Abstract: A solar photovoltaic module (1) intended to receive incident light, said incident light comprising incident visible light and incident near infrared light, visible light being defined as light having a wavelength between 380 nm and 700 nm, excluding 700 nm and near infrared light is defined as light having a wavelength between 700 nm and 2000 nm, characterized in that said solar photovoltaic module (1) comprises: —a photovoltaic element (2), sensitive to near-infra red light, —at least a first infrared transmitting cover sheet (4), arranged to one side of said photovoltaic element (2), comprising: —infrared transmission means arranged to transmit at least 65% of said incident infrared light through said infrared transmitting cover sheet, —visible light transmission means arranged to transmit as less as possible incident light having wavelengths lower than 600 nm, preferably lower than 650 nm, more preferably lower than 700 nm, excluding the wavelength of 700 nm, through said infrared transmitting cover sheet

Abstract: A guided mode resonance device, comprising—a substrate,—a waveguide,—a grating structure associated with said waveguide, said grating structure being arranged to an incident surface of said substrate, said incident surface being intended to receive an incident light beam provided by at least one light source, said incident light beam having an incident angle, defined relative to the normal of said waveguide, said grating structure comprising at least one elementary structure comprising at least a first-type grating structure and at least a second-type grating structure,—wherein:—said waveguide is arranged to transfer light from_the first-type grating structures to the second-type grating structure and also to transfer light from the second-type grating structures to the first-type grating structure,—said first-type grating structure is arranged to couple out a first light beam,—said second-type grating structure is arranged to couple out a second light beam,—said first light beam having a different spectral d

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an infrared emitter is provided comprising a metalized membrane emitting infrared light in operation. The membrane comprises a two dimensional array of infrared wavelength sized through-holes and to each side a thin metal layer comprising also an array of through-holes. The through-holes are arranged as a two-dimensional periodic array and each of said through-holes have a cross section having a maximum and a minimum dimension of less than any wavelength of the emitted infrared light. The peak wavelength of the emitted infrared light is proportional to the periodicity of the through-holes. At least one of the metal layers is connected to an electrical current source that provides an electrical current that heats at least one of the metal layers so that a narrow bandwidth and highly directive light beam of infrared light is emitted. The membrane is arranged on a membrane support and both are made of a material that resists to temperatures higher than 400°.

Abstract: A shock-absorber and/or vibration-absorber device is proposed, comprising at least one flexible element able to deform under the effect of a stress; said device being remarkable in that it includes at least one so-called dissipative layer made from a material having a shear modulus lower than the shear modulus of the flexible element, a shock-absorbing factor greater than the shock-absorbing factor of said flexible element, and at least partially secured to said flexible element such that a flexion of the flexible element, under the effect of a stress, provides shearing of the dissipative layer making it possible to dissipate at least part of the energy from said stress. A method for manufacturing said shock-absorber device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a micro-machined vapor cell comprising a central silicon element forming a cavity containing vapor cell reactants such as alkali metal or alkali metal azide, buffer gas(es), and/or anti relaxation coating(s); a first and a second glass caps sealing the cavity; and a solenoid arranged to provide a homogeneous magnetic field to said vapor cell. The solenoid is coiled directly on the central silicon element of the vapor cell. This invention is an improvement for the highly miniaturized atomic clocks developments.

Abstract: An apparatus dispenses and/or aspirates a predetermined volume of fluid from a chamber. The chamber includes a lower portion for containing fluid and an upper portion for containing gas. The apparatus includes a controllable valve arranged to be in fluid communication with the lower portion of the chamber, a pressure sensor arranged to be in fluid communication with the upper portion of the chamber, a pump configured to be in fluid communication between a source of gas and the upper portion of the chamber, and a controller in operative connection with the controllable valve, the pressure sensor, and the pump. The controller is configured to receive signals from the pressure sensor and to control operation of the pump and operation of the controllable valve based on said signals from the pressure sensor. A method for dispensing and/or aspirating a predetermined volume of fluid utilizes this apparatus.

