Abstract: A low-loss waveguide that can be curved aggressively, that is, curved with a radius of curvature that is substantially zero, in the plane of propagation, without radiating, is formed by a slab of dielectric material having four metal plates, two on each opposite surface of the slab and mutually spaced to define in the dielectric slab between the four metal plates a confinement zone. In use, electromagnetic radiation injected in one end of the zone by suitable input means will propagate throughout the zone to an extraction means. Lower loss and better confinement of the radiation may be obtained by providing plugs of dielectric material adjacent the inwardly-facing edge of each of the metal plates. Embodiments of the invention can be used to implement integrated optical devices and circuits for routing or processing light signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to a protein from an alternative splicing of the gene encoding CD20, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the protein according to the invention, a mutated form of the CD20 gene as well as drugs, diagnostic tools, diagnostic methods and treatment methods using the protein and the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention.

Abstract: A low-loss waveguide that can be curved aggressively, that is, curved with a radius of curvature that is substantially zero, in the plane of propagation, without radiating, is formed by a slab of dielectric material having four metal plates, two on each opposite surface of the slab and mutually spaced to define in the dielectric slab between the four metal plates a confinement zone. In use, electromagnetic radiation injected in one end of the zone by suitable input means will propagate throughout the zone to an extraction means. Lower loss and better confinement of the radiation may be obtained by providing plugs of dielectric material adjacent the inwardly-facing edge of each of the metal plates. Embodiments of the invention can be used to implement integrated optical devices and circuits for routing or processing light signals.

Abstract: An optical device has a waveguide structure comprising a thin strip (12) having finite width and thickness of material having a relatively high free charge carrier density supported by a membrane (14) having a predetermined thickness of material that has a relatively low free charge carrier density. The dimensions of the width and thickness of the strip and the thickness of the supporting membrane are such that, when the waveguide structure is surrounded at least partially by an environment (E) having a low free charge carrier density, optical radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range couples to the waveguide structure and propagates along the length thereof as a plasmon-polariton wave that permeates at least part of the environment (E).

Abstract: A device for removably fixing a sleeve (5) to a cylindrical support shaft (3) of a printing machine. The inventive device is characterised in that: the inner face (5b) of the sleeve (5) includes at least one cylindrical stiffened area (24); and the support shaft/sleeve assembly is equipped with (i) elements which, in the operating position and under the action of members that supply a clamping force (21, 32, 32?), apply at least one pressing member (15, 30, 40) against the stiffened area (24) in order to render same solidly connected to the sleeve (5), and (ii) elements which, in the mounting/disassembly position and under the action of members that supply a releasing force, release the pressing member (15, 30, 40).

Abstract: A gas sensor for hydrogen or other gases, especially flammable or explosive gases, has a plasmon-polariton waveguide comprising a metal strip on a membrane supported by a substrate in an environment in which the gas is to be introduced, and coupling means for coupling optical radiation into and out of the plasmon-polariton waveguide such that the optical radiation propagates therealong as a plasmon-polariton wave. The metal strip comprises by a chemical transducer (e.g. Pd or PdNi), the arrangement being such that exposure of the metal strip or coating to the gas to be monitored causes a change in the propagation characteristics of the plasmon-polariton wave and hence the optical radiation coupled out of the plasmon-polariton waveguide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable printing machine which is embodied in the form of at least two offset printing apparatus (1) and comprises a frame bearing an opposite cylinder against which a blanket (11) to be printed is pressed by a blanket drum. Printing ink is supplied to a printing cylinder which contacts the blanket drum by means of inking rollers. The inventive printing machine is characterized in the following: the opposite cylinder of each apparatus (1) is devoid of all rotatable transmissions; a levelling between two adjacent units which print one and the same blanket face (11) is embodied in such a way that said blanket is in contact with the blanket drums only.

Abstract: An external-cavity laser, suitable for producing a coherent and highly-polarized optical emission, particularly at communication wavelengths, is enabled by a novel wavelength selective element based on a waveguide technology that supports a long-range plasmons polariton mode. These external-cavity lasers leverage the inherent properties of the novel wavelength selective elements, which are materials agnostic, providing easier means for tunability, laser stability, and low cost of fabrication, high output power and a highly polarized output. Tunable versions are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a flexible web (2) includes, between an entry roller (5) and a forming roller (3), a regulating module (7) provided with a starting roller (13) designed to control the movement and the speed of the web upstream of the shaping roller (3) and at least one mobile guide element (9) designed to exert, at least on one buffer loop (8) of the web (2) formed between the rollers (5, 3), a positive guiding thereof, in accordance with a law of displacement which is a function of the length of the buffer loop (8) in operation.

Abstract: A waveguide structure comprises a thin strip of material having a relatively high free charge carrier density surrounded by material having a relatively low free charge carrier density. The width and thickness of the strip are dimensioned such that optical radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range couples to the strip and propagates along its length as a plasmon-polariton wave. The device includes a waveguide heater for passing a current through the strip to heat it and the surrounding material, so as to vary propagation of the optical radiation, or means for monitoring propagation of the optical radiation to determine a change in temperature of the strip. Some embodiments provide both heating of the strip and monitoring of its temperature.

Abstract: A variable printing machine is embodied in the form of at least two offset printing apparatus (1) and includes a frame bearing an opposite cylinder against which a blanket (11) to be printed is pressed by a blanket drum. Printing ink is supplied to a printing cylinder which contacts the blanket drum with inking rollers. The printing machine is characterized in the following: the opposite cylinder of each apparatus (1) is devoid of all rotatable transmissions; a leveling between two adjacent units which print one and the same blanket face (11) is embodied in such a way that the blanket is in contact with the blanket drums only.

