Abstract: A method for predicting the wear of a mechanical part and uncertainty of this prediction in a profile of use, the profile of use taking into account environmental conditions associated with environmental data and the time of use of the mechanical part under each of these environmental conditions, the method including determining operational data associated with a plurality of mechanical parts of the same type as the mechanical part; on the basis of the operational data determined, determining a plurality of predictive models of the wear of the part, the mechanical part being able to be divided into a plurality of elements, each element being modelled using at least one model of the plurality of models; and, for each model, determining a weighting coefficient, determining a wear prediction of the mechanical part, and determining a statistical quantity representative of dispersion of the predictions of the plurality of models.

Abstract: Method for regulating a prosthesis (1), such as a knee prosthesis, ankle prosthesis or knee/ankle prosthesis, comprising at least one joint (2) controlled by an actuator (3) governed by a microcontroller (4) on the basis of data issuing from at least one gyroscope (5) and an accelerometer (6) that are able to measure the angular speed and the acceleration, respectively, of at least part of the prosthesis (1). According to the invention, the method is such that, during a defined period of time, the microcontroller (4) monitors the measurement given by the gyroscope (5), in such a way that said microcontroller (4) enters an idle state by reducing or by cutting the electrical power of at least one electronic organ of the prosthesis (1), except that of the accelerometer (6), when said microcontroller (4) detects that the absolute value of the measurement given by the gyroscope (5) is below a given threshold during the defined period of time.

Abstract: A prosthesis can include a femoral segment suitable for a femoral connection to a user and a tibial segment connected to the femoral segment based on an articulation which reproduces movements of the knee, the tibial segment being articulated on a foot segment based on an articulation reproducing movements of the ankle, a first hydraulic damper the ends of which are joined respectively with the femoral and tibial segments, and a second hydraulic damper of which the ends are joined respectively with the tibial and foot segments.

Abstract: Method for regulating a prosthesis (1), such as a knee prosthesis, ankle prosthesis or knee/ankle prosthesis, comprising at least one joint (2) controlled by an actuator (3) governed by a microcontroller (4) on the basis of data issuing from at least one gyroscope (5) and an accelerometer (6) that are able to measure the angular speed and the acceleration, respectively, of at least part of the prosthesis (1). According to the invention, the method is such that, during a defined period of time, the microcontroller (4) monitors the measurement given by the gyroscope (5), in such a way that said microcontroller (4) enters an idle state by reducing or by cutting the electrical power of at least one electronic organ of the prosthesis (1), except that of the accelerometer (6), when said microcontroller (4) detects that the absolute value of the measurement given by the gyroscope (5) is below a given threshold during the defined period of time.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a femoral knee-ankle prosthesis intended for persons who are lower-limb amputees but still have a segment suitable for a femoral connection and a tibial connection connected to the femoral segment based on an articulation which reproduces the movements of the knee, the said tibial segment being articulated on one foot based on an articulation reproducing the movements of the ankle, an initial damper the ends of which are joined respectively with the femoral and tibial segments, and another hydraulic damper of which the ends are joined respectively with the tibial and foot segment; the said prosthesis is remarkable in that the chamber of the first hydraulic damper is connected to the chamber of the second hydraulic damper and in that it consists of the means of controlling the first and/or second hydraulic damper depending on the phase of the walking cycle such as the stance phase or the swing phase and/or real-life situations such as stairs, slopes or standing, etc.

Abstract: An optical device (D) is dedicated to the transformation of the propagation mode of optical signals. This device comprises at least a first mode converter (3) that is supplied with signals that are propagated in a first guided mode and that delivers the signals in a multimode fibre (4) partly in the first guided mode and partly in a second guided more of a higher order that the first. The multimode fibre (4) comprises at least first passive filtering means (R) which have the task of converting the first guided mode into at least one dissipative cladding mode in order to prevent or limit the propagation of the signals in this first guided mode while at the same time authorising the propagation of the signals having the second guided mode in the multimode fibre (4).

Abstract: The present invention consists in an optical device comprising an optical component and an optical medium with different refractive indices, said optical component being at least partly immersed in said optical medium, which device is characterized in that said optical medium contains a salt that is in the liquid state in the range of temperatures at which said optical component is used and stored, i.e. in a range of temperatures generally from ?40° C. to +200° C. The optical component may in particular be a Bragg long-period grating (LPG) or a photonic crystal fiber.

