Abstract: A flow cell for confining molecules in a fluid. The flow cell includes an upper substrate, an upper support member, a center substrate, a membrane, a lower support member and a lower substrate. The lower support member comprises an imaging chamber it is positioned below the membrane and above the lower substrate. In one embodiment the membrane comprises a nanopore and nanoscale groove extending through the membrane. In another embodiment the lower substrate comprises an upper face in communication with the imaging chamber, and the upper face comprises a plurality of nanoscale grooves extending partially through the lower substrate. In both embodiments the upper substrate, upper support member, center substrate and membrane are displaceable through the imaging chamber, thereby causing molecules in the imaging chamber to be confined or trapped through the nanoscale groove(s) of the membrane or of the lower substrate.

Abstract: A flow cell for confining molecules in a fluid. The flow cell includes an upper substrate, an upper support member, a center substrate, a membrane, a lower support member and a lower substrate. The lower support member comprises an imaging chamber it is positioned below the membrane and above the lower substrate. In one embodiment the membrane comprises at least one perforation comprising a nanopore and nanoscale groove extending through the membrane, vertically aligned and in fluidic communication with both the sensing chamber and the imaging chamber. In another embodiment the lower substrate comprises an upper face in communication with the imaging chamber, the upper face comprises a plurality of nanoscale grooves extending partially into the lower substrate and vertically aligned and in fluid communication with at least one sensing chamber.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a micromechanical structure made of silicon carbide including a cavity, from a stack including a first silicon-carbide layer and a silicon layer on the first silicon-carbide layer, the process including shaping the silicon layer so as to form a discrete silicon structure on the first silicon-carbide layer. The process further includes, after the shaping of the silicon layer, a carbonization to initiate the removal of the discrete silicon structure; depositing a second silicon-carbide layer; and an annealing step, the discrete silicon structure being entirely removed at the end of the annealing.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a micromechanical structure made of silicon carbide including a cavity, from a stack including a first silicon-carbide layer and a silicon layer on the first silicon-carbide layer, the process including shaping the silicon layer so as to form a discrete silicon structure on the first silicon-carbide layer. The process further includes, after the shaping of the silicon layer, a carbonization to initiate the removal of the discrete silicon structure; depositing a second silicon-carbide layer; and an annealing step, the discrete silicon structure being entirely removed at the end of the annealing.

Abstract: A flow cell for confining molecules in a fluid. The flow cell includes a first substrate and a second substrate being spaced apart by support members. The first and second substrates and the support members define a fluidic chamber to receive the fluid. At least one of the first and second substrates has a nanoscale surface topography including at least one nanoscale groove. At least one of the first and second substrates is displaceable through the fluidic chamber to contact the first substrate against the second substrate. Contact between the first substrate and the second substrate causes displacement of the molecules into the at least one nanoscale groove.

Abstract: A method of assistance for troubleshooting is provided. A purpose is to prioritize identifiers each associated with a piece of equipment the failure of which can be the cause of a fault within an aircraft. The method is based on transmitting to an expert system, a list of identifiers, and receiving, for each identifier, a family of pertinent parameters, with each pertinent parameter being associated with at least one sensor of the aircraft and taking measurements of the pertinent parameters. Knowing these measurements, it is possible to deduce therefrom, for each identifier, a priority corresponding to the probability that the associated equipment is effectively defective. A system for implementing this method is also provided.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a decision aid method for maintenance operations of aircraft equipment, the aircraft including a maintenance system arranged to make a record of equipment failure messages and of equipment failure warning messages emitted during a flight, the method comprising extracting at least one combination of failure messages corresponding to failure messages recorded by the maintenance system during a flight and a set of previous flights; determining, as a function of the at least one extracted combination, a probability of occurrence of at least one warning message possibly accompanied by one or more failure messages.

Abstract: A method of sealing a first wafer and a second wafer each made of semiconducting materials, including: implanting a metallic species in at least the first wafer, assembling the first wafer and the second wafer by molecular bonding, and after the molecular bonding, forming a metallic ohmic contact including alloys formed between the implanted metallic species and the semiconducting materials of the first wafer and the second wafer, the metallic ohmic contact being formed at an assembly interface between the first wafer and the second wafer, wherein the forming includes causing the implanted metallic species to diffuse towards the interface between the first wafer with the second wafer and beyond the interface.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a decision aid method for maintenance operations of aircraft equipment, the aircraft including a maintenance system arranged to make a record of equipment failure messages and of equipment failure warning messages emitted during a flight, the method comprising extracting at least one combination of failure messages corresponding to failure messages recorded by the maintenance system during a flight and a set of previous flights; determining, as a function of the at least one extracted combination, a probability of occurrence of at least one warning message possibly accompanied by one or more failure messages.

Abstract: The present invention relates a mechanical differential actuator for interacting with a mechanical load. The mechanical differential actuator comprises first and second semi-active sub-actuators, a velocity source and first and second mechanical differentials having three interaction ports each. The first mechanical differential includes a first interaction port coupled to the velocity source, a second interaction port and a third interaction port coupled to the first semi-active sub-actuator. The second mechanical differential includes a first interaction port coupled to the velocity source, a second interaction port and a third interaction port coupled to the second semi-active sub-actuator. Finally, the second interaction ports of the first and second mechanical differentials are coupled together to form an output which is configured so as to be coupled to the load.

