Patents by Inventor Laurent Duraffourg
Laurent Duraffourg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10132957Abstract: Optomechanical device for actuating and/or detecting movement of a mechanical element, in particular for gravimetric detection. It includes a support with a mechanical element anchored to the support which is designed to move relative to the element, and a device for actuating and/or detecting movement or of variations in frequency of movement of the element. A portion of the device is arranged beneath at least part of the element, between the element and the support. The device includes a fixed optical device with at least one optical waveguide arranged beneath all or part of the element at a determined distance from the element, and which is designed to propagate at least one optical wave having a given wavelength designed to interact with the element. The optical waveguide is at a determined distance from the mechanical element so that the evanescent field of the optical waveguide interacts with the mechanical element.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Sébastien Hentz, Laurent Duraffourg, Guillaume Jourdan
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Publication number: 20180254175Abstract: A generator of an ion beam is provided, including an ionisation chamber provided with an inlet of a fluid to be ionised; a source of ionising particles configured to impact the fluid in an impact zone of the ionisation chamber so as to generate ions; and an extractor of ions generated in a direction of an outlet zone of the generator, the extractor including at least two electrodes, a first electrode referred to as input electrode laterally bordering the impact zone, and at least one second electrode referred to as intermediate electrode located in the impact zone, the at least two electrodes being configured to generate a voltage gradient in the impact zone, with the voltage gradient being configured to direct the generated ions to the outlet zone of the generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Thomas ALAVA, Hadley VIDELIER, Frederic PROGENT, Laurent DURAFFOURG, Sebastien VIGNE
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Patent number: 9945822Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement system including a network of nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) resonators, characterized in that: each one of said resonators includes: an electrostatic activation device capable of generating a vibration of a beam exposed to said excitation signal, at least one piezoresistive stress gauge made of a doped semiconducting material, extending from the beam so as to detect a movement of said beam, the variation in the electrical resistance of said at least one gauge supplying an output signal; said network includes at least two groups of resonators, each group including at least two resonators having an identical empty resonance frequency, each group of resonators having an empty resonance frequency different from that of each other group; the resonators forming each group are connected in parallel; the groups of resonators forming said network are connected in parallel; said system includes a reading device designed to supply an excitation signal at the network input andType: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Philippe Andreucci, Régis Barattin, Eric Colinet, Laurent Duraffourg, Pierre Puget
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Patent number: 9891382Abstract: An optomechanical device with mechanical elements and optical filters for actuating and/or detecting movement of the elements, including a support, and on the support: an array of mechanical elements anchored to the support and configured to move with respect thereto, and an actuating and/or detection device actuating the elements and/or detecting movement of the elements or frequency variations of the movement. The actuating and/or detection device includes an array of optical filters. Each filter resonates at a particular wavelength and is coupled to one of the elements. The actuating and/or detecting device is positioned in vicinity of all or some of the elements, between the elements and the support. The optical filters are fixed with respect to the support and the mechanical elements and the optical filters are superimposed.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignees: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Laurent Duraffourg, Sebastien Hentz, Mickael Lee Roukes
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Patent number: 9746384Abstract: A heat flux sensor comprising at least one support, where at least one membrane is suspended relative to the support by at least four nanowires, where the membrane is made from at least one current-conducting material, and where the nanowires are made from a current-conducting material, with two nanowires connected to a current source to polarize the membrane between two terminals and a heater for heating the membrane, and where two nanowires are connected to a voltmeter to form measure the voltage at the terminals of the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Jeremie Ruellan, Laurent Duraffourg
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Patent number: 9733223Abstract: A concentration sensor for at least one given gas comprising at least one suspended structure (2) with respect to a support, said suspended structure (2) being of an electrically conductive material and said structure having a low heat response time, means for biasing said suspended element (2) and means (8) for measuring the variation of the electric voltage at the terminals of the suspended structure (2), the biasing means (6) being formed by an alternating current source the intensity of which heats the suspended structure (2) and the frequency of which gives rise to a phase shift between a signal of the biasing means and a signal measured by the measuring means, and means for determining a phase shift variation due to a gas concentration variation and means for determining the concentration variation of said gas from the phase variation.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Jeremie Ruellan, Laurent Duraffourg
