Abstract: A laser for use in all fields of measurement using a heterodyne effect delivers two waves at different frequencies, having mutually orthogonal linear polarizations. It comprises a lasing medium placed in a laser resonating cavity defined by mirrors and a birefringent crystal placed on the path of the two waves. The lasing medium is located in the resonating cavity in a zone where the two waves are separated spatially. Two quarter wave plates, one of which has neutral lines at substantially 45.degree. from the polarization axes of the birefringent means, are placed in the common path of the two waves so as to give a helical polarization to the two waves between the plates.

Abstract: An optical sighting and aiming apparatus has a first channel having a disy unit provided with deviation measurement means; a second channel having a sighting member and a light deviator for angularly deviating the optical axis of the sighting member with respect to a reference direction harmonized with the center of the vision field of the display unit; and an aiming mirror inserted in a light path common to the two channels, at a location between the portions of the two channels which are separate and a multichannel collimator for adjusting the angular direction of both channels with respect to a scene being observed. The second or aiming channel further comprises a separator for separating a light beam from the multichannel collimator into a beam directed toward the sighting member and a beam directed toward a zeroing detector harmonized with the sighting member.

Abstract: Motor vehicle dashboard comprising, from the front to the rear, an instrut panel, a raised portion pierced with windows displaying measuring and counting instrument dials, the raised portion receiving a window interposed between it and the instrument panel, the measuring and counting instruments, a case and an electric circuit support. The raised portion comprises, projecting rearward, pins for positioning the instruments which cooperate with complementary holes provided on the instruments. The instruments and the case are fixed respectively to the case and to the raised portion.

Abstract: A videotex terminal capable of receiving telecopies is disclosed, comprising a printing device at the output of its modem for printing fixed images in response to graphic data from a source connected to the telephone network, and the procedure for communicating the graphic data comprises protocol phases, during which the terminal and the source exchange questions and answers in the form of data transmitted at a first speed via the modem used alternately in one direction and in the other, and transfer phases, during which a flow of graphic data is transmitted by the modem, at this first speed, from the source to the terminal and data for regulating said flow are transmitted by the modem, at a second speed, from the terminal to the source.

Abstract: The accelerometer is suitable for use on missiles subjected to high acceltion forces on start. It comprises a base and a flat pendulum mounted on the base for oscillation about a rotation axis located in the plane of the pendulum. The distance between the center of gravity of the pendulum and the rotation axis is small as compared with the span of the pendulum. Electrodes are carried by a face of the pendulum on both sides of the axis and cooperate with electrodes carried by the base for generating an electrostatic balancing field. The pendulum has electrodes on one face only and that results in easier construction.

Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel is disclosed with counter resetting knob, comping a push knob for resetting a trip recorder and mounted for sliding through a raised portion and a window. The knob comprises an end-piece with radial fins whose widened ends are situated between the raised portion and the window. Under the action of a compression spring the widened ends of the fins are urged towards the window, thus eliminating any play between the hole in the window and the end-piece.

Abstract: A vibrating force transducer suitable for use in a pendular accelerometer mprises a flat elongated strip of piezo-electric material having end portions arranged for being securely connected to elements which apply a force to be measured along the direction of elongation when the transducer is in service. The strip is fractionated by slits parallel along the direction of elongation and orthogonal to major faces of the strips into a central beam and lateral beams which are in a common plane, the lateral beams carrying electrode means for flexural vibration in the common plane at a resonance frequency indicative of the value of the force applied to the end portions and the central beam carrying a resistive temperature sensor.

Abstract: A dashboard lay-out is provided, particularly for motor vehicles, compris: a central case (1) with its front face (2) open and arranged inside so as to form a light box diffusing an homogeneous light towards the front; a rear plate (6) fixed to the rear face (3) of the case and supporting the components of the dashboard not situated on the front face; a transparent front plate (12) fixed to the front face (2) of the case and supporting the components (14, 16) to be seen by an observer as well as their direct control devices (15, 20) as required; and a facing plate (25) with selective transparency having zones of different colours covering the front plate; connection means, particularly electric connection means (22, 28), providing the necessary connections between the rear and front plates.

Abstract: A printing assembly which is adapted for printing on a print medium in a m of a sheet or tape includes a printing cylinder on which is wound and urged the print medium during a printing operation. A printing device prints on the print medium and urges it against the printing cylinder. An advancing device upstream of the printing device serves to advance the print medium and a tensioning device downstream of the printing devices tightens the print medium against the printing cylinder. The tensioning device includes two contra-rotating rollers having substantially smooth outer surfaces in contact from opposite sides of the print medium which allow sliding at the contacting surfaces and which provide for tensioning of the print medium on the print cylinder. The rollers are of the same diameter and are both motorpowered and driven at the same rotational velocity, which rotational velocity is greater than the advance velocity of the advancing device.

