Asulab S.a.

Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne

Maillefer Instruments Holding Sarl

Institut De Microtechnique Université De Neuchâtel

Ecole Polytechnique Féderale De Lausanne (epfl)

Université De Neuchâtel

Pierre-André Farine

Yves Oesch

Jean-Daniel Etienne

Roman Merz

Cyril Botteron

Anne Monthéard

Ruud Riem-Vis

Elham Firouzi

Jean-Jacques Born

Rudolf Dinger

Emil Zellweger

Jean-Charles Guanter

Ermanno Bernasconi

Francois Aeby

Kilian Imfeld

Roger Buehler

François Aeby

Rudolph Dinger

An identification method for a data Sk is disclosed which includes;

Method for identifying data encoded by PPM modulation, and receiver for said method

An apex-locating method and device for determining the depth position of the apex in a dental root canal. It uses a device making it possible to form a circuit including a first probe electrode inserted into the root canal of a tooth, a second electrode in conductive contact with an oral mucous membrane, frequency-generating elements able to produce alternating electrical signals at a number of frequencies, and elements for measuring electrical magnitude of alternating signals in the circuit. Provision is made for exciting the circuit and measuring the levels of magnitude of the alternating signals, respectively at low frequency and at high frequency and for detecting a point of intersection where the two levels measured at low and high frequencies meet and become substantially equal, these frequencies being sufficiently far apart for this point of intersection to exist. This point gives the position of the apex.

Method and device for determining the apical position in a dental root canal

This invention concerns a wireless data communication method, wherein a transmitter device having a first wide band antenna transmits ultra-wide band coded data signals to a receiver device having a second wide band antenna for receiving the direct and/or multiple path coded data signals. The transmitted data is defined by one or several sequences of N pulses where N is an integer number greater than 1. The arrangement of the N pulses of each sequence represents a data coding relative to the transmitter device. The N pulses of a sequence of direct and/or multiple path coded data signals received by the receiver device are processed each in one among N corresponding reception time windows. Each of the N reception time windows is positioned in time based on a known theoretic arrangement of the N pulses of signals transmitted by the transmitter device. An adding operation of the N windows is then performed in the receiver device so that the amplitude level of the constantly added pulses is higher than the amplitude level of the noise sensed by the receiver device.

Wireless data communication method via ultra-wide band encoded data signals, and receiver device for implementing the same

The radio-frequency signal frequency conversion device generates intermediate complex signals (IF) for a correlation stage of a low power RF receiver. In order to do this, the device includes a first selective pass-band filter for filtering radio-frequency signals picked up by an antenna. A frequency synthesizer generates first and second high frequency signals, wherein the frequency of the first signals is higher than the frequency of the second signals. This synthesizer receives reference signals from an oscillator unit. A first mixer unit mixes the radio-frequency signals with the first signals in order to generate frequency-converted signals. A second pass-band filter filters the signals from the first mixer unit, and provides signals to a second mixer unit to mix them with the second high frequency signals. Finally, shaping means for the signals provided by the second mixer unit generate the intermediate signals. The second filter is a not very selective active filter, which is integrated, in an RF/IF integrated circuit with the first and second mixer units, the signal shaping means, and certain parts of the synthesizer and the oscillator unit.

Radio-frequency signal frequency conversion device for a low power RF receiver

The method of synchronizing the analogue display () of a timepiece (), including an electronic time base (), is achieved using proximity sensors () respectively associated with wheels () each having an aperture () for defining the angular position of the latter. Determination of the angular position of a wheel requires an angular distance of around 60&#xb0; to 90&#xb0; to be travelled with this type of proximity sensor. Dependency of the measurement results upon the temperature generates a problem of precision in determining the angular position of the wheels, in particular a wheel secured to the hour indicator, given that an angle of 60&#xb0; to 90&#xb0; corresponds to a time interval of 2 to 3 hours. In order to ensure a measurement in a relatively short time interval where the ambient temperature is substantially constant and thus has no influence on the measurement, the invention provides that, in a analogue display synchronization mode at least one indicator is driven in an accelerated advance mode so that the aperture provided in the corresponding wheel quickly passes opposite the proximity sensor associated with that wheel.

Method for synchronising an analog display of a timepiece with its electronic time base

The receiver includes: a correlation stage (7) formed of several correlation channels (7') for receiving intermediate signals (IF) in order to correlate them, in operating channel control loops, with the carrier frequency and specific code replicas of visible emitting satellites to be searched and tracked, each channel having a correlator (8) in which at least one integrator counter (28, 29, 30, 31) provides, at the end of each determined integration period of the correlated signals, a binary output word whose value allows detection of the presence or absence of the visible satellite to be searched and tracked; and a microprocessor for processing the data drawn, after correlation, from the radio-frequency signals. The microprocessor configures at least one unused channel placed in parallel with one of the operating channels for searching and/or tracking the same visible satellite, the unused channel being configured so that the integration period of its integrator counter is different from that of the integrator counter of the operating channel.

