Abstract: A thermoplastic material has a) from 5% weight to 95% by weight, preferably from 10% by weight to 60% by weight, of vulcanized rubber in a subdivided form; b) from 5% by weight to 95% by weight, preferably from 40% by weight to 90% by weight, of at least one heterophase copolymer having a thermoplastic phase made from a propylene homopolymer or copolymer and an elastomeric phase made from a copolymer of ethylene with an ?-olefin, preferably with propylene; c) from 0% by weight to 90% by weight, preferably from 0% by weight to 50% by weight, of at least one ?-olefin homopolymer or copolymer different from b); the amounts of a), b) and c) being expressed with respect to the total weight of a)+b)+c). The thermoplastic material shows improved mechanical properties, in particular, improved elongation at break.

Abstract: A coupling structure for coupling optical radiation, i.e., light, between an optical fibre and an optical device, e.g., a laser diode or a photodiode. The coupling structure has an optical through-via which guides the optical radiation to or from the optical fibre. Light exiting the fibre travels through a guidance channel so it remains substantially confined to a narrow optical path that mimics the fibre core. Conversely, light enters the fibre after having traveled through the guidance channel. The guidance channel has a first core region, the “channel core”, having first refractive index surrounded by a second region, the “channel cladding” having a second refractive index smaller than the first refractive index. The coupling structure, including the guidance channel, is preferably made of semiconductor-based material, more preferably of silicon-based material. The guidance channel is preferably silicon oxide.

Abstract: A method for making a sound-insulating load-bearing floor, includes the following steps: providing a load-bearing floor; applying a sound-insulating material onto the load-bearing floor so as to form a substantially continuous coating layer; allowing the substantially continuous coating layer to dry; wherein the sound-insulating material includes: 40% by weight to 95% by weight, preferably 60% by weight to 90% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the sound-insulating material, of at least one rubber in a subdivided form; 5% by weight to 60% by weight, preferably 10% by weight to 40% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the sound-insulating material, of at least one binding agent including at least one water-dispersible polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?50° C. to +50° C., preferably of ?40° C. to +10° C.

Abstract: A system for automating parking payment including user terminals having wireless communication equipment allowing access to a wireless communication network and including readers/writers of electronic tags, electronic tags to be carried by the users on their vehicles and into which the users can input information concerning a parking event by means of their terminals; and a parking service management center connected to said network.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for data communication between a distribution network and a residential network is disclosed. The apparatus has a first device adapted to interface a distribution network, at least one second device adapted to interface a residential network and to be mechanically and electrically connected to the first device, and at least one interconnecting lock adapted to keep the first device and the at least one second device firmly secured to each other and to activate electrical supply between the first device and the at least one second device.

Abstract: A method of operating via a smart card an access gateway between a local area network and a wide area network under the control of a management system includes the steps of providing in the smart card at least a first memory area containing configuration data for access to the wide area network that cannot be modified by the user and a second memory area adapted for storing personalized configuration data of the user, and providing in the access gateway a third memory area and storing the contents of the second memory area of the smart card in the third memory area.

Abstract: A connector for optical fiber is described. The connector has a main body having a first fiber supporting element for supporting, within a fiber supporting seat, a first portion of at least one optical fiber and leaving an end portion of the at least one optical fiber project from the main body. The connector further has a second fiber supporting element for supporting the end potion of the at least one optical fiber. The second fiber supporting element is slidably associated with the main body and mobile between a first operational position wherein the end portion of the at least one optical fiber is supported by the second fiber supporting element and a second operational position wherein at least an end part of said end portion projects from said connector. The main body comprises a seat for hosting the second fiber supporting element when the second fiber supporting element is moved from the first operational position to the second operational position.

Abstract: Point-to-point link for the transmission of digital signals includes two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses and an optical cable including at least one optical fiber having two terminal portions, each opto-electronic conversion apparatus including an opto-electronic device optically coupled to a respective terminal portion between the two terminal portions of the at least one optical fiber, wherein at least one of the two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses is adapted to keep the respective terminal portion of the optical fiber in bent position with a bending radius R, where 1.5 mm?R?2.5 mm, and to keep the respective opto-electronic device optically coupled to the bent terminal portion in order to allow the transmission of the digital signals between the optical fiber and the at least one of the two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses; and at least the bent terminal portion of the at least one optical fiber is such as to satisfy the following relationship r/R<0.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical splitter having an input port, a first output port, a second output port and a resonant structure including at least a resonator, the optical splitter being adapted to receive at the input port a WDM optical signal and to output at the first and second output ports, respectively, a first and a second portion of the optical signal, the second portion including the channels lying on a sub-grid of optical frequencies spaced by an integer multiple of the WDM frequency spacing; an optical combiner having a first input port, a second input port, an output port and adapted to receive at the first and second input ports, respectively, the first and the second portions and adapted to output them at said output port; a first optical path optically connecting the first output port of the optical splitter to the first input port of the optical combiner so as to propagate the first portion; a second optical path optically connecting the second output port of the optical splitter to th

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method as well as to a joint assembly (12) for splicing a first and a second eclectic cable (1, 2) by means of a tubular elastic sleeve (15) at a splicing zone (11) between such cables (1, 2), said tubular sleeve (15) being supported in an expanded condition on a removable hollow supporting element (16) detachable in a first supporting portion (17) and a second supporting portion (18).

