Abstract: An analogue timepiece capable of indicting a pressure variation, such as that of atmospheric pressure, comprises at least two hands (2, 3) for providing time information, a watch movement (12) for driving the hands and a pressure sensor (13, 13a) for measuring the atmospheric pressure variation. One of the hands (2, 3) indicates the measured pressure variation while one of the others of said hands (3, 3) indicates at the same time a weather forecast as a function of the variation.

Abstract: An electronic display arrangement comprises at least one electro-optical display means, as for example a liquid crystal cell, a certain number of elementary patterns associated with the electro-optical display means, such elementary patterns for the most part conforming to and being based on a series of stylized and selected alpha-numeric characters in the form of a composite mosaic-type structure the grid of which is formed by the patterns which exhibit heterogeneous and complementary contours arranged so as to nest into one another in a manner similar to that of a puzzle, the arrangement being characterized in that the mosaic is divided up by optically passive bands which partially cover over certain of the elementary patterns and form a cutup of the mosaic. The electronic display arrangement is applicable to panels for displaying alpha-numeric characters for the visualization of messages in public places such as railway or airport halls.

Abstract: A temperature indicator has a substrate (1) comprising several distinct juxtaposed zones (I to VIII), each being covered by a first thermosensitive material (A) and at least one second thermosensitive material (B, C) each of which reacts within a predetermined temperature range which is different for each zone but of constant scope. There is no overlapping of the temperature ranges of each material is within each zone. Each of the thermosensitive materials (A,B,C) has a portion of its range of reaction temperatures in common with a portion of the temperature range of one of the materials (A,B,C) of an adjacent zone. This overlapping is lower by one step in each of the temperature ranges. With three thermosensitive materials per zone, 24 sensing elements are available, which enables obtaining 18 times a single non-active sensor, namely 18 temperatures at the step resolution. The temperature is read at the side of the non-active zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic cell (1) comprising a substrate (2) having a support face (4) having a first electrode (6) thereon and a second electrode (10) spaced from the first electrode (6) by a plurality of layers (14, 16; 14, 24, 16) including at least one layer (14) of a semiconducting material with an active junction (J) interface thereat, said active junction (J) having a developed surface area greater than its projected surface area.

Abstract: A piezo-electric motor of the stationary wave tape comprises a stator including piezo-electric excitation means capable of inducing a vibratory motion in the stator, a rotor mounted for rotation relative to the stator, the rotor including a body on which are assembled flexion tabs forming transmission means arranged to transmit the vibratory motion of the stator to the rotor and to rotationally drive such rotor, said flexion tabs following a displacement path relative to the stator, and an angular position detector of the rotor. The motor is characterised in that the detector is arranged near and in line with the displacement path, and in that said detector is formed by one or several piezo-electric sensors allowing to track the passage of the tabs. The motor is particularly suitable for timepieces.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a mobile display (2) consisting of a motif (5) composed of n discrete elements P.sub.j that can be selectively activated by a microprocessor or a logic circuit receiving at least one base time signal, and making it possible both to impose the rhythm of increase of the number of activated elements P.sub.j and to effect a random selection of said activated elements, to progressively reveal or mask the motif (5) during the passage of a period of time T and/or the approach of an event E in relation to the functions or the operation of said timepiece.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic measuring apparatus for emitting an ultrasonic pulse, receiving reflected echos and producing an echo signal representative of the echos resulting from each impulse, each echo signal has a first portion corresponding to echos from one group of interfaces and a second portion corresponding to echos from another group of interfaces. The apparatus comprises a gain control (24) for controlling the amplitude of each echo signal and a processor (26) for receiving and treating said echo signals.

Abstract: This watch (1) includes a case (2), a glass (3) and at least one manual control device (22), which comprises a capacitive sensor (20) with a first electrode (5) arranged on the internal face (6) of the glass (3). The selective positioning of a finger (10) of a wearer of the watch (1) on the external face of the glass (3) enables a first capacity (C.sub.d) to be formed between the first electrode (5) and earth (11) constituted by the case (2). A parasitic capacity (C.sub.p) is present between the first electrode and the case.The manual control device (22) also includes a voltage-frequency converter (22) whose oscillation frequency is determined by the first capacity (C.sub.d), when the latter is formed by the presence of the finger, in combination with the parasitic capacity (C.sub.

Abstract: A regenerating photoelectrochemical cell (1) is disclosed having a first transparent substrate (2) which has thereon a first transparent electrode (6), a second transparent substrate (4) which has thereon a second transparent electrode (8) on which is deposited a first layer (10) of a photoelectrochemically active semiconductor oxide in the form of a porous nanostructure of sintered colloidal particles, the substrates (2, 4) being so disposed in relation to one another as to define a space filled with electrolyte (16), said electrolyte (16) impregnating the said porous structure in a manner such that it is in contact on the one hand with the first transparent electrode (6) disposed on the first transparent substrate (2) and on the other hand with the second transparent electrode (8) disposed on the second transparent substrate (4), and said second transparent substrate also having a second compact continuous semiconductor oxide layer (20) extending between the second transparent electrode (8) and the first se

