Abstract: A belt system convertible into and out of a sit harness configuration for selective use as a harness or a utility belt features a pair of leg loops and a waistband equipped with a quick release buckle. Support straps projecting from the leg loops are arranged for releasable engagement to the waistband and releasable engagement to one another so that the releasable engagement to one another when also engaged to the waistband provides a second closure thereof so that the waistband remains closed by the connection between the support straps even if the quick release buckle on the waistband is inadvertently disengaged. Using only a single waistband, the belt system provides a quick release function when used only as a utility belt, yet avoids the hazard of having the waistband open by inadvertent release of the quick release waistband buckle during use as a harness.

Abstract: An optical duplexer intended to receive light at a first optical wavelength and to transmit back light at a second optical wavelength, including, on a substrate, successive layers forming a photoreceptor of the first optical wavelength, a selective filter letting through the first optical wavelength, and a waveguide having a surface including a grating which is transparent for the first optical wavelength and diffracting for the second optical wavelength.

Abstract: A feedthrough capacitor assembly for attachment to a mount having an opening is disclosed. The assembly includes a feedthrough terminal adapted for insertion through said opening for coupling a signal from a first side of the mount to a second side of the mount. The assembly includes a first conductive region extending about and electrically coupled to the feedthrough terminal and a second conductive region extending about the first conductive region. A plurality of capacitors are electrically coupled between the first conductive region and the second conductive region. The plurality of capacitors are arranged about the feedthrough terminal with each capacitor having about the same capacitance as each of the other capacitors.

Abstract: A single-mode planar nanophotonic waveguide includes an optical core, a cladding coating the optical core, and a structure for the optical coupling of the core of the waveguide with the core of a single-mode optical fibre. The coupling structure includes an adaptation element including a gradual broadening of the core of the waveguide ending in a broadened region of dimension adapted to the core of the optical fibre; and a light transmission element, optically connected to the broadened region, and defining a plane coupling surface by which light is transmitted to the optical fibre, the optical coupling ratio through the surface when the surface is in contact with the air being maximum for a predetermined coupling angle (?) of the light relative to the coupling surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coupling an optical fiber and a nanophotonic component formed on a first substrate, wherein the device comprises: an intermediate component formed on a second substrate including a first wave guide adapted for receiving light from the optical fiber and for transmitting the same to a first diffraction grating independently from the polarization of the incident light; second and third diffraction gratings formed on the first substrate and coupled to the nanophotonic component, the first diffraction grating being adapted to provide the first and second light beams respectively towards the second diffraction grating and the third diffraction grating, the first and second beams having perpendicular polarizations.

Abstract: A non-destructive method for characterizing a surface-illuminated integrated optical coupler associated with an optical waveguide, comprising the steps of measuring the reflection coefficient on a first region of the coupler at a distance from the optical waveguide and constructing a first curve, determining a first model of the reflection coefficient on the first region, performing a first parameter fitting between the first curve and the first model to determine first parameters, measuring the reflection coefficient on a second region of the coupler close to the guide, and constructing a second curve, determining a second model of the reflection coefficient on the second region, performing a second parameter fitting between the second curve and the second model to determine second parameters, and constructing the characteristic of the coupling efficiency of the coupler using the first and second parameters.

Abstract: An extraction device comprises a sling comprising a preformed closed loop of adaptable size and a tightening element extending from the preformed loop, pulling of which reduces the loop size. A sliding connection connects the sling to a flexible line having two attachment elements disposed at opposite ends thereof. An extraction garment comprises a belt and a distal attachment point supported an outward distance from the belt for selective connection to the attachment element to facilitate hands-free pulling. The preformed loop can be easily disposed about a casualty and tightened with one hand, leaving the rescuer's other hand free. The sliding connection automatically adjusts the connection point between the sling and flexible line in response to pulling force(s) exerted on the end(s) of the flexible line. The distal attachment point of the extraction garment reduces tendency for the belt to twist under loading.

Abstract: An integrated optical circuit including an operational submicronic waveguide associated with an operational grating intended for the coupling with an optical fiber, further including an alignment grating, identical to the operational grating, associated with a blind waveguide and arranged at a known distance from the operational grating.

Abstract: The method of coating the area of hybridization of a component that is constituted by two elements bonded to one another by means of a soldering material, including depositing proximate to the component a coating substance capable of filling by capillarity action the volume defined between the hybridized elements of the component. Further, along the periphery of the hybridization area on the lower element of the component is an area of non-wettability in regards to the coating substance, that is defined by depositing an anti-wetting covering of PECVD in regards to the coating substance, whereby the anti-wetting covering on the first element encompasses the hybridization area and surrounds a wetting surface for the coating substance.

Abstract: A belt system convertible into and out of a sit harness configuration for selective use as a harness or a utility belt features a pair of leg loops and a waistband equipped with a quick release buckle. Support straps projecting from the leg loops are arranged for releasable engagement to the waistband and releasable engagement to one another so that the releasable engagement to one another when also engaged to the waistband provides a second closure thereof so that the waistband remains closed by the connection between the support straps even if the quick release buckle on the waistband is inadvertently disengaged. Using only a single waistband, the belt system provides a quick release function when used only as a utility belt, yet avoids the hazard of having the waistband open by inadvertent release of the quick release waistband buckle during use as a harness.

