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 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: Device for converting mechanical energy from the impact of objects into electrical energy, comprising a frame, a membrane suspended on said frame by at least a first and second longitudinal end, said membrane being intended to be impacted by said objects in a direction substantially transverse to a mid-plane of the membrane, said membrane comprising a core made from material for transducing mechanical energy into electrical energy, extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, and at least one electrode on a first face of the core and at least one electrode on a second face of the core, said electrodes extending from the first to the second longitudinal end.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer transducer comprising a membrane formed of an approximately rectangular electroactive polymer portion surrounded by two electrodes, at least two points of the membrane being connected to rigid supports, and comprising at least one deformable element for limiting the deformations that the membrane may undergo, the limiting element having a meandering form and being connected to the membrane in several approximately distributed points.

Abstract: A method for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by at least one piezoelectric element and at least one variable capacitor. The method: a) mechanically deforms the piezoelectric element; b) recovers charges produced by the deformation of the piezoelectric element; c) transfers the charges from the piezoelectric element to the capacitor; d) modifies the capacitance of the capacitor; and e) recovers at least some of the electrical energy. A device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy includes a piezoelectric element and a variable capacitor. The piezoelectric element is capable of transferring charges to the capacitor.

Abstract: A variable capacitance device including at least one first fixed electrode and a second electrode free to move with respect to the fixed electrode, each electrode including a body and protuberances projecting from at least one face of the body. Each electrode is arranged such that the faces of each electrode provided with the protuberances are facing each other, the distance separating the two faces facing each other being greater than the sum of the heights of a protuberance from the fixed electrode and a protuberance from the mobile electrode. The electrodes are capable of moving with respect to each other in two parallel planes along at least one main direction.

Abstract: A capacitive device comprising at least one first and one second comb, respectively provided with interdigital fingers, adapted to be mobile relative to each other depending on the closing-spacing apart of the axes of the fingers, at least one finger of the first comb including a face opposite a face of a finger of the second comb wherein the axis of the finger of the first comb and the axis of the finger of the second comb are inclined relative to a plane orthogonal to the first direction of displacement of the combs, the plane being defined by the second and third directions perpendicular to the direction, and perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A system for conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy by electrostatic conversion that includes at least one fixed electrode (2) and at least one mobile electrode (4) that can be vibrated by mechanical energy, facing the fixed electrode, said fixed (2) and mobile (4) electrodes being separated at rest by an air gap distance (?). The system includes means (12) of modifying the air gap distance as a function of the variation of the vibration amplitude of the mobile electrode (4). An energy conversion method using such a system is also described.

Abstract: A method for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by at least one piezoelectric element and at least one variable capacitor. The method: a) mechanically deforms the piezoelectric element; b) recovers charges produced by the deformation of the piezoelectric element; c) transfers the charges from the piezoelectric element to the capacitor; d) modifies the capacitance of the capacitor; and e) recovers at least some of the electrical energy. A device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy includes a piezoelectric element and a variable capacitor. The piezoelectric element is capable of transferring charges to the capacitor.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer transducer comprising a membrane formed of an approximately rectangular electroactive polymer portion surrounded by two electrodes, at least two points of the membrane being connected to rigid supports, and comprising at least one deformable element for limiting the deformations that the membrane may undergo, the limiting element having a meandering form and being connected to the membrane in several approximately distributed points.

Abstract: Device for converting mechanical energy from the impact of objects into electrical energy, comprising a frame, a membrane suspended on said frame by at least a first and second longitudinal end, said membrane being intended to be impacted by said objects in a direction substantially transverse to a mid-plane of the membrane, said membrane comprising a core made from material for transducing mechanical energy into electrical energy, extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, and at least one electrode on a first face of the core and at least one electrode on a second face of the core, said electrodes extending from the first to the second longitudinal end.

Abstract: A variable capacitance device including at least one first fixed electrode and a second electrode free to move with respect to the fixed electrode, each electrode including a body and protuberances projecting from at least one face of the body. Each electrode is arranged such that the faces of each electrode provided with the protuberances are facing each other, the distance separating the two faces facing each other being greater than the sum of the heights of a protuberance from the fixed electrode and a protuberance from the mobile electrode. The electrodes are capable of moving with respect to each other in two parallel planes along at least one main direction.

Abstract: A capacitive device comprising at least one first and one second comb, respectively provided with interdigital fingers, adapted to be mobile relative to each other depending on the closing-spacing apart of the axes of the fingers, at least one finger of the first comb including a face opposite a face of a finger of the second comb wherein the axis of the finger of the first comb and the axis of the finger of the second comb are inclined relative to a plane orthogonal to the first direction of displacement of the combs, the plane being defined by the second and third directions perpendicular to the direction, and perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A device for recovering mechanical energy from a mobile support and/or from a fluid in movement. The device includes a part fixed to the support or fluid, and a mobile part in suspension. The fixed part is of lower mass than the mobile part. The mobile part includes a case of the device.

Abstract: The main purpose of this invention is a system for conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy by electrostatic conversion, comprising at least one fixed electrode (2) and at least one mobile electrode (4) that can be vibrated by mechanical energy, facing the fixed electrode, said fixed (2) and mobile (4) electrodes being separated at rest by an air gap distance (?), said system comprising means (12) of modifying the air gap distance as a function of the variation of the vibration amplitude of the mobile electrode (4). Another purpose of this invention is an energy conversion method using such a system.

Abstract: In an energy recovery system based on relative movement between a fixed part and a mobile part connected by flexible connecting means, the flexible link is made so as to provide variable mechanical stiffness, for example due to the presence of repulsive elements or use outside the linear range. Thus, more compact vibrational mechanical energy recovery systems can be made, with a widened usage range, that are more robust than existing systems.

Abstract: A well logging system using an induction measurement. The system includes an emitting coil and a plurality of receiving coils. The emitting coil induces eddy currents in the medium surrounding the coils. The receiving coils then measure magnetic fields produced by the eddy currents. Two of the receiving coils are selected at a time and used as a receiving coil and a counter-receiving coil. The signal generated in the two coils are used to determine a weighted difference to better define the vertical resolution of the device. Compensation coils may be added to remove fields which are induced in the receiving coils directly from the transmitting coil.

Abstract: A device for the measurement by induction of a medium through a metal wall using a transmission portion permitting the induction of a signal in the medium beyond the metal wall and a receiver for receiving a signal transmitted by the medium in response to the induced signal. The transmission portion includes at least one current generator directly connected to the metal wall in such a way that the current passing into the wall induces a signal beyond the wall.

Abstract: A device for induction measurement of a medium adjacent a cylindrical, metallic, magnetic walled well of a well casing includes at least two magnetic circuits for magnetically saturating the metallic wall. Each of the magnetic circuits has a plate-like central portion, situated between two lateral portions, each of which lateral portions has a lateral end which comes into contact with the wall, along a zone parallel to the cylindrical axis of the wall. After magnetic saturation of the metallic wall, an induction signal is induced into the medium beyond the metallic wall and retransmitted by the medium in response to the induction signal.

Abstract: A nuclear detection device, especially a gamma-camera type device which features deconvolution filters. In a gamma-camera variant, the device includes digital filters for deconvoluting electric measuring signals. A transfer function of these filters is opposite that of a circuit having formed the electric signals. It is then possible to separate any pulses which would overlap. Such a system finds particular application in nuclear physics and in particular in the medical field.