Abstract: The planar flexible pivot is constituted by an axial stacking of unitary modules each forming a monolithic unit comprising two coplanar, rigid linking elements positioned substantially so as to face each other and being connected diagonally by an essentially rectilinear flexible band. Application to elastic hinges, especially cross-band pivots.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to microprocessors and, more particularly, to a system for organizing and a method for the sequencing of the circuits of a microprocessor. The instruction registers are connected in chains and an inhibiting device is associated with each instruction register. Each inhibiting device has its inputs connected to the inputs of the associated register and to the clock circuit a provides and signal for the loading of the associated instruction register when it detects a predetermined combination of digits in the associated register.

Abstract: A tomographic interferometer device in which a spectral light source lights an object to create an object beam originating from that object. A stepped optical block is also exposed to the source to create a plurality of individual reference beams having different path lengths. The object beam and reference beams are made to interfere and the resulting light is sent to an array of side by side photodetectors.

Abstract: A flexible pivot with internal pivoting axis comprises two stages that are symmetrical with respect to a median plane perpendicular to the pivoting axis and separated by an external circular recess containing the median plane, each stage comprising an outer annular interface connected by a plurality of radial, flexible guiding arms to a common intermediate cylinder having an axis that is the same as the internal pivoting axis.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a Wollaston prism (WP) comprising two birefringent wedges (W1, W2) joined by their hypotenuse to form a composite block, said wedges having optic axes (OA1, OA2) to each other at right angle. According to the invention, the optic axes (OA1, OA2) of said wedges (W1, W2) are rotated by an angle of 45° or 135°, respectively, with regard to a position wherein one of the optic axes (OA1, OA2) lies parallel to the plane formed by the hypotenuse. In an embodiment of the present invention, liquid crystal is used as material for the wedges (W1, W2) resulting in inexpensive and easy to handle Wollaston prisms.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the activity of a person and/or detecting a fall suffered by a person with a view in particular to summoning help in the event of an incident hazardous to life or limb is worn by the person concerned and transmits a danger signal to a remote monitoring center. The device generates acceleration, speed and/or position signals representative of the behavior and/or the spatial attitude of the person. It establishes a probability factor representative of the probability that a dangerous situation is present from how the acceleration, speed and position signals change with time. It triggers in accordance with the value of the probability factor an alarm generator capable of causing the danger signal to be transmitted to the center.

Abstract: This micromachined inductive sensor is used to detect, without contact and through the intermediary of a radiated alternating magnetic field, the position and/or the movement of an object capable of modifying this magnetic field and including for this purpose at least one discontinuity. The sensor comprises a planar transmitter coil for transmitting the alternating magnetic field and planar receiver coils located so as to sense a determined portion of said field and the variations of this magnetic portion sensed due to the discontinuity of the object. The coils are disposed on a common substrate and obtained by selective photolithography operations. According to the invention, in the areas of the substrate in which the transmitter coil is contiguous with a receiver coil, there is provided at least one shielding band electrically independent of the coils and connected to a reference potential. The shielding band is formed from a metallization layer deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: An optical actuator directs an incident light beam from a light source onto a fixed surface external to the actuator at a variable angle. It directs the light beam onto a pupil in a predetermined region of space. A fixed base is attached to mobile supports which carry a mirror on the path of the beam. The supports are moved by a motor drive. The base and the supports are connected together by flexible blades aligned with two axes extending from the base toward a point of intersection. The mirror can therefore deflect the beam at a variable angle relative to the pupil.

Abstract: Planar magnetic motor (100), characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of magnetic poles (111, 121) made of a ferromagnetic material placed at the center of planar coils (110, 120) constituted by at least one layer of turns produced on the surface of a substrate (150) made of a ferromagnetic material, the turns being wound and connected to each other so as to combine the magnetic fluxes generated by the magnetic poles (111, 121). The invention can be used to produced magnetic motors and microactuators.

Abstract: A device for the guidance, in rectilinear translation in a given direction, of an object that is mobile in relation to a fixed object, comprises a first parallelogram, called an intermediate parallelogram, and a second parallelogram, called a guidance parallelogram, opposite the first parallelogram. The guidance device comprises a motion reduction lever that is fixed at a first end to the fixed base by a first flexible reduction band; at a second end to the rigid guidance element by a second flexible reduction band; in its middle to the intermediate rigid element by a third flexible reduction band. The disclosed device can be applied to objects in rectilinear translation.

Abstract: In this device, each processor (P1 to P3) is associated with at least one dressable space (R1 to R3), whereas all the processors and all the addressable spaces are in communication by way of a common communication bus (BC).Between all the processors and each addressable space is connected an intercommunicating connection node (N1 to N3), each connection node including control means (LC, D1, D2) forensuring priority of access of any processor to its own addressable space; andensuring a hierarchy of priority of access to the addressable spaces of the other processors among said plurality of processors.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing micromechanical components having a part made of diamond, consisting of at least one tip (3a), in which a substrate (8a) is prepared, in order to form an impression (13a) of the shape desired for the part made of diamond; the part made of diamond is produced by chemical vapor deposition of diamond in the impression and is then separated from the substrate. In order to produce the part made of diamond, a primary film of fine diamond particles, of diameter less than 10 nm, suitable to act as seeds for growth of the diamond are deposited on the substrate, on the surface of the impression (13a), before chemical vapor deposition; the diamond film is then grown by vapor deposition; and the substrate (8a) is then at least partly removed.

