Abstract: A device for delivering a medicament has a membrane (7) with at least one permeable area (7b) permeable to the medicament and a reservoir space (25) which contains a solvent and the medicament at least partially dissolved therein, An adjustable and/or deformable control element (7) is disposed on the side of the membrane (7) facing the reservoir space (25) with which the access of the medicament from the reservoir space (25) to at least one permeable area (7b) of the membrane (7) can be changed. In addition an electronic device (37) is provided with which the control element (17) can be automatically controlled via a motor (37). The device permits the periodic alteration of the delivery rate of the medicament which is advantageous in many cases.

Abstract: A timepiece which includes a case (2), a horometric movement (4) housed within the case (2) and means for broadcasting an electromagnetic signal including electronic means (12) for furnishing the signal and at least one broadcasting antenna (14) coupled to the electronic means (12). Such timepiece is characterized in that the antenna (14) is arranged on a first face (20a) of a support plate (20) of basically planar form arranged in the interior of the case (2), such antenna (14) being constituted by a thin metallic layer deposited on the face (20a) of the support plate (20). This timepiece is applicable to the control of an arrangement, for example for latching and unlatching, of a door in particular.

Abstract: A non-acoustic alarm intended to equip a device supplying information such as time information. Such alarm includes motor means (24) which can be electrically driven and which are associated with a mass (26) adapted to be set in motion under the action of the motor means (24) in order to furnish a vibratory effect. Such alarm is furthermore characterized in that the motor means (24) are constituted by an electromagnetic motor (24a, 24b) fixedly mounted on a support (28) including elastic coupling elements (30) which are associated with said mass (26) which is designed to assume a quasi-linear oscillating motion relative to the electromagnetic motor (24a, 24b) when the motor is operated. The invention is particularly adapted for integration within a timepiece.

Abstract: The device comprises a piezoelectric transducer, a primary battery, and a circuit which applies a control voltage to the transducer or which short-circuits the latter depending on the state of a control signal. The control voltage is produced by a voltage increasing circuit comprising a coil, a diode and a capacitor constituted by the transducer, that are connected in series, in that order, across the terminals of the primary battery, and an oscillator responsive to the control signal to control a transistor in such a manner that it either alternately produces and cancels a short circuit across the terminals of the circuit formed by the diode and the transducer or is permanently blocked. A second transistor is also responsive to the control signal to short-circuit the transducer when the first transistor is blocked. The device is simpler, cheaper and consumes less electrical power than known devices.

Abstract: A timepiece comprising a display (2) such as a data display and a driving motor (M1, M2) for driving the display is characterized in that the driving motor comprises a piezo-electric motor directly engaging the display.

Abstract: The liquid crystal cell with an alignment layer in the form of a soluble halogenated polymer of the ethylenic substituted ethylenic cycloaliphatic or heterocycloaliphatic type which induces homeotropic or planar alignment of the crystal molecules in contact therewith depending on whether the temperature is below or above a predetermined temperature T.sub.HP. The alignment layer may be a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with bis-2,2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxide.

Abstract: A process for measuring the position of at least one mobile wall using ultrasound and an apparatus for carrying out this process are described.The measuring process of the invention has an initialization phase during which the elemental echoes of an echo signal produced by the reflection of an ultrasonic impulse from mobile interfaces (P.sub.o,1 ; P.sub.o,2 ; P.sub.o,3 ; P.sub.o,4 ;) are processed, to determine the position of these interfaces in this echo signal and in which the temporal positions of the reference points (Z.sub.o,1 ; Z.sub.o,2) of the elemental echoes of a group of echo signals assimilated afterwards, are simultaneously tracked so as to ascertain the position of the interfaces in the most recent of the echo signals of this group, an assimilation phase in which the position of said interfaces is tracked and an organizational or processing stage for the memorized data.

Abstract: The device comprises a transducer which supplies, in response to an exciting signal, a detection signal that is representative of its angular speed, and a circuit which responds to this detection signal to supply an angular speed measurement signal. For this measurement signal to be readily usable regardless of the transducer, the circuit measures the phase difference between the detection signal and the exciting signal, this phase difference being representative of the angular speed of the transducer.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a physical parameter is described having a frame, at least one support which is resiliently flexible under the influence of a physical parameter and which is integral with the frame, and at least one resonator integral with the support for supplying a signal representative of the physical parameter in response to flection of the support, the sensor also having an abutment and counter abutment limiting the flextion of the support, in particular before it is fixed to the frame. This sensor has applications in the measurement of a physical parameter such as, for example, acceleration.

Abstract: An optical cell having an optically active material, for example a liquid crystal is disclosed, the transparency of which is a function of the electrical voltage applied together with a control circuit, wherein said optically active material presents an electrical impedance variable with the frequency of the signal applied and said control circuit has a voltage source and means for controlling the frequency of the signal delivered by said voltage source. The cell has applications in attenuating light, notably in a sun screen or automobile rear-view mirror.

Abstract: A portable pump for the administration of a therapeutic liquid substance having at least one integral supply reservoir is disclosed. The object of the invention is to present a pump having at least two modules in which the sterilizable elements are divided from the non-sterilizable elements, the operation of the pump being started when the various modules are assembled and being permanently disrupted when the modules are separated. The object of the invention is achieved with the aid of a pump comprising a reservoir module having a supply reservoir of medicaments and at least one tube connected to the reservoir at the end of the pump, and a motor module comprising means for pumping motor means and control means. This pump is particularly useful for the treatment of patients in continuous low doses.