Abstract: An optical modulator has an optical splitter for splitting an input light beam into a first and second light beam; a first and a second wave-guide arm connected to the optical splitter for receiving and transmitting therethrough the first and second light beam, respectively, the waveguide arms each including a core region having group IV semiconductor material or a combination of group IV semiconductor materials; an optical combiner connected to the first and second waveguide arm for receiving the first and second light beam and combining them into an output light beam; a first and a second electrode structure associated with the first and second waveguide arm, respectively; and a driving circuit for supplying voltage to the first and second electrode structure. The driving circuit is adapted to supply a first modulation voltage super-imposed to a first bias voltage to the first electrode structure and a second modulation voltage superimposed to a second bias voltage to the second electrode structure.

Abstract: A cable including at least one core having at least one transmissive element and at least one coating layer made from a coating material, wherein the coating material has at least a first polyethylene having a density not higher than 0.940 g/cm3, preferably not lower than 0.910 g/cm3, more preferably 0.915 g/cm3 to 0.938 g/cm3, and a Melt Flow Index (MFI), measured at 190° C. with a load of 2.16 Kg according to ASTM D1238-00 standard, of 0.05 g/10? to 2 g/10?, preferably 0.1 g/10? to 1 g/10?; the first polyethylene being obtained from a waste material; at least a second polyethylene having a density higher than 0.940 g/cm3, preferably not higher than 0.970 g/cm3, more preferably 0.942 g/cm3 to 0.965 g/cm3. Preferably, the coating layer is a cable external layer having a protective function.

Abstract: Optical cable having at least one tubular element of polymeric material and at least one transmission element housed within said tubular element. The polymeric material is made from a polymeric composition having (a) at least one olefin polymer; (b) at least one inorganic filler; and (c) at least one olefin polymer including at least one functional group. The at least one olefin polymer including at least one functional group (c) is present in the polymeric composition in an amount of about 3 parts by weight to about 10 parts by weight, preferably about 5 parts by weight to about 8 parts by weight, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the olefin polymer (a).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an external-cavity tuneable laser including a gain medium (2) and a tuneable mirror (8), wherein at least the tuneable mirror is in thermal contact, with a thermally conductive platform (10). The tuneable mirror lays substantially horizontally on the thermally conductive platform significantly thereby improving the thermal contact of the tuneable mirror with the platform. The laser beam from the gain medium is directed onto the tuneable mirror, which is mounted substantially horizontally with respect to the thermally conductive platform, by means of a deflector (6) that deflects the beam or a large part of it towards one of the principal surfaces of the tuneable mirror. The resulting laser cavity is therefore a folded cavity. The thermally conductive platform is preferably thermally coupled to a TEC (11) that provides thermal control for the platform.

Abstract: Process for preparing a photovoltaic device including at least one semiconductive metal oxide with a major amount of a nanosized photo-catalytic crystalline phase, by depositing the oxide in the presence of a hydrosoluble organic polymer and a hydrolysable organic derivative of metal of the metal oxide under non-destructive conditions.

Abstract: A planar filter has a planar resonator including a conductive region having smoothed contours and supporting a first resonating mode propagating along a first conductive path and a second resonating mode propagating along a second conductive path perpendicular to the first conductive path. The planar filter also has a conductor-free region made in the conductive region and having smoothed contours. The conductor-free region is disposed along a region axis forming an angle with respect to the first conductive path. The conductor-free region causes a perturbation of the symmetry of the planar resonator resulting in a frequency shift of the first and second resonating mode and their mutual coupling.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing an electrochemical device including a cathode, an anode and at least one electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the cathode, the anode and the electrolyte membrane, contains at least a ceramic material.

Abstract: Point-to-point link for the transmission of digital signals includes two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses and an optical cable including at least one optical fiber having two terminal portions, each opto-electronic conversion apparatus including an opto-electronic device optically coupled to a respective terminal portion between the two terminal portions of the at least one optical fiber, wherein at least one of the two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses is adapted to keep the respective terminal portion of the optical fiber in bent position with a bending radius R, where 1.5 mm?R?2.5 mm, and to keep the respective opto-electronic device optically coupled to the bent terminal portion in order to allow the transmission of the digital signals between the optical fiber and the at least one of the two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses; and at least the bent terminal portion of the at least one optical fiber is such as to satisfy the following relationship r/R<0.

Abstract: A method of performing digital beam forming on the radiation pattern of an array antenna using a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element being coupled to a signal processing chain. A weighting phase is used in which at least a complex weight coefficient is applied to a digital signal in a corresponding signal processing chain. The digital signal is an intermediate frequency digital signal, and the weighting phase has the following steps: a) duplicating the digital signal into a first and a second digital signal; b) processing the first and second digital signals by multiplying the first and second digital signals respectively by a real and an imaginary part of the complex weight coefficient; applying a Hilbert transform to that signal which is multiplied by the imaginary part of the complex weight coefficient; and c) combining the processed first and second digital signals into a weighted digital intermediate frequency signal by subtracting the second signal from the first signal.