Patents Assigned to Ecole Polytechnique
  • Patent number: 6956333
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for emitting addressable locations comprises parallel spaced-apart first conductors (10) intersecting with parallel spaced-apart second conductors (11). The intersecting first and second conductors define addressable locations where electrons (12) are emitted in response to the application of an energizing voltage. One face of the first conductors is covered with an insulating layer (13) against which the second conductors (11) are applied, this insulating layer (13) forming a tunnel barrier for hot electrons (12) that travel ballistically through and are emitted from the second conductors (11) in response to the application of the energizing voltage. The emitted electrons impinge a target (30, 40, 50) which can be a light-emitting screen of a flat panel display, such as an electroluminescent polymer of a flat panel screen, or an electroluminescent phosphorous screen, or a target wafer bombarded by the electrons emitted from a flexible e-beam lithography mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignees: Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Harald Brune, Detlev Gruetzmacher
  • Publication number: 20050204817
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial sensor based on the magnetic levitation of an inertial mass comprising an active magnetic bearing unit arranged in such a way as to levitate the inertial mass and characterized by the fact that it furthermore comprises additional active magnetic bearings units arranged in such a way as to control the position of said inertial mass along three independent axis and to create, for any of said independent axis, restoring forces that can be oriented in any of the two directions of said independent axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Alexis Boletis, Francois Barrot, Roland Moser
  • Patent number: 6943924
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for performing digital holographic imaging (DHI), said DHI being characterized by the fact that images of a sample are obtained by applying numerical means to reconstruct holograms of the sample. In the method of the invention, the sample is in a medium with controlled properties that influence the behaviour of the sample, and/or that influence the process of hologram formation. The information content of one hologram, or of a plurality of holograms, recorded with the sample in one medium, or in a plurality of medium, is used to reconstruct one image of the sample, or a plurality of images of the sample, that describe quantitatively one property of the sample, or a plurality of properties of the sample. The present invention is also related to an apparatus with which to perform said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Universite de Lausanne /BRA
    Inventors: Pierre Marquet, Etienne Cuche, Christian Depeursinge, Pierre Magistretti
  • Patent number: 6936143
    Abstract: A tandem cell or photoelectrochemical system for the cleavage of water to hydrogen and oxygen by visible light has two superimposed photocells, both cells being connected electrically. The photoactive material in the top cell is a semiconducting oxide placed in contact with an aqueous solution. This semiconducting oxide absorbs the blue and green part of the solar emission spectrum of a light source or light sources and generates with the energy collected oxygen and protons from water. The not absorbed yellow and red light transmits the top cell and enters a second photocell, the bottom cell, which is mounted, in the direction of the light behind, preferably directly behind the top cell. The bottom cell includes a dye-sensitized mesoporous photovoltaic film. The bottom cell converts the yellow, red and near infrared portion of the sunlight to drive the reduction of the protons, which are produced in the top cell during the photo catalytic water oxidation process, to hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Michael Graetzel, Jan Augustynski
  • Patent number: 6933826
    Abstract: The manufacturing method for components of the inductive type, in particular inductance coils, transformers or antennae, consists in making by micro-machining simultaneously on a first substrate made of magnetic material a plurality of first parts (1) connected to each other by connecting elements (2) or a connecting support, inserting on the arms (8a, 8b, 8c) of these first parts (1) a printed multi-layered plate (4, 5) having openings for the arms and metal windings ending in at least two contact pads (7a, 7b), in placing and securing a second substrate made of magnetic material on the first substrate and the plate, said second substrate having undergone micro-machining to obtain second parts (13) complementary to the first parts. These second parts are connected to each other by connecting elements or a connecting support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventor: Martin Gijs
  • Patent number: 6905516
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bone substitute with controlled anatomical shape and macroporous structure made from chemically consolidated cement phosphocalcic materials. Said substitute can be obtained by forming a liquid or plastic paste consisting of calcium phosphate and other hardly soluble calcium slats. The forming by molding used with a paste and its chemical consolidation ex-vivo enables an entity to obtain a substitute having a more or less large size whereof the controllable anatomical shape corresponds to that of the bone block to be replaced, and an adapted macroporous architecture promoting rehabitation and resproption of the substitute, while ensuring the best initial mechanical properties and their being preserved until the graft is definitely replaced by the newly formed bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Jacques Lemaitre, Stéphane Terrazzoni
