Abstract: A device for protecting a voltage source and a load supplied with power by the voltage source, comprises a switching element interposed between the voltage source and the load and is associated with a current limiting circuit including a measuring unit for measuring the current provided by the source and a control unit for controlling the switching element so as to prevent the current from exceeding a predetermined current threshold, and a voltage limiting circuit adapted to control the switching element so as to prevent the voltage supplied to the load from exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold.

Abstract: A high resolution spectrometer with a large free spectral range comprising an entrance slit for a beam of electromagnetic radiation to be analyzed, a first dispersion device for dispersing the beam to be analyzed into various wavelength components in a first direction, a second dispersion device for dispersing each wavelength component output from the first dispersion device in a second direction, and an imaging device comprising a sensitive detection spectrum surface on which the beam dispersed in the first and second directions is focused, the first dispersion device being an optical filter that varies linearly and has a surface on which the beam to be analyzed is focused, each point on the surface of the filter operating like a pass band filter with a central frequency varying linearly in the first direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital circuit making it possible to measure the effective voltage of a signal, comprising at least one module exhibiting a sampler stage exhibiting an output generating an output logic signal which, for each given sampling period, exhibits a level representing the value of the voltage of the signal with respect to a given threshold (A), characterized in that it comprises a circuit (CIRC) for calculating a value representative of said effective voltage as a function of the difference between the number of times the output logic signal indicates that the voltage of the signal is above the given threshold (A) and the number of times the output logic signal indicates that this value is below said given threshold (A) over a duration corresponding to N given sampling periods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rocket engine nozzle comprising a system for controlling jet separation of the flow in the nozzle, wherein said control system exhibits a plurality of separation triggering elements (5, 10) arranged in such a way as to generate, from mutually spaced initiation points (9), distinct zones (6) of jet separation, so as to form a three-dimensional separation of the flow. The flow control system can exhibit at least two triggering elements (5, 10).

Abstract: A container equipped with a closure device that allows an object to be placed in said container, particularly for the purposes of manipulating it, or allows it to be withdrawn from said container, the closure device having a plane and comprising a closure mechanism that can deform elastically to change from a closed state of rest under no external stress to an open active state under an external stress. The closure mechanism can deform elastically and radially essentially in the plane of the closure device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a propulsion device comprising a gas ejection nozzle and an injection chamber for injecting at least one propellant fluid. According to the invention, the device has an induction loop which surrounds a zone of the nozzle and also an electricity generator to feed said induction loop, in particular under drive from a heat engine whose heat source is a nuclear core and whose heat sink is a cryogenic liquid which is subsequently used for propulsion.

Abstract: According to the invention, a “Geneva” movement mechanism is used which is turned in one direction or the other by an electric motor. The mechanism comprises a “Maltese” cross turning about the axis of rotation of the rotor and supporting an annular piece. The Maltese cross is mechanically coupled to a ball screw lying on said axis of rotation so as to transform the turning notion into motion that includes a linear component, thereby enabling the annular piece to be moved at will towards and away from the rotor so as to make it possible to obtain contact and then blocking in a self-blocking manner against a fixed wall, or on the contrary so as to release the rotor by moving the annular piece in translation in the opposite direction. The invention is applicable to an inertia wheel for controlling the attitude of a satellite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring characteristics of an electromagnetic field emitted by a source being tested, comprising a radiating element (8), a support (6) for said radiating element and a mount (5) on which said support is fastened. It is characterized in that it comprises a screen (7) carried by said support (6) and interposed between said radiating element (8) and said mount (5), and in that said screen (7) is adapted to reflect the beams (R1, R2) impinging upon it so as to re-emit and scatter them into space, along determined directions (R?1, R?2). In the measuring device wherein said radiating element (8) is associated with the sighting axis (?), so as to point the measuring device (4) along determined measuring directions, said screen (7) can be shaped such that said determined directions (R?1, R?2) include large amplitude angles with said sighting axis (?). The measurement site can comprise an anechoid chamber (9) enclosing said source and having walls (90).

Abstract: A system for extracting including a cooled condenser apparatus in contact with the volume of pressurized air being dehumidified, the condensed water being transferred into collection areas by means of capillary attraction; an evaporation chamber in thermal contact with the condenser apparatus having an inlet connected to the collection areas by means of a first valve device and an outlet connected by means of a second valve device to a space wherein the pressure is lower than that of the volume of pressurized air; and a control device for controlling the valve devices in order to carry out a control cycle with a first phase for placing the evaporation chamber under negative pressure in relation to the volume of pressurized air, and a second phase for suctioning the condensed water in the collection areas towards the decompression chamber, until the pressure in the decompression chamber reaches a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A radio frequency radiation module includes a beam forming network capable of applying a signal including contributions to several beams, to several channels. Each channel has a high power amplifier without redundant units, and an antenna radiating feed connected to the output of the amplifier. The beam forming network has a device for selective compensation for failure of one of the channels, increasing the power of the contribution of at least one of the signals to a beam for which the radiation is affected by the failure.

Abstract: A high resolution spectrometer with a large free spectral range comprising an entry slit for a beam of electromagnetic radiation to be analyzed, a first dispersion device for dispersing the beam to be analyzed into various wavelength components in a first direction, a second dispersion device for dispersing each wavelength component output from the first dispersion device in a second direction, and an imaging device comprising a sensitive detection spectrum. surface on which the beam dispersed in the first and second directions is focused, the first dispersion device being an optical filter that varies linearly and has a surface on which the beam to be analyzed is focused, each point on the surface of the filter operating like a pass band filter with a central frequency varying linearly in the first direction.

