Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device with a retractable blade comprising a blade and a sleeve into which it is adapted to be retracted. It comprises: a support (16) for the blade (12), having a drive abutment (36), adapted to slide along the axis of the sleeve (10), first resilient return (19); a controllable movement (26) mounted on sleeve (10), adapted to coact with the support means (16) and abutment means adapted to receive said support means (16) of the blade (12) in a second working position to block them in translation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device with a retractable blade comprising a blade and a sleeve into which it is adapted to be retracted. It comprises: support means (16) for the blade (12), having means forming a drive abutment (36), adapted to slide along the axis of said sleeve (10), first resilient return means (19); controllable movement means (26) mounted on said sleeve (10), adapted to coact with said support means (16) and abutment means adapted to receive said support means (16) of the blade (12) in a second working position to block them in translation.

Abstract: A humidity exchanger element is formed from a corrugated sheet and a flat sheet laminated to points of contact of a ridged surface of the corrugated sheet. Each corrugated and flat sheet is formed of a paper of inorganic fibers and an adsorbent formed of an aerogel bonded to surfaces of each sheet and impregnated on the inorganic fibers. The aerogel being a silicate of titanium or titanium-aluminum. A humidity exchanger medium is formed of a bonded honeycomb matrix of wound or stacked sheets of the humidity exchanger element.

Abstract: Alternative methods and apparatus for introducing narrowcast transmission signals into a fiber optic broadcast network utilizing rare-earth-doped fiber amplifier technology are disclosed. The methods and apparatus include utilizing an existing 1480 nm pumping laser in an erbium-doped fiber amplifier to transmit a narrowcast signal into a 1550 nm broadcast transport fiber. The 1480 nm narrowcast signal is split off from the amplified 1550 nm broadcast signal(s) in order to bypass a 1550 nm optical isolator located at the output of the amplifier and then recombined with the broadcast signal(s) after the isolator.

Abstract: The humidity exchanger medium is manufactured by forming a laminate of (i) a corrugated sheet and (ii) a flat sheet bonded to points of contact of a ridged surface of the corrugated sheet, the laminate having been impregnated with sodium silicate waterglass and then partially dried, each corrugated and flat sheet constituted of a paper of inorganic fibers; forming a honeycomb matrix from at least one laminate; soaking the honeycomb matrix in an acidic solution containing at least a titanium inorganic salt to convert the sodium silicate waterglass to a titanium-containing silicate hydrogel; and washing and drying the honeycomb matrix to convert the titanium-containing silicate hydrogel to a titanium-containing silicate aerogel.

Abstract: Electro-optical in-circuit testing, especially of large circuits such as those assembled on printed circuit boards, is achieved in an automatic test system by disposing an electro-optical sensor in proximity to the circuit conductors, applying test signals to the circuit under test, and measuring an optical property of the sensor at selected regions thereof corresponding to internal nodes, i.e. test points, of the circuit. The sensor may be an optical probe, having a lens and a layer of electro-optical material which is adapted to be applied to the circuit. The electro-optical material may be either a polymer film or a crystal, the latter requiring a flexible coupling medium on the face applied to the circuit under test. The electro-optical material is provided with a reflective coating on one surface to facilitate a polarimetric measurement made transverse to the plane of the material.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a panel assembly including at least two panels and a connector member for mounting the panels to a support surface, the panels being positioned edge-to-edge in coplanar relationship with the respective confronting edges thereof spaced apart, and the connector member between the confronting panel edges and interlocking the panels together by being fixedly secured to the support surface. Each panel has first and second surfaces lying respectively in first and second parallel planes and has on its respective confronting edge a tongue and a groove, the tongue and groove extending along the panel edge and between the first and second planes, and respectively projecting and opening outwardly angularly towards the first plane.