  • Patent number: 6878376
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel protein named Api m 6. Api m 6 was identified in bee venom and is found in four isoforms, each about 8 kD. The purified Api m 6 can be used to modulate immune responses, e.g., in individuals hypersensitive to bee venom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventor: Francois Spertini
  • Patent number: 6861722
    Abstract: A solid state p-n heterojunction comprising an electron conductor and a hole conductor; it further comprises a sensitising semiconductor, said sensitizing semiconductor being located at an interface between said electron conductor and said hole conductor. In particular, the sensitizing semiconductor is in form of quantum-dots. A solid state sensitized photovoltaic cell comprises such a layered heterojunction between two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Michael Graetzel, Robert Plass, Udo Bach
  • Patent number: 6850656
    Abstract: We present a method and apparatus for local and superficial measurement of the optical properties of turbid media. The depth probed is on the order of 1 transport mean free path of the photon. The absorption coefficient, reduced scattering coefficient and the phase function parameter ?=(1?g2)/(1?g1) are optical parameters computed from a single measurement of the spatially resolved reflectance close to the source. Images of superficial structures of the medium can be obtained by performing multi-site measurements. An important application of this technique is the characterization of biological tissues, for example for medical diagnostic purposes. Measurements on biological tissues can be achieved using a probe of diameter less than 2 mm, and the average volume probed is on the order of 1 mm3. Separate images of absorption and tissue structure can be achieved with a resolution of approximately one transport mean free path of the considered tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Frédéric Bevilacqua, Christian Depeursinge
  • Patent number: 6844804
    Abstract: The manufacturing method for components of the inductive type, in particular inductance coils, transformers or antennae, consists in making by micro-machining simultaneously on a first substrate made of magnetic material a plurality of first parts (1) connected to each other by connecting elements (2) or a connecting support, inserting on the arms (8a, 8b, 8c) of these first parts (1) a printed multi-layered plate (4, 5) having openings for the arms and metal windings ending in at least two contact pads (7a, 7b), in placing and securing a second substrate made of magnetic material on the first substrate and the plate, said second substrate having undergone micro-machining to obtain second parts (13) complementary to the first parts. These second parts are connected to each other by connecting elements or a connecting support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventor: Martin Gijs
  • Patent number: 6828168
    Abstract: A tunable Fabry-Perot vertical cavity photonic device and a method of its fabrication are presented. The device comprises top and bottom semiconductor DBR stacks and a tunable air-gap cavity therebetween. The air-gap cavity is formed within a recess in a spacer above the bottom DBR stack. The top DBR stack is carried by a supporting structure in a region thereof located above a central region of the recess, while a region of the supporting structure above the recess and outside the DBR stack presents a membrane deflectable by the application of a tuning voltage to the device contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Elyahou Kapon, Vladimir Iakovlev, Alexei Sirbu, Alok Rudra, Grigore Suruceanu
  • Patent number: 6826477
    Abstract: A displacement of a pedestrian is determined from his or her accelerations by detecting accelerations which is substantially non vertical, determining a characteristic feature in the detected accelerations correlated with a step frequency, determining the displacement on the basis of said determined characteristic. The acceleration data can be submitted to waveform analysis to determine an actualized time interval of an occurring feature, such a maximum values, from which it is determined whether the actualized time period falls within determined limit values. The currently detected characteristic feature is then determined as corresponding to a displacement step if the actualized time period falls within said determined limit value. By using non-vertical acceleration measurements, the invention can make it possible to distinguish between forward, backward, left and right stepping movements and take these into account for the navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Quentin Ladetto, Vincent Gabaglio, Josephus Van Seeters
  • Patent number: 6819775