Abstract: A communications payload configuration comprising a multi-port amplifier that incorporates remotely controllable travelling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) for allowing their output power to be adjusted depending on the traffic demand and the payload operational conditions. The power delivered by each TWTA is controlled by adjusting the TWTA anode voltage in response to a command signal received from the ground station. If a TWTA fails, the power delivered by each of the remaining TWTAs is increased by gross anode voltage control. The power lost by the failure is thus recovered by increasing the power of the remaining TWTAs. This power control is done in a constant efficiency way by also readjusting the TWTA collector voltages.

Abstract: The invention provides a routing method for a multiplex system having N inputs each designed to receive one of N input multiplexes each having M input channels, each of the channels serving to transport an input packet, and N′ outputs each serving to generate one of the N′ output multiplexes each made up of output channels each serving to transport an output packet, each of the M channels in use in the input multiplex comprising a data packet associated with an input header serving firstly to identify the packet and secondly to specify at least one output to which it is to be routed, wherein each of the N′ output multiplexes has M+L channels where L≧0, and wherein the method implements the following operations:

Abstract: The invention relates to a combined propulsion system for a spacecraft, combining an electric propulsion system and a tether propulsion system, characterized in that the electric propulsion system is an electrostatic system (EP) which has, on the one hand, a generator (G) for ejecting an ionized plasma, comprising at least one grid for electrostatically accelerating the ions in the plasma and, on the other hand, an electron generator (NM) generating electrons to maintain the electrical neutrality of the system, and in that the electron generator (NM) is coupled to a first end of the tether which is the opposite end to the end at which the plasma-ejection generator (G) is arranged, generating a compensating current (Ic) flowing along said tether.

Abstract: A new class of 16-ary Amplitude and Phase Shift Keying (APSK) coded modulations, called double-ring APSK modulation, based on an amplitude and phase shift keying constellation in which the locations of the digital signals to be encoded are placed on two concentric rings of equally spaced signal points. The APSK constellation parameters are optimised so as to pre-compensate the impact of non-linearities. The new modulation scheme is suited for being used with different coding schemes. It is shown that, for the same coding scheme, pre-distorted double-ring APSK modulation significantly outperforms classical 16-QAM and 16-PSK over a typical satellite channel, due to its intrinsic robustness against the high power amplifier non-linear characteristics. The proposed coded modulation scheme is shown to provide a considerable performance advantage for future satellite multi-media and broadcasting systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arm exoskeleton comprising a moving system of joints placed in parallel with the joints of the human arm, the exoskeleton comprising a shoulder exoskeleton, an elbow exoskeleton, and a wrist exoskeleton. In all, the exoskeleton has sixteen joints providing sixteen degrees of freedom. A support worn on the torso of a human operator comprises a rigid front plate and a rigid back plate. The shoulder exoskeleton has its proximal end fixed to the front plate, whereby the front plate provides a fixed reference for all movements of the exoskeleton, and the wrist exoskeleton is fixed to a rigid glove worn on the hand of the operator. Active joints are controlled by flexible cable tendons bridging the exoskeleton, said tendons themselves being actuated by control units disposed on the rigid back plate. Inflatable cushions prevent the wrist exoskeleton and the shoulder exoskeleton from moving relative to the arm of the operator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of synchronizing a reference clock of a first ground station and a local clock of a remote system, in particular a satellite. It includes: a) acquisition in a first loop of synchronization between reference bursts received by the remote system and generated bursts synchronized with the local clock, b) detection of the recognition word of the reference bursts received by the first remote system and generation of a time window containing N pulses of the reference clock, c) acquisition of the average phase of said pulses and comparison with the phase of the local clock, and d) in a second loop, synchronization of the phase of the local clock with said average phase. The method can be reiterated to synchronize a second ground station with the first one via the remote system.

Abstract: According to the invention, a “Geneva” movement mechanism is used which is turned in one direction or the other by an electric motor. The mechanism comprises a “Maltese” cross turning about the axis of rotation of the rotor and supporting an annular piece. The Maltese cross is mechanically coupled to a ball screw lying on said axis of rotation so as to transform the turning notion into motion that includes a linear component, thereby enabling the annular piece to be moved at will towards and away from the rotor so as to make it possible to obtain contact and then blocking in a self-blocking manner against a fixed wall, or on the contrary so as to release the rotor by moving the annular piece in translation in the opposite direction. The invention is applicable to an inertia wheel for controlling the attitude of a satellite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital circuit making it possible to measure the effective voltage of a signal, comprising at least one module exhibiting a sampler stage exhibiting an output generating an output logic signal which, for each given sampling period, exhibits a level representing the value of the voltage of the signal with respect to a given threshold (A), characterized in that it comprises a circuit (CIRC) for calculating a value representative of said effective voltage as a function of the difference between the number of times the output logic signal indicates that the voltage of the signal is above the given threshold (A) and the number of times the output logic signal indicates that this value is below said given threshold (A) over a duration corresponding to N given sampling periods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a converter comprising at least one converter module presenting at least one electricity feed terminal coupled to an electricity generator and to an electricity feed line such as a bus and including at least one series switch and at least one parallel switch, the series switch being connected in series between the electricity feed terminal and a first inductor, itself in series with an electricity source, the first series switch and the first inductor forming a series branch, and the parallel switch being connected in parallel between said series branch and ground, said switches of said module being controlled in phase opposition by a control circuit presenting a first control state in which said switches are operated in a first or “voltage-lowering” mode of operation in which an electrical current flows from the electricity generator to the electricity feed line, and a second control state in which said switches are operated in a second or “voltage-raising&r