Abstract: A device for indicating the filling level of a container, including: a first mobile element located inside of the container and capable of moving along a wall of the container when the filling level of the container varies; an enclosure containing a liquid or a gel, located outside of the container on the side of said wall opposite to the first element; and a second mobile element located inside of the enclosure and plunged into said liquid or gel, the second element being magnetically coupled to the first element and being capable of moving in the enclosure along said wall by following the displacements of the first element.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal including a tube, assembled to freely rotate around an axis, and a pedal body including at least one first surface on which a cyclist is capable of exerting an effort, the pedal body being connected to the central tube by at least one connecting member including a first portion interposed between the tube and the first surface and fitted with at least one deformation gauge.

Abstract: A spring-mass system including a support, a mass mobile with respect to the support, at least one first and one second spring connecting the mass to the support allowing a displacement of the mass relative to the support along a first direction, the first spring being the symmetrical of the second spring with respect to an axis, each first and second spring comprising at least first and second series-connected beams arranged in zigzag, and a first closed frame surrounding the mass, at a distance from the mass and the support, each first beam having a first end connected to the support and a second end attached to the first frame and each second beam having a third end attached to the first frame and a fourth end connected to the mass.

Abstract: A device for recovering energy including a first assembly and a second assembly facing each other, the first assembly including a first conductive element and a first dielectric element carried by the first conductive element, and the second assembly including a second conductive element. The first dielectric element is arranged between the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The device further includes a mechanism ensuring that the first dielectric element comes into contact with the second conductive element. A material of the first dielectric element and the material of the second conductive element have different triboelectric affinities.

Abstract: A system including: a cable including: a core capable of transporting at least one useful electric signal; a sheath surrounding said core; at least one conductive wear detection strand embedded in the sheath and substantially extending along the entire length of the cable; and at least one reference conductive element which is not connected to said at least one wear detection strand and substantially extends along the entire cable length; and a control unit capable of measuring the capacitance or the resistance formed between said at least one strand and the reference conductive element.

Abstract: Electrical management system comprising a first voltage source linked to a load and a second voltage source at lower voltage, characterized in that the second voltage source and/or an associated charger can be arranged in series with the first voltage source and the load.

Abstract: A module for warming and, alternately, for cooling, this module comprising an electrocaloric capacitor, an electrical energy storage device and a controllable circuit for transferring electrical energy between the electrocaloric capacitor and the energy storage device. The controllable circuit comprising an inductor connected between the electrocaloric capacitor and the storage device and at least one controllable switch. There is further included a unit programmed to control the switch so as to cause the transfer circuit to toggle successively into the following states and in the following order: an energy recovery state, a disabled state in which it electrically isolates the electrocaloric capacitor and the energy storage device, an energy release state and the disabled state, and each time to maintain the transfer circuit in the disabled state for a duration greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Battery comprising several cells disposed in several modules (112) linked together in series, characterized in that it comprises at least one brick (120) comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are arranged two cells (111) and at least three switches (113), so as to be able to dispose the two cells (111) in series or in parallel between the two terminals and in that the battery comprises a control circuit (127) for the switches (113) of the said at least one brick.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting vibratory mechanical energy into electrical energy includes a mobile mass, a support, first and second beams, the second being piezoelectric, and a junction element. The first beam extends longitudinally between the support and the mass, each of which has a beam end embedded therein. The second beam links the support and the mobile mass. Its elongation stiffness is lower than that of the first beam. The junction element extends between the beams. A first assembly, with a first bending stiffness, comprises the first beam, the second beam, and the junction element. A second assembly consists of the first assembly minus the second beam. Its bending stiffness is less than or equal to half of that of the first assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy includes a converter that, when subjected to vibrations, generates an electrical potential difference, and an electrical circuit connected to terminals of the converter. The circuit includes a first arm and a second arm parallel to the first warm. The first arm has a first variable-capacitance capacitor system. The second arm includes an electrical load to be powered. A second variable-capacitance capacitor is series-connected with the electrical load. A control circuit is configured to modify respective capacitance values of the first and second capacitor systems so as to modify the converter's mechanical resonance frequency.

