Abstract: Process for producing conductive and/or piezoresistive traces in a non-conductive polymeric substrate through laser irradiation, characterised in that said substrate is a composite polymeric material, comprising the matrix of a polymer not susceptible to carbonisation through laser irradiation and a dispersed phase comprising carbon nano fibres and/or nanotubes.

Abstract: A chair or a seat, in particular a seat for motor vehicles, includes an ergonomic device for supporting the body of the occupant, comprising a supporting panel having supporting laths, set at a distance from one another, which can be arched towards the body of the occupant, each independently of the others, by a respective actuator, which includes an actuator element constituted by a shape-memory material, which undergoes a reduction in length following upon heating above a predetermined transition temperature, higher than ambient temperature. Associated to the panel are electrical-supply means for supply of the shape-memory actuators and electronic control means for activating the laths independently and/or in succession according to any predetermined logic, in particular according to successive waves of activation, for example from above downwards, or from below upwards, or alternately from above and from below, so as to obtain a massaging effect.

Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utilizer devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the network or line.

Abstract: A gasket for the cylinder head of a motor-vehicle engine includes a body including a polymeric matrix containing a reinforcement material including a dispersion of nanofibers or nanotubes of electrically conductive material. Each nanotube or nanofiber has a substantially elongated shape. A uniform distribution of electrodes is associated to the body. Two layers of electrically insulating material are arranged on the top and bottom surfaces of the body, one on top of and one underneath the polymeric matrix, and designed to insulate electrically the dispersion of nanofibers or nanotubes contained therein. Control and processing means are designed to be connected to any pair of electrodes of the distribution for determining any variation of load applied in an axial direction to the gasket.

Abstract: A chair or a seat, in particular a seat for motor vehicles, includes an ergonomic device for supporting the body of the occupant, comprising a supporting panel having supporting laths, set at a distance from one another, which can be arched towards the body of the occupant, each independently of the others, by a respective actuator, which includes an actuator element constituted by a shape-memory material, which undergoes a reduction in length following upon heating above a predetermined transition temperature, higher than ambient temperature. Associated to the panel are electrical-supply means for supply of the shape-memory actuators and electronic control means for activating the laths independently and/or in succession according to any predetermined logic, in particular according to successive waves of activation, for example from above downwards, or from below upwards, or alternately from above and from below, so as to obtain a massaging effect.

Abstract: A thin-film device for detecting the variation of intensity of physical quantities, in particular a magnetic field, in a continuous way, comprises an electrical circuit including one or more sensitive elements, which are designed to vary their own electrical resistance as a function of the intensity of a physical quantity to be detected. One or more of the sensitive elements comprise at least one nanoconstriction, and the nanoconstriction comprises at least two pads made of magnetic material, associated to which are respective magnetizations oriented in directions substantially opposite to one another and connected through a nanochannel. The nanochannel is able to set up a domain wall that determines the electrical resistance of the nanoconstriction as a function of the position, with respect to the nanochannel, of the domain wall formed in the sensor device.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises at least one passage for a heating or conditioning air flow and a flow deviating device associated to the seat to control the flow of air through such passage. The flow deviating device comprises at least one Coanda effect deviating device. In the case of application to the front seat of a car, the passage internal to the seat for the ventilation air flow has an upstream end communicating with an air supplying duct, and a downstream end communicating with a discharge duct whose outlet opens at the rear of the seat, to ventilate the rear part of the car passenger compartment. Said passage inside the seat is formed on the surface of the seat padding in the area of contact with the user's body, immediately below the cover of the padding. The discharge duct is arranged such that the flow of air through the passage carries out a flushing action of the area of contact with the user's body and is not forced to flow substantially through the cover.

Abstract: System for feeding gaseous fuel, in particular hydrogen, for fuel cells which comprises a storage tank for the gaseous fuel of the type comprising a case containing a material absorbing the gaseous fuel, in particular a metal hydride, and means for applying an amount of heat to the material absorbing gaseous fuel and determining the flow of the gaseous fuel from the absorbing material towards an anode of one or more fuel cell. The storage tank and the one or more fuel cell are mutually arranged in such a way as to achieve a heat exchange relationship between the anode of one or more fuel cells and the gas absorbing material, the means for applying an amount of heat comprising the heat exchange between the anode of one or more fuel cells and the gas absorbing material.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprises a light source in the form of an incandescent filament, a substantial part of which is integrated in a host element having at least one portion structured according to nanometric dimensions. The nano-structured portion is in the form of a photonic crystal or of a Bragg grating for the purpose of obtaining an amplified or increased emission of radiation in the region of the visible.

Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utiliser devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the network or line.

