Abstract: An electrochemical reactor designed to increase the efficiency of hydrogen production from faeces and urine (excrement) is disclosed. Said reactor comprises two half-cells separated in a selective manner, a membrane systems separating the half-cells (comprising a proton-exchange and an anion-exchange membranes) and a system of electrical bridges that allow two mutually perpendicular electrical fields to be formed, with the electrical field in the horizontal direction between the two half-cells being greater than the vertical electrical field generated within the anode. The half-cells have a configuration of two resistances in series, which allows the potential of each compartment to be controlled in an independent and complementary manner by adjusting the conductivity of the solutions in the half-cells.

Abstract: A device for a rotary haptic interface including: a rotary button and an interaction member interacting with a magnetorheological fluid, the rotary button and interaction member being secured to a shaft for rotation therewith, a chamber defined by walls and containing the fluid and the interaction element, and a mechanism generating a variable magnetic field. The element for interaction with the fluid includes a skirt surrounding the shaft, the skirt being secured to a longitudinal end of the shaft opposite the end to which the rotary button is secured, and extending from the first end towards the rotary button. The shaft passes through a single wall of the chamber and a sealing mechanism is arranged between the shaft and the wall. A mechanism for guiding the rotation of the shaft is arranged around the shaft between the sealing mechanism and the rotary button.

Abstract: A haptic interface, including: a button moving in a first direction or in a second direction; an interaction element interacting with a magnetorheological fluid with a viscosity that varies in accordance with a magnetic field; a brake including a magnetorheological fluid and a generation system to generate a magnetic field on command; a sensor detecting the current position of the button; a mechanism determining speed of the button; and a controller configured to send orders to the system to generate a magnetic field, the orders being generated according to the current position of the button and the current actuation speed of the button.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising a rotor (18) having an at least partly spherical shape and two actuators (2, 2?) each comprising an element of plate-shaped piezoelectric material comprising at least one contact edge (4, 4?) in contact with the rotor (18), said actuators (2, 2?) also comprising on one of their faces electrodes intended to bias piezoelectric materials in a bending mode and in a longitudinal mode. The contact edges (4, 4?) are concave and are formed by an arc of circle the radius of which substantially corresponds to the radius of the surface of the rotor (18), said arcs of circle angularly extending at a determined angle such that the bending mode and the longitudinal mode in which the piezoelectric material is biased are at the same frequency.

Abstract: A haptic interface, including: a button moving in a first direction or in a second direction; an interaction element interacting with a magnetorheological fluid with a viscosity that varies in accordance with a magnetic field; a brake including a magnetorheological fluid and a generation system to generate a magnetic field on command; a sensor detecting the current position of the button; a mechanism determining speed of the button; and a controller configured to send orders to the system to generate a magnetic field, the orders being generated according to the current position of the button and the current actuation speed of the button.

Abstract: A device for a rotary haptic interface including: a rotary button and an interaction member interacting with a magnetorheological fluid, the rotary button and interaction member being secured to a shaft for rotation therewith, a chamber defined by walls and containing the fluid and the interaction element, and a mechanism generating a variable magnetic field. The element for interaction with the fluid includes a skirt surrounding the shaft, the skirt being secured to a longitudinal end of the shaft opposite the end to which the rotary button is secured, and extending from the first end towards the rotary button. The shaft passes through a single wall of the chamber and a sealing mechanism is arranged between the shaft and the wall. A mechanism for guiding the rotation of the shaft is arranged around the shaft between the sealing mechanism and the rotary button.

Abstract: A haptic interface, including: a button which can be rotated by a user; an interaction element interacting with a magnetorheological fluid, secured to the button; a mechanism measuring a current position of the button; a brake including a magnetorheological fluid and a generation system to generate a magnetic field in the fluid; a controller configured to generate orders for the system to generate a magnetic fluid to modify a value of the magnetic field; and a mechanism to detect torque exerted by a user on the button to know direction of the torque and whether the torque is greater than a given value for a given direction, the controller controlling generation of a magnetic field based on obtained information about the torque at least when the button indicates zero or low speed.

Abstract: A haptic interface, including: a button which can be rotated by a user; an interaction element interacting with a magnetorheological fluid, secured to the button; a mechanism measuring a current position of the button; a brake including a magnetorheological fluid and a generation system to generate a magnetic field in the fluid; a controller configured to generate orders for the system to generate a magnetic fluid to modify a value of the magnetic field; and a mechanism to detect torque exerted by a user on the button to know direction of the torque and whether the torque is greater than a given value for a given direction, the controller controlling generation of a magnetic field based on obtained information about the torque at least when the button indicates zero or low speed.

Abstract: Tactile stimulation interface comprising a support (2), a flexible surface suspended on the support (2) intended to be tactilely explored by an operator, actuators (6) intended to apply a force on the flexible surface (4) and means for controlling the actuators (6), the actuators being located on the contour of the flexible surface. The control means are intended to send, to the actuators (6), signals corresponding to the forces to be applied to the flexible surface (4) according to the tactile stimulation to be generated on the flexible surface (4), the forces being determined by a time-reversal method. The surface (4) comprises at least one sufficiently flexible area, for example of Mylar®, in order for the propagation speed of the waves thus generated to be slow enough to reach sufficiently short wavelengths at low frequencies, thereby substantially improving focusing at resolutions compatible with tactile stimulation.

