Abstract: A fuze for detecting an obstacle in proximity, an obstacle in proximity defined as being an obstacle exhibiting a minimum distance from the fuze, wherein the fuze comprises at least: an emission device emitting a light beam directed forward of the fuze; a reception device detecting the luminous fluxes in a cone directed forward of the fuze, the light beam and the cone having relative orientations such that they cross one another; a detection volume being the volume where the light beam crosses the cone so that when an obstacle is in the detection volume, the light emitted by the emission device is backscattered toward the detection device, an obstacle in proximity being detected by detecting the maximum of backscattered power, the reception cone is centered on the axis of the fuze.

Abstract: A fuze for detecting an obstacle in proximity, an obstacle in proximity defined as being an obstacle exhibiting a minimum distance from the fuze, wherein the fuze comprises at least: an emission device emitting a light beam directed forward of the fuze; a reception device detecting the luminous fluxes in a cone directed forward of the fuze, the light beam and the cone having relative orientations such that they cross one another; a detection volume being the volume where the light beam crosses the cone so that when an obstacle is in the detection volume, the light emitted by the emission device is backscattered toward the detection device, an obstacle in proximity being detected by detecting the maximum of backscattered power, the reception cone is centered on the axis of the fuze.

Abstract: An electrode for an alkali fuel cell comprises an active layer formed by a bilayer or by a stack of a plurality of bilayers. Each bilayer is composed of a catalytic layer comprising catalyst particles of nanometric size and of a porous layer comprising two opposite faces one of which is in contact with the catalytic layer. The porous layer is made from a porous composite material comprising a hydroxide ion conducting polymer matrix in which a metallic lattice is formed constituting a plurality of electronically conducting paths connecting the two opposite faces of the porous layer. Advantageously, fabrication of such an electrode is obtained by successively performing vacuum deposition of the catalyst particles and vacuum co-deposition of the hydroxide ion conducting polymer and of the metal on a free surface of a support.

Abstract: To clean a print head of an ink jet printer, an ink gun is connected to an ink chamber, a solvent chamber, a vacuum source, and an ink collection gutter, which is capable of being connected in a controlled manner to a vacuum source. During cleaning, an interruption of a hydraulic connection between the gun and the ink chamber is ordered. Next, the gun is connected to the vacuum source. Finally, the solvent chamber is hydraulically connected to the vacuum source via a conduit which includes the ink gun.

Abstract: An alkali fuel cell comprises a solid stack consisting of a first electrode, a solid membrane conducting hydroxide ions and a second electrode, each electrode comprising an active layer that is in contact with the solid membrane. The material forming the active layer of each electrode comprises at least a catalytic element, an electronic conductive element and an element conducting hydroxide ions. The element conducting hydroxide ions is a polymer having vinylaromatic units comprising a quaternary ammonium function and a hydroxide ion OH? is associated with each quaternary ammonium function. One such alkali fuel cell is unaffected by carbonation and maintains good electrochemical performances.

Abstract: An electrode for an alkali fuel cell comprises an active layer formed by a bilayer or by a stack of a plurality of bilayers. Each bilayer is composed of a catalytic layer comprising catalyst particles of nanometric size and of a porous layer comprising two opposite faces one of which is in contact with the catalytic layer. The porous layer is made from a porous composite material comprising a hydroxide ion conducting polymer matrix in which a metallic lattice is formed constituting a plurality of electronically conducting paths connecting the two opposite faces of the porous layer. Advantageously, fabrication of such an electrode is obtained by successively performing vacuum deposition of the catalyst particles and vacuum co-deposition of the hydroxide ion conducting polymer and of the metal on a free surface of a support.

Abstract: To clean a print head of an ink jet printer comprising an ink gun (1), connected, by means of devices capable of being controlled, to an ink chamber (2), a solvent chamber (8), a vacuum source (16), and an ink collection gutter (22) capable of being connected in a controlled manner to a vacuum source (16), the following steps are performed: (1) an interruption of a hydraulic connection between the gun (1) and the ink chamber (2) is ordered, (2) the gun (1) is connected to the vacuum source (16), (3) the solvent chamber (8) is hydraulically connected to the vacuum source (16) via a circuit (12, 14, 20) comprising the ink gun (1).

Abstract: An alkali fuel cell comprises a solid stack consisting of a first electrode, a solid membrane conducting hydroxide ions and a second electrode, each electrode comprising an active layer that is in contact with the solid membrane. The material forming the active layer of each electrode comprises at least a catalytic element, an electronic conductive element and an element conducting hydroxide ions. The element conducting hydroxide ions is a polymer having vinylaromatic units comprising a quaternary ammonium function and a hydroxide ion OH? is associated with each quaternary ammonium function. One such alkali fuel cell is unaffected by carbonation and maintains good electrochemical performances.

Abstract: An alkaline fuel cell comprises at least one electrolyte having an anode disposed thereon. The anode is formed by a stack of a first thin layer and a second thin layer disposed between the electrolyte and the first thin layer. The first thin layer consists of aluminium or an aluminium alloy whereas the second thin layer preferably consists of zinc or a zinc alloy. The anode of the alkaline fuel cell is preferably produced by depositing the second thin layer designed to come into contact with the electrolyte, by physical vapor deposition, on a substrate formed by the aluminium or aluminium alloy first thin layer.

Abstract: One or several jets (14) of an electrically conducting liquid such as ink, are emitted at a given speed Vj and are stimulated so as to form drops (22, 24) at a frequency F, at two break off points (C, L) separated by a distance &Dgr;D less than the wavelength &lgr; of the jet, defined by the relation &lgr;=Vj/F. Two contiguous areas are created (20) in the vicinity of these two break off points (C, L), and the potential of these two areas is brought up to constant electrical potentials with opposite signs (V1, V2). Different quantities of electric charge are thus applied on the drops (22, 24), which are relatively constant even if the break off points should vary. A deflection device (30) then deviates the drops to be recycled (24) and the drops to be printed (22) depending on their charge, which depends on their break off point.

Abstract: An ink circuit particularly intended for pressurizing a pigment ink, for an ink jet printer, is disclosed. The main pressurization line (40) is connected to a first head (9) of a compressor (7), and the depressurization line (45) is connected to a second head (15) of the same compressor (7). Both pressurization and depressurization lines are totally independent from the ink circuits. Magnetic agitators means (3, 4) are provided at the base of the reservoirs (1 and 2) in order to avoid pigment settling. The ink circuit applies to the marking of media or supports, requiring an opaque white ink.