Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Montres Rado S.a.

Francois Klopfenstein

Yves Godat

Nicolas Jeannet

Pascal Lagorgette

Emmanuel Fleury

Thierry Bonnet

Jean-Jacques Born

Michel Willemin

Raphael Balmer

Silvio Dalla Piazza

Jean-Bernard Peters

Damien Schmutz

Daniel Gruenig

Sergio Rota

Laurent Christe

Patrick Ragot

Andre Kaltenrieder

Nicolas Blanckaert

Xavier Stehlin

Joerg Berthoud

Gerald Matthey

Raphael Haenni

Matthieu Tardivon

A method for permutation of a time display mode of an electronic watch with an analogue display, including, after manipulation of a control member of the watch, a permutation of the position of main time indicating means of the watch, such that the device changes from indicating a first time to indicating a second time, the position of secondary time indicating device of the watch, such that the device changes from indicating the second time to indicating the first time, the position of an analogue time display mode indicator of the watch, such that the indicator changes from a first position characteristic of the first mode to a second position characteristic of the second mode.

Method for permutation of the time display mode of an electronic watch with an analogue display, and the associated watch

A method for adjusting the operating frequency of an electronic watch via a computer application installed in a portable electronic device, the adjustment method including the following steps, performed by the computer application: generating a pulsed reference signal in the portable electronic device, converting the pulsed reference signal into a modulated optical signal consisting of light pulses, transmitting the modulated optical signal to the electronic watch via the light source or via a modulation of the light emitted by the screen of the portable electronic device, and the following steps, performed by the electronic watch: reconstituting the pulsed reference signal from the modulated optical signal received by the optical sensor, correcting an inhibition value stored in the memory of an adjustment circuit of the electronic watch as a function of the pulsed reference signal.

Method for adjusting the operating frequency of an electronic watch

A method and device for determining a constant parameter of an inhibition value for adjusting the device operating frequency of a watch equipped with a quartz oscillator. The following steps are performed by a self-calibration circuit of the electronic watch device: from a first external pulse and a second external pulse received from a system external to the watch and separated by a measurement time, corresponding to a reference number of reference periods for a periodic calibration signal derived from the time-measurement signal and having a calibration frequency derived from the natural frequency of the quartz oscillator, determining a calibration parameter representative of a ratio between a calibration period and a reference period for the periodic calibration signal, and determining a constant inhibition parameter as a function of the calibration parameter.

Method for adjusting the mean frequency of a time base incorporated in an electronic watch

The method for test the rate of an electronic watch with a time base device () comprises three main steps for the test on test equipment. The time base device comprises at least one watch module () with a resonator () connected to an oscillator of an electronic circuit (), which is followed by a divider circuit, which is controlled by an inhibition circuit, and which provides a divided timing signal for a motor. In a first step, a measurement is made of the frequency of the oscillator reference signal in at least one measurement period without inhibition. A second step is provided for acquiring the current inhibition value to inhibit a certain number of clock pulses in a subsequently inhibition period and to determine the inhibition value. Finally, a third step is provided for calculating the corresponding rate frequency of the watch.

Method for testing the rate of a quartz watch

An electronic module including at least one electric motor for driving an analog display, a clock module including a time base delivering a clock signal connected to a divider circuit, the divider circuit delivering a reference signal sent to a control circuit arranged to control the electric motor, the clock module further including a measuring and correction circuit arranged between the time base and the divider circuit and delivering an intermediate compensated signal. The time base, the compensation module, the divider circuit, and the control circuit are arranged in a same case to form the clock module.

Thermocompensated chronometer circuit

The present invention concerns an electronic device comprising a calculation unit capable of generating a signal representative of a physical magnitude, for a motor driving a display device, said motor comprising a rotor in a magnetic circuit, two terminals, one positive and one negative, via which the calculation unit controls the motor, the electronic device further comprising at least one shock detector circuit connected between the calculation unit and a motor terminal for the detection of an external shock applied to the motor,

Shock detector circuit and method for operation thereof

A portable electronic object including a case including at least a first part made of insulating materials, at least one electronic module providing at least one piece of information to a display, and a controller allowing a user to act on the at least one electronic module.

