Abstract: This temperature regulation apparatus comprises a heat pump (12) comprising a main compression circuit (14) for a refrigerant fluid taking heat from a cold source (16) and transferring it to a hot source (18). The cold source (16) comprises a first heat exchanger (24) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant fluid and a coolant liquid thermally coupling the main refrigerant circuit (14) to a first secondary coolant circuit (26) capable of being selectively connected to an “outside” heat exchanger (30) and to a “cold” heat exchanger (32). The hot source (18) comprises a second heat exchanger (34) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant fluid and a coolant liquid thermally coupling the main refrigerant circuit (14) to a second secondary coolant circuit (36) capable of being selectively connected to at least the outside heat exchanger (30) and to a “hot” heat exchanger (39).

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting semiconductor chips comprises a loading station for the presentation of substrates, a first transport system and a second transport system. The first transport system removes one substrate after the other from the loading station and passes them on to the second transport system which transports the substrates in steps to a dispensing or soldering station and to a bonding station. A sensor with two coils arranged at a distance to one another is arranged in such a way that one end of the substrate transported by the first transport system travels through a gap formed between the two coils. The signal delivered by the sensor is used to determine a control signal which indicates whether or not the first transport system should pass the substrate on to the second transport system.

Abstract: A differential amplifier includes a pair of first and second transistors connected together. The first transistor includes a first conduction terminal, and a second conduction terminal forming a first output node of the amplifier. The second transistor includes a first conduction terminal connected to the first conduction terminal of the first transistor, and a second conduction terminal forming a second output node of the amplifier. A first inductive load is connected between the first output node and a supply reference, and a second inductive load is connected between the second output node and the supply reference. A limiting network limits output voltages on the first and second output nodes, and includes a first resistor connected to the first output node, and a second resistor connected to the second output node. The first and second resistors also connected together in series at a common intermediate node.

Abstract: A Darlington differential amplifier includes a differential pair of Darlington transistors, with each pair including a first transistor and a second transistor connected in cascade to the first transistor. The first transistor is controlled by an externally generated voltage and drives the second transistor. The first and second transistors each include first and second conducting terminals, with the first conducting terminals being connected together and forming an output node of the amplifier. A first degeneration impedance is connected between the second conduction terminals of the second transistors in the pair of Darlington transistors. A second degeneration impedance is connected between the second conduction terminals of the first transistors in the pair of Darlington transistors for reducing harmonic distortion of the amplifier.

Abstract: A fastener washer for a tube coupling device, the washer being deformable and having an inside circumference subdivided into a plurality of teeth (2) each possessing an active portion (3) connected via an intermediate portion (4) to a root portion (5), the intermediate portion being defined laterally by two parallel edges (9), and the active portion having a width (A) that is greater than a width (C) of the intermediate portion between the two parallel edges.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for maintaining the oscillations of a vibrating device and a vibrating device implementing this method. The vibrating device is intended to be fitted to a unit worn close to the body, such as a timepiece, including a case, a moving mass inside this case intended to transmit vibrations thereto, a coil (L) electromagnetically coupled to said moving mass in order to make it vibrate, and an excitation circuit for exciting said coil CL). According to the method disclosed, driving pulses (21, 22) of alternate polarity and determined duration (Tpulse) substantially coinciding with the extrema of the movement induced voltage (Uind, VB12) across the terminals (B1, B2) of said coil (L) are generated.

Abstract: Watch movement with hand display, comprising mobile elements (44, 42), designed to receive the hour (16) and minute (20) hands indicating current time, mounted pivoting to pivot about a first axis (A—A) arranged substantially at the center of the movement and four mobile elements (58b, 60b, 64b, 62b) designed to receive hands displaying complementary functions. According to the invention, the four mobile elements (58b, 60b, 64b, 62b) are mounted pivoting on the movement about second (B—B), third (C—C), fourth (ND) and fifth (E—E) axes arranged on a straight line (X—X) perpendicular to them.

Abstract: A device and process for the amplification of fluorescence emitted by an areal sample. The device includes a support transmitting all or part of a fluorescence signal and configured to support the areal sample and a thin layer interposed between the support and the areal sample. The thin layer has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the support and than the refractive index of a medium flooding the areal sample during a fluorescence measurement. The thickness of the thin layer is chosen so that the thin layer transmits all or part of the fluorescence signal which is measured after passing through the support.

