Abstract: Pyroelectric detection device, including at least: a substrate; a membrane arranged on the substrate; a pyroelectric detection element arranged on the membrane or forming at least one part of the membrane, and including at least one portion of pyroelectric material arranged between first and second electrodes; a cavity passing through the substrate, emerging opposite a part of the membrane which forms a bottom wall of the cavity, and including side edges formed by the substrate; an element for stiffening the membrane arranged in the cavity, partially filling the cavity, made integral with the side edges of the cavity at at least two distinct anchoring regions, and arranged against the membrane.

Abstract: Pyroelectric detection device, including at least: a substrate; a membrane arranged on the substrate; a pyroelectric detection element arranged on the membrane or forming at least one part of the membrane, and including at least one portion of pyroelectric material arranged between first and second electrodes; a cavity passing through the substrate, emerging opposite a part of the membrane which forms a bottom wall of the cavity, and including side edges formed by the substrate; an element for stiffening the membrane arranged in the cavity, partially filling the cavity, made integral with the side edges of the cavity at at least two distinct anchoring regions, and arranged against the membrane.

Abstract: A microdevice encapsulation structure arranged in at least one cavity formed between a substrate and a cap rigidly attached to the substrate is provided, the cap including one layer of a first material, one face of which forms an inner wall of the cavity, and mechanical reinforcement portions rigidly attached at least to and partly covering said face, having gas absorption and/or adsorption properties, in which the Young's modulus of a second material of the mechanical reinforcement portions is higher than that of the first material, wherein each of said portions includes at least one first layer of the second material, and at least one second layer of a third metallic getter material such that the first layer of the second material is arranged between the layer of the first material and the second layer of the third material and/or is covered by the second layer of the third material.

Abstract: A structure (100) for encapsulating at least one microdevice (104) produced on and/or in a substrate (102) and positioned in at least one cavity (110) formed between the substrate and a cap (106) rigidly attached to the substrate, in which the cap includes at least: one layer (112) of a first material, one face of which (114) forms an inner wall of the cavity, and mechanical reinforcement portions (116) rigidly attached at least to the said face of the layer of the first material, partly covering the said face of the layer of the first material, and having gas absorption and/or adsorption properties, and in which the Young's modulus of a second material of the mechanical reinforcement portions is higher than that of the first material.

Abstract: A device for recognizing an individual, including a sensor including a plurality of sensitive members having a contact area on which a portion likely to be that of the individual to be recognized is applied, a measurement mechanism connected to the sensitive members to supply information on local contact forces generated by the portion applied on the contact area, and a processor connected to the sensor to determine from the local contact forces a morphological characteristic of the individual to be recognized. The measurement mechanism also supplies information relating to at least another physical magnitude related to the contact, and the processor determines from the other physical magnitude a physiological characteristic of the individual to be recognized.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-layer material that comprises a substrate made of aluminum, magnesium or their alloys, having possibly been subjected to a surface treatment, this substrate being provided with a coating comprising a tungsten based deposit and an under-layer--inserted between said substrate and said deposit--of a material having mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties intermediate to those of said substrate and said deposit. This under-layer is made up of at least one layer of a material chosen from among chromium, molybdenum, niobium, titanium, zirconium, their nitrides and carbides, solid solutions of carbon and of nitrogen in said metals, and steels and greatly improves the adherence of said coating to said substrate.The invention also relates to the anti-erosion, anti-abrasion, anti-wear coating comprising said tungsten based deposit and said under-layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in solidification of a doped electrically conducting material and for use in monitoring said solidification is provided. The apparatus includes a first forming means for forming a liquid of undoped material in thermodynamic equilibrium with a solid of the undoped material, and a second forming means for forming a liquid of doped material in thermodynamic equilibrium with a solid of the doped material. Solidification of the conducting material occurs at a solidification interface between the doped liquid and the doped solid in the second forming means. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a conductive bridge for short-circuiting the liquids.