Abstract: A process and a device for bonding two millimeter elements. The process makes, at determined locations of each of the two millimeter elements, bonding zones set to the potential of a second plane. Then, the process makes the bond by determined connections between the bonding zones and between conducting lines of the two millimeter elements. The device includes a coplanar line. Such a process and device may find particular application to millimeter circuits implementing conducting lines of the microstrip type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spatial multiplexing and demultiplexing of radio signals. A multichannel transmitter and receiver is integrated in a base station and coupled to an antenna array. Using digital radio signals containing previously known or non-Gaussian sequences and arranged in frames, the spatial information about each mobile unit is estimated on the basis of the signal received by the receiver for the reception and transmission frequencies. This is done by known sequences or by blind source separation methods. The respective paths of each mobile unit with the power above a predetermined threshold is isolated by spatial filtering in the presence of multiple channel paths in order to provide spatial demultiplexing.

Abstract: A process and device related to multisensor radio direction finding receivers usable in radio communication systems including several emission sources. The process and device isolate the contribution of each emission source in sensor signals so as to perform direction finding on a single emission source only, based on learning sequences inserted into waveforms emitted by each of the emission sources. Such a process and device may find particular application to cellular communication networks.

Abstract: Signal-folding converters which establish two so-called fold analogue signals, whose curves of variation as a function of a voltage Vin to be converted cross over at multiple points. The architecture establishes n pairs of voltages varying with Vin and crossing over for regularly distributed values Vin=Vk. At least two current routing circuits are provided, each of which possesses at least three pairs of inputs and at least two outputs including a direct output and an inverse output. The direct outputs, linked together, provide a folded signal SR; the inverse outputs provide a complementary folded signal SRb. Each routing circuit receives three voltage pairs of rank k−1, k, and k+1 and includes a current source supplying a group of branches arranged as a tree-like structure.

Abstract: A laser made of a stack of laser diodes. The stack is inserted between two mirrors to create a laser cavity. The stack of diodes is produced by epitaxial growth of a set of semiconductor layers. The ohmic contact between two adjacent laser diodes is provided by an Esaki diode junction. The optical field of the mode created in the laser cavity is periodically cancelled at the Esaki diode junctions so as to create structures with small dimensions.

Abstract: An infrared imaging device including a quantum device positioned and configured to detect infrared transmission at ambient temperature, a cooler thermally coupled to the quantum device, and controller for controlling the cooler based on a function of plural image-taking parameters as a command.

Abstract: In a target tracking method employing a block matching algorithm, pixels commonly included in target, background or foreground areas in consecutive frames are excluded from the calculation and only pixels in transition are taken into account. First, a first rectangular gate substantially including a target to be tracked is formed in an image of a first frame. Also, a second rectangular gate is formed in an image of a second frame temporally sequential to the first frame. Then, pixels commonly included in moving regions in the first and second rectangular gates are discriminated and a block matching level between the first and second rectangular gates is calculated by using only pixels of the moving region. Afterwards, the second rectangular gate is changed in a predetermined area, and the block matching level is calculated.

Abstract: A device for retaining an element ejected by a pyrotechnic device when it is fired comprises at least one metal cap placed behind the nozzle of the device and designed to receive the ejected element, the cap being held in position by curved rigid links. The kinetic energy of the captured element carries along the cap and the captured element and the motion of the assembly is braked by the deformation of the rigid links. Application especially to the retaining of the rear igniter of a missile.

Abstract: A monopulse source for a focal feed antenna including at least two waveguides machined in a metal flange supporting a microwave transmission and reception circuit of the antenna, and a dielectric substrate on the metal flange. Also included is a microwave short-circuit having an opening with a smaller dimension than a dimension of a respective waveguide. The microwave short-circuit is mounted on the dielectric substrate such that an axis of the microwave short-circuit coincides with an axis of the respective waveguide. Further, a transition positioned on the dielectric substrate and within the opening of the microwave short-circuit is configured to couple the respective waveguide.

Abstract: A process which adjusts the transmission and reception chains of the paths formed by a base station of a system for radio communication between mobiles which after calibration of the antenna base adjusts the reception chains relating to each path by distributing a first specified adjustment signal synchronously over each of the reception chains and calculating an equalization filter which inverts the transfer functions related to each reception chain. The process next adjusts the transmission chains related to each path by distributing a second specified adjustment signal synchronously over each of the transmission chains, by extracting from each of the paths a part of a transmission signal before the transmission signal is sent to the antenna base so as to re-inject that part of the transmission signal into the reception chains, and by calculating an equalization filter which inverts the transfer functions related to each transmission chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for transmitting a digitized signal according to OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) type multicarrier modulation using N orthogonal channels. In accordance with the present invention, the channels are divided into two, N/2 channels. corresponding to a first frequency band being sent via a first transmission track (3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A) according to a first polarization and the remaining N/2 channels being brought back into the same frequency band and sent via a second transmission track (3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B) according to a second polarization crossed with respect to the first.

