Abstract: A pen format liquid collection device includes an elongate generally tubular housing (12, 112, 212, 312) able to be held by hand and having an opening at one end, and at least one liquid take-up element (30, 130, 230, 330) mounted in the housing so as to be positioned or positionable to project at the opening, the at least one liquid take-up element then further postionable by hand manipulation of the housing to contact a volume of liquid to thereby take-up a sample of the liquid to be analysed. At least one retention element (230a, 330a) is supported in the housing. The at least one liquid take-up element and the at least one retention element are arranged whereby they are relatively movable into contact, and the at least one retention element is adapted on contact to in turn take-up the sample and retain the sample or a component thereof for in situ analysis or later recovery while protected within the housing. The liquid take-up element is preferably a capillary.

Abstract: A pen format liquid collection device includes an elongate generally tubular housing (12, 112, 212, 312) able to be held by hand and having an opening at one end, and at least one liquid take-up element (30, 130, 230, 330) mounted in the housing so as to be positioned or positionable to project at the opening, the at least one liquid take-up element then further postionable by hand manipulation of the housing to contact a volume of liquid to thereby take-up a sample of the liquid to be analysed. At least one retention element (230a, 330a) is supported in the housing. The at least one liquid take-up element and the at least one retention element are arranged whereby they are relatively movable into contact, and the at least one retention element is adapted on contact to in turn take-up the sample and retain the sample or a component thereof for in situ analysis or later recovery while protected within the housing. The liquid take-up element is preferably a capillary.

Abstract: A communication method for a home automation actuator comprising an electric motor driving a moving element in a building and two electric terminals making it possible to power the actuator by a power supply and communication entity (IMS) and allowing communication between the actuator and the power supply and communication entity (IMS), the method comprising the following steps: analysis of a power supply signal supplied by the power supply and communication entity; generation of a first time-sequence of a response signal, representative of a first predetermined calibration information element, called first calibration sequence; sending of a series of time-sequences of the response signal, representative of a series of information elements, each information element of this series, equal to the calibration information element, being represented by a time-sequence which is an image of the first calibration sequence.

Abstract: A pen format liquid collection device includes an elongate generally tubular housing (12, 112, 212, 312) able to be held by hand and having an opening at one end, and at least one liquid take-up element (30, 130, 230, 330) mounted in the housing so as to be positioned or positionable to project at the opening, the at least one liquid take-up element then further postionable by hand manipulation of the housing to contact a volume of liquid to thereby take-up a sample of the liquid to be analysed. At least one retention element (230a, 330a) is supported in the housing. The at least one liquid take-up element and the at least one retention element are arranged whereby they are relatively movable into contact, and the at least one retention element is adapted on contact to in turn take-up the sample and retain the sample or a component thereof for in situ analysis or later recovery while protected within the housing. The liquid take-up element is preferably a capillary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating control signals for managing the operation of a synchronous motor with one or more permanent magnets (1) comprising a stator (2), the stator comprising a number P of phases (3, 4, 5), a rotor, the rotor comprising said permanent magnet or magnets, a switching module (6) provided with a plurality of switches (K1-K6), a number N of Hall-effect sensors sensitive to a rotating electromagnetic field induced by said permanent magnet or magnets, N being no lower than 2 and strictly lower than P, the method comprising a step of acquiring status information transmitted by the sensors (9, 10) and a step of estimating at least one piece of complementary information on the basis of status information transmitted by the sensors (9, 10), the complementary information characterizing the status variation of at least one virtual sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating control signals for managing the operation of a synchronous motor with one or more permanent magnets (1) comprising a stator (2), the stator comprising a number P of phases (3, 4, 5), a rotor, the rotor comprising said permanent magnet or magnets, a switching module (6) provided with a plurality of switches (K1-K6), a number N of Hall-effect sensors sensitive to a rotating electromagnetic field induced by said permanent magnet or magnets, N being no lower than 2 and strictly lower than P, the method comprising a step of acquiring status information transmitted by the sensors (9, 10) and a step of estimating at least one piece of complementary information on the basis of status information transmitted by the sensors (9, 10), the complementary information characterising the status variation of at least one virtual sensor.

