Importance

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Abstract

The external event detection device comprises an electronic unit (22) and an external event sensor (16), the electronic unit having at least a non-volatile memory cell (24, T1) in which data relative to at least one external event detected by the external event sensor can be stored. According to the invention, the external event sensor defines an energy harvester that transforms energy from said at least one external event into electrical energy contained in an electrical stimulus pulse provided to the electronic unit. The electronic unit is arranged for storing said data by using only the electrical energy contained in the electrical stimulus pulse. In particular, the non-volatile memory cell is directly set to its written logical state from its initial logical state by the electrical stimulus pulse provided by said energy harvester. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic unit further comprises a set circuit (26) comprising a second FET transistor (T2) arranged between the ground of the electronic unit and the drain of a first FET transistor (T1) defining the non-volatile memory cell, this switch having a control gate connected to the control gate of the first FET transistor. The second FET transistor is turned on when an electrical stimulus pulse is provided to the electronic unit, connecting the drain (DRN) of the first FET transistor (T1) to ground and thus allowing the secure setting of the non-volatile memory cell.

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First Claim