Abstract: A multichannel digital switching unit including a connection interface between circuits that provides the physical links to a transmitting environment defining the ports and a processing unit that switches multi-field data frames between the different ports. A frame monitoring device include a probe module that is selectively linked to the connection interface and a surveillance module that analyzes contents of at least a part of each data frame processed by the probe and generates a warning signal when the part that is analyzed fails to fulfil a chosen criterion.

Abstract: A grating structure by high dispersion volume holography that applies, for example, to pulse compression or stretching devices. The grating structure includes a transmission volume holographic grating produced on a reflective support. The grating includes strata inclined to the plane of the support, the angle of inclination of the strata defined with respect to the normal to the support and the pitch of the strata being chosen such that a light beam of a predetermined mean wavelength, incident on the structure with a predetermined angle of incidence, undergoes a first passage through the grating, is reflected by the reflective support, undergoes a second passage through the grating, and is only diffracted by the grating during one of the first and second passages.

Abstract: Weather vanes (1) are delicate instruments partially exposed to external conditions. They are used in particular in the aeronautical industry. The measurements provided by these weather vanes are crucial to the flying of an aircraft. A type of weather vane is proposed in which a vane can be changed. Changing the vane entails adjusting the orientation sensors (3). To perform this adjustment, use is made of a factory setting rig (16) that allows the various parts of the weather vane to be placed in a characteristic position.

Abstract: A device for measuring magnetic field(s). The device includes at least one measurement acquisition pathway including a measurement current generator, a coil, a measurement resistor, at least one amplifier, and at least one antialiasing filter, delivering a measurement voltage. The device for measuring magnetic field(s) includes a device for determinating at least one electrical quantity representative of the acquisition pathway. The device for determining includes a mechanism for injecting a predetermined calibration current, including at least two frequency terms at at least two frequencies distinct from those of a measurement current, the calibration current being superimposed on the measurement current. The device for measuring magnetic field(s) also includes a calculation device delivering an estimate of the at least one electrical quantity at the frequency or frequencies of the measurement current.

Abstract: A device for the in situ angular positioning of an incidence probe, e.g., of the weather vane type, equipped with a vane and mounted, e.g., on an airplane. According to the device, the axis of rotation of the probe is used directly as a positioning reference. The angular-positioning device include a fixed structure secured to the wall of the airplane, of annular shape and including a circular track for a moving slider. The vane is immobilized in an enveloping structure. A coupling member coupling the slider and the enveloping structure is fixed to the enveloping structure. Coupling is afforded by a flat spring leaf including a stud at its end. The stud is slipped into a slit of the slider, which allows the vane to be driven about its axis of rotation. The position is measured using a digital inclinometer.

Abstract: A probe for an aircraft, making it possible in particular to measure the total temperature of the air flow surrounding the aircraft. The probe includes a moving vane configured to orientate itself in the axis of an air flow surrounding the moving vane and, fixed to the moving vane, a device for measuring the total temperature of the air flow.

Abstract: A device for locking a position of a moving part with respect to a fixed part. The moving part is positioned with respect to the fixed part isostatically. The device generates a force opposing the loss of contact of all the points of isostatic contact between the moving part and the fixed part so as to lock the position.

Abstract: A method of fabricating conducting through-connections in a substrate, and a substrate equipped with such connections. The method of fabricating conducting through-connections between the front face and the rear face of a substrate hollows into the substrate, from the rear-face side, cavities having a depth and a cross-section that are defined so as to delimit studs of defined cross-section, which are intended to provide for electrical conduction between the front and rear faces, and filling in the cavities with a dielectric material. The substrate is equipped with conducting through-connections between its front face and its rear face. The conducting connections are provided by way of studs delimited by cavities filled in with a dielectric material. Such a method and substrate may find application, in particular, to substrates used for the fabrication of microsensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the position and the orientation of a mobile object with respect to a fixed structure, in a disturbed magnetic environment, of the type comprising:—a first assembly of orthogonal coils (121 to 123) for emitting magnetic field(s), secured to the fixed structure, defining a reference frame;—a second assembly of orthogonal coils for receiving magnetic field(s), secured to the object, and forming a sensor (14), each of the coils belonging to a channel of the sensor.

Abstract: Visors for helmets are generally of spherical shape and of constant thickness, and articulated to the side walls of a helmet at the level of the forehead, about an axis of articulation passing through the center of their sphere. Thus shaped and mounted, they are seen off axis by a helmet wearer leading to optical distortions for him caused by diffraction effects on their internal and external faces. Visors with shapes modified to minimize the optical distortions perceived by a helmet wearer are proposed here. A first type of modification consists of a relative pivoting, in the vertical plane, of one of the faces of the visor with respect to the other and of a slight reduction in the ratio of the radius of curvature of the outer face of the visor to that of the inner face of the visor compared to the usual concentric bispherical visor. A second type of modification consists of adopting one or two aspherical surfaces of particular shape.

