Abstract: Tire wear monitoring system, including a wearing part (110, 111) to be monitored, said wearing part (110, 111) being associated with magnetic elements (113) and magnetic field sensing means (114), for sensing an intensity of a magnetic field emitted by said magnetic elements (113), associated to said wearing part (113) of said tire. According to the invention, said magnetic field sensing means (114) for sensing an intensity of a magnetic field emitted by said magnetic elements (113) are associated with a wheel to which said tire belongs.

Abstract: A light emitting device comprises a substrate, a porous alumina layer having a regular series of cavities of nanometric size containing an emitting material, and two electrodes in contact with the emitting material and connected to an electric voltage source. The first electrode comprises at least part of an aluminum film deposited onto the substrate, on which the alumina layer has been previously grown through an anodization process.

Abstract: A generator of electric energy based on a thermoelectric effect includes a layer of thermoelectric material set between two pipes that guide two flows of fluid at temperatures different from one another. Each of the pipes has its wall in heat-conduction contact with respective side of the layer of thermoelectric material. Each pipe has a cavity of passage for the respective flow of fluid occupied by a porous material or divided by diaphragms into a plurality of sub-channels so as to obtain a large heat-exchange surface between each flow of fluid and the wall of the respective pipe and between said wall and the respective side of the layer of thermoelectric material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical biosensor comprising a porous matrix. In the specific case, reference is made to anodized porous alumina, on the surface of which the biological component specific for the analyte in question is immobilized, and to an optical-signal detector connected to said matrix. The present patent further relates to a biosensor having the porous matrix and the optical detector integrated in a single structure, in particular to biosensors with porous matrix other than porous alumina, for example porous silicon.

Abstract: A light emitting device comprises a substrate, a porous alumina layer having a regular series of cavities of nanometric size containing an emitting material, and two electrodes in contact with the emitting material and connected to an electric voltage source. The first electrode comprises at least part of an aluminum film deposited onto the substrate, on which the alumina layer has been previously grown through an anodization process.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that converts electromagnetic radiation into electric current, of the type comprising a plurality of junctions between a first element (11; 111) of material with conduction through carriers of positive charge and a second element (12; 112) of a material with conduction through carriers of negative charge, said plurality of junctions defining a plurality of couples (10; 111, 112) comprising a hot junction (19) and a cold junction (18), said plurality of couples (10; 110) receiving a thermal flow (FT) generated by a radiation (R) incident in the direction of a region (172) including the hot junction (19), said apparatus (20; 30; 70; 170; 190) including a device (25; 75; 175) to guide said radiation (R) towards said plurality of couples (10; 111, 112).

Abstract: A shape memory shutter device for controlling the rectum of a disabled person, comprises a section of conduit to be connected to the rectum of the disabled person, and a shutter which controls the passage through the conduit section and actuated by a shape memory actuator. The shutter comprises a plurality of petals positioned circumferentially around the conduit section and able to move between a closed and an open position. The actuator comprises shape memory wires associated to the petals which are supplied with electrical current to cause opening of the petals.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprises a structure defining an orderly and periodic series of cavities of nanometric dimensions, in which a process of catalytic combustion is confined. The dimensions and/or the distance between the micro-cavities are selected to obtain a light emission in the visible and prevent and/or attenuate at the same time emission of infrared radiation.

Abstract: An electrical energy generator device comprising an array of micro-fans each associated to a respective dynamo-electric generator by means of a respective connecting shaft, further comprises, for at least some of the micro-fans (3), a lug element (6) associated to the respective connecting shaft (4) which mechanically co-operates at each revolution with a piezoelectric element (7), for the production of additional electrical energy. In addition or instead of the aforesaid arrangement, it is possible to provide plates (10) made of piezoelectric material which vibrate in the flow of air that invests them, thereby producing electrical energy.

Abstract: A modular system for illuminated signs, in particular for road signs, includes a plurality of bars that can be put together so as to form a frame structure. Each bar has a full body made of a material usable as light-guide, for example polycarbonate, substantially transparent to the colour of the light that propagates inside it, in which a LED light source is integrated. The system moreover comprises a plurality of modules in the form of letters, figures or symbols, which can be positioned within the aforesaid frame and are each also constituted by a body of material usable as light-guide, for example polycarbonate, substantially transparent to the colour of the light that propagates inside it, with at least one LED light source integrated within each module. Each of the aforesaid modules is provided with at least one pair of terminals for connection of the respective LED source with a source of electrical supply.

Abstract: A device for detecting magnetic fields, of the type comprising at least one element made of hard 5 magnetic material (12) and an element made of soft magnetic material (13) associated an element made of semiconductor material (11), electrodes (15) for forcing a current (I) in the semiconductor material (11), characterised in that the element made of hard magnetic material (12) and element made of soft magnetic material (13) are positioned in planar fashion on the element made of semiconductor material (11).

