflector (20), formed in a hollow in the internal or external face of a crystal (1) the thickness of which decreases regularly from the center to the periphery thereof for reorienting the light by total internal reflection into the crystal (1) until it emerges towards the dial (10) when the maximum refractive index is exceeded.

Abstract: A light source (15) is housed in a housing (6) of a case, underneath the dial (10) opposite a guide (17) directing the light onto a reflector (20), formed in a hollow in the internal or external face of a crystal (1) the thickness of which decreases regularly from the centre to the periphery thereof for reorienting the light by total internal reflection into the crystal (1) until it emerges towards the dial (10) when the maximum refractive index is exceeded.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for operating a CMOS image sensor including a matrix of pixels arranged in a plurality of lines and columns. Each of the pixels include a photosensor element that accumulates charge carriers in proportion to the illumination. A storage device is able to be coupled to the photosensor element at a determined instant in order to generate a sampled signal, which is representative of the charge carriers accumulated by the photosensor. The storage device is intended to assure storage for the purpose of reading the sampling signal. According to the present invention, when the sampled signal which is stored across the storage means is read, the photosensor element is held at a voltage such that any charge carrier generated by the latter is drained and thus does not disturb the sampled signal stored on the storage device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable electronic object (1) consisting of a “voice” user interface (2) containing sound signal-reception means (3) and a management unit (8) comprising sound signal-processing means (9a). The invention is characterised in that it also comprises an ambient noise sensor (10) which can be used to measure the level of ambient noise (Bm), said sensor being connected to the aformementioned control unit. The invention is further characterised in that the control unit also comprises comparison means (12a) which are used to compare the measured ambient noise level with a pre-defined noise level (Bo), and control means (13) which are arranged such as to deactivate the sound signal-processing means when the ambient noise level exceeds the pre-defined noise level (Bm>Bo).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electro-optical display cell (1; 18), particularly a liquid crystal cell, or electrochemical photovoltaic cell comprising: at least one transparent front substrate (2; 20) whose top surface forms the front face (14) of the cell (1; 18); at least one back substrate (8; 22) that may also be transparent or not, whose lower surface (12; 31) forms the back face of said cell (1; 18); a sealing frame (36) joining the front (20) and back (22) substrates and defining a volume (38) for retaining an electro-optically or photo-electrically active medium in a sealed manner; said front (20) and back (22) substrates including on their faces opposite to each other at least one electrode (24, 26) each, these electrodes (24, 26) being intended to be connected by conductive paths (16; 30, 34) to an electrical power or control circuit (10; 56) and defining lateral electric contact zones (28, 32), said cell being characterised in that the conductive paths (30, 34) are each formed of a firs

Abstract: A level-shifter architecture with high-voltage driving capability and extremely low power consumption, exploiting dynamic control of the charge on the gate electrodes of the high-voltage output transistors, is provided. The architecture can be integrated in CMOS technology and can be applied to various applications, including monolithic integration of high-voltage display driver circuits in battery-powered applications.

Abstract: The present invention is a lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type. The invention includes a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light. The invention also concerns a method for controlling the lighting of an apparatus of the aforementioned type.

Abstract: A conductive pattern, made of a transparent conductive oxide, such as ITO including electrodes (2) and conductive paths (4) is formed on one face of a transparent substrate (3) made of sapphire or toughened glass, then coated with a first layer (5) of a transparent dielectric with a low refractive index, such as MgF2 or LiF2, and then a second layer (7) of another transparent dielectric having a higher refractive index than the first, such as Al2O3, Ta2O5 or DLC.

Abstract: The electrodes (7) and the contact zones (15) are structured in a film of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), deposited on a transparent support (1) possibly coated with an intermediate film (3), while being separated by dielectric spaces (9) formed by nano fissures (11) obtained by UV radiation and passing through the TCO film. A protective film (13) can coat the electrodes (7) and the dielectric spaces (9).

Abstract: The present invention is a lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type. The invention including a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light. The invention also concerns a method for controlling the lighting of an apparatus of the aforementioned type.

Abstract: The substrate with electrodes is formed of a transparent material onto which is deposited a film (1) of a transparent conductive material of thickness e1 and of refractive index n1, said film being structured to form a set of electrodes (1a) whose contours (8) delimit insulating spaces (3), wherein the insulating spaces (3) are filled with a transparent dielectric material of thickness e2 and of refractive index n2 so that the respective thicknesses of the conductive material and the dielectric material are inversely proportional to the values of the refractive indices of said materials and said dielectric material forms neither depressions nor beads at the contour (8) of the electrodes. A hardcoating layer (7) may be disposed between the substrate (5) and the electrodes and a protective film (9) added.

Abstract: There is disclosed a CMOS technology image sensor and a method for operating such an image sensor. This sensor includes a plurality of pixels (50) each including a photo-sensor element (PD) producing charge carriers in proportion to its illumination and storage means (C1) capable of being coupled and uncoupled from the photo-sensor element at a determined instant in order to store, on a memory node (B) of the pixel, a measuring signal representative of the charge carriers produced by said photo-sensor element during an exposure phase.

Abstract: A level-shifter architecture with high-voltage driving capability and extremely low power consumption, exploiting dynamic control of the charge on the gate electrodes of the high-voltage output transistors, is provided. The architecture can be integrated in CMOS technology and can be applied to various applications, including monolithic integration of high-voltage display driver circuits in battery-powered applications.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate arranged on a front side, i.e., arranged on the side receiving an incident light, and a second substrate arranged on a back side, so that this second substrate extends facing the front substrate parallel thereto, the first and second substrates being connected via a sealing frame in order to delimit between them a cavity for containing the liquid crystals and including on their opposite faces a first and a second group of electrodes, respectively. The display device is connected to a control circuit for supplying suitable control voltages to selected electrodes in order to modify the optical conditions of the liquid crystal into a reflective state or into a transparent state. The display device further includes an absorbent black layer made of an electrically non-conductive material, wherein the absorbent black layer is arranged either at the surface of the second substrate or on the second group of electrodes that is formed on the second substrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic device for generating and displaying an item of information, including a flexible body (2) shaped to be able, for example, to be secured to a user's wrist, an electronic unit (18) for generating the information, at least a display cell (20) for displaying said information, and an electric power source (22) for powering the electronic unit (18), wherein the flexible body (2) has, at at least one location on its length, an overthickness of material forming a rigid receptacle (28) in the inner cavity of which is arranged said electronic unit (18).

Abstract: Lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type including a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device, said lighting device being characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus (3) of small dimensions includes a sensor (4) and a lens assembly formed of focussing lenses (8, 9, 10) arranged in a frame (12). The sensor is arranged on a first face (16) of a support (18), which has an aperture (20) facing which is arranged the photosensitive surface (6) of said sensor. On the other side, on the second face (22) of the support is arranged the lens assembly frame such that the lenses are substantially aligned with the support aperture and the photosensitive surface. The sensor is formed of a semiconductor substrate defining the photosensitive surface and having at the periphery thereof pads or bumps for electric contact with the support.