Abstract: A method for providing information about a mechanical wristwatch, including the following steps, performed by the wristwatch: harvesting an intermittently available external energy, storing the harvested energy, at the end of a predefined period of time, generating an analysis report on an activity of the owner of the wristwatch, based at least on the times and durations of availability of the external energy, when or after the harvested energy quantity reaches a threshold, the threshold being on or above an energy level required to power a transmission unit of the wristwatch, wirelessly transmitting the analysis report to a distant reader with the transmission unit.

Abstract: A method for providing information about a mechanical wristwatch, including the following steps, performed by the wristwatch: harvesting an intermittently available external energy, storing the harvested energy, at the end of a predefined period of time, generating an analysis report on an activity of the owner of the wristwatch, based at least on the times and durations of availability of the external energy, when or after the harvested energy quantity reaches a threshold, the threshold being on or above an energy level required to power a transmission unit of the wristwatch, wirelessly transmitting the analysis report to a distant reader with the transmission unit.

Abstract: A transmitter-receiver includes an electronic chip a mixer for mixing the frequency of a received radio frequency signal with that of an oscillating signal supplied by a first frequency synthesizer in, a switch having two inputs connected to an output of the mixer and to an auxiliary input terminal, a filter and gain stage connected to the output of the switch, and a modulator-demodulator connected to the output of the filter and gain stage. The first frequency synthesizer is connected between the output of the modulator-demodulator and radio frequency input and output terminal, and configured to supply a frequency-modulated signal to the radio frequency input and output terminal.

Abstract: A transmitter-receiver includes an electronic chip a mixer for mixing the frequency of a received radio frequency signal with that of an oscillating signal supplied by a first frequency synthesizer in, a switch having two inputs connected to an output of the mixer and to an auxiliary input terminal, a filter and gain stage connected to the output of the switch, and a modulator-demodulator connected to the output of the filter and gain stage. The first frequency synthesizer is connected between the output of the modulator-demodulator and radio frequency input and output terminal, and configured to supply a frequency-modulated signal to the radio frequency input and output terminal.

Abstract: The system (4) is provided for managing at least one sub-assembly (2) of an electric battery. Each sub-assembly comprises a plurality of power storage cells (12). The system includes, for each power storage cell, a circuit (14) for managing the state of the cell and a communication circuit (16), which is configured such that it receives and transmits data relative to the cell. The communication circuit is configured such that it transposes, over a carrier frequency, the data to be received and transmitted, the value of said carrier frequency being greater than or equal to 1 GHz. The management system further includes, for each sub-assembly, a loss cable (18) connecting the power storage cells of said sub-assembly. The loss cable acts as a waveguide and is coupled by capacitive coupling to the communication circuit of each power storage cell.

Abstract: A method for providing information about a mechanical wristwatch, including the following steps, performed by the wristwatch: harvesting an intermittently available external energy, storing the harvested energy, at the end of a predefined period of time, generating an analysis report on an activity of the owner of the wristwatch, based at least on the times and durations of availability of the external energy, when or after the harvested energy quantity reaches a threshold, the threshold being on or above an energy level required to power a transmission unit of the wristwatch, wirelessly transmitting the analysis report to a distant reader with the transmission unit.

Abstract: A portable object includes a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an electronic chip provided with two terminals connected to an electrical circuit including an antenna and a filter. The communication device is provided to receive and transmit at a defined frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit. The portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position in which the communication device is activated and a passive position in which the communication device is deactivated. The electrical circuit includes, furthermore, a bypass branch provided with a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions causing a modification in the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A portable object includes a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an electronic chip provided with two terminals connected to an electrical circuit including an antenna and a filter. The communication device is provided to receive and transmit at a defined frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit. The portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position in which the communication device is activated and a passive position in which the communication device is deactivated. The electrical circuit includes, furthermore, a bypass branch provided with a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions causing a modification in the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A portable object including a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an antenna, the ends of which are configured to be connected electrically to an electronic chip, forming, together with the chip, an electrical circuit. In an original manner, the portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position wherein the communication device is activated and a passive position wherein the communication device is deactivated. The portable object includes, furthermore, a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions.