Abstract: Described herein is a fuel-cell stack, which comprises a plurality of direct-alcohol fuel cells electrically connected together. Each cell has a miniaturized structure comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte set between the first electrode and the second electrode, means for conducting electrical current to the first electrode, and means for conducting electrical current to the second electrode. The miniaturized structure of each cell is made up of a plurality of layers set on top of one another, and the various miniaturized structures are associated in an unremovable way to a flexible substrate capable of being wound up in a roll.

Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utiliser devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the said generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the said network or line.

Abstract: A gasket for the cylinder head of a motor-vehicle engine comprises: a body, including a polymeric matrix containing a reinforcement material constituted by a dispersion of microfibres or nanofibres or nanotubes of electrically conductive material, in which each nanotube or nanofibre has a substantially elongated conformation; a uniform distribution of electrodes associated to said body; two layers of electrically insulating material, arranged on the top and bottom surfaces of said body, one on top of and one underneath said polymeric matrix, and designed to insulate electrically said dispersion of nanofibres or nanotubes contained therein; and control and processing means, designed to be connected to any pair of electrodes of said distribution for detecting any variation of electrical resistance across said electrodes and consequently determining any corresponding variation of load applied in the axial direction to the gasket, in such a way that the gasket functions as integrated load sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises at least one passage for a heating or conditioning air flow and a flow deviating device associated to the seat to control the flow of air through such passage. The flow deviating device comprises at least one Coanda effect deviating device. In the case of application to the front seat of a car, the passage internal to the seat for the ventilation air flow has an upstream end communicating with an air supplying duct, and a downstream end communicating with a discharge duct whose outlet opens at the rear of the seat, to ventilate the rear part of the car passenger compartment. Said passage inside the seat is formed on the surface of the seat padding in the area of contact with the user's body, immediately below the cover of the padding. The discharge duct is arranged such that the flow of air through the passage carries out a flushing action of the area of contact with the user's body and is not forced to flow substantially through the cover.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprises a structure defining an orderly and periodic series of cavities of nanometric dimensions, in which a process of catalytic combustion is confined. The dimensions and/or the distance between the micro-cavities are selected to obtain a light emission in the visible and prevent and/or attenuate at the same time emission of infrared radiation.

Abstract: A miniaturized sensor device comprises at least one pair of active projecting elements or cantilevers, which are set parallel to one another and at a micrometric or sub-micrometric distance apart and are designed to be submerged at least partially in a fluid. Each pair comprises a first cantilever, equipped with actuator means, and a second cantilever, equipped with sensor means. The actuator means can cause a movement of the first cantilever, whilst the sensor means can detect a movement of the second cantilever, induced by the movement of the first cantilever, for generating accordingly a measurable signal, which represents the lubricating capacity of the fluid.

Abstract: Described herein is a thin-film device for detecting physical quantities, in particular a magnetic field, of the type comprising an electrical circuit including one or more sensitive elements, which are designed to vary their own electrical resistance as a function of a physical quantity to be detected, said one or more sensitive elements comprising at least one nanoconstriction, said nanoconstriction comprising at least two pads made of magnetic material, associated to which are respective magnetizations oriented in directions substantially opposite to one another and connected through a nanochannel, said nanochannel being able to set up a domain wall that determines the electrical resistance of said nanoconstriction as a function of the position, with respect to said nanochannel, of said domain wall formed in said sensor device.

Abstract: System for feeding gaseous fuel, in particular hydrogen, for fuel cells which comprises a storage tank for said gaseous fuel of the type comprising a case containing a material absorbing said gaseous fuel, in particular a metal hydride, and means for applying an amount of heat to said material absorbing gaseous fuel and determining the flow of said gaseous fuel from said absorbing material towards an anode of one or more fuel cell. The storage tank and the one or more fuel cell are mutually arranged in such a way as to achieve a heat exchange relationship between said anode of one or more fuel cells and said gas absorbing material, said means for applying an amount of heat comprising said heat exchange between said anode of one or more fuel cells and said gas absorbing material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a miniaturized device controlled by electromagnetic signals in the radiofrequency range for controlled release of substances or for controlled sampling of specimens, comprising a reservoir, and a closing system associated to said reservoir, where said closing system is constituted by a valve structure, closing-opening of which is controlled by the electromagnetic signal in the radiofrequency range.

Abstract: A miniaturized sensor device comprises at least one pair of active projecting elements or cantilevers, which are set parallel to one another and at a micrometric or sub-micrometric distance apart and are designed to be submerged at least partially in a fluid. Each pair comprises a first cantilever, equipped with actuator means, and a second cantilever, equipped with sensor means. The actuator means can cause a movement of the first cantilever, whilst the sensor means can detect a movement of the second cantilever, induced by the movement of the first cantilever, for generating accordingly a measurable signal, which represents the lubricating capacity of the fluid.