Abstract: A vane designed to get oriented in the axis of an ambient airflow. The vane allows for the intake of differential pressure presenting the aerodynamic incidence &agr; of the vane. According to the invention, the differential pressure intake is balanced when the vane is oriented naturally in the axis of the airflow.

Abstract: A multifunction probe for aircraft to determine in particular the static pressure and the total pressure of an airflow located in the vicinity of the aircraft and the angle of incidence of the aircraft with respect to the airflow. The probe includes a movable blade configured to orient itself along the axis of the airflow. The movable blade includes at least one static pressure tap orifice located on one side of the blade and a pressure tap configured to measure the angle of incidence of the blade with respect to the airflow. The probe further includes a pressure measurement device associated with each pressure tap and a device to calculate the total pressure of the airflow as a function of the measurements carried out by the various measurement devices of the probe.

Abstract: A structure to improve the cooling of electronic modules of the type including a printed circuit board contained between two covers. The structure extracts, by at least one of the covers, heat produced by at least one component borne by the printed circuit board. According to one feature, the cover responsible for extracting the heat bears at least one device having a high thermal conductivity, making it possible to even out the temperatures of the surface of the cover with which it is in contact. Such a structure may be particularly applied to the electronic modules on board aircraft.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the flow of a current in a load powered by a DC voltage source and a method for the implementation of the device. The device includes, series-connected with the load, a first device to detect the presence of an alternating current and a second device to interrupt the current flowing in the first device while keeping the current substantially direct in the load. Advantageously, the second device includes at least one first electronic switch series-connected with the load and with the first device, the first electronic switch being controlled so as to set up the alternating current in the first device. A method of implementing the device cyclically opens and closes the electronic switch while making the second device operable or inoperable, also cyclically, to keep the current substantially direct in the load and let the current flowing in the load pass through the second device only periodically.

Abstract: A connector fitted with input and/or output cables of the coaxial or similar type, configured to be secured to the wall of an electrical apparatus. The connector includes a metal reinforcement having tabs that are inserted and gripped, at their ends, between a fastening plate attached to the connector and the wall of the electrical apparatus. The rear wall of the reinforcement has openings allowing the cables to pass through them. The cables have a stripped region soldered to the rear part of the reinforcement at the openings, to establish ground continuity between the shields of the cables and the wall of the electrical apparatus supporting the connector. A method produces and fits such a connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining postures, in particular the attitude (&thgr;) and the inclination (&phgr;) of an aerodyne, comprising: a strap-down gyrometer device providing the components of the vector ({right arrow over (&OHgr;)}) of instantaneous rotation of the aerodyne, means for calculating, from gyrometric measurements, a matrix of postures ({right arrow over (b)}1, {right arrow over (b)}2, {right arrow over (b)}3), accelerometers integral with the said gyrometric device, and means for comparing data calculated from the accelerometers with data calculated from the gyrometers so as to provide corrections for compensating for the errors or drifts of the gyrometric device. This apparatus is characterized in that the comparison is performed between a vertically directed vector {right arrow over (U)}g provided by the gyrometric device and a vertically directed vector {right arrow over (U)}a provided by the accelerometers.

Abstract: Weather vanes (1) are delicate instruments partially exposed to external conditions. They are used in particular in the aeronautical industry. The measurements provided by these weather vanes are crucial to the flying of an aircraft. A type of weather vane is proposed in which a vane can be changed. Changing the vane entails adjusting the orientation sensors (3). To perform this adjustment, use is made of a factory setting rig (16) that allows the various parts of the weather vane to be placed in a characteristic position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic accelerometer including a stationary stator element (12) associated with a movable polar element (14) securable to an external member (2), the stationary stator element (12) and the movable polar element (14) forming a magnetic circuit and defining between them at least two gaps (51), a magnet (5) helping to create magnetic field lines in the magnetic circuit, a coil (6) and a mechanism for energizing the coil for controlling the displacement of the movable polar element (14) through electromagnetic induction phenomena. The electromagnetic accelerometer further includes an adjustment polar element (15) for placing the movable polar element (14) in an adjusted position with respect to that of the stationary stator element (12), by deviating the magnetic field lines.

Abstract: Diapason type gyrometers using a micro-mechanical structure of vibrating beams. The gyrometer includes a micro-machined sensitive element with at least two symmetrically positioned excitation beams on each side of and parallel to a sensitive Oy axis of the gyrometer. The two beams are connected at their ends through at least one transverse element fixed in its central part to the sensitive Oy axis, to a frame through an elastic torsion return element acting in opposition to the rotation of the transverse element about the Oy axis. The elastic return elements are sized such that the variation of their resonant natural frequency in torsion with temperature is similar to the variation of the resonant natural frequency in bending of the beams with temperature. Such a device may find particular application in the measurement of the angular velocity of a mobile.