The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

David Hoover

Yvan Ferri

Jean-Jacques Born

Christophe Germiquet

Damien Schmutz

A method for determining an error in the angular position measurement of a timepiece motor having one or more phases, including: detecting () each instant () when the value of one of the back electromotive forces is zero, storing () a time corresponding to each detected instant, measuring () several time intervals between two instants () detected in the same revolution of the motor, comparing () the measured time intervals to reference time intervals to deduce the reference intervals to which they correspond, and determining () an angular position measurement error if the measured intervals do not correspond to the expected reference intervals. The invention also relates to a method for correcting the angular position measurement. Also, a determination and correction system for implementing the methods and a timepiece including such a system.

Methods and system for determining an error and correcting the angular position of a continuous rotation motor

The wearable device incorporates a device for measuring the ambient temperature, which comprises an infrared sensor. In an ambient temperature measurement mode a control circuit activates the infrared sensor several times so that it can supply a plurality of measurement signals over a certain period of time. A circuit for processing measurement signals is then arranged in order to supply temperature values corresponding to at least a portion of the measurement signals and to take a mean for at least a portion of these temperature values to obtain an average temperature value that is considered to be representative of the ambient temperature. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the ambient temperature that can be implemented by means of this wearable device.

Wearable device incorporating a device for measuring ambient temperature

A position sensor and method for determining an axial and/or an angular position of a setting stem of a timepiece. A magnet is provided on the setting stem, and at least one magnetic field sensor is configured to detect changes in magnetic field strength along at least a first axis and a second axis as the rotatable element rotates; the second axis is not parallel to the first axis. The changing magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensor is converted into a characteristic signature path which may then be mapped onto a circular signature path in two dimensions to derive the angular position of the setting stem.

Position sensor and method for determining a position of a timepiece setting stem

Method of determining a motion of continuous variable velocity for display means, comprising a step of establishing a model of at least one simulated mechanical force and/or torque value from values measured by a sensor, and a second step of solving a newton equation of motion from these simulated mechanical force and/or torque values, wherein the second step allows a simulated velocity to be calculated for the display means.

Method and device for obtaining a continuous movement of a display means

The angular and axial position sensor arrangement includes several sensors arranged adjacently, and aligned parallel to the axis of an encoded member that is angularly and axially displaceable relative to the sensors. The encoded member includes N&#x2212;1 axial detection encoded rings with value A along their entire circumference and includes an Nth axial detection encoded ring that is axially adjacent with value B, different from value A, along its entire circumference. The values of axial detection encoded rings are distinguishable by the sensors overlapping some axial detection encoded rings. The encoded member includes several angular detection encoded rings axially adjacent to the Nth axial detection encoded ring. The angular detection encoded rings include a coding pattern composed of A and B values along their circumference to determine angular position by some sensors overlapping them.

Angular and axial position sensor arrangement

Coupling devicebetween activation meansand mechanical display meansof a display mechanism, wherein the coupling deviceis adapted to apply a motion to said mechanical display means, in response to activation of the activation means, wherein the motion applied to the mechanical display meansis inertial.

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La Sarraz, Switzerland

David Hoover