Abstract: A clamping insert for cell culture having a lower support with a hollow member engagable in a well of a microplate, the hollow member being open at both ends and including a support surface at one end, and first tightening elements. The clamping insert further having an inner holder sized to be fitted inside the hollow member, and second tightening elements arranged to cooperate with the first tightening elements of the hollow member to tighten reversibly between the inner holder and the support surface of the lower support a porous substrate. The inner holder further including an open channel keeping free the porous substrate. Retaining elements intended to cooperate with the well of the microplate are provided to allow the clamping insert to be suspended in the well, and sealing elements are provided to hermetically seal the contact area between the clamping insert and the porous substrate.

Abstract: A position measurement system for determining 2D displacement or position of a mobile element with respect to a reference frame, including: a point light; an optical mask having transparent and opaque areas defining a repetitive pattern on at least one side of its surfaces; an imager, fixed to a mobile element, including integrated electronic circuits allowing detection, computing and analyzing of a shadow projected by the optical mask. The position measurement system includes an optical diffuser plate between the light source and the mask. The imager, mask and diffuser plate form an assembly so as to produce a light spot created by the scattering of the incident light beam emitted by the light source on the diffuser plate. The mask positioned between the diffuser plate and imager, produces a shadow on the imager, allowing to compute and provide 2D position of the mobile element relative to the fixed reference frame.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an isotropic optical filter comprising high-index refraction material positioned between low-index-refraction matter. At least some of the high-index refraction material has a grated structure and lateral and vertical dimensions with respect to the low-index-refraction matter such that the high-index refraction material is operative to act as a leaky waveguide for light incident on the ZOF. The grated structure comprises at least two different grating patterns. Each of the at least two grating patterns constitutes a subpixel. A plurality of subpixels is operative to diffract incident light to at least two zero-order wavelength spectra respective of the at least two grating patterns such to exhibit an isotropic color effect with respect to the rotational orientation of the isotropic optical filter. The plurality of subpixels constitute an isotropic pixel.

Abstract: Portable automated sample preparation device comprising a housing, said housing containing: a collecting chamber for receiving a sample; at least one extraction device comprising an input in operative connection with an output of said collecting chamber, and comprising an output for outputting a concentrated sample; a solvent reservoir adapted to contain solvent, said solvent reservoir being in operative connection with the input of said extraction device; a source of pressurised gas or liquid in operative connection with the collecting chamber and with the solvent reservoir, and arranged to cause said sample and said solvent to pass through said extraction device; a controller adapted to control operation of the extraction device.

Abstract: Implantable device (8) comprising:—a base element (1; 7);—a cover (2) attached to said base element (1; 7) so as to define a cavity arranged to receive an electronic device (4);—a metallic interlayer (3) disposed between the base element (1) and the cover (2), and arranged so as to bond the base element (1; 7) to the cover (2), wherein said metallic interlayer (3) comprises at least one diffusion barrier layer (3a) and at least one bonding layer (3b). The diffusion barrier layer (3a) may optionally also serve as an adhesion layer, or a further adhesion layer may be provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotating oscillator for a timepiece comprising a support element designed to allow the oscillator to be assembled on a timepiece, a balance, a plurality of flexible blades connecting the support element to the balance and able to exert a return torque on the balance, and a felloe mounted secured to the balance. The plurality of flexible blades comprises at least two flexible blades, including a first blade positioned in a first plane perpendicular to the plane of the oscillator, and a second blade positioned in a second plane perpendicular to the plane of the oscillator and intersecting the first plane.

Abstract: Ion-selective sensor (6) comprising a micro-machined chip with an analyte micro-channel (2), adapted to draw an analyte solution and a first liquid membrane micro channel (3) adapted to draw a liquid membrane solution, and an first electrolyte micro channel (1), adapted to draw an analyte solution. The ion-selective sensor (6) comprises a first substrate (100) and a second substrate (200) comprising each a structured surface to form, after assembly of said substrates the analyte micro-channel (2), the first electrolyte micro channel (1) and the first liquid membrane micro channel (3), each provided with their respective inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A device for the sensitive detection of X-rays comprises a structured scintillator screen optically coupled to a semiconductor image sensor. The scintillator screen comprises individual columnar elements covered with material showing high optical reflection. Each columnar element represents a pixel, and light flashes created by an X-ray photon in a scintillating event exit through a short surface of the columnar element for detection with a semiconductor image sensor. The semiconductor image sensor comprises a multitude of photosensor elements, and one or more of these photosensor elements receives light from a scintillator screen pixel.

