The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Alain Jornod

Francois Gueissaz

Matthias Imboden

Yves Theoduloz

François Gueissaz

Michel Willemin

Yvan Ferri

Jean-Pierre Mignot

Alexandre Haemmerli

David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl

Milan Calic

François Guissaz

A wearable object () including an electronic unit and a power supply unit formed by an electromechanical converter (A) which includes a rotor () carrying first magnets (A), a mechanical resonator (A) provided with an inertia mass () capable of oscillating at a relatively high resonant frequency and carrying second magnets (), and coils arranged so that, when the mechanical resonator is oscillating, an induced voltage is generated in these coils. The electromechanical converter is arranged so that the first magnets and the second magnets can, during a rotational drive of the rotor, interact magnetically so as to apply to the inertia mass, momentarily or temporarily, a magnetic force torque allowing to excite the mechanical resonator, in order to generate at least one oscillation of this mechanical resonator at its resonant frequency in order to generate a relatively high induced voltage allowing to recharge an accumulator.

Wearable object, in particular watch bracelet, comprising a power supply device provided with an electromechanical converter

A testability method () for testing the operation of a thermoelectric element () of a thermoelectric watch () including the thermoelectric element (), a power circuit supplied by primary storage elements () and secondary storage elements () so as to move at least one moveable element () or display information on an electro-optical display device. The testability method () includes steps of applying a heat source () to the thermoelectric element () so as to make it possible to electrically charge () or recharge () the secondary storage elements () in order to move at least one moveable element () or display information on an electro-optical display device, and thus check the functionality of the thermoelectric element ().

Test method of a thermoelectric element

A dial for a watch includes a semi-transparent photovoltaic layer having a lower face. The dial also includes an ink-based decorative layer printed on the lower face of the photovoltaic layer. The decorative layer includes a pattern including one or more time markers.

Dial and method for manufacturing a watch dial

A power indicator device () of a thermoelectric generator of a watch. The indicator device includes a first gas fluid reservoir (), a second gas fluid reservoir (), and at least one tubular conduit () connecting the two reservoirs. The first reservoir is placed on an upper surface of the thermoelectric generator in a watch case, while the second reservoir () is placed on a lower surface of the thermoelectric generator in contact with the back of a watch case. The tubular conduit is of the capillary type and comprises in an intermediate portion () a liquid forming a barrier to the gas fluid of the two reservoirs and allowing, in a display portion () visible from the outside of the watch case, to provide an indication of the power of the generator by measuring the temperature difference of the two reservoirs.

Power indicator device of a thermoelectric generator of a watch

A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric module including a hot plate and a cold plate connected by semiconductor pillars, wherein the hot plate is thermally connected to the back cover of the watch, the cold plate is thermally connected to the case middle of the watch via a support element with at least two branches, at least two branches have a common end on which is held the cold plate of the thermoelectric module, and at least two branches are flexible to absorb shocks.

Thermoelectric watch

A thermoelectric watch includes a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator, and an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element. The energy management circuit includes an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.

User-testable thermoelectric watch

A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator; an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element, the energy management circuit including an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.

Thermoelectric watch testable in production or after-sales service

A device is provided, including a housing having a cavity that is open to an exterior of the housing; an electrical element positioned inside the housing; and an actuation system configured to actuate the element and including a thermoelectric module including first and second electrically insulating plates substantially parallel to one another and each bear electrically conductive terminal blocks, and semiconductive pillars that extend between the respective blocks of the first and second plates, the module housed inside the cavity such that the second plate is positioned against walls of the cavity and the first plate is accessible from outside the housing, and an electronic transmission circuit linking at least two of the blocks of the second plate to the element, and where the system extends beyond the exterior of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a plane aligned with a surface of the exterior of the housing.

Watch provided with a thermoelectric button

A skeleton watch including a case provided with a back cover and a crystal, and a set of components forming a movement of the skeleton watch, the components being arranged inside the case between the back cover and the crystal and being wholly or partially visible through the crystal, wherein the skeleton watch comprises at least one solar cell.

Solar skeleton watch

System and method to determine the heartbeat of a person by a pulse measuring device. Light waves are generated in the direction of the skin by two light sources with a first wavelength (&#x3bb;) which is sensitive to the pulse beat and movement of the person, and with a different second wavelength (&#x3bb;) which is sensitive to movement, wherein a photodetector detects the reflected light waves. A pulse is determined based on calculation made of at least one non-coherent power spectrum on the basis of a spectral coherence function &#x3b3; which takes into account the dependence between the measurement signals relating to the first wavelength and to the second wavelength by the formula S=(1&#x2212;&#x3b3;)*S, where Sis the average Fourier power spectrum of the signals relating to the first wavelength, and where &#x3b3;is between 0 and 1.

Growing community of inventors

Neuchatel, Switzerland

Alain Jornod