Abstract: A measurement sensor is disclosed having a frame, a support which is resiliently flexible under the influence of a physical parameter and is fixed to the frame, a mass connected to the support, a housing which is formed by the frame and surrounds the mass to dampen movement of the mass and its support, a detection device for supplying a signal representative of the physical parameter in response to flection of the support. The sensor includes an assembly for precisely positioning the mass in the housing. The sensor has applications in the measurement of a physical parameter such as, for example, acceleration.

Abstract: The invention concerns a simple, inexpensive and small detector, particularly for use in the medical pumps, for detecting over-pressure in a pipe (1) and setting off an alarm when an over-pressure is detected. The detector for detecting over-pressure in the pipe (1) along which a fluid (3) flows may comprise a T junction (5) for deriving a fraction of the flowing fluid (3) from the pipe (1); at least one tube (7) wherein there is fitted at least one obturating member (9); and an assembly for detecting the displacement of the obturating member (9) in the tube (7) and for generating a signal in response to detecting displacement of the obturating member (9).

Abstract: A method for measuring the distance e separating two faces (3, 4) of an object (1) employs the ultrasonic wave diffused back by said faces and received by a sensor (6). Following digitalization (11), the temporal signal is transformed (12) into a frequency spectrum. The modulus of the frequency spectrum is established (13) then the logarithmic derivative thereof is calculated (15) from whence there results a useful signal including a periodic signal onto which a linear signal is superposed. Following suppression (14, 16) of the linear signal the useful signal is applied (17) to a frequency window in order to eliminate the noise therefrom. The signal thus obtained is inversely transformed (18) to obtain a signal the amplitude of which is a function of the time and the envelope of this latter signal is determined (19). After having determined the temporal spread .DELTA.t separating the time origin from the envelope peak showing the greatest amplitude, the distance e is calculated from the relation e=c.multidot.

Abstract: The micromotor comprises a rotor rotatably mounted on a stator having copolanar electrodes for setting up an electric field between the stator and the rotor. To increase the useful torque that can be supplied by the motor, the rotor includes a peripheral ring disposed opposite the electrodes and which is connected to a hub by arms that enable the ring easily to tilt in response to the electric field set up by the electrodes.

Abstract: A radial field electrostatic micromotor produced by photolithographic micromanufacture includes a stator provided with several groups of electrodes angularly offset from one another about an axis of rotation of the micromotor, an electrically conducting rotor at least one arm of which has a counter electrode adapted to cooperate with the stator electrodes to form an air gap therebetween, and a guide ring adapted to drive the rotor in rotation and possibly in translation. The micromotor has a rotor comprising at least one bridging element arranged at least partly above an electrostatic field plane (PCE) of the micromotor. The bridging element constitutes an elevated arm of the rotor having one or more mechanically or electricity functional members adapted to cooperate with one or more complementary members located in or outside the electrostatic field plane and inside or outside the group of stator electrodes.

Abstract: A processing circuit is provided for signals (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) supplied by two transducers measuring a physical quantity parameter in a differential mode and delivering a signal representative of this parameter. This processing circuit essentially comprises a first counter for counting within a measurement period an integer N.sub.1 of periods T.sub.1 of the signal S.sub.1, a second counter for counting within this period of measurement an integer N.sub.2 of periods T.sub.2 of the signal S.sub.2, and a logic circuit to deliver a signal S.sub.m representative of the difference between the interval N.sub.1 .multidot.T.sub.1 and the interval N.sub.2 .multidot.T.sub.2, this signal being representative of the value of the physical parameter. The circuit is useful for measuring acceleration, force, pressure or temperature.

Abstract: This method for establishing blood pressure in an artery employs the measurement results from two non-invasive sensors (5, 6) of artery diameter at two closely spaced locations (3, 4) separated by a distance .DELTA.x. The method provides for measuring the time spread .DELTA.t(7) between each pair of diameter measurements and establishing the propagation velocity of the pressure wave (9). Next, this value is compared with an expression (11) of the form c(D)= c(D, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . ) which takes into account the physical behavior of the artery. This comparison permits one, following adjustment (12) based on a mathematical procedure for minimizing spreads, to calculate the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . of the relation given hereinabove. By replacing the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . by their values in a relation (10) D(p)= D(p, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . .

Abstract: The miniature peristaltic pump (1) of this invention includes a pump module (2) comprising a gear (11) arranged to drive a rotor bearing rollers, said rollers crushing locally at least one tube into which a medicinal preparation may be sucked in at the input (13) and expelled at the output (14) thereof. The gear (11) meshes with a pinion (12) forming part of a motor module (3) adapted to be mounted with or dismounted from the pump module. The motor module comprises a timepiece movement of the type currently employed in a wrist watch, such movement including a stepping motor, an integrated circuit, a quartz resonator and down gearing by means of toothed wheels. An energy cell renders the pump self contained. The pump is intended to be carried on the human body and thus renders unnecessary that the patient recline on a bed.

Abstract: The liquid crystal cell comprises a volume divided by a separating wall into a main chamber and a secondary chamber which define an active surface and a passive surface respectively. The secondary chamber is partially filled with the liquid crystal and with a gas. According to the invention the cell comprises, in addition, compensation means for variations in the volume of the liquid crystal constituted by a secondary chamber divided into a plurality of compartments, a plurality of passage openings being provided in the separating wall so that the main chamber and the secondary chamber are intercommunicating.