Abstract: In a gas purifier, a gas flow is generated by a fan (15) and passed through a filter arrangement (14). A difference (SF) is measured (16, 19) between pollution levels in the gas flow before and after it has passed the filter arrangement (14). A controller (18) reduces the gas flow when the difference (SF) between the pollution levels drops below a threshold value (Th).

Abstract: Electric toothbrush comprising means for locating dental plaque An electric toothbrush comprises means (1, 22) for emitting excitation radiation towards teeth (10), means (2, 24) for detecting luminescence return radiation emitted by affected tooth areas, optical fibre means (4a, 4b, 4c) for guiding the excitation radiation, and electrical means (14, 15) for imposing a brushing rhythm. The optical fibre means pick up a narrow beam of return radiation and guide it to the detection means (24) which comprise filter means (40, 42) for extracting at least one useful signal component from a noise component, the useful signal component being in synchronism with the brushing rhythm, the detection means (24) converting the useful signal into a location signal (44) revealing the affected areas.

Abstract: An electrical hair dryer (5) comprises a housing (10) with an air inlet (11) and an air outlet (12) between which are arranged a mechanism for delivering a flow of hot air, comprising an air circulation mechanism (13) and air heating mechanism (14), and detection mechanism (20) for measuring a radiation emitted by the hair (8). The hair dryer also includes a control mechanism (18) which jointly acts on the air circulation 13) and the heating (14) mechanisms, for regulating the flow of hot air during drying as a function of the measurements of the emitted radiation, which effects simultaneous variation in the flow rate and temperature of the air flow as a result of the measurements of the emitted radiation.

Abstract: An air circulation heating apparatus, for example a hair drier or an electric radiator, is controlled by an infrared sensor which measures at a distance the thermal radiation emitted by an object heated by the apparatus. The sensor is placed in the flow of hot air to ensure reliable operation of the apparatus and to ensure that the sensor supplies correct measurement data. A screen is provided adjacent the sensor in the path of the airflow which prevents the flow of hot air from hitting the sensor directly.

Abstract: A touch control device comprising a plate (10) in which at least one portion (14) is partly cut (12) such that it can be inclined around at least one remaining connection area (15). Strain gauges (17) render it possible to measure the intensity of a force (F) applied to the said portion (14). Applications include the control of various equipment such as TVs and other items.

Abstract: A strain-gauge transducer (5) comprising a substrate (10) provided with strain gauges and pressure members (11, 12) which deform the substrate (10) via transfer elements (1a, 4a) which transmit an applied force (F). The transfer elements comprise bars (1a, 1b, 4a, 4b) molded from an elastomer in a common molding operation. A material (2a, 3a) having a higher compressibility than the bars may be interposed between the bars. This material may form elastic stops (54a) provided to preclude breakage of the substrate. This results in a transducer whose sensitivity is linear for small loads and which is very insusceptible to overloading. The transducer can be used for the construction of scales or touch tablets.

Abstract: A device for generating multi-directional commands, comprising at least one plate provided with strain gauges (R.sub.1 -R.sub.4) (R.sub.5 -R.sub.8) which detect the multi-directional deformations incurred by the plate under the influence of a force F exerted on a surface of the plate. One of the extremities of the plate cooperates with a support and the plate bears, by way of its other surface, on a fulcrum at the other extremity. The fulcrum may be formed by the head of a microswitch, the extremity of the plate being linked to the support. The microswitch is capable of controlling operations for the activation of the device and/or the validation of the electric signals from the strain gauges. The orientation of the force F with respect to the axis of the fulcrum enables the issue of multi-directional commands. The device has a shape ergonomically adapted to handling by means of a single hand.

Abstract: An iron comprises a heating element (97), heating-control (96) for the heating element (97), and a motion detector. The motion detector can be an electrostatic detector (35) which determines an amount of electrostatic charges present at the fabric. The motion detector can be a humidity detector (60) which detects a resistivity of the fabric between two electrodes (62.sub.a, 62.sub.b) which are in contact with the fabric. A counting circuit (89) calculates a number of halfwaves of an electric signal supplied by one of the detectors and determines whether the iron is in use or is not in use. Moreover, the degree of humidity of the fabric can be determined by a measurement circuit (99).

Abstract: An iron comprises a heating element (97) and heating-control means (96) for the heating element. It has a humidity detector (60) which measures the degree of humidity of the fabric and which influences the electric power dissipated in the heating element. In order to measure the degree of humidity a circuit (99) measures the resistivity of the fabric between two contact electrodes (62a, 62b) and subsequently averages the electric signal resulting from the movement of the iron on the fabric. A circuit (89) may be added which measures the rhythm of the variations of said electric signal and which thus detects whether the iron is in use or not in use.