Abstract: A Schottky barrier photodetector comprises a waveguide structure formed by a thin strip of material having a relatively high free charge carrier density, for example a conductor or certain classes of highly-doped semiconductor, surrounded by material having a relatively low free charge carrier density, the material on at least one side of the strip comprising a semiconductor, the strip having finite width and thickness with dimensions such that optical radiation couples to the strip and propagates along the length of the strip as a plasmon-polariton wave, light for detection being coupled to one end of the strip to propagate along the strip as said plasmon-polariton wave, ohmic contact means applied to the semiconductor material and at least one electrode means connected to the strip for applying bias to the Schottky barrier and extracting a photodetector current corresponding to the light applied to the photodetector.

Abstract: A device for fixing a printing sleeve (3), in particular a printing form or a blanket drum, to a drive cylindrical shaft (1) on which a deformable cover (2) is arranged between the printing sleeve (3) and the shaft (1). The surface of the shaft (1) is grooved by a series of cavities (7) separated by bearing surfaces (12) which the cover (2) is rested on. The device also comprises an element for providing with the radial deformation of the deformable areas of the cover (2) by overpressure produced on the external face thereof or under-pressure on the internal face thereof. The device is characterized in that the shaft (1) and the printing sleeve (3) are provided with angular indexing elements (25).

Abstract: A low loss, low drive voltage plasmon-polariton electro-optic modulator based on mode cutoff comprises a waveguide structure formed by a thin metallic strip surrounded by material having a relatively low free charge carrier density. The metallic strip has finite width and thickness with dimensions such that optical radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range couples to the metallic strip and propagates along the length of the metallic strip as a plasmon-polariton wave. The surrounding material comprises two distinct portions with the metallic strip extending between them. The modulator comprises means for varying an electric field applied to at least one portion so as to vary the value of the electromagnetic property and thereby the propagation characteristics of the plasmon-polariton wave.

Abstract: A grating, suitable for filtering optical radiation, comprises a plurality of concatenated grating sections each having different physical characteristics as compared with adjacent grating sections. At least one of the sections comprises a waveguide structure formed by a thin strip (100) of a material having a relatively high free charge carrier density surrounded by material having a relatively low free charge carrier density. The strip has finite width (W) and thickness (t) with dimensions such that optical radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range couples to the strip and propagates along the length of the strip as a plasmon-polariton wave. Various grating architectures may be implemented, e.g. chirped, interleaved, uniform, etc. A method of producing such gratings derives normalized phase constants and attenuation constants and then uses, for example, TMM or Coupled Mode Theory to derive therefrom the optical response of the grating.

Abstract: A radial bearing unit for a driveshaft in motor vehicles, in particular a halfshaft for connecting a transmission with a driven front wheel, includes a holder having a housing made of two housing portions which are so configured as to form together a spherical receptacle. The integrity of the housing is realized by providing the housing portions with flanges for mutual support. Seated in the spherical receptacle is a curved outer surface area of a rolling-contact bearing. Each of the housing portions has at least two tabs extending radially in spaced-apart relationship from the flanges for form-fitting engagement in a machine part, when the radial bearing unit is installed in the machine part.

Abstract: The purely bound electromagnetic modes of propagation supported by waveguide structures comprised of a thin lossy metal film of finite width embedded in an infinite homogeneous dielectric have been characterized at optical wavelengths. One of the fundamental modes supported by the structure exhibits very interesting characteristics and is potentially quite useful. It evolves with decreasing film thickness and width towards the TEM wave supported by the background (an evolution similar to that exhibited by the sb mode in symmetric metal film slab waveguides), its losses and phase constant tending asymptotically towards those of the TEM wave. Attenuation values can be well below those of the sb mode supported by the corresponding metal film slab waveguide. Low mode power attenuation in the neighborhood of 10 to 0.1 dB/cm is achievable at optical communications wavelengths, with even lower values being possible.

Abstract: A Schottky barrier photodetector comprises a waveguide structure formed by a thin strip of material having a relatively high free charge carrier density, for example a conductor or certain classes of highly-doped semiconductor, surrounded by material having a relatively low free charge carrier density, the material on at least one side of the strip comprising a semiconductor, the strip having finite width and thickness with dimensions such that optical radiation couples to the strip and propagates along the length of the strip as a plasmon-polariton wave, light for detection being coupled to one end of the strip to propagate along the strip as said plasmon-polariton wave, ohmic contact means applied to the semiconductor material and at least one electrode means connected to the strip for applying bias to the Schottky barrier and extracting a photodetector current corresponding to the light applied to the photodetector.

Abstract: An external-cavity laser, suitable for producing a coherent and highly-polarized optical emission, particularly at communication wavelengths, is enabled by a novel wavelength selective element based on a waveguide technology that supports a long-range plasmons polariton mode. These external-cavity lasers leverage the inherent properties of the novel wavelength selective elements, which are materials agnostic, providing easier means for tunability, laser stability, and low cost of fabrication, high output power and a highly polarized output. Tunable versions are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a waveguide structure formed by a strip (100) of a material having a relatively high free charge carrier density surrounded by a material having a relatively low free charge carrier density. The strip has finite width (W) and thickness (t) of the same order with dimensions such that optical radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range couples to the strip and propagates along the length of the strip as a plasmon-polariton wave. Preferably the width and thickness are substantially equal and less than about 300 nm.