Abstract: In this generator a first current mirror (MP1, MP2) forms two circuit branches to be connected between supply terminals (V.sub.DD, V.sub.SS). Each of the branches includes transistors (MP1, MN1; MP2, MN2) which are series connected and have opposite conductivity types. A second current mirror (MP3, MN3) yields an image (i.sub.3) of the current (i1) flowing in one of the branches. An active component (MN4) forming a variable conductance is connected in series in this branch and is controlled in such a way that its value varies nonlinearly with the current image (i.sub.3). This conductance is thus traversed by a current whose intensity depends solely on the technological characteristics of the active component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device including a substrate and at least one biologically active substance bound to at least a part of the surface of this substrate, which is obtained by simultaneous or sequential reaction of said substrate and of said substance with a bifunctional coupling agent in which one of the functional groups is capable of being photoactivated and generates carbenes and is used to bind the coupling agent to the inorganic substrate and the other functional group is used to bind the coupling agent to the biologically active substance, in which said substrate is a covalent inorganic nitride.

Abstract: The invention relates to computer systems containing at least one microprocessor associated with at least one memory in which are recorded instructions of a program and/or data to be processed according to the instructions.The memory is divided up into N=2 modules, one of which has a greater capacity than the other and the access time of which increases in proportion to its capacity. The module of smallest capacity is reserved for the instructions and/or data of the programs which are the most often used and the module of larger capacity is reserved for the instructions and/or data of the programs which are the least often used. The instruction contains a code identifying the module to be used.

Abstract: In this network, each cell (k.sub.n) receives a current (I.sub.ph (k)) from a photodetector (12) and provides an output current (S.sub.n) representative of the local constrast in the zone in which this cell is situated. According to the invention, each cell comprises adjustable conductances determining an output current (I.sub.out (k)) depending in a monotonic increasing saturating manner of the ratio between photodetector current (I.sub.ph (k)) and a mean current (I.sub.mean (k)), said ratio representing the local contrast at the cell under consideration. The first of the conductances (P2) is regulated by the current (I.sub.ph (k)) flowing in the photodetector. Calculating means in each cell generate a mean current (I.sub.mean (k)) from the currents flowing in the photodetectors of the relevant cell and in at least some of the neighboring cells. This current is representative of the mean illumination to which the network is subjected. The conductances (P.sub.4a, P.sub.

Abstract: There is described a device for delivering an output signal representative of a force by means of a capacitative sensor (1) and of an interface (5, 7, 9A, 12) for transferring charge accumulated on the capacitor (C.sub.1 and C.sub.2) of the sensor. In order to reduce the influences of the stray resistances impairing the operation of the sensor (1), the capacitors of the latter are precharged during a first operating phase, whereas during a second operating phase this charge is transferred, while the two capacitors of the sensor (1) are short-circuited and brought to the output potential of the interface.

Abstract: Radio receivers for frequency-modulated signals and more particularly, in such receivers, to a device for the demodulation of a signal modulated at intermediate frequency f.sub.i. The signal F.sub.M that is frequency modulated around a frequency f.sub.i is applied, after conversion into a square-wave signal F.sub.MR, to a delay line with shift registers that is controlled by the signals provided by an oscillator. Each of the three cascade-connected sections of the delay line introduces a delay 1/4f.sub.i and the output signals of each section are applied to EXCLUSIVE OR circuits that respectively give a demodulated signal F.sub.R1, a signal F.sub.R2 for the suppression of a demodulated signal and a signal F.sub.R3 to control the frequency of the oscillator.

Abstract: A switching device comprises a swinging element (1) that is able to move between two end positions (A, B). Holding electrodes (4, 5) are placed in end positions (4, 5). A control circuit (8) controls the switching by generating signals of suitable voltage. Swinging element (1) is attached in an elastic manner (for example, by a flexible rod 2) in such a way that the elastic return force which tends toward a zero position (0) has, in an essential amplitude range, a higher value than the electrostatic force of attraction created by the control circuit and holding electrodes (4, 5) and acts in the opposite direction, in such a way that the switching time of the swinging element is determined primarily by its natural frequency and not by the magnitude of the electrostatic force of attraction.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit, a central reference generator (3) generates a setpoint signal determining the operating characteristic required to be common to some of the functional components of the circuit. Lines (4-1 to 4-n) distribute this signal among units of the circuit, each unit comprising a functional Component (2-n). In each unit, a local adjustment circuit (5-n) receives the setpoint signal and generates an adjustment value. Correction circuitry adjusts the operating characteristic of a device in the local adjustment circuit (5-n) as a function of the adjustment value. The device is placed in proximity to the functional component and configured in such a way that the operating characteristic which is thus imposed on the device is also imposed on this component.