Abstract: The mechanical differential actuator according to the present invention comprises a mechanical differential having three mechanicals ports. A first transducer with a low impedance is coupled to a first port, a second transducer with a high impedance is coupled to a second port, and the mechanical load is coupled to the third port. The mechanical differential actuator enables controlling a force and a speed at a load coupled thereto through a known relation between the force and the speed. Moreover, the mechanical differential actuator presents a compact structure enabling the transfer of a large force relative to its volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates a mechanical differential actuator for interacting with a mechanical load. The mechanical differential actuator comprises first and second semi-active sub-actuators, a velocity source and first and second mechanical differentials having three interaction ports each. The first mechanical differential includes a first interaction port coupled to the velocity source, a second interaction port and a third interaction port coupled to the first semi-active sub-actuator. The second mechanical differential includes a first interaction port coupled to the velocity source, a second interaction port and a third interaction port coupled to the second semi-active sub-actuator. Finally, the second interaction ports of the first and second mechanical differentials are coupled together to form an output which is configured so as to be coupled to the load.

Abstract: The mechanical differential actuator according to the present invention comprises a mechanical differential having three mechanicals ports. A first transducer with a low impedance is coupled to a first port, a second transducer with a high impedance is coupled to a second port, and the mechanical load is coupled to the third port. The mechanical differential actuator enables controlling a force and a speed at a load coupled thereto through a known relation between the force and the speed. Moreover, the mechanical differential actuator presents a compact structure enabling the transfer of a large force relative to its volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing process for two wafers (2, 12) made of semiconducting materials, comprising: a step for implantation of metallic species (4) in at least the first wafer, a step for assembly of the first and second wafer, an annealing step.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a thin film, which consists in creating a brittle zone embedded by implantation of a chemical species in a substrate, so as to be able subsequently to provoke a fracture of the substrate along said brittle zone to separate therefrom said thin film. The invention is characterized in that the manufacturing method comprises in particular the following steps: a) a first implantation in the substrate at a first depth of a first chemical species; b) implanting at least one second chemical species in the substrate, at a second depth different from said first depth, and at a concentration higher than the concentration of the first species, where the at least a second chemical species is less efficient than the first chemical species for embrittling the substrate; c) diffusing at least part of said secondary species to the vicinity of the first depth; and d) initiating a fracture along the first depth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for localizing at least one sound source, comprising a set of spatially spaced apart sound sensors to detect sound from the at least one sound source and produce corresponding sound signals, and a frequency-domain beamformer responsive to the sound signals from the sound sensors and steered in a range of directions to localize, in a single step, the at least one sound source. The present invention is also concerned with a system for tracking a plurality of sound sources, comprising a set of spatially spaced apart sound sensors to detect sound from the sound sources and produce corresponding sound signals, and a sound source particle filtering tracker responsive to the sound signals from the sound sensors for simultaneously tracking the plurality of sound sources.

Abstract: A modular robotic platform is provided having four legs mounted to a body. Each of the legs is mounted to the body via a steering assembly so as to pivot in a first plane relatively to the body. Each leg includes an endless track assembly having a first wheel, a drive system for driving the first wheel, a second wheel, an endless track for rotatably coupling the second wheel to the first wheel, and a track tensioning assembly for pivoting the leg in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. Each leg includes a locomotion controller and a local environment recognition module. Synchronisation of the legs is achieved by a central controller, which gathers data information from each leg through a synchronisation bus. A coordination bus allows to exchange data information between different modules of the robotic platform, including the legs, the central control system and other systems or modules such as an energizing system, a pitch gauge system, etc.

Abstract: The robot ball comprises an encapsulating shell, a drive system and a steering system. The shell has an axis of rotation and an outer annular tread surface centered on the axis of rotation. The drive system is encapsulated in the shell and comprises a first motorized mechanism and a counterweight. The first motorized mechanism has a stator portion and a rotor portion centered on the axis of rotation and connected to the shell. The counterweight is connected to the stator portion and is spaced apart from the axis of rotation whereby, due to inertia of the counterweight, rotation of this rotor portion rotates the shell to roll the tread surface on the ground. The steering system comprises a second motorized mechanism through which the counterweight is connected to the stator portion. This second motorized mechanism includes a pivot assembly having a pivot axis transversal to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for varying the deflection of the path of a charged particle beam over a path of length l in a space volume V, where there is a magnetic induction B (x,y,z), wherein a relative displacement of volume V with respect to the beam is produced in such a way as to vary the magnitude .intg.BDl calculated along the path and characterizing the deflection undergone by the beam on passing through volume V. In some of the embodiments rotating magnetic pole pieces are employed to vary the path. Fixed inclined faced pole pieces are also employed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for treating samples comprising in a vacuum enclosure a cathode, an actual anode and a grid, as well as means for supplying the sample to the enclosure, a high voltage generator, a capacitor C.sub.1 charged by way of the said generator, a spark gap switch for producing a high energy pulse between the cathode and the grid, said switch being connected to one terminal of said capacitor, an element for producing pulses controlling the spark gap switch and a capacitor C.sub.2 having a capacitance above that of capacitor C.sub.1, charged by way of the generator used for producing between the actual anode and the cathode an electric field for accelerating and extracting electrons used for the bombardment of the sample.