Abstract: Echographic imaging (such as used for medical diagnosis) uses the injection of specific contrast agents in the body, or more generally in the region to be imaged. Different frequency dependent echographic behavior of the ultrasound contrast agents containing microbubbles as compared to echographic behavior of tissue without contrast agents is exploited by providing separated spectral echo responses and then combining them in ways to enhance image contrast. These imaging principles exploit certain physical "signatures" of the contrast agent responses, allowing increased contrast with respect to tissue background. This contrast enhancement is much larger than what is determined from direct echo amplitude monitoring.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cleaning device (14) for removing visibility-impairing foreign matter, e.g. rain, snow or mud, from the surface of a window such as a motor vehicle windscreen (8). The device uses a sensor such as an ultrasonic transducer (12a, 12b) in which the frequency (f) and the spacing (d) between the transmitter (12a) and the receiver (12b) enable the presence of foreign matter to be detected simply by measuring the phase difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal. This device may be used in automatic wiper systems or the like.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cleaning device is adapted to remove foreign bodies such as water from the surface of a window, such as a car window, which has an inside surface and an outside surface. This device has cleaning element which define at least one predetermined area on the outside surface of this window, driving circuit for the cleaning element which operate in response to a control signal, detection element capable of supplying a detection signal representative of the presence of foreign bodies on the outside surface of the window and control device capable of supplying a control signal in response to the detection signal wherein the detection element comprise a transducer able to emit at least one incident ultrasonic signal propagating within the thickness of the window and able to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal representative of the presence of the foreign bodies to analyse the detection signal and where the transducer is fixed by a first face against the inside surface of the window.

Abstract: A method for measuring the distance e separating two faces (3, 4) of an object (1) employs the ultrasonic wave diffused back by said faces and received by a sensor (6). Following digitalization (11), the temporal signal is transformed (12) into a frequency spectrum. The modulus of the frequency spectrum is established (13) then the logarithmic derivative thereof is calculated (15) from whence there results a useful signal including a periodic signal onto which a linear signal is superposed. Following suppression (14, 16) of the linear signal the useful signal is applied (17) to a frequency window in order to eliminate the noise therefrom. The signal thus obtained is inversely transformed (18) to obtain a signal the amplitude of which is a function of the time and the envelope of this latter signal is determined (19). After having determined the temporal spread .DELTA.t separating the time origin from the envelope peak showing the greatest amplitude, the distance e is calculated from the relation e=c.multidot.

Abstract: This specification discloses an image stabilization apparatus provided with correcting optical means for compensating image vibration, driving means for driving the correcting optical means, and controlling means for controlling the action of the driving means in response to the approach of the driving limit of the correcting optical means.

Abstract: This apparatus includes a lens element (2) associated with first guide means (6, 7) defining a first degree of freedom of this lens element (2) in a plane parallel to the film plane. These first guide means (6, 7) are associated in turn with second guide means (11, 12) defining a second means [sic] of freedom, via a ring (10) parallel to the plane of the lens element (2). These second guide means (11, 12) are hinged to parts (14) that are structurally connected to the body of the camera. Accelerometers (20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30) measure the acceleration along the two degrees of freedom, and their signals serve to control motors (16, 23) that act via cams (27, 24) on the first and second guide means, respectively, to compensate for the movements recorded by the accelerometers.