Abstract: An optical device (D) is dedicated to the transformation of the propagation mode of optical signals. This device comprises at least a first mode converter (3) that is supplied with signals that are propagated in a first guided mode and that delivers the signals in a multimode fibre (4) partly in the first guided mode and partly in a second guided more of a higher order that the first. The multimode fibre (4) comprises at least first passive filtering means (R) which have the task of converting the first guided mode into at least one dissipative cladding mode in order to prevent or limit the propagation of the signals in this first guided mode while at the same time authorising the propagation of the signals having the second guided mode in the multimode fibre (4).

Abstract: An optical filter comprises a waveguide and a plurality of Slanted Bragg Gratings written in the waveguide, wherein at least two of the Slanted Bragg Gratings overlap one another. A method of producing an optical filter comprises the steps of passing an ultraviolet light through a first portion of a chirped phase mask onto a first portion of a photosensitive waveguide so as to form a first Slanted Bragg Grating in the first portion of the waveguide and passing the ultraviolet light through a second portion of the chirped phase mask onto a second portion of the photosensitive waveguide so as to form a second Slanted Bragg Grating in the second portion of the waveguide, wherein the first and second Slanted Bragg Gratings overlap one another. A further annealing step may cause a spectrum of the filter to match a target spectrum.

Abstract: An optical amplification system is described which comprises an optical amplifier and an optical filter. The gain of the optical amplifier is changeable to different gain values. For every one of the gain values, a wavelength-dependent gain curve exists. At least for one of the gain values, the gain curve varies over the wavelength. An apodized long-period grating (LPG) is used as the optical filter. The apodized LPG provides at least one wavelength-dependent attenuation curve which compensates the gain curve varying over the wavelength.

Abstract: An optical filter comprises a waveguide and a plurality of Slanted Bragg Gratings written in the waveguide, wherein at least two of the Slanted Bragg Gratings overlap one another. A method of producing an optical filter comprises the steps of passing an ultraviolet light through a first portion of a chirped phase mask onto a first portion of a photosensitive waveguide so as to form a first Slanted Bragg Grating in the first portion of the waveguide and passing the ultraviolet light through a second portion of the chirped phase mask onto a second portion of the photosensitive waveguide so as to form a second Slanted Bragg Grating in the second portion of the waveguide, wherein the first and second Slanted Bragg Gratings overlap one another. A further annealing step may cause a spectrum of the filter to match a target spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention consists in an optical device comprising an optical component and an optical medium with different refractive indices, said optical component being at least partly immersed in said optical medium, which device is characterized in that said optical medium contains a salt that is in the liquid state in the range of temperatures at which said optical component is used and stored, i.e. in a range of temperatures generally from ?40° C. to +200° C. The optical component may in particular be a Bragg long-period grating (LPG) or a photonic crystal fiber.

Abstract: A tuneable optical fibre comprising a long-period Bragg grating (5) written in a portion of an optical waveguide (10) comprising a core and an optical cladding (11), characterised in that the portion of the waveguide comprising the grating (5) is at least partially immersed in an external environment consisting of two distinct sections, a first section (1) whose refractive index is higher than that of the optical cladding (11) and a second section (2) whose refractive index is lower than that of the optical cladding (11), the long-period grating being at least partially immersed in one of the said sections so as to almost independently tune the wavelength and/or the contrast of the spectral response of the filter.

Abstract: A tuneable optical fibre comprising a long-period Bragg grating (5) written in a portion of an optical waveguide (10) comprising a core and an optical cladding (11), characterised in that the portion of the waveguide comprising the grating (5) is at least partially immersed in an external environment consisting of two distinct sections, a first section (1) whose refractive index is higher than that of the optical cladding (11) and a second section (2) whose refractive index is lower than that of the optical cladding (11), the long-period grating being at least partially immersed in one of the said sections so as to almost independently tune the wavelength and/or the contrast of the spectral response of the filter.

Abstract: An optical filter includes a coupler having n output branches and an input branch receiving an input signal whose spectrum comprises a comb of wavelengths periodically spaced by a spacing eP. Each of the n output branches is coupled to a waveguide including two or more cascaded copropagated coupling components. Each of the n branches produces an output signal whose spectrum comprises a comb of wavelengths periodically spaced by a spacing equal to n times the spacing eP. Each of the n output signal spectra is complementary to the others.

Abstract: A composition for the automatic cleaning of toilet bowls includes at least one amine oxide, at least one appropriate colorant and at least one pH regulating agent, the composition being such that the pH of the aqueous mixture in the toilet bowl is about 6.3.+-.0.5. The composition is applied by filling containers designed to be used especially in the reservoir or tank of the toilet bowl.