Abstract: An energy recovery device including: at least one capacitor with variable capacitance, the capacitor including a fixed electrode, a dielectric layer, and a liquid electrode; and a mechanism to inject an electric charge into the capacitor and to remove the electric charge therefrom, including a charge injection electrode forming a portion of the second face positioned upstream from the fixed electrode in the direction of displacement of the liquid electrode, and a charge removal electrode forming a portion of the second face positioned downstream from the fixed electrode in the direction of displacement of the liquid electrode.

Abstract: Radio transmitting and receiving slot antenna, comprising a transmitting and receiving portion, means for connection to a transmitting and/or receiving circuit, said transmitting and receiving portion being formed of two volumes of liquid delimiting a slot, and means to modify the shape of said volumes of liquid and to modify the width of the slot, said means to modify the shape of said volume of liquid using electrostatic forces, the liquid being electrically conductive, and a control unit controlling the means to deform the volumes of fluid.

Abstract: A system for converting energy at a first voltage to a second voltage, including at least one source of voltage, a discharge switch, a variable capacitor, and a collection mechanism, connected in parallel, a charge switch between the discharge switch and the source, a transfer switch between the variable capacitor and the collection mechanism, and a controller to execute a control such that: a) during a first operation, the charge switch is closed to charge the variable capacitor, while the discharge switch and the transfer switch remain open; b) during a subsequent operation, the discharge switch is closed for a short instant while the charge switch remains open, allowing at least partial discharge of the variable capacitor.

Abstract: Photovoltaic energy generation device, characterized in that it comprises at least one brick (120) comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are arranged two cells (111), each comprising a photovoltaic cell (7), comprising one or more elementary photovoltaic cell(s), and a storage element (8) connected to the terminals of the photovoltaic cell, and at least three cell switchs (113), so as to be able to dispose the said two cells (111) in series or in parallel.

Abstract: Photovoltaic energy generation device comprising several modules (12; 112) disposed in series, characterized in that it comprises at least one module (12; 112) comprising several cells (11; 111) disposed in parallel associated with at least one cell switch (13; 113), so as to be able to disconnect them from the remainder of the photovoltaic energy generation device, each of these cells (11; 111) disposed in parallel comprising a photovoltaic cell (7), comprising one or more elementary photovoltaic cell(s), and a storage element (8) connected across the terminals of the photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: Photovoltaic energy generation device comprising several cells (11; 111), comprising a photovoltaic cell (7), comprising one or more elementary photovoltaic cell(s), and a storage element (8) connected to the terminals of the photovoltaic cell, characterized in that it comprises several subsets of cells (11; 111) and switches (103, 104; K7, K8, K9) disposed between these subsets able to dispose two subsets in series or in parallel.

Abstract: A voltage measurement circuit including a current mirror having an input branch in series with a first resistive element between first and second nodes of application of said voltage, and having an output branch providing a current representative of said voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy includes a converter that, when subjected to vibrations, generates an electrical potential difference, and an electrical circuit connected to terminals of the converter. The circuit includes a first arm and a second arm parallel to the first warm. The first arm has a first variable-capacitance capacitor system. The second arm includes an electrical load to be powered. A second variable-capacitance capacitor is series-connected with the electrical load. A control circuit is configured to modify respective capacitance values of the first and second capacitor systems so as to modify the converter's mechanical resonance frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery comprising a plurality of modules arranged in series, characterised in that a module comprises a cell and a cell switch arranged in series with the cell, and in that a circuit for controlling the cell switch is electrically fed directly by at least one cell of a module of the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting vibratory mechanical energy into electrical energy includes a mobile mass, a support, first and second beams, the second being piezoelectric, and a junction element. The first beam extends longitudinally between the support and the mass, each of which has a beam end embedded therein. The second beam links the support and the mobile mass. Its elongation stiffness is lower than that of the first beam. The junction element extends between the beams. A first assembly, with a first bending stiffness, comprises the first beam, the second beam, and the junction element. A second assembly consists of the first assembly minus the second beam. Its bending stiffness is less than or equal to half of that of the first assembly.