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture by sintering of a titanium part, characterized in that is consists of:(a) mixing a titanium hydride powder with a temporary binding agent,(b) injecting the mixture obtained into a mold to obtain a part in the desired shape,(c) removing the binding agent,(d) heating the part in a hydrogen atmosphere up to the desired sintering temperature,(e) replacing the hydrogen atmosphere by a vacuum or a non-reactive atmosphere once the sintering temperature has been reached, and(f) cooling the part in a non-reactive gas atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention provides a horological piece (P) comprising an energy source having at least one photovoltaic cell (1) capable of transforming luminous radiation into an electrical current. This photovoltaic cell includes an active surface (F) sensitive to luminous radiation. A horometrical movement (56) is supplied by the energy source and is capable of supplying time keeping information. A display (58) is adapted to receive the time keeping information supplied by the horometrical movement (56) and displays this information so that it is readable by a user. The active surface (F) of the photovoltaic cell (1) has at least one transparent region which at least partially covers the display (58). The invention may be applied to horological pieces without portable power sources, such as a battery.

Abstract: The invention concerns a window including at least a first sheet (16), a second sheet (18), said sheets being joined together by a connecting layer (20), characterised in that it also includes an ultrasonic device (12) placed between said sheets (16,18) and co-operating directly with a first face (24) of said first sheet (16) to detect the presence of foreign bodies on a second face (26) of said first sheet (16) opposite said first face (24), said device (12) comprising a transducer (28) able to emit, via a transmitting/receiving face, an incidental ultrasonic signal of wavelength .lambda. in said first sheet (16), the thickness of said first sheet being equal to K..lambda./2, where K is an integral number, and said transducer being able to receive, via said transmitting/receiving face a reflected ultrasonic signal representative of the presence or absence of said foreign bodies to generate a detection signal.

Abstract: A reed contactor includes a base plane comprising two distinct conducting zones. Two shafts of the contactor have the form of blades, each of which engages a base plane at the level of one of the conducting zones. One of the beams at least is supported on the base plane by means of a foot on which it is mounted in an overhanging manner. The contactor is formed by process comprising the steps of forming successively on a substrate an alternance of levels of photoresist and of metallization. At each step, the level of upper photoresist is configured to create in its thickness free growth spaces in which metal pins are formed by galvanic growth. The levels of photoresist situated under the last level of metallization play the role of sacrificial layers and allow the formation of suspended metallic structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watch comprising a device for indicating the temperature (16) of the environment in which the watch is situated comprising a first series of thermochromic liquid crystal temperature sensors (18) facing a first temperature scale (20) arranged in such a way that the reading given by the sensors (18) of the first series, in combination with said scale, is directly representative of the temperature of the environment in contact with the sensors, and wherein the device differentiates the temperature indicated by the sensors according to whether the watch is worn or not worn.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor. Such motor includes a support (2), a stator (S2, S3) fixed to the support (2), piezoelectric means (10) adapted to be electrically excited so as to induce a vibratory motion in the stator (S2, S3), a rotor (R2, R3) mounted for rotation relative to the support (2), such rotor including a body on which transmission means (36) are arranged and adapted to transmit the vibratory motion of the stator (S2, S3) to the rotor (R2, R3) and in order to drive such rotor in rotation, and elastic support means (79) for the rotor on the stator, characterized in that the body of the rotor is formed by a structure (D2, D3) which is elastically deformable, at least in the direction of the stator, and which at least in part forms the support means (79). The invention is applied, for example, to a timepiece.

Abstract: Complexes of the general formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, each represent a straight or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or together with the adjacent nitrogen atom a heterocyclic radical having 5 to 7 carbon atoms; "alk" represents a straight or branched alkylene radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sub.4 to R.sub.8, which may be the same or different, represent hydrogen, or a hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy or primary secondary or tertiary amino group, or the group -alk-N.sup.+ (R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3) wherein "alk", R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 have the meanings given above; M represents a transition metal such as Fe, Ru or Os; X represents an anion and n is an integer corresponding to the number of positive charges of the complex.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor having multiple measuring zones (34) that are sequentially insulatable, disposed on the circumference of an insulating disc (1) and associated with each other by peripheral current collectors (16, 17) which extend radially inward up to central zones where they form contacts (23, 24) for a measuring apparatus. The disc-sensor also has a device (6) for rotating the disc, and guide marks for positioning (11) and for isolating (7) the measuring zones (34), and may be contained in a housing (40). The invention is useful in the quantitative analysis of glucose.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microelectronic device having body (42) and abutment device (46, 47, 48) projecting from one face of the body (42) for abutment of the microelectronic device to a support member (62), the body (42) including an electrically active region (41) with a sensitive axis (51), characterised in that the abutment device (46, 47, 48) has a predetermined relationship with the sensitive axis (51) to thereby enable alignment of the sensitive axis (51) with an expected signal axis.

Abstract: A small sensor for an electrochemical measuring system composed of a measuring apparatus (50) having an electronic circuit (60), a connecting device (64), a positioning and advancing device (56, 57) and an eliminating device (59, 53). The apparatus is adapted to receive the sensor (40), which has a plurality of active, successively disposable measuring zones (34). The sensor has applications in the quantitative analysis of glucose in the blood.

Abstract: Mono, bis and tris(substituted 2,2'-bipyridine) complexes of iron, ruthenium, osmium or vanadium are described wherein the bipyridine is substituted by a hydroxy or alkoxy group, or a primary, secondary or tertiary amine group.