Abstract: A method for producing special supramolecular assemblies of colorants, in particular cyanine dyes, called J aggregates consists in depositing a monolayer of dendrimers on a support and subsequently in deposing cyanines in solution for forming the organized monolayer of J aggregates. The method can be used for producing a secondary light source for injecting light into a waveguide from a light energy received from a primary light source emitting at different wavelength. The secondary source, which consists of the J aggregates incorporating energy acceptors, can also be integrated into an optical device incorporating the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pigments comprising or consisting of a layer made of a material with an index of refraction that is higher than the index of refraction of the adjacent material by at least 0.25; whereas said layer has a zero-order diffractive micro-structure; whereas said layer acts as an optical waveguide and whereas said layer has a thickness between 50 nm and 500 nm; to processes for its manufacture and to its use. These pigments show a colour effect upon rotation and/or tilting, and it is believed that this colour effect is based on zero-order diffraction.

Abstract: A spectrometer includes: an entrance aperture, a collimator, intended to produce, from a light source, a collimated input light (5), a plurality of gratings arranged in a 2-D matrix, a plurality of detectors, and an exit aperture.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop includes: a variable oscillator connected to a first resonator, said oscillator being able to deliver an output signal at a first output frequency Fout1, a first frequency divider receiving the output signal and able to convert it into a divided frequency signal Fout1/n, a reference oscillator connected to a second so-called reference resonator, delivering a reference signal at a low reference frequency Fref, generating an electrical dissipation lower than a microampere, a phase comparator measuring the phase error between the divided frequency signal Fout1/n and the reference signal and being able to produce a test signal, a low-pass filter or an integrating circuit able to filter the test signal and able to generate a voltage or a control word designed to control the voltage-controlled or digitally controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A photo sensor exhibiting low noise, low smear, low dark current, high dynamic range and global shutter functionality consists either of a pinned (or buried) photodiode or a photo-sensitive charge-coupled device, each with associated transfer gate, a sub-linear element, a shutter transistor, a reset circuit and a read-out circuit. Using two output paths global shutter and high speed operation are possible for the linear and the sub-linear output of the sensor. Because of its compact size, the photo sensor can be employed in one- and two-dimensional image sensors, fabricated with industry-standard CMOS and CCD technologies.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mechanical oscillator, comprising an oscillating system comprising a balance (1) and its return spring (3). This oscillator also comprises two elastic strips (9, 10) fixed by one end and acting in opposition intermittently by their other end on a connecting organ (8) secured to the oscillating system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an interferometer device and method. In embodiments, the device comprises an electromagnetic radiation source emitting radiation having a first mean wavelength ?LE; a phase grating having a first aspect ratio; an absorption grating having a second aspect ratio; and a detector. The electromagnetic radiation source, the phase grating, the absorption grating and the detector are radiatively coupled with each other. The absorption grating is positioned between the detector and the phase grating; the electromagnetic radiation source is positioned in front of the source grating; and wherein the phase grating is designed such to cause a phase shift that is smaller than ? on the emitted radiation. Additional and alternative embodiments are specified and claimed.

Abstract: A mechanical oscillator isochronism corrector includes: a frame (12), a flexible blade (14) integral with the frame to act on the mechanical oscillator at a contact portion (14a) presented by the blade, first element for adjusting the pre-stress of the flexible blade including a pre-stress finger (22) acting on the flexible blade, the first adjustment element being integral with the frame.

Abstract: A device for compensating for the frequency of a resonator, includes: a temperature sensor for the resonator; a sequencer determining a second compensation signal on the basis of the temperature value corresponding to a positive value N, and a third compensation signal on the basis of the temperature value, corresponding to a ratio between a positive integer S and N, S being lower than or equal to N; a variable counter receiving the compensation signals and generating a fourth output signal every N periods of a clock signal from the resonator and generating a fifth signal for modifying the charge capacity of the resonator.

Abstract: A probe arrangement with a probe for local electrophysiological analysis of cells (4) such as patch-clamp techniques for use with atomic force microscopy, has a probe with a cantilever arm (2) connected to a probe holder (3). The probe has a probe tip (4) at a probing end (5) of the cantilever arm (2) and a fluid channel (6) in the cantilever arm (2) connecting a probe tip aperture (7) with a fluid reservoir (8) via a duct (9). The fluid channel (6), the duct (9) and the fluid reservoir (8) are adapted to be filled with a fluid solution (10) enabling ion transport for electrophysiological analysis. A first electrode (15) for electrophysiological analysis is placed in the fluid reservoir (8) and/or in the duct (9) and/or in the fluid channel (6).

