The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Asulab S.a.

Em Microelectronic-marin Sa

Asulab

The Swatch Research and Development Ltd.

Arnaud Casagrande

Jean-Luc Arend

Carlos Velasquez

Emil Zellweger

Thierry Scordilis

Luca De Rosa

Jean Gorisse

Matthieu Grange

Philippe Duc

Zoran Randjelovic

Yves Oesch

Jerome Saby

Jean-Nicolas Pfeuti

Jérôme Saby

Carlos Velásquez

A method for operating a fast start-up oscillator system, which includes a reference oscillator and a quartz oscillator connected to an electronic oscillator circuit, which is provided to supply a master clock signal to a start-up controller configured to perform a fast start-up procedure of the quartz oscillator via the reference oscillator. The start-up controller includes a calculation unit and a memory unit for storing data in connection with the reference oscillator for starting the quartz oscillator. The method includes parameterising the calculation unit for starting the quartz oscillator, generating excitation bursts, determining a phase deviation in different successive periods between the oscillation of the reference oscillator and the oscillation of the quartz oscillator, calculating a frequency error in the calculation unit, and correcting the frequency of the reference oscillator to the frequency of the quartz oscillator.

Method for operating a fast start-up oscillator system, and fast start-up oscillator system

A correction method for a super-regenerative receiver being configured to resonate at at least one oscillator resonant frequency reference value and comprising at least one control stage, at least one varactor, at least one reference system and, at least one oscillator. The method includes at least one setup of at least one reference signal value by the at least one reference system, at least one comparison of at least one oscillator frequency actual value of the at least one oscillator with the at least one reference signal value by the at least one reference system and at least one adjustment of at least one gain of the at least one control stage.

Super-regenerative receiver and correction method thereof

A method for location of a beacon includes: executing R sequences, wherein R is a whole number equal to or greater than 2, each including reception by a first antenna network and a second antenna network of a signal originating from the beacon, wherein the signals of the R sequences are of different wavelengths; calculating a first estimation function for angles of arrival of the signal on the first antenna network and of a second estimation function for angles of arrival of the signal on the second antenna network; and executing a mutual correlation of the R first estimation functions and the R second estimation functions, for the respective determination of a first angle between the beacon and the first network, and of a second angle between the beacon and the second network.

Method for the location of a beacon by angles of arrival

A method for detecting an RF signal detected by a super-regenerative receiver (). The receiver includes a reference oscillator () for generating an oscillation in the oscillator, a bias current generator () for supplying a bias current, an oscillation detector () connected between an output (coilp) of the oscillator and the bias current generator for controlling when an RF signal is received by the receiver, and an impedance matching unit () disposed between the input of the receiver and the reference oscillator (). Following activation of a start control signal, detection of the oscillation of the reference oscillator is performed, and once the reference oscillator oscillates above a critical increasing bias current value, the oscillation detector orders the bias current generator to cut off the bias current and thus stop the oscillation of the reference oscillator to reduce the overall electricity consumption during an RF signal detection phase.

Method for detecting an RF signal in a super-regenerative receiver, and receiver for implementing the method

A method and system for measuring a physical parameter, such as speed and/or distance travelled by a bicycle, includes a permanent magnet disposed on a front fork and a measuring circuit with a magnetic sensor disposed on a rim of the wheel at the same distance from the wheel axis of rotation as the magnet. The sensor passes in front of the magnet to generate an induced voltage pulse at each passage. The induced voltage is rectified and stored on a capacitor. Energy recovery during the sensor passing in front of the magnet allows powering of the measuring circuit. The parameter is calculated in the calculation unit clocked by an oscillator based on the received induced voltage pulses by knowing the bicycle wheel diameter. Measurements performed from the measuring circuit are transmitted to a portable device carried by the user or mounted on the bicycle to be displayed.

Method and system for measuring speed and distance of a bicycle

A method is provided for enhancing the detection of the start time of a reference oscillator () of a super-regenerative receiver (), which includes the reference oscillator, a bias current generator (), an oscillation detector (), and an impedance matching unit (). Following the supply of the bias current (i_vco) after receiving the activation control signal (Sosc), an oscillation detection is performed by the oscillation detector (), and once oscillation is detected, an additional amplification current (iboost) dependent on the envelope of the detected oscillation, of an amplification current generation circuit is supplied to the reference oscillator () in addition to the bias current to amplify the oscillation signal to be above a critical oscillation start threshold so as to precisely define the start time of the oscillator, and enable the oscillation detector () to order the stoppage of oscillation of the reference oscillator ().