Abstract: A feedthrough capacitor assembly for attachment to a mount having an opening is disclosed. The assembly includes a feedthrough terminal adapted for insertion through said opening for coupling a signal from a first side of the mount to a second side of the mount. The assembly includes a first conductive region extending about and electrically coupled to the feedthrough terminal and a second conductive region extending about the first conductive region. A plurality of capacitors are electrically coupled between the first conductive region and the second conductive region. The plurality of capacitors are arranged about the feedthrough terminal with each capacitor having about the same capacitance as each of the other capacitors.

Abstract: Said device comprises a substrate (44) and, on said substrate, an integrated photonic circuit (46) adapted to be coupled to at least one optical waveguide (48) which transmits a light signal (50) and for processing said signal. According to the invention, the circuit comprises two superimposed elementary integrated photonic circuits (52, 54), each of which is adapted to be coupled to a given polarisation state of the signal and to process this state. The invention applies particularly to optical telecommunications.

Abstract: The light-emitting device includes a base substrate and preferably three light-emitting diodes respectively associated with three primary colors and emitting a part of their signal in the direction of the base substrate. The device includes three chromatic photodetectors formed in the base substrate constituting a semiconducting substrate, and each arranged under an associated light-emitting diode. Each chromatic photodetector includes superposed first, second and third layers. The first layer and third layer have a first type of conductivity and the second layer has a second type of conductivity. The device includes a control component connected to the chromatic photodetectors and to the light-emitting diodes to control the global color of the light emitted by the device.

Abstract: A method for aligning an optical fiber and a submicronic waveguide of an integrated optical circuit, the waveguide including a core surrounded with upper and lower layers forming an optical cladding, including the steps of: (a) forming, in the upper layer, one or several openings capable of extracting light from the waveguide; (b) roughly positioning the optical fiber to send light into the waveguide; (c) finely moving the optical fiber with respect to the waveguide and detecting the position causing the extraction of a maximum amount of light at the level of the opening(s); and (d) depositing a glue binding the optical fiber to the optical circuit and filling the opening(s).

Abstract: This assembly of an object and a support is achieved by using solder bumps. At least two wettability areas are made respectively on an object and on a support. Each solder bump ensures electrical contact and mechanical fixing firstly to one of the wettability areas of object and secondly to one of the wettability areas of support. The melting temperature of solder bumps is lower than the melting temperature of each of the wettability areas. Each wettability area of the object forms an angle of 70° to 110° with respect to each wettability area of the support and the object and the support are mutually distant from one another.

Abstract: This method of coating the area of hybridization of a component constituted by two elements associated with one another by means of a soldering material, comprises depositing in proximity to said component a coating substance capable of filling by capillarity the volume defined between the hybridized elements of said component. On the periphery of the hybridization area on the lower element of said component is defined an area (10) of non-wettability as regards said substance, by deposition of a covering anti-wetting as regards said substance, applied by PECVD, and defining on said first element, in line with the hybridization, a wetting surface for the coating substance.

Abstract: An optical device including at least one first optical waveguide coupled to a second optical waveguide of smaller cross-section which penetrates into it on the side of a first end. The first optical waveguide is capable of being coupled with an optical fiber on the side of a second end. A surface of the first optical waveguide includes a diffraction grating capable of introducing-extracting-sending back light into and from the first optical waveguide.

Abstract: A non-destructive method for characterizing a surface-illuminated integrated optical coupler associated with an optical waveguide, comprising the steps of measuring the reflection coefficient on a first region of the coupler at a distance from the optical waveguide and constructing a first curve, determining a first model of the reflection coefficient on the first region, performing a first parameter fitting between the first curve and the first model to determine first parameters, measuring the reflection coefficient on a second region of the coupler close to the guide, and constructing a second curve, determining a second model of the reflection coefficient on the second region, performing a second parameter fitting between the second curve and the second model to determine second parameters, and constructing the characteristic of the coupling efficiency of the coupler using the first and second parameters.

Abstract: An optical system with an optical beam propagation extension, having an input and an output for the optical beam. The system includes at least two optical reflection elements for reflection of the beam, arranged to extend the propagation of the beam by reflection on the reflection elements, and at least one optical beam transmission element arranged to be traversed at least twice by the optical beam in different directions during propagation of the optical beam in the optical system. The optical transmission element ensures an optical transformation of the optical beam each time the optical beam passes through so as to correct the divergence thereof.

Abstract: The light-emitting device includes a base substrate and preferably three light-emitting diodes respectively associated with three primary colors and emitting a part of their signal in the direction of the base substrate. The device includes three chromatic photodetectors formed in the base substrate constituting a semiconducting substrate, and each arranged under an associated light-emitting diode. Each chromatic photodetector includes superposed first, second and third layers. The first layer and third layer have a first type of conductivity and the second layer has a second type of conductivity. The device includes a control component connected to the chromatic photodetectors and to the light-emitting diodes to control the global color of the light emitted by the device.