Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive-measurement device for touch-sensitive and/or contactless interfaces, including at least one capacitive-measurement electrode and electrode-switching unit capable of electrically connecting the at least one electrode, either to a capacitive-measurement unit or to a guard potential, the at least one capacitive-measurement electrode and the electrode-switching unit being provided on a single detection surface according to a technique for manufacturing planar electronic components. The invention also relates to an apparatus implementing the device.

Abstract: A microscope device for inspecting structured objects, including: a camera; an optical imager capable of producing, on the camera, an image of the object according to a field of view, and including a distal lens arranged on the side of the object; and a low-coherence infrared interferometer including a measurement beam capable of producing measurements by means of interferences between retroreflections of the measurement beam and at least one separate optical reference. The device also includes coupler for injecting the measurement beam into the optical imaging means in such a way that the beam passes through the distal lens, and the low-coherence infrared interferometer is balanced in such a way that only the measurement beam retroreflections, taking place at optical distances close to the optical distance covered by the beam to the object, produce measurements.

Abstract: A capacitive detection control interface device is provided, including at least one measurement electrode including an active surface, a guard made from an electrically conductive material placed adjacent to the measurement electrodes, the guard is excited up to an alternating electric potential substantially identical to that of the measurement electrodes, a first electronic component for exciting the electrodes and processing the measurement signals from the capacitive coupling of the electrodes with an object laced adjacent thereto, the electronic component is at least partly referenced to the electric potential of the guard, and a second electronic component for performing another functional display, placed adjacent to the active surface which second electronic component is at least partly referenced to the electric potential of the guard.

Abstract: A capacitive measurement device includes: at least one measurement electrode having an active surface; at least one guard made from an electrically conductive material placed adjacent to the measurement electrode(s), the guard being excited up to an alternating electric potential substantially identical to that of the measurement electrodes; and a first electronic device for exciting the electrode(s) and processing the measurement signals from the capacitive coupling of the electrode(s) to an object placed adjacent thereto, the electronic device being at least partially referenced to the electric potential of the guard. The measurement device further includes apparatus for performing another function, placed adjacent to the active surface, and a second electronic device provided for monitoring the apparatus for performing another function, the second electronic device being at least partially referenced to the electric potential of the guard.

Abstract: A capacitive measurement device is provided, including: (i) a first electronic system electrically referenced to a guard potential and connectable to capacitive electrodes; (ii) a second electronic system electrically referenced to a ground potential; and (iii) an energizing component connected to the guard and ground potentials, respectively, to impart an AC voltage differential between the potentials. The device also includes an integrated circuit that is referenced to the ground and includes a first installation area in which the first electronic system is implemented, and a second installation area in which the second electronic system is implemented. Also included are systems using the device and uses of the device.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for control interface sensitive to a movement of a body or of an object and the control equipment integrating this device, in particular gestural and/or tactile and/or vocal, sensitive to a movement of at least one part of a body or of an object within a detection space, including a detection surface, at least one capacitive sensor, having a measurement electrode, a guard made of electrically conducting material disposed in proximity to the measurement electrodes, and electronic apparatus for processing the signals emanating from the at least one capacitive sensor. The active surfaces of the measurement electrodes are independent of one another, and an electronic device for excitation and processing interrogate these measurement electrodes independently of one another.

Abstract: A capacitive measurement device including first measurement device designed to carry out a first measurement function in relation to a nearby object, the first measurement device including a body and, a capacity electrode, both of a substantially conductive material, and a guard electrode placed between the body and the capacitive electrode and insulated from the body on the one hand and from the capacitive electrode on the other hand by dielectric elements; an excitation apparatus which maintains the capacitive electrode and the guard electrode to a desired AC electrical potential; a first electronic apparatus, connected to the capacitive and guard electrodes, for measuring the capacitance between the capacitive electrode and the object; and a second measurement device designed to carry out a second measurement function, which are located in the vicinity of either the capacitive or guard electrode, and maintained by the excitation apparatus to a desired AC electrical potential.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting at least one object of interest moving in an environment, and implements at least one capacitive coupling measurement electrode with the object of interest and with one or more other “disrupting” objects present in the environment. Included in the method, for at least one of the measurement electrodes, are steps of: (i) measuring the total capacity between the measurement electrode and the environment; (ii) storing the total capacity; (iii) calculating a leakage capacity due to the disrupting objects on the basis of predetermining a minimum value within a history of pre-stored total capacity measurements; (iv) calculating a capacity of interest due to the objects of interest while subtracting the leakage capacity from the total measured capacity; and (v) processing the thus-calculated capacity of interest to produce information for detecting the object or objects of interest. Also included is a device implementing the present method.

Abstract: A process for on-line and in situ counting of cells in a biological culture medium, including a plurality of steps of measuring the capacitance of the medium or a plurality of steps of measuring the conductance of the medium, at distinct frequencies varying within a predetermined range of measurement frequencies. The process includes an extraction of information on the variation of permittivity due to the ?-dispersion in the medium, from the capacitance measurements, and processing of the variation of this information on the variation of permittivity as a function of the frequency, in order to provide information regarding the counting of cells in the medium.