Abstract: An aircraft which is attachable to, for example, a cellular phone. The aircraft is provided with at least four rotors actuated with compressed fluid or by ring-shaped electric motors.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a display device comprising: at least one micro-reaction-chamber (2) to which is associated an inlet (3a) to receive a reaction liquid and an outlet (4b) to discharge the product of reaction; at least one charge micro-channel (3) connected to said inlet (3a) and at least one discharge micro-channel (4) connected to said outlet (4b); a porous substratum (2a) situated inside said micro-reaction-chamber (2); at least one chemical and/or biological element (22) immobilised on the porous substratum (2a) capable of generating light emission when in contact with the reaction liquid.

Abstract: An electro-optical system capable of being embarked aboard mobile ground or flying units, to determine the optical flow generated by obstacles in relative motion with respect to the mobile unit. The system comprises radiation emitter means (5), receiver means (1) for converting the radiation reflected by the objects into electrical signals and means (8) for processing the signals generated by the receiver means. The receiver means (1) are based on vision sensors with matrix configuration. The emitter means (5, 6) shape the radiation beam in such a way that the radiation reflected by the objects and collected by the receiver means impacts at least on a part of the receiver matrix. The processing means compute the optical flow only on the elements of the receiver matrix that are impacted by the radiation.

Abstract: Magnetic pressure sensor device, of the type comprising at least one magnetic layer (11) able to vary a magnetisation associated thereto in response to a pressure (P) exerted thereon. Said device (20; 30; 40; 50) comprises a plurality of layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) arranged in a stack, said magnetic layer (11) able to vary a magnetisation associated thereto in response to a pressure (P) comprising a free magnetic layer (11), able to be associated to a temporary magnetisation (MT), said free magnetic layer (11) belonging to said plurality of layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17), which further comprises at least a spacer layer (13; 23; 33) and a permanent magnetic layer (12) associated to a permanent magnetisation (MP). Said sensor device (20) further comprises a compressible layer (21; 31; 42) and a layer with high magnetic coercivity (22; 32; 42) associated to said plurality of layers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17).

Abstract: Tire wear monitoring system, including a wearing part (110, 111) to be monitored, said wearing part (110, 111) being associated with magnetic elements (113) and magnetic field sensing means (114), for sensing an intensity of a magnetic field emitted by said magnetic elements (113), associated to said wearing part (113) of said tire. According to the invention, said magnetic field sensing means (114) for sensing an intensity of a magnetic field emitted by said magnetic elements (113) are associated with a wheel to which said tire belongs.

Abstract: A method for making three-dimensional structures of nanometric or micrometric dimensions comprises the following steps: obtaining of a photopolymeric or UV mixture including nanoparticles orientable in space; deposition of a layer of the mixture on a respective substrate; exposure of the layer to UV-radiation and control of the polymerization of the mixture by means of variation of its index of refraction; application of a magnetic and/or electrical field for producing a desired positioning of the nanoparticles, in order to induce the growth of surface projections from the layer of mixture; and polymerization of the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of continuous silver wires having a micrometric or sub-micrometric diameter comprising a step of thermal decomposition of silver dodecyl-mercaptide in the presence of metallic aluminium.

Abstract: Described herein is a transparent-display device for motor vehicles, to be used for presentation of information to the driver and/or to the passengers, said device comprising a plurality of LED sources, addressable individually or in groups through a series of conductive paths, deposited on a transparent underlayer and connected to a control electronics, in which: i) said LED sources are integrated in the form of dice, i.e., of elements obtained by dividing up a semiconductor wafer and without package; ii) said dice are integrated on, and electrically connected to, said underlayer via technologies of the chip-on-board type; and iii) said transparent underlayer 1 is pre-arranged for being at least in part superimposed on the windscreen of the vehicle, in such a way that at least part of the information presented to the user is superimposed on the background, said background being visible to the user through said windscreen.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing magnetic field detection devices is described, said method comprising the operations of manufacturing a magneto-resistive element (10; 20) comprising regions with metallic conduction (13; 23) and regions with semi-conductive conduction (11; 31). Said method comprises the following operations:—forming metallic nano-particles (37) to obtain said regions with metallic conduction (13; 23);—providing a semiconductor substrate (31);—applying said metallic nano-particles (37) to said semiconductor substrate (31) to obtain a disordered mesoscopic structure. A magnetic device is also described, comprising a spin valve, said spin valve (110) comprising a plurality of layers (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117) arranged in a stack which in turn comprises at least one free magnetic layer (111) able to be associated to a temporary magnetisation (MT), a spacer layer (133) and a permanent magnetic layer (112) associated to a permanent magnetisation (MP).