Abstract: A data loading device for loading data into computer processor units from a data source, the device comprising at least a first connector for connecting to the data source and provided with a PHY component, and a plurality of second connectors for connecting to the computer processor units and each provided with a respective PHY component, the first connector being connected to the second connectors by a first selector module in order to define a single down channel so as to transmit data from the first connector to each of the second connectors individually, and by a second selector module for defining a single up channel so as to transmit data in the opposite direction, the selector modules being arranged to be capable of connecting only one of the second connectors at a time to the first connector and the device including a control unit for controlling the selector modules to select which second connector to connect to the first connector.

Abstract: Inertial measurement apparatus arranged to be carried by a carrier vehicle include a chassis, a turntable mounted on the chassis, a first inertial measurement unit mounted on the turntable and connected to an electronic control unit connected to a motor for controlling turning of the turntable, and a second inertial measurement unit secured to the chassis. The control unit turns the turntable through one revolution with periodic alternating motion from a fixed initial angular position of the turntable. The control unit calculates the acceleration of the carrier vehicle from measuring the first inertial measurement unit while the turntable is stationary and from measuring the second inertial measurement unit while the turntable is moving. The control unit reconstitutes an inertial reference frame for each inertial measurement unit and compares the two inertial reference frames to determine a difference and takes account of this difference when calculating the acceleration.

Abstract: A method of monitoring at least first and second inertial measurement units, the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit being connected to the same electronic processor circuit and being arranged to determine both a specific force vector in an accelerometer measurement reference frame and also rotation data concerning turning of the accelerometer measurement reference frame relative to an inertial reference frame; the electronic processor circuit performs the steps of projecting the specific force vectors into an inertial reference frame by using the rotation data; comparing the two specific force vectors as projected into said reference frame with each other in order to determine a difference between them; and monitoring variation in this difference over time.

Abstract: Navigation device including an inertial navigation system coupled with a satellite navigation system, the information supplied by the satellite positioning system being used for adjusting the inertial navigation system, characterised in that the device further comprises means for measuring signals coming from base stations of a wireless cellular network, the satellite navigation system and the means for measuring signals coming from base stations of the wireless cellular network are coupled with each other by a tight coupling to form a satellite navigator and/or base-station navigator implementing an estimator with simultaneous localisation and mapping, and in that the satellite navigation system and the means for measuring signals coming from base stations of the wireless cellular network are coupled to the inertial navigation system by a loose coupling for adjusting the inertial navigation system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial/video hybridisation device (2) intended to be mounted on a carrier (2), the device comprising: a camera (6) configured to acquire a first image showing a predetermined landmark (12) attached to the carrier (2), a processing unit (8) configured to estimate a velocity of the carrier (2) from the acquired first image, with a view to hybridising the estimated velocity with inertial data relating to the carrier (2) produced by an inertial unit (4), locating a position of the landmark (12) in the first acquired image, calculating a deviation between the located position and a reference position of the landmark (12), comparing the calculated deviation with a predetermined threshold, and signalling an alert when the calculated deviation is greater than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of monitoring at least first and second inertial measurement units, the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit being connected to the same electronic processor circuit and being arranged to determine both a specific force vector in an accelerometer measurement reference frame and also rotation data concerning turning of the accelerometer measurement reference frame relative to an inertial reference frame; the electronic processor circuit performs the steps of projecting the specific force vectors into an inertial reference frame by using the rotation data; comparing the two specific force vectors as projected into said reference frame with each other in order to determine a difference between them; and monitoring variation in this difference over time.

Abstract: A method of characterizing an inertial measurement unit includes a block carrying one accelerometer positioned on an axis of a measurement reference frame and having one gyro arranged to determine the orientation of the frame relative to an inertial reference frame. The method includes keeping the inertial measurement unit centered on a point that is stationary relative to the ground and that is in a predetermined environment, to obtain accelerometer signals that are images of at least one component of the specific force vector in the measurement reference frame and also gyro signals that are images of at least one component of the instantaneous rotation of the measurement reference frame; processing the signals to obtain data representative of projecting of the specific force vector into the inertial reference frame, after compensating for rotation of the Earth; and calculating Allan variance on the data and comparing it with reference data.

Abstract: A method of assisting navigation of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: at predetermined instants, determining first positions and second positions of the vehicle by different positioning means and calculating the discrepancy between each pair of first and second positions; comparing the discrepancy with a warning threshold; defining a reference frame on a screen, the reference frame being centered on a reference point corresponding to the most recent first position; and symbolizing the discrepancies on the screen by allocating a symbol to each discrepancy and by positioning each symbol on the screen, relative to the reference point, while taking account both of the value of the discrepancy and also of the path travelled by the vehicle since calculating the discrepancy, the first symbols being provided with respective chronological indicators.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial/video hybridisation device (2) intended to be mounted on a carrier (2), the device comprising: a camera (6) configured to acquire a first image showing a predetermined landmark (12) attached to the carrier (2), a processing unit (8) configured to estimate a velocity of the carrier (2) from the acquired first image, with a view to hybridising the estimated velocity with inertial data relating to the carrier (2) produced by an inertial unit (4), locating a position of the landmark (12) in the first acquired image, calculating a deviation between the located position and a reference position of the landmark (12), comparing the calculated deviation with a predetermined threshold, and signalling an alert when the calculated deviation is greater than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of characterizing an inertial measurement unit includes a block carrying one accelerometer positioned on an axis of a measurement reference frame and having one gyro arranged to determine the orientation of the frame relative to an inertial reference frame. The method includes keeping the inertial measurement unit centered on a point that is stationary relative to the ground and that is in a predetermined environment, to obtain accelerometer signals that are images of at least one component of the specific force vector in the measurement reference frame and also gyro signals that are images of at least one component of the instantaneous rotation of the measurement reference frame; processing the signals to obtain data representative of projecting of the specific force vector into the inertial reference frame, after compensating for rotation of the Earth; and calculating Allan variance on the data and comparing it with reference data.

