Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric components, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrates, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Abstract: A dial, in particular for a timepiece, formed of at least one regenerating photoelectrochemical type solar cell including a first substrate intended to be exposed to the light and a second substrate carrying on their opposite faces electrodes between which is arranged a physico-chemical system capable of absorbing light and generating an electric voltage across the terminals of said electrodes, characterised in that said first substrate is formed of a translucent material.

Abstract: A high capacity primary or secondary electrochemical generator in which at least one electrode (4,5) is composed of nanocrystalline particles of an electrically active material, said particles being electrically connected together, either by sintering a colloidal film of said electrically active material, or by compressing a mixture containing said nanocrystalline particles in pulverised form.

Abstract: A rosy pink colored object has a first layer of nitride of an element chosen from the group comprising Ti, Zr, Hf, or a mixture of these elements. This first layer includes at least an element chosen amongst Al, C and elements of the groups Vb and VIb. A second layer comprises a mixture of palladium (Pd) and indium (In). Certain ternary metals such as Al or Cu may be added to the PdIn mixture. The covering may be used in jewelry, optometry or horology.

Abstract: A small sensor for an electrochemical measuring system composed of a measuring apparatus (50) having an electronic circuit (60), a connecting device (64), a positioning and advancing device (56, 57) and an eliminating device (59, 53). The apparatus is adapted to receive the sensor (40), which has a plurality of active, successively disposable measuring zones (34). The sensor has applications in the quantitative analysis of glucose in the blood.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring the amount of a component in solution is disclosed. The sensor has a measuring electrode with at least one current collector, electrically connected to one of the electrical contacts and coated with a mixture comprising at least one oxidation-reduction enzyme specific to said component and at least one mediator transferring the electrons between said enzyme and said current collector wherein the mediator is a transition metal complex with at least one bipyridine, terpyridine or phenanthroline ligand substituted by at least one electron donor group. This sensor is particularly useful in the detection of glucose.

Abstract: A composite material comprising an open pore rigid foam of ceramic, metal, carbon or a plastics material and a solid filler material disposed in the cavities of the foam. The solid filler material forms areas on the surface of the composite material defined by the walls of the cavities in the foam. Depending on the material of the foam, the material filling its cavities may be a metal or a plastics material. The composite material, the production of which is also described, has aesthetic qualities which render it particularly suitable for the production of decorative articles.

Abstract: The article is provided with a coating resisting wear and corrosion, such coating being for the most part made of a precious metal or alloy of a precious metal, for example gold or an alloy containing gold.The coating is made up of a first layer of such precious metal or alloy thereof comprising discrete inclusions of a metallic compound such as titanium nitride. These inclusions are deposited along with the precious metal in vapor phase and distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner through the entire thickness of the layer, said thickness being equal to or greater than 0.4 .mu.m. A second layer of precious metal or alloy thereof is located between the article and said first layer.The article may be a watch case, a bracelet link or a piece of jewelry.

Abstract: A method is described of measuring the state of discharge of a battery, i.e. the ratio between the supplied capacity and the nominal capacity.The method consists in measuring a first internal impedance of the battery at a first frequency and a second internal impedance of the battery at a second frequency, then in determining the argument of the difference between the internal impedances, the resulting argument being representative of the state of discharge of the battery.The method can be used to advantage to check in a rapid, accurate and non-destructive way whether batteries to be used in portable appliances, e.g. electronic watches, are in good working order before being fitted into the appliances.

Abstract: A galvanic cell with solid electrolyte, which is dischargeable at room temperature and whose positive electrode consists of the metals Sb, Bi, or of the oxides or chalcogenides of these metals, or of mixtures of members of the respective groups, bases its current productive processes upon the formation of a reversible inter-metallic combination between the Sb or Bi and the alkali metal of the negative electrode. The reaction equations are:3Li+Bi=Li.sub.3 Bi or (1)12 Li+Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 =2 Li.sub.3 Bi+3Li.sub.2 O (2)A cathode material according to equation (2) is particularly desirable because Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 has a higher volumetric capacity than Bi, due to the greater electron transition from Bi.sup.3+ to Bi.sup.3-, thereby yielding higher energy density. In both cases the discharge potential is 0.8 V. As the solid electrolyte, Li.sub.3 N or Na.sub.3 Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.2 PO.sub.12 (Nasicon) can be used.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric electrolyte for an electro-optical device including an electrode provided with an electrochromic layer and a counter electrode which comprises a mixture of a protonic polymer and water in which the product of the water content and the gram equivalent weight of polymer is equal to or less than the product of the molecular weight of water and the number n of water molecules bonded per anion group of each monomer of the polymer, the number n being 6 in the case of a sulphonic polymer.The electrolyte, which may be used, e.g. in a display cell including an electrode provided with an electrochromic layer, for example WO.sub.3, and a counter electrode, is inert relative to the electrochromic layer.

Abstract: In preparing an electrolyte comprising a mixture of poly[2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfphonic acid] and water in which a pigment is distributed substantially homogeneously, monomer of the formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CO--NH--C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.3 H is first dissolved in water with a pigment suspended in it. A polymerization initiator, such as 2,2'-azo-bisisobutyronitrile, is added to the mixture and the polymerization reaction is carried out with agitation, at a temperature in the range from room temperature to 60.degree. C. Finally, part of the water is evaporated from the viscous mass obtained, to give the desired mix. The pigmented electrolyte may be used in electro-optical devices such as electrochromic display cells.

Abstract: An electro-optic device comprising a transparent conductive layer, an electrochromic layer applied on the said transparent layer, these two first elements constituting together a first electrode, a counter-electrode maintained at distance from the said first electrode, and an electrolyte ensuring an ionic binding between the electrode and the counter-electrode. Preferably, the electrolyte is a polymer of linear molecules such as polystyrene sulfonic acid including a pigment.A combination cell of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane and polystyrene sulfonic acid is disclosed.

Abstract: An electro-optic device comprising a transparent conductive layer and an electrochromic layer applied thereon together constituting an electrode, a counter-electrode spaced from said electrode and an intermediate electrolyte; the electrolyte containing a reductant capable of forming, during operation of the device, an electrochemical couple whose potential is more anodic than the oxidation potential of the electrochromic layer to prevent an increase of the potential during bleaching of the electrochromic layer markedly reducing deterioration of the electrolyte.