Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne

Schneider Electric Industries Sas

Ecole Polytechnique Féderale De Lausanne (Epfl)

Yves Perriard

Dimitrios Ladas

Zoltan Pataky

Daniel Grivon

Yoan René Cyrille Civet

Christophe Auvigne

Paolo Germano

Morgan Almanza

Jonathan Chavanne

Yoan Civet

Thomas Martinez

A spring () comprising a plurality of elements (), each element () comprising a rigid portion () and a flexible beam (), the extremities () of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (), the flexible beam () having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion () of at least one element () is in contact with the flexible beam () of the next element between said extremities () of the flexible beam (), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

Spring with a plurality of elements, and actuator including such as a spring

A system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin including a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion and a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor.

System for adjusting pressure locally on the skin and subcutaneous tissue

This electrical energy conversion system, for powering a load using a voltage source, comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, two load connection terminals and an electrical transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first capacitor is electrically connected to the primary winding, and the connection terminals are electrically connected to the secondary winding. This system comprises a third capacitor and switching means suitable for switching, reversibly, between a first configuration, wherein the second capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and one of the two connection terminals, and a second configuration wherein the third capacitor is connected in parallel with the secondary winding and between the connection terminals of the load. Only the second capacitor is suitable for receiving the flow of an electric current in the first configuration, whereas only the third capacitor is suitable for receiving the flow of the electric current in the second configuration. The conversion system further comprises means for controlling the switching means according to a control algorithm.

Energy conversion system

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Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Yves Perriard