Abstract: Inertial measurement apparatus arranged to be carried by a carrier vehicle include a chassis, a turntable mounted on the chassis, a first inertial measurement unit mounted on the turntable and connected to an electronic control unit connected to a motor for controlling turning of the turntable, and a second inertial measurement unit secured to the chassis. The control unit turns the turntable through one revolution with periodic alternating motion from a fixed initial angular position of the turntable. The control unit calculates the acceleration of the carrier vehicle from measuring the first inertial measurement unit while the turntable is stationary and from measuring the second inertial measurement unit while the turntable is moving. The control unit reconstitutes an inertial reference frame for each inertial measurement unit and compares the two inertial reference frames to determine a difference and takes account of this difference when calculating the acceleration.

Abstract: A method of assisting navigation of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: at predetermined instants, determining first positions and second positions of the vehicle by different positioning means and calculating the discrepancy between each pair of first and second positions; comparing the discrepancy with a warning threshold; defining a reference frame on a screen, the reference frame being centered on a reference point corresponding to the most recent first position; and symbolizing the discrepancies on the screen by allocating a symbol to each discrepancy and by positioning each symbol on the screen, relative to the reference point, while taking account both of the value of the discrepancy and also of the path travelled by the vehicle since calculating the discrepancy, the first symbols being provided with respective chronological indicators.

Abstract: A method of harmonizing a first inertial measurement unit and a second inertial measurement unit with each other includes the steps of: causing a control unit to compare the vectors measured by the inertial measurement units in order to determine a specific force difference and a rotation difference while taking account of the lever arms between the two measurement units; and causing the control unit to determine a harmonization value from the specific force difference and the rotation difference while taking account of the lever arms between the two measurement units. Navigation apparatus performs the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing products into containers is described herein. More particularly, the method and apparatus are directed to packaging sheets of packages such as pouches or sachets that are joined together end-to-end. The apparatus may include a folding mechanism and a collection receptacle. The method and apparatus may perform one or more steps simultaneously so that the folding and packing of such sheets into containers can be carried out without the flow of incoming sheets being interrupted.

Abstract: A data loading device for loading data into computer processor units from a data source, the device comprising at least a first connector for connecting to the data source and provided with a PHY component, and a plurality of second connectors for connecting to the computer processor units and each provided with a respective PHY component, the first connector being connected to the second connectors by a first selector module in order to define a single down channel so as to transmit data from the first connector to each of the second connectors individually, and by a second selector module for defining a single up channel so as to transmit data in the opposite direction, the selector modules being arranged to be capable of connecting only one of the second connectors at a time to the first connector and the device including a control unit for controlling the selector modules to select which second connector to connect to the first connector.

Abstract: An electric motor having a stator defining a number N, at least equal to two, of pairs of poles and a rotor mounted to pivot in the stator. The motor has a number n of electric circuits each defining two windings mounted on poles of the stator, the windings of all the circuits being substantially identical to each other, the number n of electric circuits being greater than the number N of pairs of poles and at least first and second electric circuits being mounted on a first of the pairs of poles and a third of the electric circuits being mounted on a second of the pairs of poles.

Abstract: An electronics card comprising a stack of printed circuit layers, each comprising an electrically insulating support having at least one conductive track extending thereon, and two electromagnetic shields extending respectively over a top face and over a bottom face of the stack, each shield comprising a grid and a plate that are superposed and electrically conductive, each extending over an electrically insulating support, and the conductive tracks being obtained by solid copper type etching. The invention also provides a device including such a card, and a method of protecting such a card of such a device against a lightning strike and against electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing products into containers is described herein. More particularly, the method and apparatus are directed to packaging sheets of packages such as pouches or sachets that are joined together end-to-end. The apparatus may include a folding mechanism and a collection receptacle. The method and apparatus may perform one or more steps simultaneously so that the folding and packing of such sheets into containers can be carried out without the flow of incoming sheets being interrupted.

Abstract: A power supply and control device for a plurality of electric actuators, the device comprising a control circuit and a power circuit, the power circuit having an inverter module connected to a switch module provided with connection means for connection to the actuators, the control circuit being connected to the switch module to operate it so as to connect the actuators sequentially to the inverter module, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the inverter module and the switch module sequentially, and wherein the control circuit includes a monitoring module arranged to detect a malfunction of the device. An actuator assembly comprising a plurality of actuators and such a power supply and control device, and an aircraft including a plurality of actuators and such a power supply and control device of the above-specified type.

Abstract: An electronics card comprising a stack of printed circuit layers, each comprising an electrically insulating support having at least one conductive track extending thereon, and two electromagnetic shields extending respectively over a top face and over a bottom face of the stack, each shield comprising a grid and a plate that are superposed and electrically conductive, each extending over an electrically insulating support, and the conductive tracks being obtained by solid copper type etching. The invention also provides a device including such a card, and a method of protecting such a card of such a device against a lightning strike and against electromagnetic radiation.