Abstract: The invention concerns a bracelet or wristband of adjustable length, including: a first link including two ends defining first and second fixed points of attachment, a stopper including a through hole that allows the link to pass therethrough, releasable means for locking the link in the hole, and means for securing one of the ends of the link, and a securing element associated with the first point of attachment, the link being on one hand secured to the stopper by the second fixed point of attachment using the securing means, and on the other hand engaged in the hole so as to be able to be locked at a variable locking point, by the locking means, or to slide therein when the locking means are released, and the link further comprising, a variable point of attachment located substantially half-way between the second fixed point of attachment and the variable locking point (42).

Abstract: An exhaust-gas recirculation device includes a distributor element (14) driven corresponding to the rotational speed of the camshaft (11) of an internal combustion engine (1), wherein, via the distributor element (14), a fluidic connection can be established from an exhaust-gas inlet channel (13) to respectively one exhaust-gas outlet channel (16) of a plurality of exhaust-gas outlet channels (16) corresponding in number to the cylinders. Advantageously, apart from the distributor element (14), use can be made of a control element (22) which is movable via an actuator (47) and by which clearing of the fluidic connection between the outlet opening (21) of the distributor element (14) and the exhaust-gas outlet channels (16) of the exhaust gas recirculation device (9) can be shifted in comparison to the phase angle of the camshaft (11).

Abstract: A semiconductor chip is attached to a lead frame with a filmy organic die-bonding material having a water absorption of 1.5% by volume or less; having a saturation moisture absorption of 1.0% by volume or less, having a residual volatile component in an amount not more than 3.0% by weight, having a modulus of elasticity of 10 MPa or less at a temperature of 250° C. The semiconductor device thus obtained can be free from occurrence of reflow cracks during reflow soldering for the packaging of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic watch including analogue display means formed of at least one hand (10) driven by a stepping motor (12), at least one time base (24, 26) for providing time data (h. m) to means (16) for controlling and driving said stepping motor, a main power source (20), means (22) for detecting a lack of sufficient power from said main power source, non-volatile storage means (32) powered by an additional power source (28), for containing said time data when a lack of sufficient power is detected, and characterized in that said non-volatile storage means are further provided for containing the stepping motor position data (?pas) when said lack of sufficient power is detected.

Abstract: Timepiece, particularly of the wristwatch (1) type, forming a navigational aid for aviators or navigators, including at least a bezel (46) and a ring (38) that are concentric, at least one of which rotates, the bezel (46) bearing first indications (48) corresponding to the speed of an aircraft, or respectively a boat, and the ring (38) bearing indications (50) relating to the heading correction to be applied in the event of a crosswind, a nomogram (58) for the heading correction calculation being added to the back of the watch (1) or to a separate card.

Abstract: For increasing the power emitted by surface emitting lasers and for improving the spatial coherence of the laser beam, emitted in particular by disk lasers, microchip lasers and VCSELs having a relatively wide emitting area, the invention proposes to select a low order transverse cavity mode by means of a mirror structure (12) of high reflectivity, and of high angular selectivity. The mirror structure comprises a multilayer (14) receiving the optical beam (24) and a resonant grating mirror (16) following the multilayer and arranged for highly reflecting the optical beam in a narrow angular range at each side of a determined incidence angle.

Abstract: The invention proposes tweezers (12) and a grasping system (10) for grasping and assembling at least one component (14) in a timepiece, comprising first and second branches (16, 18), which are joined at a first end (20) of the tweezers (12) and which form a grasping pincer (22) at the second end of the tweezers (12) in order to allow the component (14) to be grasped by the pincer (22), via a manual manipulation of the tweezers (12), characterized in that the first branch (16) includes at least one electrostatic grasping surface (24) provided for grasping, via electrostatic attraction, a component (14) made of conductive or semiconductor material.

Abstract: A double-chamber type heat-treating furnace comprises a hermetically closable cooling furnace, a hermetically closable heating furnace, and a transfer unit. The transfer unit has free rollers disposed within the heating and cooling chambers and for supporting the object at only both ends in a direction of width thereof, a push-pull member moving while being engaged with the object to push or pull the object, and a drive unit provided at a position adjacent to the heating chamber on a side opposite to a side on which the cooling chamber is disposed and driving the push-pull device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of marking an article using a laser emitting radiation of wavelength ?, the article being formed of a material that is slightly absorbent at said wavelength ?, characterized in that it includes the following main steps: taking a support formed of a metal that is highly absorbent at wavelength ? and capable of converting at least in part the light energy absorbed into thermal energy, arranging the article directly against the support so as to form a sufficient thermal contact between the article and the support to transfer the thermal energy from the support to the article, the article being inserted between the laser and the support, locally illuminating said support through said article in conditions able to generate, at the surface of the support, sufficient thermal energy for the thermal energy transfer from the support to the article to produce on the surface of the article a local physical or chemical transformation resulting in a contrast at the origin of the marking.

Abstract: A watch includes a mechanical or electromechanical timepiece movement, analog time indicators, a lunar indicator indicating lunar date on a scale and driven by the timepiece movement to perform one revolution in one or two synodic months, and Chinese calendar indicator members actuated by a calendar mechanism driven from the lunar indicator. A month moving part provided with an indicator of lunar months is driven via a rocking lever so as to perform one revolution per ordinary year of twelve months and per leap year of thirteen months. The other Chinese calendar indicators are driven from the month moving part and comprise a first year indicator performing one revolution in twelve years, a second year indicator performing one revolution in ten years, and a third year indicator performing one revolution in nineteen years and associated with a cam representing the Chang cycle of ordinary years and leap years.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of verifying the proper working of a transponder mounted on a rotating mobile element of a vehicle, characterized in that it includes the steps of: a) measuring a temperature value by means of a temperature sensor connected to the transponder; b) detecting breach of a overheat threshold; c) a monitoring operation carried out by a reader arranged in the vehicle and provided for communicating with the transponder, consisting in executing a command on one of the temperature sensitive elements of the transponder; d) the reader determining the state of the transponder as a function of the response or absence of any response to the command to be executed: (i) if the response is correct, the transponder is operational; (ii) if the response is incorrect, or in the absence of any response, the transponder is not operational.