Abstract: An iron includes a heating element (97), heating control (11), for the heating element, and a control thermostat (13). To determine the type of fabric on which the iron is placed during ironing, the iron includes a type-of-fabric detector, which can be an electrostatic detector (35) or an optical detector (85). A maximum temperature limit T.sub.s defines the maximum ironing temperature of delicate fabrics. In the case of incorrect settings the operation of the iron is invalidated. The operation of the detector can be rendered dependent upon a humidity detector (60) which measures a resistivity of the fabric. The operation of these detectors (35, 85) may also depend on a detector for the state of use of the iron.

Abstract: A strain-gauge transducer comprises a strain gauge enclosed between pressure members which deform the strain gauge, the strain gauge comprising a plate-shaped substrate provided with strain-detection elements. At least one spring having a flexibility larger than that of the substrate is arranged between the strain gauge and at least one of the pressure members, said substrate and said spring being in contact with one another so as to be jointly subjected to deformations. The spring may be a blade spring, a helical spring, or a cylindrical buffer spring. The excursions of the pressure members can be limited by means of stops. In the case of a blade spring the contact between the substrate and the spring can be controlled by giving the substrate a toothed shape or by providing it with contact elements.

Abstract: A cook-top (10) includes a plurality of heating elements (11a, 12a) which are activated by function controls. The heating elements are covered by a plate (15) which are fixedly connected to strain-guage modules (30) which detect the forces exerted on the plate as a result of loads placed on the heating elements. By computing the center of gravity of the forces, controls (70, 75, 76) identify a heating element whose load has varied and influence its electric power supply. The power supply may then be turned off, reduced or controlled. The function controls may be pressure-sensitive touch controls.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube includes an electrostatic deflection system along the path of an electron beam e.sub.f and between an electron source and a display screen. The deflection system includes at least an electrostatic photodeflector including a photodetector which, in response to an incident light radiation, creates electric charges e.sub.p which modify the electric deflection field of the photodeflector. The photodeflector may be made up of three electrodes or two electrodes so that the electron beam e.sub.f and the electric charges e.sub.p generated are or are not situated in the same space. The photodetector may be a photocathode or a photodiode. The structure may be repetitive in order to form a distributed photodeflector along the path of the electron beam e.sub.f. The cathode ray tube may be used as part of an oscilloscope.

Abstract: Anamorphotic optical system transmitting an image while deforming it in one direction and leaving it undeformed in a substantially perpendicular direction. It comprises a main fibre-optical image guide (210) cemented to an exit face (213, 213.sub.2) of at least one beveled supplementary fibre-optical guide (220, 220.sub.2), the axes of the optical fibres of the two guides (210, 213, 213.sub.2) being not parallel to one another. Thus, the magnification of the image is not uniform in the direction of deformation. The transmitted image has either at least two parts each representing a different magnification, or a progressive deformation in the direction of the deformation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical relay which includes a target plate of an electrically insulating material and allowing the light to pass in a manner dependent on the electric field parallel to the direction of propagation of this light, means for scanning a first surface of this target plate by means of an electronic beam (34) controlled by a wehnelt electrode (34), an anode (38), an optically transparent plate (38) which is electrically conductive and which receives the visual information electric signal from an amplifier which supplies a video signal. The optical relay operates with a further amplifier (52) which applies a small overmodulation supplied by the video signal to the wehnelt electrode in order to enhance the readability. The overmodulation may be automatically controlled by means of a picture integrator.

Abstract: A optical relay which includes a target plate which is made of an electrically insulating material and allows light to pass in a manner depending on the electric field parallel to the direction of propagation of this light, wherein a first side of this target plate is scanned by an electron beam produced by an electron gun, an anode in the form of a grid, a thin plate which is optically transparent and electrically conducting, an amplifier applying the video information of the video signal to the relay. The optical relay includes means by circuit elements which it is is capable of writing and erasing the target plate in the charge accumulation mode cooperating with a precursor eraser acting on a limited number q of scanning lines positioned beyond the line n to which the write operation relates. In order to transmit the picture in accordance with a television standard, a de-interlacing arrangement is used.

Abstract: An optical relay transmits light in dependence on an electric field parallel to the direction of propagation of the light toward a target having a first face which is scanned by an electron beam. An anode collects the secondary electrons emitted by the beam, and an optically transparent and electrically conducting plate is arranged at the second face of the target, the plate receiving the electric video information signal, thereby forming a control electrode. The target is an electrically insulating material which becomes ferroelectric below a certain temperature, called the Curie temperature, in the proximity of which the optical relay operates.