Radiofrequency signal receiver with means for improving the reception dynamic of said signals

The receiver () for radio-frequency signals (SV, SV, SV, SV), modulated by specific codes of transmitting sources, such as satellites (S, S, S, 5), includes receiving and shaping means with frequency conversion for the radio-frequency signals for generating intermediate signals, a correlation stage formed of several correlation channels for receiving the intermediate signals and microprocessor means connected to the correlation stage in order to process the extracted data after correlation. Each channel includes a correlator in which the intermediate signals are correlated with at least two early and late replicas of the specific code of a visible transmitting source to be searched and tracked. The correlator further includes integrator counters for the correlated signals to provide a first amplitude value of the auto-correlation function of the early signals and a second amplitude value for the late signals. When multipath signals (SV', SV&#x2032;) are detected in the first operating channel, at least a second unused channel is configured, via the microprocessor means, and connected in parallel to the first channel. The second channel has the task of searching the maximum amplitude value between the two amplitude values of the first operating channel. The receiver, in particular of the GPS type, can be mounted in the case of a watch and powered by the energy accumulator or battery of the watch.

Radiofrequency signal receiver with means for correcting the effects of multipath signals, and method for activating the receiver

There is disclosed an electronic multi-function wristwatch one of whose operating modes is a memory game which uses the time display means of the watch. In the preferred version comprising an analogue time display, the watch randomly generates a sequence of visual indications such as time values and displays it by means of the hands (). Then, the player attempts to repeat these indications by entering a sequence of answers by means of control keys () arranged facing the hour symbols () of the dial. These keys preferably comprise electrodes affixed under the watch glass. The watch displays successive sequences each comprising one or more indications more than the preceding sequence. It can also emit corresponding sequences of sounds. The watch/user interface can further comprise push-buttons () and an alphanumerical LCD display ().

Electronic timepiece including a game mode

The correlation and demodulation circuit () in particular for a pseudo-random code radio-frequency signal receiver () includes a correlation stage () connected to a microprocessor () in particular for configuring the correlation stage in normal operating mode or in test mode. In normal operation the stage receives intermediate signals (IF) corresponding to the radio-frequency signals shaped in means () for receiving the modulated signals from the receiver. The intermediate signals are correlated in a correlator control loop () of said correlation stage () with a replica of the first code supplied by a code generator (). The code generator () is adapted via a microprocessor () to generate a replica of a pseudo-random code of shorter repetition length than the pseudo-random code of the radio-frequency signals. Intermediate test signals (IF) with a reduced pseudo-random code are supplied to the correlation stage () so as to perform a test representative of the correlation stage in closed loop operation more quickly than with conventional intermediate signals.

Correlation and demodulation circuit for a receiver for signals modulated by a specific code

There is disclosed a timepiece having a mechanical clockwork-movement () driven by a barrel spring () and provided with a mechanical regulator, with a balance and a balance spring, which is associated, via electromagnetic coupling, with an electronic regulator driven by a quartz resonator. The rim of the balance () balance is provided with at least one pair of permanent magnets (). The electronic regulator includes a fixed coil () arranged for cooperating with said magnets via electromagnetic coupling, a rectifier () provided with at least one capacitor, and a circuit for enslaving the frequency of the mechanical regulator to the oscillator frequency by braking obtained by briefly short-circuiting the coil. In order to use a mechanical movement of a common type, in which only the balance is altered, the coil () is located on the side of the balance-cock () with respect to the balance rim. The pair of magnets () is covered by a plate of magnetic material in order to close field lines on the side of the plate. Apart from the coil, all of the rest of the electronic module () is located outside the mechanical movement.

Timepiece having a mechanical movement associated with an electronic regulator

A low power RF receiver () has an antenna (), a reception and shaping stage () for the radio-frequency signals provided by the antenna, a-channel correlation stage () receiving intermediate signals (IF) shaped by the reception stage (), and a microprocessor () connected to the correlation stage for calculating X, Y and Z position, velocity and time data as a function of data provided by the radio-frequency signals, such as GPS signals, transmitted by satellites. Each channel includes a correlator () associated with a controller (), which also includes a digital signal processing algorithm to allow all the synchronisation tasks for acquiring and tracking a satellite to be performed autonomously when the channel (') is set in operation, and to lock onto the satellite. Buffer registers () are placed at the interface between the correlation stage () and the microprocessor () for the mutual transfer of data. The low power RF receiver may be mounted in the case of a watch and powered by the energy accumulator or battery of the watch.

Low power RF receiver with redistribution of synchronisation tasks

The portable device () is used for determining horizontal and vertical positions. It includes a pressure sensor altimeter () calibrated to a predetermined initial altitude, a GPS signal receiver () arranged to receive, via an antenna (), signals originating from several satellites () in order to calculate position data of the device, a processing unit () receiving the position data from the receiver () and an altitude value from the altimeter (), and display means () for the horizontal and vertical positions of the device processed and provided by the processing unit. The processing unit sends the GPS receiver a signal corresponding to the altitude value of the calibrated altimeter to enable the receiver to determine, using the altitude value, the position data of the device. A memory () including cartographic data and associated with the GPS receiver () can provide the precise data to the processing unit () in particular for calibrating the altimeter.

Portable device for determining horizontal and vertical positions and method for operating the same

The watch is provided with a circular row of capacitive keys defined by transparent electrodes (to) arranged on the inner face of the crystal () of the watch and connected to a detection device via a multiplexer. These keys are activated by the person wearing the watch placing a finger () on the crystal facing one of the electrodes. The watch further includes means for detecting the position of at least one of the hands () by means of the same detection device, using the electrodes (to) of the capacitive keys and/or other fixed electrodes ().

Growing community of inventors

Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Pierre-André Farine