Abstract: A multiple-beam electronic scanning antenna including an array of phase-shifters (2, Dij). The N simultaneous beams are obtained in N directions by a law of excitation (fij) applied to each computed phase-shifter (Dij) by summing the phase laws &psgr;1, &psgr;2, . . . &psgr;k, . . . &psgr;N associated respectively with each 1, 2, . . . k, . . . N order direction and by applying the resultant phase-shift (&psgr;tij) to the phase-shifter, without applying the resultant amplitude modulation (&rgr;ij). The multiple-beam electronic scanning antenna especially is applicable to uniquely phase-controlled antennas in satellite or terrestrial communications requiring simultaneous communications with several variable sites.

Abstract: The multifunction printed-circuit antenna is designed for the reception of radioelectric waves sent by the GPS, GLONASS and MLS radio navigation systems. It comprises first, second and third circular patches that are parallel to one another and superimposed in this order above one and the same ground plane that is parallel to them, the centers of the patches being aligned on one and the same axis z′z perpendicular to the plane of the three patches, the patches being separated from one another by thicknesses of a substrate-forming dielectric material for each of the patches. The first and second patches form, with the ground plane, the antenna structure for the reception of the GPS, GLONASS waves. The MLS antenna reception structure is formed by the third and second patches. The second patch also serves as a ground plane for the MLS antenna structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission or reception device. The device comprises several layers having openings such that the stack thereof produces one or more antennas. Microwave circuits are implanted on internal layers.

Abstract: A method of protection and a protective system for protection of an optoelectronic equipment consists in exploiting in a processing unit the data from said equipment and from a laser warning receiver disposed on a common support, in order to detect the time when the impact of a laser illumination enters the field of view of said optoelectronic equipment, estimating the time of coincidence of said impact with the projection of the photosensitive sensor of said optoelectronic equipment in said field of view, and occulting said sensor for a duration at least equal to the dwell time of said laser impact in front of said projection of the sensor. The invention also relates to a protective system fitted with a shutter for implementing said method. Application: Protection of any equipment capable of producing a “cats eye” effect in the presence of at least one illumination in relative motion of fixed with respect to said equipment.

Abstract: A variable geometry antenna including first and second conducting sections and electrically separated by a gap, and a sliding switching module assigned to the gap. The sliding switching module includes a mechanical relay, a moveable rod having a first end secured to a conducting piece included in the mechanical relay and configured to slide parallel to the first and second conducting sections so as to couple the first and second conducting sections, and a control mechanism.

Abstract: An electronically steered scanning active microwave reflector, capable of being illuminated by a microwave source to form an antenna, comprises a set of elementary cells, each comprising a phase-shifter microwave circuit placed before a conductive plane. This phase-shifter comprises conductive wires or tracks positioned on a support, the wires or tracks each comprising at least two two-state semiconductor elements, for example diodes, and being connected to conductors by which the states of the diodes can be controlled independently of each other, it being possible for each of the diodes to be on or off. Thus, four possible states are obtained and the geometrical and electrical characteristics of the cell are such that a given phase-shift value of the microwave received corresponds to each of these states. Finally, microwave decoupling means are provided between the cells. These means consist, in particular, of waveguides formed between two neighboring cells.

Abstract: A process for controlling a display panel having cells defined by the intersection of two networks of crossed electrodes. The cells have two states, one written and the other erased. A square-wave hold signal on either side of a middle potential is applied to all the cells to produce a hold discharge with regard to the cells in the written state, at the termination of the edges leading to an extreme porch. It also includes applying an addressing signal superimposed on the hold signal in succession to the electrodes of a network. The addressing signal includes a semi-erase-selective signal generating, with regard to the cells linked to the selected electrode, an erase discharge at the termination of an edge leading to an extreme porch of the hold signal. This disables the whole discharge generated by the hold signal alone. This method is applicable to the control of plasma display panels.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor which includes a planar thin-film element made of a crystalline magnetoresistive material exhibiting resistivity anisotropy in a plane, having a first and a second easy axis of magnetization. The planar thin-film element has electrical connections allowing a first electrical measurement current to flow through the planar thin-film element in a first direction, as well as two other electrical connections allowing a voltage to be measured in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The two easy axes of magnetization have comparable magnetization values.

Abstract: A device for transmitting electrical energy or electrical signals comprises a core, an outer conductor and a threshold characteristic dielectric material between the core and the outer conductor. The dielectric material comprises, at least in part, a material that is insulative if the electric field is below a particular threshold and conductive when the electric field exceeds a particular threshold, so as to prevent the transmission of signals for which the electric field is above the threshold. The configuration of the core and/or of the outer conductor is such that the external electric field threshold from which the material becomes conductive is significantly less than the intrinsic breakdown threshold of the material.