Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric module that involves obtaining a first printed circuit board having a first dielectric layer sandwiched between a first metallic substrate and a first electrical conductive layer, obtaining a second printed circuit board that comprises a second dielectric layer sandwiched between a second metallic substrate and a second electrical conductive layer, and positioning a plurality of N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements having first ends and second ends between the first and second electrical conduction layers so that the first ends of the thermoelectric elements are situated on the first electrical conductive layer and the second ends of the thermoelectric elements are situated on the second electrical conductive layer and arranged to form an electrical circuit that alternates between the N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: A domestic gas appliance is disclosed. In one implementation the appliance includes a burner and a gas control valve situated to deliver and vary a flow of a gas to the burner. The gas control valve has an actuator that induces an opening and/or closing of the flow control valve dependent on a control signal delivered to the actuator. A control device is electrically coupled to the actuator and is used to control the opening and closing of the gas control valve. The control device is coupled to an audio input and is configured to receive an analog sound signal and to generate the control signal based on the analog sound signal. A method of modulating a flame in a burner of a domestic gas appliance is also disclosed. In one implementation the method includes producing an analog sound signal and subsequently creating a reference signal based on the analog sound signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system, method and computer program for selecting, ordering, accessing and displaying copyrighted information from physical documents such as printed publications or commercials. The invention allows the management and the direct sale from the editor to the final consumer of electronic information referenced on physical publications while respecting the copyrights attached to this electronic information. According to the present invention, a plurality of particular items (i.e., words, pictures, logos, etc.,) are defined on a physical document. These items are linked to copyrighted hardcopy or softcopy edited objets, such as chapters, notes, pictures, video or audio elements. For identifying and selecting the items defined in the physical document, these items are automatically illuminated by luminous signals (or light spots) generated by an opto-touch foil. The opto-touch foil operates under the control of a user workstation.

Abstract: A tactile interface system is disclosed comprising a information transmission unit and a tactile interface. The information transmission unit may be located in any information system and transmits information for reception by the tactile interface. The tactile interface has a plurality of tactile character reproduction devices which are controlled by a reception unit to reproduce the information transmitted by the information transmission unit to a user of the tactile interface. In a preferred embodiment the tactile interface is a Braille interface.