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Patent number: 9709536Abstract: A thermal flow sensor comprising at least one first element (2) suspended with respect to a support, said first suspended element (2) being of an electrically conductive material, first means (6) for biasing said suspended element (2) and first means (8) for measuring the variation of the electric voltage at the terminals of the suspended element (2), said first suspended element (2) being formed by a nanowire and said first biasing means (6) are formed by an alternating current source the intensity of which provides heating of the first suspended element (2) by Joule effect.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Jeremie Ruellan, Laurent Duraffourg, Julien Arcamone, Philippe Andreucci, Eric Colinet
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Patent number: 9696285Abstract: The invention relates to a gas analysis system comprising, from upstream to downstream: a module (SEP) for separating at least a portion of the species contained in the gas to be analysed, comprising at least one microcapillary column (GC) for gas phase chromatography, and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) coupled to said separation module, said spectrometer comprising a ion source (MS1, MS2) adapted to ionise at least a portion of said species and to emit a ion beam, and a free-flight zone (MS4) for said ions, said mass spectrometer (TOFMS) being arranged in the volume of at least one substrate and comprising a micro-reflectron (R) arranged between the source (MS1, MS2) and the free-flight zone (MS4), a wall (R1) of said micro-reflectron comprising a layer made from a resistive material designed to be polarised between at least two regions so as to create a continuous electrostatic field gradient in said reflectron.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, Analytical Pixels Technology-Apix TechnologyInventors: Laurent Duraffourg, Philippe Andreucci, Charles-Marie Tassetti, Eric Colinet, Pierre Puget, Joshua Whiting, Peter Thomas Stevens, Mélanie Petitjean
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Publication number: 20170089944Abstract: A physical sensor comprising a substrate (4), a movable mass (8), said mass (8) being able to be moved by an external force, a first optical resonator (16.1), a light wave guide (18.1) for measurement and a light wave guide for detection, a rigid plate (10) which are able to modify the optical resonance frequency of said optical resonator (16.1) by moving closer and away the same, a lever arm (6) rotatably hinged to the substrate (4) by a pivot connection (12) and the mass (8) being movably integral with the transmitting means (6), the rigid plate (10) being disposed relative to the mass (8) and to the pivot connection (12) such that the lever arm (6) transmits to the rigid plate (10), in an amplified manner, the displacement of the mass (8).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventor: Laurent DURAFFOURG
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Patent number: 9599495Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal flow sensor comprising: a support, at least one element intended to be vibrated relative to the support, suspension means for said vibrating element relative to the vibrating element, means for heating the vibrating element, means for electrostatic excitation of the vibrating element so as to vibrate it at its resonance frequency, piezoelectric gauges for detecting the resonance frequency variation of the vibrating element, the gauges forming means for heating the vibrating element by Joule effect and the suspension means comprising two beams formed by nanowires so as to reduce the heat losses from the vibrating element toward the support.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Laurent Duraffourg, Philippe Andreucci, Eric Colinet, Guillaume Jourdan, Julien Arcamone
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Publication number: 20170059499Abstract: A heat flux sensor including at least one optical resonator suspended on a support, the optical resonator intended to be suspended in a gaseous environment, at least one first device intended to introduce a measurement light beam into the waveguide, at least one second collection device, intended to collect a detection light beam coming from the optical resonator and a device for heating of the optical resonator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventor: Laurent DURAFFOURG
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Patent number: 9470576Abstract: A measuring system including: at least two electromechanical resonators each having a resonant frequency varying around an offload resonant frequency according to a physical quantity to be measured; at least one reading device connected to inputs of the resonators and configured to supply an excitation signal on the inputs; and a memory in which is recorded, for each resonator, offload resonance information relating to the offload resonant frequency of the resonator. Each reading device is configured to determine the resonant frequency of one or more resonators selected for reading by configuring at least one element of the reading device using the offload resonance information stored for each selected resonator.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternativesInventors: Eric Colinet, Philippe Andreucci, Laurent Duraffourg, Sébastien Hentz
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Publication number: 20160246000Abstract: An optomechanical device with mechanical elements and optical filters for actuating and/or detecting movement of the elements, including a support, and on the support: an array of mechanical elements anchored to the support and configured to move with respect thereto, and an actuating and/or detection device actuating the elements and/or detecting movement of the elements or frequency variations of the movement. The actuating and/or detection device includes an array of optical filters. Each filter resonates at a particular wavelength and is coupled to one of the elements. The actuating and/or detecting device is positioned in vicinity of all or some of the elements, between the elements and the support. The optical filters are fixed with respect to the support and the mechanical elements and the optical filters are superimposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicants: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Laurent DURAFFOURG, Sebastien HENTZ, Mickael Lee ROUKES
