Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device providing information to the driver of a motor vehicle, which includes a concave mirror (100), located below the lowered line of vision within the field of vision of the exterior, its concavity being directed towards the driver, and an imager (200) designed to direct a light signal to the mirror (100), characterized by the fact that the concave mirror (100) is defined by an O-dome.

Abstract: A device for measuring the level of fuel in a motor vehicle tank, the device being of the type comprising: a float suitable for following the level of the fuel; a lever hinged to a support and carrying the float; and an electrical transducer controlled by the lever so that the transducer supplies a signal representative of the level of fuel in the tank; wherein: the electrical transducer is placed in a fixed housing linked to a wall of the tank; the lever support is urged permanently against the bottom wall of the tank to follow any displacement thereof; and rotary link means are provided to provide a rotary connection between the float-carrying lever and a control shaft of the electrical transducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a network of electronic stations each suitable for generating at least one function, in particular for use on a motor vehicle. The method comprises the following steps: i) generating an activation signal in at least some of the stations when a previously inactive function is requested; ii) generating a deactivation signal when an associated previously active function is to be deactivated; iii) detecting the generated activation and deactivation signals; iv) incrementing at least one counter by one step each time an associated activation signal is detected; v) decrementing the same counter by one step each time an associated deactivation signal is detected; and vi) generating a "go to sleep" signal when a counter reaches a zero count after being decremented.

Abstract: An obstacle detector system interposed between a frame and an associated moving member, the system being of the type comprising an obstacle detector device including at least two electrically conductive tracks which are held apart at rest by spaces. The system comprises a connection assembly including a support core made of electrically insulating material, at least two separate electrically conductive elements carried by the support core and intended to make contact with respective ones of the tracks when the core is inserted inbetween, and an envelope suitable for engaging the outside surface of the obstacle detector device in order to clamp it against the support core and the electrically conductive elements in order to maintain electrical contact between the tracks and the elements and also to ensure that the detector device is sealed.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a ratio meter, the circuit having an input stage for generating a digital signal representative of a parameter to be displayed, memory to enable the digital signal to be encoded on the basis of a pre-defined sine, cosine, or tangent function, with the memory being addressed by intermediate significant bits in the digital signal, and an interpolator for correcting the signal from the memory on the basis of the least significant bits of the digital signal.

Abstract: A device for measuring the level of fuel in a motor vehicle tank, the device being of the type comprising: a base for fixing to a wall of the tank; a support hinged about a horizontal axis to the portion of the base inside the tank; a shoe carried at the bottom end of the support so that the shoe rests against the bottom of the tank; a resistor element carried by the support; a float carried by an arm which is hinged about a non-vertical axis to the support to track the level of fuel; and a cursor carried by the arm and engaging the resistor element to define a resistance which varies as a function of the level of liquid contained in the tank, wherein the shape of the shoe is such that regardless of the position of the bottom of the tank, due to possible deformation of the tank, whenever the level of fuel corresponds to the same minimum measurable depth, the arm of the float always occupies the same position relative to the support.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the measurement of the level or volume of a liquid contained in a reservoir of the type comprising a casing that houses an element defining two generally vertical, separate, electrical tracks, at least one of which is electrically resistant, and a float that is capable of following the level of the liquid and bears a slider capable of connecting the two tracks, said device comprising at least one spacer that connects the housing and the element defining the tracks, at least two floats placed on either side of the spacer and means ensuring that at least the slider of the upper float is separated from at least one of the tracks when it reaches the lower final stage of its movement adjacent to the spacer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for measuring the level and/or the volume of liquid contained in the tank. The apparatus being of the type comprising a capacitive probe including at least two generally vertical parallel separate main plates for immersing in the liquid, and capacitance-measuring means having a detection input and a ground, the detection input being connected to a first one of the main plates and the ground being connected to the second main plate, wherein the first plate is surrounded by a guard ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature measuring device including an alarm contact, in particular for motor vehicles, the device comprising a housing (10) which receives a bimetallic strip (20) and a thermoresistive element (150). According to the invention, a support (100) of electrically insulating material is provided to carry a contact stud (160), a contact blade (170), the thermoresistive element (150) interposed between the contact stud (160) and the contact blade (170), and a spring element (180), all in the form of a unitary module.

Abstract: A touch sensor comprises a liquid crystal cell (10) and detector means (40, 50A, 50B) responsive to a change in the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal. The detector means comprise an HF electrical signal generator (40) together with integration means (50A, 50B) suitable for integrating the charge created by any change in the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal (14).

Abstract: The present invention provides a control lever, in particular for a motor vehicle, the control lever comprising a fixed body (100), a first control ring (200) mounted to rotate on the body (100) and provided with a first circuit board (260) extending generally perpendicularly to its axis of rotation (102), a second control ring (300) coaxial with the first, mounted to rotate on the body (100), and provided with a second circuit board (350) extending generally perpendicularly to its axis of rotation, and at least one electrical conductor (450) extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation (102) of the rings and prevented from rotating relative to the body (100), with respective ends thereof resting in rubbing contact against each of the two circuit boards (260, 350).

