Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring apparatus that includes an ultrasonic transducer for emitting ultrasonic pulses at a predetermined repetition frequency towards an object having a plurality of walls such as a blood vessel, receiving echoes reflected from such walls, and producing an echo signal having a plurality of elementary echo components (E.sub.ant, E.sub.post). A digitizer digitizes the echo signal into a series of digital values that are stored in a buffer memory under control of a circuit. A computer transfers the series of digital values stored in the buffer memory into a memory. The computer is programmed to process the digital values stored in the memory in the period between consecutive pulses and to remove a group of the digital values digitized between consecutive elementary components (E.sub.ant, E.sub.post) from those digital values to be treated between such consecutive pulses.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having an analog or digital display delivering time information in silent, tactile manner in which the control elements (L, C, B.sub.1, B.sub.2) provided on the exterior of a closed housing cooperate via the intermediary of an interpretation circuit with the electronic coding means (22) to drive the vibration generating device (23) by means of pulse strings to emit vibration strings representative of an item of time information or of the accuracy of a time instruction or non-time instruction introduced by means of said control elements.The timepiece presents a conventional appearance, but enables a visually impaired person to know the time, to correct the internal time and to set an alarm time.

Abstract: A watch including an arrangement (14) indicating the terrestrial magnetic north. Such terrestrial magnetic north indicating arrangement is fitted into the watch case (32) in a lateral peripheral region of the horological movement (2). Specifically, the terrestrial magnetic north indicating arrangement comprises a permanent magnet (16) mounted on a shaft (18) and a direction indicator (24) fixed to such shaft. In accordance with three specific embodiments, the watch according to the invention enables, firstly, indication of the north direction, secondly, any direction whatsoever permitting the user to follow a predetermined direction and, thirdly, the direction of Mecca from at least one place on the terrestrial globe where such user is located.

Abstract: An ultrasonic detection device having a transducer (10) for emitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses through a windshield, and producing an echo signal (40,50) representative of the reflected pulses. The detection device also includes an amplifier (23) for amplifying the echo signals (40,50) by a selectable gain, an integrating circuit (26) for integrating each of the echo signals (40,50) during a selected time period (62,63) so as to produce an integral value, amplifier control circuitry (27,28) measuring the integral value and selecting the gain of the amplifier so as to maintain the integral value at a steady-state value, and the temporal deviation of the integral value from the steady-state value is measured to determine if it is greater than a predetermined threshold value. The invention may be used to detect water on a windscreen and to control the operation of a windscreen cleaning system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diagnostic circuit for amperometrically determining the current passing through a sensor (41). The circuit comprises a current source (V+, 46) for passing a constant DC current through said sensor (41), switching means (45) for selectively operating said current source, comparing means (42) for comparing the potential difference (V.sub.BS) across said sensor to a reference voltage (V.sub.ref), and producing a control signal (D) control means (44) for controlling said switching means (45) in response to said control signal (D), and timing means (48,49) for measuring the cumulative time during which said switching signal (Q) has said first logic level during a selected time interval, so as to provide an output signal (50) indicative of a mean value of current (I.sub.bs ave) passing through said sensor (41).

Abstract: A measurement arrangement, in particular for measuring the proportion of glucose in the blood, which is intended to be associated with a removable sensor including a plurality of single use active zones includes a cutting arrangement (44, 64, 66, 68, 70) serving to cut off the removable sensor (52) introduced into the measurement arrangement. The cutting arrangement comprises a lever (44), a crank (66) and a blade (70) fixed on the lever.

Abstract: The hands of the timepiece are connected to a barrel spring which also drives the rotor of a generator at a speed greater than a desired speed Vc. The electric energy supplied by the generator energizes a slaving circuit that includes a transistor which short-circuits the coil of the generator and thus brakes the rotor down to a speed less than the desired speed Vc when a comparator indicates that this rotor is ahead with respect to its theoretical angular position. A limiting circuit limits the duration of the braking action of the rotor to a fraction of the period of the a.c. voltage supplied by the generator. This arrangement ensures that the slaving circuit is adequately energized even if the rotor is substantially ahead.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a measuring device, notably for measuring the level of glucose in blood, intended to be used with a removable sensor comprising at least one active zone. In particular, the invention concerns the electrical connection between the measuring device and the removable sensor. Each electrical contact surface of the removable sensor is connected to two electrical contact organs to enable the condition of the electrical contacts between these electrical contact organs and the corresponding contact surfaces to be checked before a measurement is carried out.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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.