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Patent number: 9400218Abstract: A bolometer including: at least one electromechanical microsystem or nanosystem, the microsystem or nanosystem including a support and a mobile mass hung from beams above the support, the mobile mass forming an absorber of optical flux; actuation electrodes configured to set the mobile mass in vibration and arranged laterally relative to the mobile mass; and detection electrodes to detect variation in vibration frequency of the mobile mass arranged laterally relative to the mobile mass.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Laurent Duraffourg, Philippe Andreucci
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Patent number: 9382108Abstract: A device including: a nanowire that includes a first conductive region, and a second region, wherein the second region is an insulator material, the second region does not occupy an entire thickness of the nanowire, and the nanowire is configured so that a current is able to circulate in the nanowire from one end of the nanowire to another end of the nanowire.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUEInventors: Laurent Duraffourg, Philippe Andreucci, Thomas Ernst, Sebastien Hentz
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Patent number: 9331606Abstract: A device with a suspended beam and piezoresistive means of detecting displacement of the beam and a method of manufacturing the device are disclosed. The device comprises a support, a suspended beam, moving parallel to the plane of the support, and means of detecting displacement, comprising at least two piezoresistive strain gauges that are not in line with each other. The beam is suspended through detection means. The two gauges are located on two opposite lateral faces of the beam respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternativesInventors: Sebastien Hentz, Philippe Andreucci, Eric Colinet, Laurent Duraffourg, Sebastien Labarthe
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Publication number: 20150308990Abstract: A gas analysis system includes a fluidic channel for flow of a gas to be analyzed, a detector in the channel and adapted for measuring interactions of the gas with the detector, the detector including a resonator of the electromechanical nanosystem (NEMS) type and a heating system for heating a part of the detector, an actuation device for vibrationally actuating the resonator according to an excitation signal applied to an input of the detector, a detection device adapted for providing an output electric signal representative of the vibrations of the resonator, a read-out device connected to an input of the detector and configured for simultaneously measuring, from the output signal of the detector, the change in resonance frequency and the change in amplitude of the vibrations at the resonance frequency of the resonator, and a processing device configured for determining from the changes a fluidic characteristic of the gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Apix AnalyticsInventors: Philippe Andreucci, Eric Colinet, Laurent Duraffourg, Edward Myers, Mélanie Petitjean, Mickael Lee Roukes, Joshua Whiting
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Publication number: 20150300999Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement system including a network of nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) resonators, characterized in that: each one of said resonators includes: an electrostatic activation device capable of generating a vibration of a beam exposed to said excitation signal, at least one piezoresistive stress gauge made of a doped semiconducting material, extending from the beam so as to detect a movement of said beam, the variation in the electrical resistance of said at least one gauge supplying an output signal; said network includes at least two groups of resonators, each group including at least two resonators having an identical empty resonance frequency, each group of resonators having an empty resonance frequency different from that of each other group; the resonators forming each group are connected in parallel; the groups of resonators forming said network are connected in parallel; said system includes a reading device designed to supply an excitation signal at the network input andType: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicants: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives, Apix AnalyticsInventors: Philippe Andreucci, Régis Barattin, Eric Colinet, Laurent Duraffourg, Pierre Puget
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Publication number: 20150247828Abstract: A thermal flow sensor comprising at least one first element (2) suspended with respect to a support, said first suspended element (2) being of an electrically conductive material, first means (6) for biasing said suspended element (2) and first means (8) for measuring the variation of the electric voltage at the terminals of the suspended element (2), said first suspended element (2) being formed by a nanowire and said first biasing means (6) are formed by an alternating current source the intensity of which provides heating of the first suspended element (2) by Joule effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2013Publication date: September 3, 2015Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Jeremie Ruellan, Laurent Duraffourg, Julien Arcamone, Philippe Andreucci, Eric Colinet
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Publication number: 20150226713Abstract: A concentration sensor for at least one given gas comprising at least one suspended structure (2) with respect to a support, said suspended structure (2) being of an electrically conductive material and said structure having a low heat response time, means for biasing said suspended element (2) and means (8) for measuring the variation of the electric voltage at the terminals of the suspended structure (2), the biasing means (6) being formed by an alternating current source the intensity of which heats the suspended structure (2) and the frequency of which gives rise to a phase shift between a signal of the biasing means and a signal measured by the measuring means, and means for determining a phase shift variation due to a gas concentration variation and means for determining the concentration variation of said gas from the phase variation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE ALTInventors: Jeremie RUELLAN, Laurent DURAFFOURG