Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring a volume of a liquid provided in at least one receptacle, including the steps of: providing a receptacle having at least one cavity for holding a liquid; providing a plenoptic camera positioned so as to be able to image the surface of the liquid; positioning the receptacle such that the liquid surface faces an objective lens of the plenoptic camera; making at least one plenoptic image of the surface of the liquid by way of the plenoptic camera; determining a surface topography of the liquid on the basis of the at least one image; calculating the volume of liquid based on the measured surface topography and at least one known dimension and/or position of the cavity.

Abstract: In the present invention a new solar photovoltaic module is proposed comprising: a silicon based photovoltaic element; an intermediate layer deposited on said photovoltaic element to the incident light side; an interference filter deposited on the incident light side of said intermediate layer; a front element disposed on the incident light side of said interference filter.

Abstract: An optical sensor (1) for detecting a chemical species includes a substrate (3), a mesoporous matrix (5) disposed on the substrate, and a microporous matrix (7) disposed within the mesoporous matrix. The microporous matrix (7) includes an indicator dye (9) dispersed therein, the indicator dye (9) exhibiting changes in its optical properties in response to the presence of the chemical species. This arrangement significantly increases the amount of dye present, while allowing the medium to be analyzed greater access through the porous structure, thereby increasing the performance of the sensor.

Abstract: A balance of a timepiece including an adjustment face provided with at least one recess provided for receiving a projected material for an implementation of an adjustment of the rate of the timepiece notably by the modification of the inertia and of the unbalance of the balance, the recess including an opening and a back notably a solid back or a back fully or partially forming an orifice, the back being at most partially visible from a position defined above the opening notably on a central axis of the opening.

Abstract: A method dispenses and/or aspirates a predetermined volume of fluid from a chamber. The chamber includes a lower portion containing fluid and an upper portion containing gas. The method includes measuring an initial pressure in the upper portion and introducing or evacuating a known quantity of gas into or out of the upper portion. The volume of gas in the upper portion is determined based on the volume of gas introduced or evacuated from the upper portion and a measured change in pressure in the upper portion. An upper portion target pressure that will dispense or aspirate a predetermined volume of fluid is determined. A controllable valve is opened while the pressure in the upper portion of the chamber is monitored. Once the target pressure is reached, the predetermined volume of fluid has been dispensed or aspirated, and the controllable valve is then closed.

Abstract: A white light source includes an array of light emitting elements arranged to a light guide. A light in-coupling array is arranged so that each light emitting element faces a light in-coupling element to incouple in the light guide a portion of the divergent light beams so that the in-coupled angle of at least a part of the light rays of the in-coupled light beam is higher than 45°. An array of light homogenizing elements is arranged so that each light homogenizing element faces a light incoupling element and so that the deflection angle of at least a fraction of the incident part of the in-coupled light beam incident on each of said homogenizing elements is higher than 45°. The white light source provides a uniform outcoupled white light beam.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a micromechanical component intended to cooperate with another micromechanical component, the method comprising the steps of providing a substrate, forming a mould on said substrate, said mould defining sidewalls arranged to delimit said micromechanical component, providing particles on at least said sidewalls, depositing a metal in said mould so as to form said micromechanical component, and liberating said micromechanical component from said mould and removing said particles.

Abstract: In the present invention an alkali vapor cell is proposed comprising a sealed chamber enclosing an alkali atomic gas therein and having at least one optically transparent window. The chamber and the transparent window define an optical beam path through which a light beam can pass and which interacts with the alkali atomic gas in the chamber. The alkali vapor cell comprises at least one localized condensation area of alkali atoms at a predetermined location in the sealed chamber and the predetermined location is located inside or outside the optical beam path. The localized condensation area has higher alkali metal wettability than any other surface portion of the alkali vapor cell outside said localized condensation area.