Abstract: An ion sensitive system has sets of microfluidic microchannels forming ion sensitive electrodes by the assembly of a substrate with structured microchannels and another substrate including metal contacts on its surface. The integrated ion sensitive sensors are each composed of a microfluidic microchannel to contain an electrolyte, another microfluidic microchannel to contain the analyte and another microfluidic microchannel to contain a membrane liquid that separates the electrolyte from the analyte at the confluent junction of the three solutions. The system has the dimension of a thin and small disc and can be incorporated in an analyzing device.

Abstract: A method for working out the angular position of a rotating element, by using at least one fixed light source emitting a light beam in the direction of a fixed sensor, arranging the light source with respect to the rotating element and sensor to induce an interaction between the beam and sensor, and providing a value of the angular position dependent of the sensor's output signal. The method including: arranging on the path of the beam a code-disc presenting a two-dimensional pattern of transparent and opaque areas and an absolute code integral with the rotating element, using the image casted by the code-disc on the sensor for determining the eccentricity of the code-disc in dependence of the angular position of the rotating element, using the eccentricity for compensating the value of the computed angular position, and computing a corrected angular position of the rotating element.

Abstract: A one-dimension position measurement system includes: a first ruler having a first one-dimension binary code si applied thereon, a camera for acquiring a picture of a portion of the code si, the portion having a length of I bits, and some processing elements. Each codeword of length I of the one-dimension code si is unique within the whole code si. A codeword ai is read from the acquired picture, and the processing elements are implemented for computing an absolute position p of the codeword ai of the code si from: (I). An ad-hoc interpolation method is used to obtain a precision way below the distance between two bits of the codewords. The code si may be applied on the ruler by using some geometric primitives, a geometric primitive for encoding a “1” being different from a geometric primitive for encoding a “0”, both having the same horizontal projection. The horizontal projection is then used for fine interpolation, achieving nanometer-scale resolution.

Abstract: The assembly is made up of: a) a support including a mesoporous coating whose pores have an average diameter dimensioned so as to enable molecules from the family of cyanines to penetrate them, and b) a layer of molecules from the family of cyanines and organized into J-aggregates within the pores of the coating. The assembly moreover includes Quantum Dots located within the same pores as those containing the J-aggregates, the Quantum Dots maintaining J-aggregates structure. A method for producing such an assembly is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for a continuous non-invasive and non-obstrusive monitoring of blood pressure. The method comprises the steps of: a) measuring the value (PW) of a Pulse Wave parameter, equal to or derived from the Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) parameter of a segment of the arterial tree of a subject, b) measuring the value (CO) of the Cardiac Output parameter, and c) determining the value (BP) of the blood pressure that satisfies B ? ? P = arg ? ? min BP ? ? d ? ( P ? ? W , ? ( C ? ? O , B ? ? P ) ) , where PW is the value measured in step a), (CO, BP) corresponds to a predicted value of the Pulse Wave parameter computed according to a model of the segment of the arterial tree, the value (CO) of the Cardiac Output parameter measured in step b) and an hypothesized value of the blood pressure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a smart label to be affixed on or integrated in an object and able to provide an electrical signal indicative of the applied pressure or force and/or the position of the applied pressure or force at a touch point on the object to which the label is affixed. The smart label comprises a layer structure and a detector system, the layer structure comprising of at least a stack of a first, a second and a third layer. The first and third layers comprise a flexible, electrically conductive or semiconductive material and at least two electrodes for connecting the layers to the detector system. The second layer comprises a flexible, deformable and compressible material. The second layer is electrically nonconductive or electrically conductive but less conductive than the first and third layers, wherein the second layer separates the first and third layers.