Abstract: A tachometer device having a sensor generating an electrical signal at a frequency which is proportional to a speed to be detected, an operating drive member, and electrical link means connecting the sensor to the operating drive member. A device for limiting frequency variations in the pulses applied to the operating drive member is interposed between the sensor and said operating drive member.

Abstract: In a method and a device for determining the optical transmission factor of a glass panel by identification transmits an incident electromagnetic radiation towards the glass panel and the intensity of the reflected radiation is detected and measured. The reflection coefficient of the panel is compared with reflection coefficient reference values representing the transmission factor of tinted glass reference panels to determine the optical transmission factor of the panel examined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for shaping ripple in the armature current of a D.C. motor. The circuit includes a phase-locked loop (100). In addition, the circuit preferably includes a back-e.m.f. circuit (300) suitable for generating a signal proportional to the back-e.m.f. of the motor and for controlling the frequency of the phase-locked loop (100) on the basis of the signal obtained in this way and/or the back-e.m.f. circuit (300) suitable for generating a signal proportional to the back-e.m.f. of the motor, a voltage controlled oscillator (500) controlled by the signal proportional to the back-e.m.f., and a switched capacitor filter (400) controlled by the output of the oscillator (500), the filter being connected upstream from the phase-locked loop (100).

Abstract: An electric switch cooperating with a steering wheel shaft provided with a control cam for controlling change of direction indicators of a motor vehicle includes a support casing and a control lever pivotally mounted on the support casing about a first pivot axis and a reversing plate pivotally mounted on the support about a second axis parallel to the first pivot axis. The lever includes an indexing stud which cooperates with a notched surface on the support casing. The reversing plate is resiliently urged toward the steering wheel shaft and faces the control cam to move relative to the second axis away from the control cam. Drive structures are provided on the reversing plate for cooperation with the lever so that the reversing plate is pivoted about the second axis into a working position when the control lever is itself pivoted about the first axis into a working position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting the presence of extraneous substances in a medium in the vicinity of a wall separating two mediums.The device provides in the medium I illumination of a wall under a radiation corresponding to the transparency of the semi-transparency of the material of the wall on a reference illumination zone. Directional detectors permit covering of the reference illumination zone, the mean direction of the reception cone having with respect to the mean direction of the beam an inclination such that the intersection volume of the beam and of the reception cone is a minimum.Application to the aid of driving of automobiles or airplanes and the control of industrial chemical processes is disclosed.

Abstract: A transmission ring assembly adapted to be mounted between the steering column and the steering wheel an automobile vehicle provides an electrical connection between a control switch mounted on the steering wheel and a device controlled by the switch. It comprises a bush fixed to the steering column and a first series of conductive rings fastened to the bush. A base member is mechanically attached to the steering wheel and a second series of conductive rings fastened to the base member cooperate electrically with the rings of the first series. Each pair of contacts formed by respective rings from the first and second series is insulated from an adjacent pair of contacts. Each ring of the first or second series comprises two concentric annuli electrically and mechanically joined at at least two points on a common diameter. In this way the connection and drive/retention functions of each ring are made separate from its electrical contact function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a display device with a winding and pivoting elements, of the galvanometric or logometric type. According to the invention the display device comprises, rigid with its case, a support of electrically insulating material, which carries on the one hand at least one integrated circuit chip serving as a control circuit for the device, and on the other hand a series of strips of electrically conductive material, adapted for connecting the integrated circuit chip and at least one winding of the device and for receiving electrical control signals generated by external circuits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a damping device of the type comprising a housing (40) defining a sealed chamber (42) containing a viscous damping fluid such as silicone and receiving a blade capable of displacement relative to the housing. In accordance with the invention, the housing (40) and the blade (80) comprise respective series of fins (50, 51, 52, 53 and 90, 92, 94, and 96) which are interleaved. Thus, relative displacement of the blade inside the housing (40) is braked by a combination firstly of the controlled flow of fluid from one side of the blade to the other via interstices between the blade and the housing, and secondly by viscous friction between the interleaved fins. The invention also relates to a device for measuring the level of fuel in a motor vehicle fuel tank and including such a damping device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical switch of the type comprising a housing provided with a plurality of electrical contacts and carrying a control lever (300) capable of being displaced in rotation about its longitudinal axis (302) and about two transverse axes (210 and 220) in order to perform first, second, and third switching functions respectively when the lever rotates. According to the invention, the switch includes a ball (200) mounted to pivot inside the housing about the two transverse axes (210 and 220), with the ball (200) having a through channel (240) in which the lever (300) is received free to rotate abouts its longitudinal axis (302), the switch further including a clevis (400) mounted on the ball (200) to follow the ball when it pivots about the secondary axis (220) while allowing the ball (200) to pivot relative to the clevis (400) when the ball (200) is caused to pivot about the main axis (210).