Abstract: A system is provided in which the spatial values (S1 to Sn) of the physical quantity are represented by measurement pulses (I1 to In), the temporal ordering of which represents the values, which are processed by processing units (U1 to Un) arranged in at least one row and each include an output (SOR1 to SORn). During successive processing cycles, a measurement pulse processed therein can be delivered to form the output signal (SU) of the system. Each processing unit includes an inhibiting unit (BI) for, in other units and during a given processing cycle, inhibiting the passage to the outputs of the other units respective measurement pulses processed therein and hence preventing them from forming the output signal, if the measurement impulses are temporally ordered later in the given processing cycle than the one processed in the unit concerned.

Abstract: A method for optical pumping of particles and a device for implementing same. The particles (14) are changed from one long lifetime level to another long lifetime level via a short lifetime level by means of interaction with light radiation (16) emitted by a laser source. Prior to this interaction, the light radiation undergoes depolarization in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of propagation thereof, so as to reduce the entrapment of particles (14) in the black state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon resonator (10) of the tuning-fork type in which the linear frequency drift depending on the temperature is compensated. The resonator includes a silicon base (14), a plurality of parallel arms (11, 12, 13) capable of vibrating and actuator (18, 21, 22), wherein the arms include a silicon layer provided between two layers of silicon oxide having a thickness, relative to that of the silicon layer, such that it ensures the first-order compensation of the resonator thermal drift.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technique disclose an optical device generating light by luminescence comprising a substrate, a waveguide, a pump light source and a photoluminescent layer, wherein the waveguide is positioned between the substrate and the photoluminescent layer, or the photoluminescent layer is positioned between the substrate and the waveguide. The pump light source is provided opposite to the photoluminescent layer at the backside of the substrate. The pump light source is adapted to pump the photoluminescent layer to emit light; and at least some of the emitted light is evanescently coupled into the waveguide.

Abstract: A floating solar platform includes a bridge (10, 5, 21) connected to buoyancy elements (11), elements (14, 23) for collecting received solar energy, the elements being associated with the bridge and placed thereon, elements (16, 24) for converting this energy, elements (19) for storing the product of this conversion, and first propulsion elements (12) for moving the platform to sites where it can benefit from optimum sunshine. The platform further includes elements for controlling its paths, which elements act on the propulsion elements and include a navigation system associated with an algorithm for predictively optimizing the position in terms of latitude and longitude, taking into account the local meteorological conditions or particular logistic data for the optimum choice of its location.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a phase-locked loop comprising: 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 said 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: 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 modulated optical radiation field (I) whose modulation amplitude and temporal phase depend on the local position can be detected with a plurality of pixels 1. Each pixel 1 consists of a transducing stage (T) that converts incoming light (I) into a proportional electric signal, a sampling stage (S), two subtraction/summation stages (SUB1, SUM1; SUB2, SUM2), and an output stage. Each pixel can be addressed individually. The optical radiation field (I) is locally sensed and sampled at a frequency that is four times the wavefield's modulation frequency. The subtraction/summation stages (SUB1, SUM1; SUB2, SUM2) accumulate differences of two samples per modulation period, separated by half the period, during several averaging periods; the two stages are time shifted with respect to each other by a quarter period. The resulting two output signals are employed for the determination of the local envelope amplitude and the temporal phase.

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 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: A solid-state image sensor (1) with very high sensitivity approaching the single-photon limit is realized with three modular building blocks: (a) a pixel (2.11, 2.12, . . . ) with a photo-site, intermediate photo-charge storage capability as used for correlated double sampling, and an electronic circuit for signal buffering or amplification, (b) a column or row signal line (3.1) to which a plurality of such pixels (2.11, 2.21, . . . ) is connected using transistor switches, incorporating a low-pass filter (30.1), and (c) a readout circuit (4) to which the row signal lines (3.1, 3.2, . . . ) are connected, consisting of a plurality of analog amplifiers (41.1, 41.2, . . . ) with an analog multiplexer (42). Photo-generated signals are read out and the reset level is subtracted either in the analog or in the digital domain, to implement a correlated-double-sampling method.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a photon detection device that is adapted to detect at least one packet of photons. The photon detection device may include a photon-sensitive element having an output, an amplifier; and a non-linear feedback (NLF) element. The photon-sensitive element generates charges upon the engagement of at least one photon packet therewith. An increase from a first number of charges in the photon-sensitive element to a second number of charges, results in a corresponding increase of a first reset time required to reset the first number of charges to a respective second reset time required to reset the second number of charges in the photon-sensitive element, whereby the reset time is non-linear to with respect to an increase in the charges. Additional and alternative embodiments are described and claimed.

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: 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: 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 invention relates to a method for producing special supramolecular assemblies of colorants, in particular cyanine dyes, called J aggregates. The inventive method consists in depositing a monolayer of dendrimers on a support and subsequently in deposing cyanines in solution for forming the organised monolayer of J aggregates. Said method can be used for producing a secondary light source (28) for injecting light into a waveguide (24) from a light energy received from a primary light source (30) emitting at different wavelength. The secondary source, which consists of the J aggregates incorporating energy acceptors, can be also integrated into an optical device (23) incorporating the waveguide.

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.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a photon detection device that is adapted to detect at least one packet of photons. The photon detection device may include a photon-sensitive element having an output, an amplifier; and a non-linear feedback (NLF) element. The photon-sensitive element generates charges upon the engagement of at least one photon packet therewith. An increase from a first number of charges in the photon-sensitive element to a second number of charges, results in a corresponding increase of a first reset time required to reset the first number of charges to a respective second reset time required to reset the second number of charges in the photon-sensitive element, whereby the reset time is non-linear to with respect to an increase in the charges. Additional and alternative embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a verification method of tablets, in particular pharmaceutical tablets. It further relates to an invisible secure marking or information which is a part of such tablet. The invention further relates to tablets suitable for such verification method, to processes for manufacturing such tablets and methods for reading the information.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device able to luminesce, whereby the optical device comprises, inter alia, a luminescent source that is directly or indirectly mechanically coupled to a low-order mode waveguide, such that light emitting from the luminescent source is optically coupled into the low-order mode waveguide. In embodiments of the invention, the distance D between point sources of the luminescent source and the waveguide is about equal to or smaller than the decay length of the exponential tails of the modes supported by the waveguide, thereby obtaining an optical coupling efficiency of at least 3%. Additional and alternative embodiments are claimed and disclosed.