Abstract: Method of operating a power supply and communication entity intended to form part of a system with at least one home-automation actuator comprising an electric motor for driving a movable element in a building, the power supply and communication entity comprising two electrical terminals for linking to the actuator, making it possible to power the actuator and allowing communication between the actuator and the power supply and communication entity, the method comprising two mutually exclusive modes of operation, a command execution mode and a communication mode, to each mode of operation there corresponding a specific power supply signal, the method comprising the steps: —choice of a mode of operation; —generation between the terminals of a power supply signal specific to the mode of operation chosen.

Abstract: Method for operating an actuator for maneuvering a windable mobile element of a home automation appliance, the mobile element being able to be displaced between two extreme positions, the method comprising a first step for definition of a first angular speed setpoint of the actuator in a first docking area and a second step for definition of a second angular speed setpoint of the actuator in a second docking area, the first and second angular speed setpoints being different.

Abstract: Method of operating a power supply and communication entity intended to form part of a system with at least one home-automation actuator comprising an electric motor for driving a movable element in a building, the power supply and communication entity comprising two electrical terminals for linking to the actuator, making it possible to power the actuator and allowing communication between the actuator and the power supply and communication entity, the method comprising two mutually exclusive modes of operation, a command execution mode and a communication mode, to each mode of operation there corresponding a specific power supply signal, the method comprising the steps: —choice of a mode of operation; —generation between the terminals of a power supply signal specific to the mode of operation chosen.

Abstract: A communication method for a home automation actuator comprising an electric motor driving a moving element in a building and two electric terminals making it possible to power the actuator by a power supply and communication entity (IMS) and allowing communication between the actuator and the power supply and communication entity (IMS), the method comprising the following steps: analysis of a power supply signal supplied by the power supply and communication entity; generation of a first time-sequence of a response signal, representative of a first predetermined calibration information element, called first calibration sequence; sending of a series of time-sequences of the response signal, representative of a series of information elements, each information element of this series, equal to the calibration information element, being represented by a time-sequence which is an image of the first calibration sequence.

Abstract: A communication method for a home automation actuator comprising an electric motor driving a moving element in a building and two electric terminals making it possible to power the actuator by a power supply and communication entity and allowing communication between the actuator and the power supply and communication entity, the method comprising the following steps: analysis of a power supply signal supplied by the power supply and communication entity; generation of a first time-sequence of a response signal, representative of a predetermined calibration binary element, called first calibration sequence; sending of a series of time-sequences of the response signal, representative of a series of binary elements, each binary element of this series, equal to the calibration binary element, being represented by a time-sequence which is an image of the first calibration sequence.

Abstract: A method of operating an electromechanical actuator (6) for an awning with arms (1), comprising a control unit (8), stop detection means (9) and means (7) for measuring a parameter (Ucapa) of the actuator, the awning being able to move over its travel in at least a first (ZP1) and a second (ZP2, ZP3) positioning zone, the method comprising the following steps: upon detecting an initiating event, automatic determination, from the measurement of the parameter of the actuator, of the positioning zone in which the current position of the awning is located; and if the current position of the awning is located in the second positioning zone, temporary deactivation of the stop detection means for detecting a stop in the course of a movement of the awning towards a stop position.

Abstract: Method for operating an actuator for manoeuvring a windable mobile element of a home automation appliance, the mobile element being able to be displaced between two extreme positions, the method comprising a first step for definition of a first angular speed setpoint of the actuator in a first docking area and a second step for definition of a second angular speed setpoint of the actuator in a second docking area, the first and second angular speed setpoints being different.

Abstract: A method of operating an electromechanical actuator (6) for an awning with arms (1), comprising a control unit (8), stop detection means (9) and means (7) for measuring a parameter (Ucapa) of the actuator, the awning being able to move over its travel in at least a first (ZP1) and a second (ZP2, ZP3) positioning zone, the method comprising the following steps: upon detecting an initiating event, automatic determination, from the measurement of the parameter of the actuator, of the positioning zone in which the current position of the awning is located; and if the current position of the awning is located in the second positioning zone, temporary deactivation of the stop detection means for detecting a stop in the course of a movement of the awning towards a stop position.