Asulab S.a.

Ebauches S.a.

Eta Sa Fabriques D'ebauches

Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft

Renata Ag

Jean-Paul Randin

François Gueissaz

Eric Saurer

Yves Ruedin

Erik Jan Frenkel

Michael Graetzel

Rudolf Dinger

Shaik Mohammad Zakeeruddin

Michael Gratzel

Ivan Exnar

Rainer Bittihn

Ludwig Gauckler

Michel Sallin

David Fraser

Armin Wagner

Eric Hoffmann

Jean-Daniel Rosselet

Robert Riedl

In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T&#x3e;100&#xb0; C.) or optical (&#x3bb;&#x3c;500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.

Method of checking the hermeticity of a closed cavity of a micrometric component and micrometric component for the implementation of the same

Method of checking the hermeticity of a closed cavity of a micrometric component and micrometric component for the implementation of same

A dial, in particular for a timepiece, formed of at least one regenerating photoelectrochemical type solar cell including a first substrate intended to be exposed to the light and a second substrate carrying on their opposite faces electrodes between which is arranged a physico-chemical system capable of absorbing light and generating an electric voltage across the terminals of said electrodes, characterised in that said first substrate is formed of a translucent material.

Dial formed of a solar cell in particular for a timepiece

A high capacity primary or secondary electrochemical generator in which at least one electrode (4,5) is composed of nanocrystalline particles of an electrically active material, said particles being electrically connected together, either by sintering a colloidal film of said electrically active material, or by compressing a mixture containing said nanocrystalline particles in pulverised form.

Primary or secondary electrochemical generator having a nanoparticulate

A rosy pink colored object has a first layer of nitride of an element chosen from the group comprising Ti, Zr, Hf, or a mixture of these elements. This first layer includes at least an element chosen amongst Al, C and elements of the groups Vb and VIb. A second layer comprises a mixture of palladium (Pd) and indium (In). Certain ternary metals such as Al or Cu may be added to the PdIn mixture. The covering may be used in jewelry, optometry or horology.

Object having a rosy pink coloring

A small sensor for an electrochemical measuring system composed of a measuring apparatus (50) having an electronic circuit (60), a connecting device (64), a positioning and advancing device (56, 57) and an eliminating device (59, 53). The apparatus is adapted to receive the sensor (40), which has a plurality of active, successively disposable measuring zones (34). The sensor has applications in the quantitative analysis of glucose in the blood.

Electrochemical measuring system with multizone sensors

Sensor for measuring the amount of a component in solution

A composite material comprising an open pore rigid foam of ceramic, metal, carbon or a plastics material and a solid filler material disposed in the cavities of the foam. The solid filler material forms areas on the surface of the composite material defined by the walls of the cavities in the foam. Depending on the material of the foam, the material filling its cavities may be a metal or a plastics material. The composite material, the production of which is also described, has aesthetic qualities which render it particularly suitable for the production of decorative articles.

Composite material

The article is provided with a coating resisting wear and corrosion, such coating being for the most part made of a precious metal or alloy of a precious metal, for example gold or an alloy containing gold. The coating is made up of a first layer of such precious metal or alloy thereof comprising discrete inclusions of a metallic compound such as titanium nitride. These inclusions are deposited along with the precious metal in vapor phase and distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner through the entire thickness of the layer, said thickness being equal to or greater than 0.4 .mu.m. A second layer of precious metal or alloy thereof is located between the article and said first layer. The article may be a watch case, a bracelet link or a piece of jewelry.

Article having a wear resisting precious metal coating

A galvanic cell with solid electrolyte, which is dischargeable at room temperature and whose positive electrode consists of the metals Sb, Bi, or of the oxides or chalcogenides of these metals, or of mixtures of members of the respective groups, bases its current productive processes upon the formation of a reversible inter-metallic combination between the Sb or Bi and the alkali metal of the negative electrode. The reaction equations are:

Galvanic cell with solid electrolyte

This invention relates to a polymeric electrolyte for an electro-optical device including an electrode provided with an electrochromic layer and a counter electrode which comprises a mixture of a protonic polymer and water in which the product of the water content and the gram equivalent weight of polymer is equal to or less than the product of the molecular weight of water and the number n of water molecules bonded per anion group of each monomer of the polymer, the number n being 6 in the case of a sulphonic polymer. The electrolyte, which may be used, e.g. in a display cell including an electrode provided with an electrochromic layer, for example WO.sub.3, and a counter electrode, is inert relative to the electrochromic layer.

Polymeric electrolyte for electro-optical device

In preparing an electrolyte comprising a mixture of poly[2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfphonic acid] and water in which a pigment is distributed substantially homogeneously, monomer of the formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CO--NH--C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.3 H is first dissolved in water with a pigment suspended in it. A polymerization initiator, such as 2,2'-azo-bisisobutyronitrile, is added to the mixture and the polymerization reaction is carried out with agitation, at a temperature in the range from room temperature to 60.degree. C. Finally, part of the water is evaporated from the viscous mass obtained, to give the desired mix. The pigmented electrolyte may be used in electro-optical devices such as electrochromic display cells.

Method of preparing a polymeric electrolyte particularly for an

An electro-optic device comprising a transparent conductive layer, an electrochromic layer applied on the said transparent layer, these two first elements constituting together a first electrode, a counter-electrode maintained at distance from the said first electrode, and an electrolyte ensuring an ionic binding between the electrode and the counter-electrode. Preferably, the electrolyte is a polymer of linear molecules such as polystyrene sulfonic acid including a pigment. A combination cell of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane and polystyrene sulfonic acid is disclosed.

Electro-optic device

An electro-optic device comprising a transparent conductive layer and an electrochromic layer applied thereon together constituting an electrode, a counter-electrode spaced from said electrode and an intermediate electrolyte; the electrolyte containing a reductant capable of forming, during operation of the device, an electrochemical couple whose potential is more anodic than the oxidation potential of the electrochromic layer to prevent an increase of the potential during bleaching of the electrochromic layer markedly reducing deterioration of the electrolyte.

Growing community of inventors

Cortaillod, Switzerland

Jean-Paul Randin