Abstract: A transmission/reception radio-wave aerial for an interrogation device for electronic labels carried by objects, the transmission/reception radio-wave aerial being tuned to an F0 frequency and each electronic label including a radio-wave aerial tuned to the F0 frequency and being associated with an electronic circuit, wherein the transmission/reception radio-wave aerial is arranged to create a magnetic field which modifies the tuning frequency for the radio-wave aerials for the electronic labels in such a way to retune towards the F0 frequency of the aerial of the interrogation device.

Abstract: Tools supporting and heating device for tools like printing plates, used for diecutting and hot pressure transfer of portions of metallic films on a substrate. This device comprises a base plate applied against one of the sides of the honeycomb chase. This base plate is made of a sequence of at least one insulating surface and of at least one conducting surface enabling to feed at least one heating device intended to be inserted inside each one of said apertures in order to heat a printing plate fastened against a second side of the honeycomb chase.

Abstract: A system for economically extending the effective operational range of an infrared remote control system having a remote control unit with an infrared transmitter, and a controlled device having an infrared receiver. The system includes a first transmitter to receive IR signals from the remote control unit and transmit an RF output signal corresponding to the infrared signal received from the remote control unit. The RF signal is received by an RF receiver which generates a second IR signal corresponding to the received radio signal. The second IR signal is transmitted to and received by the IR controlled device. In some cases, the first IR control signal, and in all cases, the RF, signal include information/data concerning the IR carrier frequency.

Abstract: A time base including a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure having a plurality of thermally compensating members (65) which are adapted to alter a mass moment of inertia of the free-standing oscillating structure as a function of temperature so as to compensate for the effect of temperature on the resonant frequency of the ring resonator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of diagnosing one fault on a transformer winding using a Frequency Response Analysis (FRA). This invention is adapted more particularly to power transformers. The method comprises the following steps: measure the impedance of the said winding as a function of the frequency, the said measurement being represented in the form of a first voltage gain k, compare the said impedance measurement with a reference measurement represented in the form of a second voltage gain k?. The method also comprises a step to determine the relative variation of the first resonant frequency exceeding 10 kHz, the said relative variation being obtained by comparing the said first and second gains k and k?.

Abstract: A nucleic acid molecule can be annealed to an appropriate immobilized primer. The primer can then be extended and the molecule and the primer can be separated from one another. The extended primer can then be annealed to another immobilized primer and the other primer can be extended. Both extended primers can then be separated from one another and can be used to provided further extended primers. The process can be repeated to provide amplified, immobilized nucleic acid molecules. These can be used for many different purposes, including sequencing, screening, diagnosis, in situ nucleic acid synthesis, monitoring gene expression, nucleic acid fingerprinting, etc.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanical resonator with a planar monolithic vibrating structure extending along a closed contour whereof the axis of sensitivity is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said structure. The invention is characterised in that the planar structure (1) is a regular convex polygon with 4k vertices (3) (k being the order of the vibrational mode implemented when the resonator is vibrated) and is suspended to a fixed base (4, 5) via n suspension arms (2) with substantially radial extension arranged substantially symmetrically.

Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided with a one-way clutch that can also be used as a torque detection apparatus. The one-way clutch has a tooth part (112) mounted on a driven means and a piece part (100) mounted slidably yet non-rotatably on a drive shaft (4). The tooth part has a first engagement face (121) formed with a plurality of teeth (114) and the piece part has a second engagement face (110) formed with a plurality of pieces (102). The first engagement face and the second engagement face are disposed facing each other generally perpendicularly to the axial direction. A disc spring (124) is disposed on the rear face of the piece part. As the piece part rotates in the direction of running forward, the piece is engaged with a sharply sloping face of the tooth to engage with the tooth and the angle of the piece with respect to the second engagement face increases, whereby the piece slides so as to increase the distance from the tooth part in resistance to the disc spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tourbillon-type timepiece mechanism, comprising a cage (8-10), means (4) for pivoting this cage on a casing (1) of the timepiece, a kinematic link (3) between the axis of this cage and a motive barrel, a hairspring (13, 16) pivoted at the center of this cage and an escapement mechanism (19, 20) engaged with this hairspring (13, 16), the pinion (20a) of the escape wheel of this escapement mechanism (19, 20) being engaged with a toothing joined to said casing (1), which toothing is borne by a crown gear (21), connected to said casing (1) by an eccentric pivot pin (22a), and by means (22a, 22b) serving to immobilize said crown gear (21) relative to said eccentric pivot pin (22a).

Abstract: The invention concerns aryloxypropanolamine derivatives having at least an anti-diabetic and anti-fat activity and their methods of preparation and applications, particularly as human and veterinary medicine and animal food additive.