Abstract: A thermal regulation device is provided for regulating, to a desired value, the temperature of an element (7) by blowing a gas at the desired temperature thereon, comprising:a body (1) containing a duct (2) feeding the gas; an insulating bell (6) mounted for sliding on the end (3) of the duct for surrounding the element (7); a bellows (15) between the bell (6) and the body (1); a tube (19) enclosed in the body (1) for discharging the gas out of the bell; the bell and the bellows being made from a heat insulating material.

Abstract: A mirror device for providing an image of a remote object, suitable for use in a multi-spectral collimator, comprises a primary concave mirror whose surface is an off-axis portion of a paraboloid having a rotational symetry about an axis, and a secondary concave mirror whose surface is an off-axis portion of a hyperboloid, one focus of which coincides with the focus of the paraboloid. The mirrors have sizes of the same order of magnitude. The primary mirror is so located that a light beam received by it and having a mean ray parallel to the axis of the paraboloid is unobscured by the secondary mirror. The radii of curvatures of the two mirrors at locations along their respective axes do not differ by more than 10%.

Abstract: A fire control system for a weapon having an operator-aimed barrel compri a sighting piece carried by the barrel and having a reticle adjustable in position with respect to the bore axis of the barrel. A camera fast with the barrel has a field coaxial with the bore axis. The apparent movement of the target in the field of the camera is measured as well as the angular movements of the barrel by the operator. The position to be given to the reticle is computed from variations of the aiming direction of the barrel and from the apparent movement and the position of the reticle is consequently adjusted. The reticle may consist of a LCD.

Abstract: An inflation system, in particular for cardiac assistance, has a rotary dributor driven by a motor controlled by an electronic circuit. The rotary distributor places a bag and an inflation fluid reservoir in communication through a pump for alternately inflating the bag from the reservoir and emptying the bag into the reservoir. The electronic circuit controls the rotary distributor during inflation and deflation and progressively controls the speed of the pump during inflation, and during deflation interrupts the power supply to the motor.

Abstract: In a process for interconnecting microprocessors, a master microprocessor (1) transmits a character. All the slave microprocessors receive it in a register (4). If processing is in progress in the slave (2) for which it is intended, the character is masked until the processing is finished. After the processing, the slave microprocessor (2) recognizes it, removes it from the register (4) and loads this latter with an echo intended for the master microprocessor (1), allowing it to transmit a new character.

Abstract: The printing machine comprises a device for the supply of sheets. This dee is constituted in the form of a removable unitary module comprising means for taking-up motion. Selection means are provided and comprise motion distributing means associated with said take-up means to direct the motion to means for extraction of sheets.

Abstract: The cartridge comprises two arms situated on both sides of the cartridge y; each arm can occupy either a first, non-functional position (or storage position of the cartridge) or a second, functional position (or use position of the cartridge). Elastic tension means are provided to act on the ribbon to hold the latter taut whatever the functional or non-functional position occupied by the arms.

Abstract: Spacing device for magnetic recording and/or reading head-holder pads, characterized in that it comprises, for each pad, an inner fixed spacing ramp, namely situated not far from the rotary axle of the discs, this ramp being inclined with respect to the surface of the latter, and at the end of a support arm, a sliding part adapted to cooperate with said ramp and to space said pad from the surface of the disc concerned when, by actuation of the drive means, said support arm is moved radially towards said axle.

Abstract: Arrangement of magnetic recording and/or readout heads for disc memories, ese discs comprising on their surfaces a certain number of concentric magnetic zones each constituted by a particular number of circular tracks. In one embodiment of the invention, a hybrid arrangement is provided, that is to say with several heads, which are offset radially but each having a limited radial movement corresponding to the width of a single magnetic zone. In another embodiment of the invention, the support of the pads is actuated through an articulated parallelogram system.

Abstract: An electropneumatic converter is provided comprising a gear pump. The two othed wheels are driven by two electric motors rotating at high speed in opposite directions. The control circuits for each of the motors are independent and a single motor may drive the pump permanently.The converter is used, for example in an activator for a cardiac module or artificial heart.

Abstract: A microprocessor memory safeguard device comprising a switch having two it terminals and a common terminal. The common terminal is connected to a first terminal of the memory and to the logic zero of the microprocessor. The other input terminal of the switch is connected to one terminal of a battery. The second terminal of the memory is connected to the other terminal of the battery. The second input terminal of the switch is connected to an initialization line of the processor whose initialization input is also connected to the line. The initialization line is connected directly to a power supply source. The initialization line could also be a data bus interconnecting a plurality of microprocessors.