Portable touch electronic object

Arrangement of electrodes for a juxtaposed two digit display including a left digit and a right digit is disclosed. The right digit includes an upper electrode, a median electrode and a lower electrode. The right digit includes a lateral upper left electrode, a lateral lower left electrode, a lateral upper right electrode and a lateral lower right electrode. The left digit includes an upper electrode, a median electrode and a lower electrode. The left digit includes a lateral upper left electrode, a lateral lower left electrode, a lateral upper right electrode and a lateral lower right electrode. In the left digit, the upper electrode, the median electrode and the lower electrode are each formed of a first and second point-shaped electrode. A first additional electrode is provided between the lateral upper left electrode and the lateral upper right electrode of the left digit, the first additional electrode being adjacent to the lateral upper right electrode, and a second additional electrode is provided between the lateral lower left electrode and the lateral lower right electrode, the second additional electrode being adjacent to the lateral lower right electrode.

Arrangement of electrodes for a digital display

A three dimensional support element for a timepiece sensor, made in 3D-MID and including integrated electrical connection paths, a flexible connection interface formed of bent wire springs or flexible finger-pieces, and a rigid connection interface.

Support element for a timepiece sensor

A device for winding automatic watches, including an electrical energy source and a receptacle support including a surface configured to receive in abutment a back cover of a watch, the device configured to generate a magnetic and/or electrostatic field or eddy currents, in a fixed position underneath the bearing surface and generate, on a substantially annular angular sector, a magnetic and or electrostatic field that varies as a function of time and whose direction is orthogonal to the bearing surface, or generating eddy currents that vary as a function of time. The device can be provided for a watch including an automatic winding mechanism with an oscillating weight including a first ferromagnetic inner part and a second heavy metal peripheral part, and possibly with a paramagnetic conductive disc coaxial to the oscillating weight.

Winding device for self-winding automatic watch

Electromechanical apparatus including a wheel set and an analogue indicator member which are integral in rotation, a stepping motor, and a capacitive device for detection of the angular position of the wheel set, including a rotor, a stator and an electronic measuring circuit, the stator including a first pair of electrodes having a first capacitance and a second pair of electrodes having a second capacitance, the rotor being adapted such that the values of the two capacitances depend on the angular position of the rotor, and an electronic measuring circuit being provided for generating an output signal representative of a difference between the respective values of the first and of the second capacitance.

Electromechanical apparatus comprising a capacitive device for detection of the angular position of a wheel set, and method for detection of the angular position of a wheel set

The electronic module () includes a quartz or MEMS resonator (), which is confined within a resonator case (), which is provided with electrical contact pads () over at least one external surface for the electrical connection of the resonator. A printed circuit board () is also provided for carrying the resonator case () and it includes electrical connection terminals () for connection to the electrical connection pads () of the resonator case. The resonator case () is fixedly held inside a case structure () of the electronic module (), via at least one mechanical shock damping element (). The damping element) may be an elastomer element, which includes metal wires () for the electrical connection of the resonator case () across the printed circuit board ().

Electronic quartz resonator module provided with shock resistant securing means

A method is provided to authenticate a watch. The watch includes at least one processing and control circuit provided with a time base, hands to indicate a time, the hands being driven by a motorized device controlled by the processing and control circuit, and a device to store identification data. The method includes enabling at least one activation member of the watch, which is connected to the processing and control circuit, to change into watch authentication mode. The method includes operating an indicator device of the watch, which includes the hands, after enabling the activation member so that at least one of the hands is driven by the motorized device to be moved in succession into time indicating positions on a time-indicating dial to indicate successive digits or numbers of an identification code of at least one of a brand and a serial number of the watch to be authenticated.

Method for authenticating an electronic watch and electronic watch for implementing the method

A timepiece which, in addition to a crystal, includes the following external elements: a back cover, a middle part, a dial, a bezel, and two wristband strands. At least one of these external elements is at least partially transparent or translucent. The back cover, the middle part, and the bezel define an internal volume of the watch case that houses a timepiece movement. At least one light source is housed within the internal volume and produces a light that passes through the transparent or translucent part of the external element.

Growing community of inventors

Delemont, Switzerland

Francois Klopfenstein