Abstract: The invention describes a bypass valve (1) that can be used as a divert air valve. Bypass valves (1) that work in the closed or opened position in a force-balanced or pressure-balanced manner are known. During the opening of the bypass valve (1), a lower pressure is produced in a gap (25) between a valve closing body (3) and a valve seat (20), which pressure destroys the force balance and thus loads a movable valve unit (2) in the closing direction. In order to prevent this, according to the invention pressure equalization openings (24) are embodied or arranged with respect to the gap (25) in such a way that a reduced pressure is introduced into the chambers (7, 8) in the interior of the valve, so that the closing-operative force is distinctly reduced. By these means, the opening times of such a bypass valve can be distinctly reduced.

Abstract: An artificial bone forming method, comprising a) a powder layer forming step (32) for forming, into a flat powder layer (6), a powder bone material (5) having biocompatibility and hardening by hydration, b) a partial hardening step (34) for jetting an aqueous solution (7) with biocompatibility to a part of the powder layer to harden a jetted portion (6a) by hydration, and c) an artificial bone forming step (36) for repeating the steps a) and b) for lamination to form a specified artificial bone (9) of a predetermined three-dimensional structure in which the hardened portions (6a) are connected to each other.

Abstract: There is here disclosed a nozzle type ELID grinding apparatus comprising a conductive grindstone 12 having a contact surface with a workpiece 1; and an ion supply nozzle 16 that supplies an electrolytic medium 2 containing hydroxyl ions (OH?) onto a surface of the conductive grindstone, the workpiece being ground while the surface of the grindstone is dressed by electrolysis or chemical reaction. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a grindstone power source 14 for setting the conductive grindstone to be a positive potential (+).

Abstract: The display unit (2) equips a portable instrument, such as a wristwatch (1) with hands (13, 14, 15) for indicating the time. The unit comprises at least one display cell (4) which comprises a transparent front substrate (41) having first transparent electrodes (45) on an interior face, a transparent rear substrate (42) having at least one transparent second electrode (46) on an interior face and a fixing frame (43) for the two substrates in order to define a closed space between the substrates. A substance (44), the optical or physical properties of which can be modified between the electrodes which are activated by a difference of potentials applied via control means, occupies the closed space between the first and second electrodes. Via the action of the control means, the display cell (4) makes it possible to display information, for example temporal information.

Abstract: The balance spring is made from a photostructurable glass plate by UV irradiation, thermal treatment and etching, said glass having a Young's modulus thermal coefficient CTE0. The value CTE0 of selected zones of the balance spring are altered to a value CTEi by UV irradiation through one or several masks, possibly completed by a thermal treatment.

Abstract: A turbofan engine of the invention is provided with a fan first-stage moving blade for taking an air therein, and a spinner rotationally driving the fan first-stage moving blade, the spinner has a spiral blade extending spirally to an outer side in a radial direction, sucking the air from a front face of the spinner and supplying the air to the fan first-stage moving blade. Further, the fan first-stage moving blade and the spinner are integrally coupled, and the spiral blade and the fan first-stage moving blade are formed such that blade surfaces are smoothly connected.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of entacapone, in particular as the polymorphic form A, comprising the preparation of a compound of formula (V), wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl, by condensation of N,N-diethyl-cyano-acetamide with a compound of formula (IV), wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl, in the presence of a strong basic agent; the dealkylation of the compound of formula (V) to obtain entacapone, and the crystallization thereof from methyl ethyl ketone is performed to yield the polymorphic form A. The polymorphic form A of entacapone may be used to treat Parkinson's disease and/or to enhance effectiveness of muscle control.

Abstract: The method of making an optoelectronic module (10, 20), which includes a first light source circuit (5) and a second photoreceptor circuit (6) for picking up light from the first light source circuit reflected on an external surface. A first moulding (20) with an encapsulation material is made on one part of a lead frame (10) having several conductive paths (12) and an external frame (11) connecting all of the conductive paths. A first light source circuit (5) is placed on one portion of a first conductive path (13) of the lead frame that is not covered by the first moulding. A second photoreceptor circuit (6) is placed on one portion of a second conductive path (14) of the lead frame not covered by the first moulding. A through opening (21) is also made in the first moulding (20) between the external frame (11) and the location of the first light source circuit (5) to give access to the first connecting path (13) and to a third connecting path (15) for the first light source circuit.

Abstract: The substrate with electrodes is formed of a transparent material onto which is deposited a film (1) of a transparent conductive material of thickness e1 and of refractive index n1, said film being structured to form a set of electrodes (1a) whose contours (8) delimit insulating spaces (3), wherein the insulating spaces (3) are filled with a transparent dielectric material of thickness e2 and of refractive index n2 so that the respective thicknesses of the conductive material and the dielectric material are inversely proportional to the values of the refractive indices of said materials and said dielectric material forms neither depressions nor beads at the contour (8) of the electrodes. A hardcoating layer (7) may be disposed between the substrate (5) and the electrodes and a protective film (9) added. The substrate with electrodes is obtained by UV irradiation through a single mask.