Abstract: A non-contact measurement method for a relative displacement or relative positioning of a first object relative to a second object, in which: at least one transmitting coil, placed on the first object, is excited by an alternating excitation signal, at least one alternating electronic output signal, generated by mutual inductance in at least one receiving coil, is detected; the at least one receiving coil being placed on the second object and in a magnetic field created by the at least one transmitting coil, and the relative displacement of the first object is determined relative to the second object using the at least one alternating electric output signal generated on the at least one receiving coil.

Abstract: A device for capacitive measurement by a floating bridge, including: a sensor module including at least one measuring electrode and at least one guard electrode arranged close to a target connected to a general earth, at least one integrated circuit for capacitive measurement, provided with a guard to which the guard electrode is connected, having an input connected to the measuring electrode, a guard connected to the reference earth of the integrated circuit, an excitation output connected to the general earth, a measurement output, and structure for supplying the integrated circuit for capacitive measurement in floating mode.

Abstract: Method for biomass determination in a medium, in particular a medium containing biological cells suspended in a conductive fluid, the biomass concentration (X) being obtained from a difference between a first capacitance signal (C?1) of the medium, measured at a first frequency, and a second capacitance signal (C?2) of the medium, measured at a second frequency. The method includes a separate correction of each of the measured signals, based at least on one correction level, the first correction level including a correction of the signals measured in accordance with a model dependent on the conductance of the medium at the first and second frequencies. The invention is useful in biomass measurement systems.

Abstract: A method for measuring the heights of patterns of an object, including: a light emission, the light includes a propagation mode of interest for at least one wavelength of interest, an illumination of the surface of the object by the light, a reflection of the light by the surface of the object, a collection of the reflected light, a division of the wavefront of the reflected light into division components, by at least one pattern of the illuminated surface, a filtering of the collected light, including a modal filtering removing all modes other than the propagation mode of interest, for the wavelengths of interest, and from the filtered light, and for the wavelengths of interest, an extraction of information about phase differences between the division components.

Abstract: A proximity detector employs a capacitive sensor, having: at least one detection antenna including numerous capacitive proximity sensors which each include a measuring electrode, the antenna being positioned close to an object or body; electronic elements for exciting the electrodes and processing the distance measurement signals originating from the capacitive sensors; and digital elements of controlling the electronic elements and of calculating the distances between the electrodes and the body or object using the processed measurement signals. The detection antenna also contains a single guard for all of the measuring electrodes. Moreover, the electronic elements have, for each detection antenna, a floating or floating excitation capacitive bridge which co-operates with polling elements in order sequentially to measure the respective capacitances between each electrode and the object or body to be measured.

Abstract: A proximity detector employs a capacitive sensor, having: at least one detection antenna including numerous capacitive proximity sensors which each include a measuring electrode, the antenna being positioned close to an object or body; electronic elements for exciting the electrodes and processing the distance measurement signals originating from the capacitive sensors; and digital elements of controlling the electronic elements and of calculating the distances between the electrodes and the body or object using the processed measurement signals. The detection antenna also contains a single guard for all of the measuring electrodes. Moreover, the electronic elements have, for each detection antenna, a floating or floating excitation capacitive bridge which co-operates with polling elements in order sequentially to measure the respective capacitances between each electrode and the object or body to be measured.

Abstract: A device for determining the characteristics of a biomass, includes: a probe (S,S′) including electrodes, two or four in number, for injecting a current into a medium containing biological cells and for reading the voltage applied to the medium, and a resistance for measuring the injected current; a conditioning unit (10) including an alternating voltage generator (112) and a circuit (200) processing current and voltage measuring signals, so as to deliver signals (C,G) respectively of measurement of the capacity and conductance of the medium. The conditioning unit (10) includes a zero method measuring bridge (150) automatically controlled to deliver the signals (C,G) of measurement of the medium capacity and conductance. The invention is useful for characterizing media containing biological cells, in particular for controlling biological fermentation process.

Abstract: A method for measuring axial deviation in a taut-wire alignment system (1) that includes a dynamically grounded resistive wire (2) extending along a longitudinal reference axis and adjacent to elements to be aligned (3). The method comprises applying an AC voltage signal to a measurement electrode provided with a reference electrode, the measurement electrode being arranged in a measurement plane in a holder attached to an element to be aligned (3); carrying out a measurement using a capacitive bridge that includes a first capacitor consisting of the measurement electrode and the wire, as well as a second capacitor, in order to provide a measurement signal representing an axial position of the measurement electrode relative to the taut wire (2) ; and processing the measurement signal to provide data indicating the axial deviation between the element to be aligned (3, 7) and a predetermined alignment position. The method is particularly suitable for aligning elements in linear colliders.

Abstract: A positioning actuator with three axes includes a base having a movable supporting member and a device for moving the member up and down, and a shaft connecting the movable head of the actuator to the base. The connecting shaft forms a swivel-type double linkage enabling sideways movement of the head relative to the base, and the lower end of the connecting shaft engages a part made of elastomeric material and is provided within the movable supporting member.