Nivarox-far S.a.

Montres Breguet S.a.

Omega Sa

Jean-Philippe Thiebaud

Pierre Cusin

Marco Verardo

Thierry Conus

Jean-Bernard Peters

Pierre-André Bühler

Clare Golfier

Alain Zaugg

Christophe Bifrare

Frédéric Vaucher

Marc Lippuner

Sacha Vorpe

Jean-Charles Fiaccabrino

The invention relates to a double balance spring () including, made in a layer of silicon-based material (), a first balance spring () coaxially mounted on a collet (), the collet () including an extending part () that projects from said balance spring and which is made in a second layer of silicon-based material (). According to the invention, said extending part extends () into a third layer () of silicon-based material coaxially with a second balance spring () so as to form a one-piece double balance spring () made of silicon-based materials. The invention also relates to a timepiece including a balance spring of this type and the method of manufacturing the same. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

One-piece double balance spring and method of manufacturing the same

The invention relates to a system including a pinion () and a toothed wheel () coaxially mounted relative to a pivoting arbor (). According to the invention, the gear system () includes a securing device () between the pinion and the wheel so as to prevent any relative movement of one with respect to the other. The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing the toothed wheel () and the final assembly of the gear system (). The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

Gear system for a timepiece

The invention concerns the field of micromechanical parts, in particular, for timepiece movements. The invention relates to a method of fabricating a mold that includes the following steps: (a) providing a substrate that has a top layer and a bottom layer made of electrically conductive, micromachinable material, and secured to each other by an electrically insulating, intermediate layer; (b) etching at least one pattern in the top layer as far as the intermediate layer to form at least one cavity in the mold; (c) coating the top part of the substrate with an electrically insulating coating; and (d) directionally etching the coating and the intermediate layer to limit the presence thereof exclusively at each vertical wall formed in the top layer.

Mould for galvanoplasty and method of fabricating the same

The invention relates to a method of fabricating a composite micromechanical component, particularly for timepiece movements, including steps: a) providing a substrate including a horizontal top layer and a horizontal bottom layer made of electrically conductive, micromachinable material, and secured to each other by an electrically insulating, horizontal, intermediate layer; b) etching a pattern in the top layer through to the intermediate layer, thereby forming at least one cavity in the substrate; c) coating the top part of the substrate with an electrically insulating coating; d) directionally etching the coating and the intermediate layer to limit the presence thereof exclusively at each vertical wall; e) performing an electrodeposition by connecting the electrode to the conductive bottom layer of the substrate to form at least one metal part of the component; g) releasing the composite component from the substrate.

Composite micromechanical component and method of fabricating the same

The invention relates to a gear train (') including an arbour (&#x2032;) a first end of which is fitted with an integral collar (&#x2032;), a first wheel set (&#x2032;) made of micro-machinable material being fitted onto the second end of the arbour (&#x2032;). According to the invention, the gear train (&#x2032;) includes a second wheel set (&#x2032;) made of micro-machinable material, which is independent of the movements of said first wheel set and which includes an aperture (&#x2032;) whose wall is mounted opposite said arbour so that the second wheel set (&#x2032;) is freely mounted on said first end of the arbour (&#x2032;).

Freely mounted wheel set made of micro-machinable material and method of fabricating the same

The invention relates to a method () of fabricating a mold (') including the following steps: (a) depositing () an electrically conductive layer on the top () and bottom () of a wafer () made of silicon-based material; (b) securing () the wafer to a substrate () using an adhesive layer; (c) removing () one part () of the conductive layer from the top of the wafer (); and (d) etching () the wafer as far as the bottom conductive layer () thereof in the shape () of the one part removed from the top conductive layer () to form at least one cavity () in the mold. The invention concerns the field of micromechanical parts, particularly, for timepiece movements.

The invention relates to a composite balance (') formed in a layer of silicon-based material () and including a hub (&#x2032;) connected to a felloe (&#x2032;) by at least one arm (). According to the invention, the felloe (&#x2032;) includes at least one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring (&#x2032;) of higher the than the silicon-based material, which increases the inertia of the balance. The invention also relates to a methodof manufacturing this type of balance. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Composite balance and method of manufacturing the same

The invention relates to a one-piece regulating member including a balance cooperating with a hairspring made in a layer of silicon-based material and including a balance spring coaxially mounted on a collet. According to the invention, the collet includes one extending part that projects from the balance spring and which is made in a second layer of silicon-based material and is secured to the balance.

One-piece regulating member and method of manufacturing the same

The invention relates to a method () of fabricating a mould () that includes the following steps: The invention concerns the field of micromechanical parts, in particular, for timepiece movements.

The invention relates to a method () of manufacturing a silicon-metal composite micromechanical component () combining DRIE and LIGA processes. The invention also relates to a micromechanical component () including a layer wherein one part () is made of silicon and another part () of metal so as to form a composite micromechanical component (). The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Silicon-metal composite micromechanical component and method of manufacturing the same

The invention relates to a single piece coaxial escape wheel set () including a first toothing () formed at the periphery of a plate () and a second toothing (). According to the invention, the second toothing () is formed in a single piece with the plate () of the first toothing () so as to reduce any problems of alignment of one in relation to the other and to decrease the overall mass of the wheel set (). The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

Single piece wheel set for a timepiece

The invention relates to a silicon-based Breguet overcoil balance spring () that includes a hairspring () made integral coaxially with a collet (), a terminal curve () and an elevation device () between the outer coil () of the hairspring and the terminal curve. According to the invention, the balance spring has two single parts secured to each other to increase the development precision of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Breguet overcoil balance spring made of silicon-based material

The invention relates to a one-piece hairspring () including, a balance spring () coaxially mounted on a collet (), made in the same layer of silicon-based material. According to the invention, the hairspring includes an elevation device () for the outer coil of the balance spring above the layer of silicon-based material so as to improve the concentric development of the hairspring. The invention also relates to a timepiece including a hairspring of this type and the method of manufacturing the same. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Method of manufacturing a one-piece hairspring

The invention relates to a timepiece component () that has an aperture () for receiving a support element () and includes a clamping system () for exerting radial force, allowing said timepiece component to be secured to said support element. According to the invention, the clamping system () includes a radial clamping device () that has a crown () for exerting said radial force and a concentric, blind recess () spaced apart from said aperture, for allowing said crown to travel. The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

Radial clamping system for a timepiece component

The invention relates to a timepiece component () that has an aperture () for receiving a support element () and includes a clamping system () for exerting radial force, enabling said timepiece component to be secured to said support element. According to the invention, the clamping system () includes a radial clamping device () that has a crown () for exerting said radial force and a concentric, blind recess () spaced apart from said aperture, to allow a travel for the crown. Moreover, the clamping system () further includes a device allowing a travel () that has a second, concentric, blind recess (), spaced apart from said first blind recess (), and located on the opposite surface to said first recess, to allow said crown a greater degree of freedom relative to said support element. The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

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Cudrefin, Switzerland

Jean-Philippe Thiebaud