Method for enhancing the starting of an oscillator of a super-regenerative receiver, and receiver for implementing the method

The system () is provided for managing at least one sub-assembly () of an electric battery. Each sub-assembly comprises a plurality of power storage cells (). The system includes, for each power storage cell, a circuit () for managing the state of the cell and a communication circuit (), 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 () 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.

System for managing at least one sub-assembly of an electric battery

A method for detecting the presence and/or determine a position of an object on a measurement surface of an electronic device. The process includes: providing oscillating signal(s) at input points which are different and spaced from the array of electrodes in a detection area of the measurement surface; receiving oscillating signal(s) having passed through the array, which defines a transfer function of the signals, in output point(s) which are different and spaced from the array of electrodes in a detection area of the measurement surface; measuring a coupling or an attenuation induced by the presence on one or more oscillating signals passing through the array of electrodes of an object placed on the measurement surface in order to determine the position of the object in the detection area of the measurement surface depending on the modification of the transfer function of the array of electrodes.

Method and device for determining the position of an object on a given surface

A crystal oscillator and a startup method for initiating operation of a crystal oscillator, the crystal oscillator includes an oscillator structure including a crystal resonator and an electronic oscillator circuit connected to the crystal resonator, the oscillator structure having a first terminal and a second terminal, a startup controller operable to initiate an oscillation in the oscillator structure by exciting the oscillator structure with a sequence of excitation signals derivable from a clock signal and when triggered by a timing signal, the sequence of excitation signals includes at least a first excitation signal and a second excitation signal, a comparator including a first and a second input terminal and an output terminal, the first input terminal being connected to the first terminal and wherein the second input terminal is connected to the second terminal.

Crystal oscillator and startup method for a crystal oscillator

A crystal oscillator and a startup method for initiating operation of a crystal oscillator with a crystal resonator including a first terminal and a second terminal, an electronic oscillator circuit connected to the crystal resonator, a first capacitor including first and second terminals, the second connected to the first terminal of the crystal resonator, a second capacitor including first and second terminals, the second connected to the second terminal of the crystal resonator. A switch includes first, second and third terminals, wherein an electrical conductivity between the first terminal and the second terminal of the switch is controllable by a voltage at the third terminal, wherein the first terminal of the switch is connected to the first terminal of the first capacitor and wherein the second terminal of the switch is connected to the first terminal of the second capacitor.

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.

Method for providing information about a mechanical wristwatch

A reference oscillator for a transmitter and/or a receiver of electromagnetic signals. The reference oscillator is suitable for generating a modified reference signal alternating ON times and OFF times with a predefined duty cycle from a signal supplied by a reference resonator. The reference oscillator also includes an adjustment circuit suitable for adjusting the duty cycle of the modified reference signal according to at least one adjustment parameter dependent on a rank of at least one harmonic component of the modified reference signal so as to minimize at least one harmonic component of the modified reference signal. A frequency synthesizer and a radio frequency signal receiver can include such a reference oscillator.

Reference oscillator with variable duty cycle, frequency synthesizer and signal receiver with reference oscillator

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. The electronic chip further includes a second frequency synthesizer connected between the output of the modulator-demodulator and an auxiliary output terminal, and configured to synthesize a modulated low-frequency signal supplied by the auxiliary output terminal, whereby the center value of the low frequency is equal to the value of the intermediate frequency.

Transmitter-receiver comprising an electronic chip

For the process for determining a distance, there is provided a succession of coded signals at high frequency transmitted between a base station and a wearable object. A preparation of a response signal is conducted in the wearable object on reception of the first synchronisation signal after activation of the wearable object. A transmission of successive coded signals at high frequency from the wearable object is conducted for the station, of which the last response signal is scrambled by a modulation of data on the last signal received at a high transfer rate from the station. An analysis is conducted in a processing unit of the base station after reception of the signals from the wearable object to accurately determine the distance separating the base station from the recognised wearable object.

Process and system for determining a distance between a wearable object and a base station

A transponder-based module is placed on a mobile object so as to transmit information in proximity to a reading device. The transponder-based module includes at least one energy source for supplying the transponder-based module, at least one sensor for performing measurements of a physical parameter, and a microcontroller linked to the measurement sensor for processing the measurements of the sensor. The module further includes a memory unit for storing the measurement data of the measurements performed by the sensor, a receiver of an interrogation signal from a reading device in proximity, and a transmitter for transmitting measurement data stored at ultra-high frequency and at very high bitrate subsequent to the reception of an interrogation signal from the reading device in proximity.

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Bole, Switzerland

Arnaud Casagrande