Abstract: A spring (3, 3?) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a stretchable tubular device (1) comprising at least one layer (Lx) of a stretchable polymer, a power supply (2) and a set of electrodes (3a, 3b) connected to said power supply (2). The power supply can supply at least a first level of voltage (V1) to the electrodes so as to modify the natural force (F0) of the stretchable layers to a modified force (F1). The present invention also covers a process for manufacturing such a tubular device and its use as a medical implant.

Abstract: A dielectric elastomer actuator comprising: a plurality of polymer layer; a plurality of stretchable electrode layers, each polymer layer being sandwiched between two electrode layers so as to control the electric field within the polymer layer; at least one stretchable charge distribution layer, each charge distribution layer being adjacent to one stretchable electrode layer and/or to one polymer layer.

Abstract: A spring (3, 3?) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

Abstract: A system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin including a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion and a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin. Said system includes a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer. Each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion. The system also includes a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor. The system according to the invention can be built into a shoe so as to re-establish normal plantar pressure under the entire sole of the foot, which is particularly desirable for athletes or for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus or leprosy.

Abstract: This electrical energy conversion system, for powering a load using a voltage source, comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, two load connection terminals and an electrical transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first capacitor is electrically connected to the primary winding, and the connection terminals are electrically connected to the secondary winding. This system comprises a third capacitor and switching means suitable for switching, reversibly, between a first configuration, wherein the second capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and one of the two connection terminals, and a second configuration wherein the third capacitor is connected in parallel with the secondary winding and between the connection terminals of the load.

Abstract: An input device is communicatively coupled to a host, wherein a movement of the input device is measured relative to a reference surface, and wherein the friction between the input device and the said reference surface is dynamically reducible. The input device comprises a housing and an actuator for contacting the reference surface. The actuator comprises a first layer comprising a piezo-electric material to which a voltage is applied and a second layer, comprising a material different than the first layer, bonded to the first layer. The application of voltage to the first layer results in a layer of air being trapped between the actuator and the reference surface. The layer of air reduces the friction from a first amount of friction to a second amount of friction between the input device and the reference surface.

Abstract: An injection device for injecting injection material, comprising: an elastic deformable element (3) able to exert a pushing force on a piston (20) of a syringe (2) so as to eject a quantity of injection material out of the syringe (2); a stopper (4) for retaining the extension of said spring (3) when the stopper is in a first position (A) and for releasing the extension of said elastic deformable element when the stopper is in a second position (B); an electric actuator (5) for moving the stopper (4) from its first position to its second position or from its second position to its first position.

Abstract: This electrical energy conversion system, for powering a load using a voltage source, comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, two load connection terminals and an electrical transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first capacitor is electrically connected to the primary winding, and the connection terminals are electrically connected to the secondary winding. This system comprises a third capacitor and switching means suitable for switching, reversibly, between a first configuration, wherein the second capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and one of the two connection terminals, and a second configuration wherein the third capacitor is connected in parallel with the secondary winding and between the connection terminals of the load.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a synchronous permanent magnet motor with at least one phase, a coil and a rotor, wherein the method and device controls the powering of each motor phase, simultaneously measures the voltage of each motor phase, determines the rotor speed and the motor load from the measured voltage; determines a variable frequency from the speed and the load, samples at the variable frequency output signals from the voltage measurement of each phase; determines the rotor position from the sampled signals; and controls the powering of each motor phase as a function of the rotor position. The device is powered from an electric power source and comprises a power bridge powering the motor coil, a unit for controlling the powering of the coil, a circuit for measuring the voltage of each motor phase and means for sampling, at a variable frequency, signals from the measuring circuit.