Abstract: One or more zero-order diffractive pigments (ZOP) having both a particle distribution matrix material, and a layer of material in or on such a matrix material and having an index of refraction higher than that of the matrix material, and having a diffractive grating structure with a period in the range of 100 to 600 nm, which is smaller than the wavelength of light reflectable thereby in the zeroth reflection order. In such ZOPs the index of refraction of the matrix material is usually at least 0.25 less than that of the material of the layer, and the layer is typically of a thickness between 30 and 500 nm.

Abstract: A diffractive microstructure (11) is implemented as a security feature in the surface of tablet (4). For this purpose the punches (1a, 1b) comprise a microstructure (11), which during the compression process produce the diffractive microstructure on the surface of the tablet (4), by plastic and/or visco-elastic deformation of the powder particles. The method according to the invention is compatible to the existing tablet manufacturing methods with their high production speeds and compression forces. It is also compatible to the usual tabletting adjuvants.

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell core including: providing two identical subassemblies each including a substrate and a current collector removably arranged thereon, depositing an ionic liquid or pasty polymerizable membrane on at least one of the subassemblies in such a way that the collector thereof is completely covered, applying the subassemblies one against the other so as to obtain an assembly having a solidified membrane with the two collectors incorporated, face to face, in this membrane, and detaching the two substrates from the collectors.

Abstract: A device for reading information in a set of electronic components connected to a communication bus in order to send that information over the communication bus includes means for reading values held in at least some of the electronic components holding a value to be sent and an arbiter circuit for successively sending the read values over the communication bus. The arbiter circuit includes means for circulating between the electronic components holding a value to be sent a single token authorizing sending of the read values.

Abstract: A mode hop-free tunable laser including a gain medium, a microfabricated blazed grating, defining an external cavity of a given length, the blazed grating lying in a general plane and including a plurality of elongate beams carrying mutually parallel respective reflection surfaces spaced apart from one another with a predefined pitch, and actuating elements designed so as to allow displacements of the assembly with respect to a grating support within a plane substantially parallel to the grating general plane, and including actuation elements designed so as to apply a stretching and a displacement of the assembly in a direction transverse to said reflection surfaces, the blazed grating being arranged relative to an incident light beam provided by the gain medium so that the incident light beam impinges on the reflection surfaces with a substantially normal incident angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the realization of particular supramolecular assemblies of dyes, in particular cyanines, called J aggregates. The invention concerns an assembly made up of a support including a mesoporous layer whereof the pores have an average BET diameter greater than 1.5 nm, macromolecules with dendritic architecture functionalizing said layer, at least in its pores, a layer of molecules from the family of cyanines interacting with the macromolecules with dendritic architecture and organized into J aggregates.

Abstract: The present invention discloses, inter alia, an authentication item manufactured on product units for encoding the product units as being authentic. The authentication item is an intensity-modulating surface comprising a plurality of adjacent protrusions such that the intensity-modulating surface has alternating height. Each of the protrusions has at least two slopes of respective different orientation. When being in an authenticating position with respect to incident electromagnetic radiation employed for authentication, the authentication item modulates the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation in a manner that generates an intensity profile which is characteristic of the authentication item. In the authentication position, the propagation direction of the incident electromagnetic radiation is at least approximately parallel to one of the at least two slopes of the plurality of protrusions.

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.

Abstract: A photo sensor exhibiting low noise, low smear, low dark current and high dynamic range consists of a pinned (or buried) photodiode (PPD) with associated transfer gate (TG), a reset circuit (3) and a device (SL) with sub-linear voltage-to-current characteristic. The exposure cycle is started by reverse biasing the buried photodiode to its pinning potential and by setting the transfer gate (TG) to a non-zero skimming potential. Photo-generated charge carriers start to fill the buried photodiode; if illumination intensity is high, excessive photocharges are flowing over the transfer gate (TG) to the sensing node. Because of the sub-linear device (SL) connected to the sensing node, the voltage at the sensing node is a sub-linear function of the illumination intensity, and hence the dynamic range of the pixel is increased.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pressure measurement device comprising: a substrate that includes at least one pressure sensing module and at least one fluid-conductive channel, wherein each channel has a first aperture and a second aperture. The substrate is flexible such that the pressure measurement device is conformably adjustable onto an object's surface. The first aperture is located on the substrate such that when the substrate is suitably adjusted onto the object's surface, the first aperture is open to the exterior of the object's surface. The pressure sensors module is operatively connected to at least one of the second apertures, such that the at least one pressure sensing module is generally being subjected to the pressure being present at the first aperture.