Abstract: Optimized RF telemetry transmission between an active implantable medical device and a remote external receiver in which the information to be transmitted are grouped by class (TYPE 0, TYPE 1, . . . , TYPE n) according to a criticality index (IC) defining a priority rank as between the different information classes to be transmitted. A plurality of modulation schemes and of data rates characterize different transmission configurations, each with a reliability index inversely related to the probability of failure of transmission in a noisy environment. The criticality indexes of the highest priorities are assigned to the transmission configurations with the higher reliability indexes. On an information transmission request, an RF telemetry transmission configuration is selected (52-62) depending on the criticality index characterizing the information to be transmitted. The transmission is operated (64, 66) with the transmission configuration thus selected.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for communicating between an apparatus, such as a medical device, and a remote device are provided. One method includes determining a first indicator representative of a long-term availability for each of a plurality of channels for communication between a medical device and a remote device. The method further includes receiving a communication request from the remote device and, in response to the communication request, determining a second indicator representative of a short-term availability for each of the plurality of channels. The method further includes selecting a communication channel from the plurality of channels based on the first and second indicators.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for communicating between an apparatus, such as a medical device, and a remote device are provided. One method includes determining a first indicator representative of a long-term availability for each of a plurality of channels for communication between a medical device and a remote device. The method further includes receiving a communication request from the remote device and, in response to the communication request, determining a second indicator representative of a short-term availability for each of the plurality of channels. The method further includes selecting a communication channel from the plurality of channels based on the first and second indicators.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for searching and selecting an RF telemetry channel to establish a link between an active medical device and a remote device is disclosed. In the absence of any communication request, the available communication channels are scanned periodically to perform a long-term analysis. For each channel, a long-term indicator (iCLT) that is representative of a long-term availability is generated. Upon receipt of a communication request from the remote device, the communication channels are scanned to perform a short-term analysis, a short-term indicator (iCCT) that is representative of the short-term availability is generated. The short-term indicator is weighted by the long-term indicator, to generate a weighted short-term indicator (iCP). Based on the weighted short-term indicator, a communication channel is selected as the communication channel for the communication request.

Abstract: Optimized RF telemetry transmission between an active implantable medical device and a remote external receiver in which the information to be transmitted are grouped by class (TYPE 0, TYPE 1, . . . , TYPE n) according to a criticality index (IC) defining a priority rank as between the different information classes to be transmitted. A plurality of modulation schemes and of data rates characterize different transmission configurations, each with a reliability index inversely related to the probability of failure of transmission in a noisy environment. The criticality indexes of the highest priorities are assigned to the transmission configurations with the higher reliability indexes. On an information transmission request, an RF telemetry transmission configuration is selected (52-62) depending on the criticality index characterizing the information to be transmitted. The transmission is operated (64, 66) with the transmission configuration thus selected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for searching and selecting an RF telemetry channel to establish a link between an active medical device and a remote device is disclosed. In the absence of any communication request, the available communication channels are scanned periodically to perform a long-term analysis. For each channel, a long-term indicator (iCLT) that is representative of a long-term availability is generated. Upon receipt of a communication request from the remote device, the communication channels are scanned to perform a short-term analysis, a short-term indicator (iCCT) that is representative of the short-term availability is generated. The short-term indicator is weighted by the long-term indicator, to generate a weighted short-term indicator (iCP). Based on the weighted short-term indicator, a communication channel is selected as the communication channel for the communication request.

Abstract: A slot antenna device for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) waves, connectable to a radio communication device including signal processing circuitry, includes a substantially planar conductive antenna element provided with a slot, and with feeding and grounding points respectively located at opposite sides of the slot; a substantially planar RF ground conductor located substantially in parallel with the planar conductive antenna element; a grounding connector connecting the planar ground conductor to the grounding point; and a feeding connector connecting the signal processing circuitry to the feeding point. The antenna device is connectable to the radio communication device such that the planar ground conductor is located between the conductive antenna element and the signal processing circuitry, to effectively shield the circuitry from RF waves.

Abstract: A slot antenna device for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) waves, connectable to a radio communication device including signal processing circuitry, includes a substantially planar conductive antenna element provided with a slot, and with feeding and grounding points respectively located at opposite sides of the slot; a substantially planar RF ground conductor located substantially in parallel with the planar conductive antenna element; a grounding connector connecting the planar ground conductor to the grounding point; and a feeding connector connecting the signal processing circuitry to the feeding point. The antenna device is connectable to the radio communication device such that the planar ground conductor is located between the conductive antenna element and the signal processing circuitry, to effectively shield the circuitry from RF waves.

Abstract: A matched antenna device (1) for a radio communication device, comprising a matching means (3, 33) and a first antenna element (4). The matched antenna device (1) comprises a flexible dielectric substrate (2) carrying the matching means (3, 33) on a first side (21). The matching means (3, 33) comprises a conductive pattern (3), having a first coupling means (31) and a second coupling means (32), and exhibits inductive and capacitive characteristics. The flexible substrate (2) is to be attached to the radio communication device so as to capacitively couple the conductive pattern (3) to signal ground of the radio communication device. The first coupling means (21) is to be coupled to the circuitry of the radio communication device, and the second coupling means (32) is coupled to a feed portion (42) of the first antenna element (4).