    Abstract: This invention discloses new methods, security devices and apparatuses for authenticating documents and valuable articles which may be applied to any support, including transparent synthetic materials and traditional opaque materials such as paper. The invention relates to moire intensity profiles which occur in the superposition of periodic or aperiodic geometrically transformed structures. By using a specially designed basic screen and master screen, where at least the basic screen is comprised in the document, a moire intensity profile of a chosen shape becomes visible in their superposition, thereby allowing the authentication of the document. If a microlens structure is used as a master screen, the document comprising the basic screen may be printed on an opaque reflective support, thereby enabling the visualization of the moire intensity profile by reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Isaac Amidror, Roger D. Hersch
  • Patent number: 6813569
    Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly comprising: (a) means for determining the intensity of a plurality of electromagnetic signals, (b) a correlator for correlating or autocorrelating said signals, (c) means for continuously calculating the variance and/or the standard deviation of said signals. It also concerns a method for analysing the intensity of a plurality of electromagnetic radiations scattered and/or emitted from solid, fluid or gaseous samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Thorsten Wohland, Horst Vogel, Rudolf H. A. Rigler
  • Publication number: 20040197275
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the production of powders of an inhalable medicament by crystallization from a supersaturated fluid containing said medicament, the method comprising passing along a tubular reactor
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicants: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Nathalie Jongen, Jacques Lemaitre, Paul Bowen, Marcel Donnet, Joerg Schiewe, Bernd Zierenberg, Cristina Lucica Soare
  • Patent number: 6785332
    Abstract: A method for marking a compressed digital video signal by embedding a digital signature in the compressed video signal, the signal representing a series of at least two video images, each image being divided into a plurality of regions, the signal including movement vectors representing the movement of the regions between the first and the second image, characterised in that it consists in modifying at least one of the coefficients X or Y of at least one of the movement vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Martin Kutter, Frédéric Jordan, Touradj Ebrahimi
  • Patent number: 6780416
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel protein named Api m 6. Api m 6 was identified in bee venom and is found in four isoforms, each about 8 kD. The purified Api m 6 can be used to modulate immune responses, e.g., in individuals hypersensitive to bee venom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventor: Francois Spertini
  • Publication number: 20040141333
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electroluminescent device comprising first and second substantially parallel mirrors for converting electron-hole pairs into photons, and means for generating electrons and holes. The converting means and the first and second mirrors are designed to ensure the confinement between the first and second mirrors of photons having at least a selected wavelength, associated with a guided propagation mode. Additionally, the device comprises light extracting means which communicate with part at least of the converting means and the generating means, comprised between the first and second mirrors, and are designed to extract therefrom part at least of the photons in guided mode, so that they reach outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicants: Centre national de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Polytechnique
    Inventors: Maxime Rattier, Henri Benisty, Claude Weisbuch
  • Patent number: 6758961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device which permits a very simple positioning of cells and vesicles respective of cell membranes on planar carriers. The invention also relates to a corresponding highly efficient method for the positioning and electric characterization of such membranes with a consistently high signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, statements concerning interactions of substances with lipid membranes respective of materials bonded thereon or therein respective of signal transduction mechanisms connected thereto are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Cytion SA
    Inventors: Horst Vogel, Christian Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20040090299
    Abstract: The manufacturing method for components of the inductive type, in particular inductance coils, transformers or antennae, consists in making by micro-machining simultaneously on a first substrate made of magnetic material a plurality of first parts (1) connected to each other by connecting elements (2) or a connecting support, inserting on the arms (8a, 8b, 8c) of these first parts (1) a printed multi-layered plate (4, 5) having openings for the arms and metal windings ending in at least two contact pads (7a, 7b), in placing and securing a second substrate made of magnetic material on the first substrate and the plate, said second substrate having undergone micro-machining to obtain second parts (13) complementary to the first parts. These second parts are connected to each other by connecting elements or a connecting support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
    Inventor: Martin Gijs