Abstract: For flat mounting of electronic microcomponents, such as chip carriers, on a printed circuit support, the electrical contacts of the microcomponent are connected to pads on the printed circuit, microcomponents having solderable contacts on a lower face thereof, comprising electrically connecting said solderable contacts of the microcomponent to respective pads on the printed circuit through sections of flexible wires having a sufficient degree of curvature for mechanically uncoupling said microcomponents from said printed circuit support and mechanically connecting the microcomponent to the support through a spacer having planar dimensions lower than planar dimensions of a base of said microcomponent for providing access to said contacts for connecting said sections thereto. An intermediate product includes the chip carrier and a grid conencted to the lower face thereof, including connecting sections and an edge strip connecting the external ends of all sections.

Abstract: A method for photoelasticity examination of a stress or strain field comprises successive steps. A two dimensional image of a test-piece is formed which has isochromatic fringes in the form of an array of pixels and the grey level of each pixel is stored as a digital value. From the isoclinals, the orientation of the main stresses .sigma.I and .sigma.II is determined at each pixel and the angle of orientation is stored for obtaining each pixel; from the stored pixels, the law of variation of brightness is worked out along at least three lines parallel to an arbitrary direction chosen by the operator and passing completely through the test-piece; from a condition at the limits and by finite differences then integration, a value is determined representative of .sigma.I and .sigma.II at each point of the median line among the three lines and .sigma.I and .sigma.II are derived from the stored digital values and from the computed values of .sigma.I and .sigma.II.

Abstract: For optical measurement of a distance between a hunter and a target, for instance between satellites, back-reflecting means are provided on the target. The hunter carries a source of substantially monochromatic light pulses and a solid state detector having a matrix of sensors. The matrix is read-out by transferring the contents of the sensors line per line or point per point at a predetermined frequency to an output memory. A time base triggers one pulse at a predetermined time selected for causing return of an echo from the target during read-out. The distance is derived from a determination of that line or that point which receives the echo, for two different transfer frequencies.

Abstract: A mine for use against armored vehicles has a mount with a base resting on the ground and an ammunition launching tube having a fixed elevation and carried by the base for rotation about a vertical axis. The base contains a system for detection and azimuth location of targets which uses both seismic and acoustic detection. The tube is aimed in azimuth toward the target and an anti-tank ammunition is fired toward the position where the distance between the mine and the target is minimum. The ammunition consists of a self-propelled missile which will fly over the target at a high speed. The motor of the missile spins it about its roll axis. The self forging charge of the missile has an axis transversal to the roll axis. The missile has a detection system including a sensor which scans the ground about the roll axis and causes firing of the charge when aligned with the target.

Abstract: A transmitter for multiplexing three optical channels at different wavelengths has (a) first, second and third laser diode means delivering linearly polarized optical beams at respective wavelengths .lambda.2, .lambda.3 and .lambda.4 which are mutually different; (b) an assembly located in the path of the light of wavelength .lambda.2 emitted by said first diode means and including a plate which is substantially quarter-wave for the wavelength (2 .lambda.2-.lambda.4), a filter having a band pass centered on wavelength .lambda.2, a plate quarter-wave which is substantially for wavelength .lambda.4 and a polarizer, the first diode means being oriented so that its beam is transmitted by the polarizer. A first light beam combiner directs light from said third diode means onto the polarizer along a direction of 90.degree. from the direction of the beam of wavelength .lambda.2 and with the same polarization direction, so that the beam of wavelength .lambda.4 is reflected towards said filter.

Abstract: An identity document has graphical information printed on a support and including uncoded alphanumerical information which is specific to a holder of the document or to the document. The surface of the support is broken down into a network of macropixels each having a predetermined average light absorption level. Each of the micropixels in turn consists of a dot pattern matrix of micropixels each having a light absorption level selected among at least two predetermined levels and distributed for the average absorption of each of the macropixels to be said predetermined average light absorption level and for constituting a screen which reproduces on a microscopic scale part at least of the uncoded specific information.

Abstract: For measuring the optical transfer function of an optical instrument having an input pupil, a device comprises a source of spatially coherent light for illuminating the pupil of the instrument. Two separate zones are isolated in the input pupil of the instrument by a system comprising a grating, a lens for forming an image and a spatial filter which eliminates the zero diffraction order. The two zones have a spacing which is in direct relation to the spatial frequency. The position and mutual spacing of the fringes are determined. A computer derives the transfer function from the measurements made for a plurality of pairs of zones.

Abstract: A warhead for a guided missile initiated by a proximity fuse, for use against high speed high altitude targets, comprises a fragmentation casing, an outer explosive charge contained in the casing and having a detonator and an inner explosive charge radially separated from the outer charge by an empty space. The inner charge has a detonator and is so arranged that the outer charge is detonated by the shockwave travelling through the radial space. On the other hand, the inner charge does not detonate following explosion of the outer charge. The charges are so shaped that the fragments from the casing are distributed as a radially directed isotopic shower.

