Scientific instruments

Our solutions ensure you can achieve submicron resolution and measure key variables in any environment, no matter how harsh, including cryogenic and vacuum environments. Here are some examples of what we develop and manufacture:

High-precision mechanisms

• Mechanism concepts that benefit from topological optimization (gain in mass and resonance frequencies tuning)
• Advances in the metal manufacturing process and post-processing, relying on additive manufacturing
• Friction-free flexure-based design, characterization, and integration of magnetic bearings to emit low levels of micro-vibrations
• Our micro-vibration characterization facility enables quantifying vibrations, exported force and torque and their propagation in a system, at very low level, and over a large frequency range
• Detailed analysis of mechatronic systems using analytical approaches and finite element simulation (FEM) software (COMSOL Multiphysics)
• Advanced control methods for demanding stability requirements and multi-variables systems, as well as on-line and off-line identification methods for systems with changing dynamics

FlexMEMs

• Compliant mechanisms are selected for their unique advantages including absence of friction and wear, unsurpassed precision, extreme repeatability and reliability
• Flexure expertise combined with know-how in MEMS technology lead to FlexMEMs to overcome the increasing challenges of the rising ambitions of scientific instruments
• Focused on the simulation and design of novel mechanical resonators and escapement mechanisms compliant with the thermal and shock environment of modern high-quality watches and timepieces 
  
  Lidar
• Miniature flash imaging lidars, originally developed for space applications (rendezvous, landing, debris removal), have been extended to terrestrial applications such as bathymetry
• Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) for rapid distance measurements with sub-millimeter resolution, with potential for miniaturization and cost-reduction
  

Lasers

• Our competencies span across the entire laser technology spectrum: ultra-stable laser continuous wave and femtosecond laser sources, high-power laser systems, modelling of laser physics, optical system design and laser electronics
• Enabling technology for many purposes, lasers are implemented or developed for systems capable of performing the most sensitive measurements like detection of gravitational waves or in industrial settings