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 present invention relates to a display module including a fixed frame and at least two substantially rigid display organs. The display organs each include a portion displaying a pattern, said display portions being complementary to one another such that it forms said pattern in at least one relative position of said display organs. Furthermore, at least one of the display organs is secured and movable relative to the frame via a deformable link at least between a first resting position, in which the display portions are separate from one another, and a display position, in which said display portions are counter-affixed to one another to form and display said pattern. Lastly, said display organ(s) movable relative to the frame cooperate with an actuating push-piece arranged to transmit a movement force of this display organ by elastic deformation around its deformable link(s) from said resting position toward said display position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal stamp for embossing a nano- or microstructure on a metal device (4), comprising the following steps for producing a 3D structured embossing area (3) on the stamp: a) providing a master (30) having a structured surface (30a), and replicating said master (30a) in the surface of a soft stamp (31); b) forming an imprint (32) on the soft stamp (31a) using a cross-linkable material to form an imprint structured surface (32a), before, while or after contacting an opposite side of the imprint (32) with said surface portion of the metal stamp, and removing said soft-stamp (31) exposing said imprint structured surface (32a); c) etch-opening said surface (32a) using a first set of etching conditions; d) using a second set of etching conditions, different from the first ones, etching the surface of the metal stamp to form said embossing area (3).

Abstract: In the present invention a new atomic clock is proposed comprising: at least one light source adapted to provide an optical beam, at least one photo detector and a vapor cell comprising a first optical window, said optical beam being directed through said vapor cell for providing an optical frequency reference signal, said photo detector being adapted to detect said optical frequency reference signal and to generate at least one reference signal, wherein—said atomic clock comprises a first optical waveguide arranged to said first optical window, said first optical waveguide being arranged to incouple at least a portion of said optical beam, said first optical waveguide being sized and shaped so that said first guided light beam is expanded, a first outcoupler is arranged to outcouple at least a portion of said guided light beam to said vapor cell, —the thickness t of the atomic clock is smaller than 15 nm.

Abstract: A compensation device for compensating PVT variations of an analog and/or digital circuit. The compensation device includes a transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal allowing to modify a threshold voltage of the transistor. The transistor is configured to be in saturation region. The voltage at the third terminal has a predetermined value and the difference between the voltage at the second terminal and the voltage at the third terminal has a predetermined value. A current generation module is configured to generate a current of a predetermined value. A compensation module is configured to force this current to flow between the first terminal and the third terminal by adjusting the voltage of the fourth terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions of increased thickness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to remove, locally, a volume of material, in order to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.

Abstract: An optical resonator (100) comprises an optical waveguide device (10) having an optical axis (OA) and extending with a longitudinal length between two waveguide end facets (11), resonator mirrors (13) being arranged for enclosing a resonator section (14) of the optical waveguide device (10), and a ferrule (20) having two ferrule facets (21), wherein the optical waveguide device (10) is mounted to the ferrule (20) and the ferrule (20) extends along the full longitudinal length of optical waveguide device (10). Furthermore, an optical apparatus (200) including the optical resonator (100) and a method of manufacturing the optical resonator (100) are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions to obtain a deliberately lower stiffness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to compensate for said missing thickness of material required to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions of increased thickness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to remove a volume of material to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.

Abstract: Mechanical oscillator for a horological movement, comprising: a central fixed part being configured to be fixed to a frame of the horological movement; an inertial rim coaxial with a pivoting axis of the mechanical oscillator; at least two rigid links extending radially between the central fixed part and the inertial rim and supporting the inertial rim; and at least two flexible links extending radially from the central fixed part; each flexible link comprising a first flexible element and a second flexible element substantially coplanar to the first element, the first flexible element and the second flexible element being rigidly connected at their distal extremity; the proximal extremity of the first flexible element being fixed to the fixed part and the proximal extremity of the second flexible element being fixed to one of said at least two rigid links, such that the inertial rim can oscillate around the pivoting axis.

Abstract: A system for remote powering at least one sensor or actuator from a RF power source including a flexible waveguide having a flexible dielectric layer and at least one flexible conductive layer connected to the flexible dielectric layer. The at least one sensor or actuator is arranged to be coupled to the flexible waveguide and the RF power source is arranged to be wirelessly coupled to the flexible waveguide and to generate RF power. The flexible waveguide guides the propagation of the RF power from the RF power source to the sensor or actuator in order to wirelessly power the sensor or actuator.

Abstract: A tamper seal includes an optical waveguide arranged to guide a propagating light-beam along a propagation direction. First and second portions of the tamper seal are configured to be arranged on first and second parts, respectively, which are movable relative to each other. The first portion has an input coupler arranged to couple incident light into the optical waveguide, and the second portion has at least one output coupler arranged to couple out of the optical waveguide at least partially light guided in the optical waveguide. The input coupler, the optical waveguide, and the output coupler are configured to transmit light from the input coupler to the output coupler. The waveguide is configured to be disruptable and includes a layer having a distinctive appearance that is changed in response to an at least partial disruption of said optical waveguide.