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: The invention relates to a grating coupler comprising: —an optical substrate arranged to transfer a light beam, and—a diffraction grating arranged on, or imbedded in, the surface of said optical substrate, said diffraction grating comprising diffraction grating elements comprising each a coating arranged asymmetrically on said diffraction grating elements. The grating coupler is further arranged to satisfy the condition: (n1×sin(I?I)+?2)/?×P>1, wherein n1 is the refractive index of the optical medium to the incident light side of the diffraction grating elements, n2 is the refractive index of the optical medium to the diffracted light side of the diffraction grating elements, lal the absolute value of the incident angle of the light beam incident on the grating coupler ? is the vacuum wavelength of the diffracted light, and P is the period of the diffraction grating elements.

Abstract: A security device for the identification or authentication of valuable goods is described, including a thin material layer (22, 26) presenting a stochastic pattern including micro/submicrostructures, where the latter are arranged in blobs (2) each of which presents a complexity factor Cx = L 2 4 ? ? · A , where L is the perimeter of the blob and A its area, and wherein blobs having a Cx value greater than or equal to 2 cover at least 5%, preferably at least 15%, of the device surface. According to a preferred embodiment, the material layer may include a film including at least a first and a second polymers arranged respectively within a first and a second phases defining the micro/submicrostructures. Preferred processes of fabrication are also disclosed, as well as a method for securing a valuable good based on such a security device.

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, of an object, said first and a second parts being movable relative to each other. The first portion comprises an input coupler arranged to couple incident light into said optical waveguide. The second portion includes at least one outcoupling surface arranged to couple out at least partially light guided in the optical waveguide. The input coupler, optical waveguide and outcoupling surface are arranged to transmit light from the input coupler to the outcoupling surface. The optical waveguide is further designed to be at least partially disruptable between the two portions, wherein the optical waveguide loses or at least partially changes its optical guiding properties after its disruption.

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: The invention concerns a photoelectric conversion device comprising: at least one photoconversion element comprising at least one organic photoconversion layer or an inorganic layer comprising quantum dots or perovskites; at least a first grating structure arranged on a first side of the photoconversion element; and at least a second grating structure arranged on a second side of the photoconversion element; wherein said at least a first grating structure is arranged so as to direct a near-infra-red light portion of light incident on said first grating structure into said photoconversion element, the said at least a second grating structure being arranged to reflect at least a part of said near-infra-red light portion back into said photoconversion element and to pass visible light out of the photoelectric conversion device.

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: Method and apparatus for estimating an arrival time (PAT) value of a subject in an automatic and unsupervised fashion from a sequence of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images. The method comprises: providing an EIT imaging device adapted to record impedance signal distribution within a measurement region of the subject; measuring a sequence of temporally discrete EIT images during a predetermined measuring time period in the measurement region using the EIT imaging device, each EIT image comprising one or a plurality of EIT pixel subsets, each of said one or a plurality of EIT pixel subset representing an impedance value; generating one or a plurality of time series, each of said one or a plurality of time series representing a variation of the impedance value of the sequence of EIT images; and estimating the PAT value from each of said one or a plurality of time series.

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: 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: 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 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 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: 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. The geometric oscillation axis of the oscillator is defined by the intersection of the first plane and the second plane, said geometric oscillation axis crossing the first and second blades at ?th of their respective lengths.

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: A system measures the position of a light source in space using an imager and transparent surface with a pattern on top. The pattern consists of a repetitive pattern and a distinctive element. The system achieves sub-micron precision. It also handles the measurement of several light sources simultaneously, and the measurement of the position of a retroreflector instead of the light.