Abstract: For controlling nutation of a three-axis stabilized satellite, the angular speed of a solar panel carried by the satellite is selectively and temporarily varied about an average value for modifying the inertia cross-product thereof and generating an angular momentum transverse to the angular momentum present in said body with a phase with respect to the nutation motion which tends to decrease the amplitude of the nutation motion.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the state of a relay comprises an electrical insulation transformer whose secondary winding is connected, through a rectifier, to the output terminals of the relay. The primary winding of the transformer is in series with an oscillator having an impedance greater than that of the primary winding when the relay is closed. A transistor receives a signal from the primary winding and delivers an on-off output signal representing the impedance across the terminals of the relay.

Abstract: A unitary device for venting a rocket motor of an ordnance item having a warhead comprises a circumferential belt containing a cutting explosive charge and constructed for removable mounting around a housing of the rocket motor, and an activating device having a casing permanently connected to the belt. The activating device further includes, in the casing, a striker for movement therein, a spring located and operatively associated with the striker for urging the striker toward the primer from a rest position, and a latch for retaining the striker in said rest position, said latch including a part of eutectic alloy normally opposing movement of the striker and becoming ineffective above a predetermined melting temperature.

Abstract: A missile launcher comprises a supporting structure a bearing shoe connected to a supporting structure by links articulated so as to form a deformable parallelogram. A fluid pressure cylinder releases a locking system securing the missile on the structure and actuates the links in a direction causing the shoe to push the missile away. The shoe has a sufficient length for determining the distance between the missile and the aircraft at the end of its stroke and also the angular position of the missile. With that arrangement, the position and angular speed of the missile when the thrust of the shoe ceases may be accurately determined.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle for a transit system has a supporting structure provided with wheels moving on parallel tracks and inflated tires in rolling contact with stationary guide bars for guiding the structure. An apparatus for providing an indication of deflated or flat rubber tire is provided on the roadway. It detects lateral offset of the support structure with respect to the tracks from a set position responsive to deflation of one tire. The sensors are connected to a circuit which provides an alarm when the amount of offset exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The reservoir, usable more especially in a satellite, comprises a liquid outlet passage having a surface tension confinement device defining a buffer zone communicating with the outlet passage and, through orifices and a meniscus rupture zone, with supply ducts provided along the wall of the reservoir. The orifices are capillary and are provided in a wall situated in the immediate proximity of the point of drawing-off through the outlet passage (12), defining, with a capillary storage volume, a dead space of small volume.

Abstract: For fixing the position of a moving vehicle, typically an aircraft, a map of a strip of ground along the theoretical path of the vehicle is prepared. The map has two parts. The transparency i at each point of one part is in direct relation with the value of a predetermined parameter representative of the ground at that point, typically the altitude. The transparency at each point in the other part is in inverse relation of the parameter. During movement of the vehicle, the successive actual values of the parameter are measured and stored over a distance p. Such values are used for modulating light fluxes which are directed along a plurality of bands each representative of distance p, in succession. A correlation factor is determined for each band based on integration of light fluxes received by sensors through the bands in succession. The location of the band on the map which corresponds to the best correlation is determined and used for fixing the position.

Abstract: A penetration bomb has a resistant body containing an explosive composition. The body has a rear portion connected by an intermediate portion to a front portion of reduced diameter. While the rear portion has a high explosive content, typically higher than 75%, the front portion has a thick content of explosive charge, typically about 15%. The intermediate zone is approximately frustoconical for transferring kinetic energy from the rear portion to the front portion which acts as a penetrator before firing of its explosive content.

Abstract: An active nutation control system for a space vehicle spinning about a geometric axis has thrusters for creating an external torque about an axis transverse to the first. The amplitude of the nutation and its phase in relation with the spinning movement are detected. A control arrangement receives signals from the nutation detectors, computes the changes in the angular direction of the angular momentum of the vehicle caused by thruster activation and energizes the thrusters when contemporaneously the amplitude of the nutation movement is greater than a predetermined threshold, the phase corresponds to maximum efficiency of said thrusters in reducing nutation momentum of the vehicle or at least does not increase it.

Abstract: An installation for vehicles moving automatically, without human intervention, between starting and arrival points along a predetermined path consisting of stops, junctions, crossings, inlets, outlets of elevators, etc.An installation in which each self-propelling vehicle is adapted to carry a load and has steering-wheels and a central driving-wheel as well as optical detectors designed to read an optical track laid out on the ground and furnishing passive driving signals, the vehicle also being provided with an ultrasonic emitter-receiver assembly working as a radar and operative to detect obstacles along the path of movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: For locally stripping an electric wire, the wire is maintained in a guide, the insulating material is cut with rotary knives over a fraction only of its thickness and the residual insulation material is broken by pulling after the knives have been stopped. An apparatus for carrying out the process has a stripping head supporting a wire-guide, provided with a drive motor for rotation about the axis of the guide and carrying knives radially movable between an inner and an outer position. An electromagnetically controlled wire-clamping system is used for axially moving the wire.