Abstract: A system for simulation of a contact with a surface by tactile stimulation including a surface that will come into contact with the digital pulp of a user's finger. The system includes means of displacing the surface along first and second directions (X, Y) orthogonal to each other and approximately tangent to the digital pulp of the finger. The displacement means are controlled as a function of the simulation to be generated, in which the displacement means are electromagnetic actuators.

Abstract: Actuator for a force feedback interface comprising a shaft integral in rotation with an interacting member of said interface, an electric motor driving in rotation the shaft (3) in a clockwise direction and in an anti-clockwise direction, a first free-wheel device (4) mounted on the shaft (3) and a first braking system (8) capable of braking the rotation of the shaft (3) by the intermediary of the free-wheel device (8), a second free-wheel device (6) mounted on the shaft (3) in opposition with respect to the first free-wheel device (4), a second braking system (10) capable of braking the rotation of the shaft (3) by the intermediary of the second free-wheel device (6) in a direction opposite that of the first braking system (8). The motor is able to apply an active load to the shaft (3) in the direction opposite that of the braking force.

Abstract: A fluidic actuator includes a chamber filled with a fluid, an element movable in relation to the chamber and in contact with the fluid, as well as a passage for circulating the fluid between the inside and the outside of the chamber in order to vary the amount of fluid in the chamber, thus causing movement of the movable element. The fluid is magnetorheological and the fluidic actuator includes a magnetic field generator arranged so as to generate, in the passage, a controlled magnetic field.

Abstract: Tactile stimulation interface comprising a support (2), a flexible surface suspended on the support (2) intended to be tactilely explored by an operator, actuators (6) intended to apply a force on the flexible surface (4) and means for controlling the actuators (6), the actuators being located on the contour of the flexible surface. The control means are intended to send, to the actuators (6), signals corresponding to the forces to be applied to the flexible surface (4) according to the tactile stimulation to be generated on the flexible surface (4), the forces being determined by a time-reversal method. The surface (4) comprises at least one sufficiently flexible area, for example of Mylar®, in order for the propagation speed of the waves thus generated to be slow enough to reach sufficiently short wavelengths at low frequencies, thereby substantially improving focusing at resolutions compatible with tactile stimulation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising a rotor (18) having an at least partly spherical shape and two actuators (2, 2?) each comprising an element of plate-shaped piezoelectric material comprising at least one contact edge (4, 4?) in contact with the rotor (18), said actuators (2, 2?) also comprising on one of their faces electrodes intended to bias piezoelectric materials in a bending mode and in a longitudinal mode. The contact edges (4, 4?) are concave and are formed by an arc of circle the radius of which substantially corresponds to the radius of the surface of the rotor (18), said arcs of circle angularly extending at a determined angle such that the bending mode and the longitudinal mode in which the piezoelectric material is biased are at the same frequency.

Abstract: An haptic interface including a knob manipulated by a user, a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the knob is fixed in rotation, an interaction element with a magneto-rheological fluid in rotation with the shaft, the fluid, a system for generating a magnetic field in the fluid, and a control unit capable of generating orders to the system for generating the magnetic field to modify the magnetic field. The system includes a coil type mechanism generating a variable magnetic field, and a permanent magnet type mechanism generating a permanent magnetic field.

Abstract: Damping device to impose a reaction to the displacement of a manual operating device (28), said device comprising at least one chamber containing the magneto-rheological fluid, one or two means of generating a variable magnetic field (6.1, 6.2) in the magneto-rheological fluid so as to modify its apparent viscosity, one element (4) free to move in translation capable of shearing the magneto-rheological fluid and designed to be mechanically connected to the manual operating device (28), said mobile element (4) comprising a blade with a longitudinal axis (Y) comprising holes and/or recesses and/or projections.

Abstract: A haptic interface including an element that interacts with a user; a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the user interaction element is fixed in rotation; a fluid interaction element, the fluid interaction element being fixed in rotation to the shaft, the fluid being of magneto-rheological type, a system generating magnetic field in the fluid; and a control unit capable of generating orders to magnetic field generation system so as to modify the magnetic field. The interaction element includes a cylindrical wall of revolution with a longitudinal axis, including through openings and/or patterns in relief.

Abstract: System for simulation of a contact with a surface by tactile stimulation comprising a surface (4.1) that will come into contact with the digital pulp of a user's finger (9), said system comprising means of displacing the surface along first and second directions (X, Y) orthogonal to each other and approximately tangent to the digital pulp of the finger (9), said displacement means being controlled as a function of the simulation to be generated, in which said displacement means are electromagnetic actuators (14.1, 14.2).

Abstract: A fluidic actuator includes a chamber filled with a fluid, an element movable in relation to the chamber and in contact with the fluid, as well as a passage for circulating the fluid between the inside and the outside of the chamber in order to vary the amount of fluid in the chamber, thus causing movement of the movable element. The fluid is magnetorheological and the fluidic actuator includes a magnetic field generator arranged so as to generate, in the passage, a controlled magnetic field.

Abstract: A semi-active device capable of generating a resistive force against movements of a mobile element (2) of longitudinal axis (X) capable of moving in translation along its axis (X) and in rotation about said axis (X) in a housing(4), said housing (4) delimiting with the mobile element (2) a sealed annular space (8), said annular space being filled with magneto-rheological fluid, the device also comprising means for generating a magnetic field in said annular space (8) comprising four electromagnets each comprising a coil (30) and a core (32), the cores (30) directly forming the housing (4).