Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Omega Sa

Laurent Klinger

Jean-Luc Helfer

Gianni Di Domenico

Pascal Winkler

Baptiste Hinaux

Pierre Cusin

Dominique Lechot

Jerome Favre

Thierry Conus

Marco Verardo

Ivan Villar

Jérôme Favre

Olivier Matthey

Alex Gandelhman

Jean-Bernard Peters

Baptist Wyssbrod

David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl

Julien Saglini

Marc Lippuner

Stephane Bachmann

Stéphane Bachmann

Thorsten Kramer

Thomas Stoeckli

Thomas Stöckli

Dominique Léchot

A mechanical horological movement () including at least one barrel system () for driving a set of wheels and power reserve detector. The detector () includes a control wheel () disposed opposite the cage of the barrel system () and is rotated by a complementary wheel () at the differential output to determine a power reserve level. An aperture () has a first end () to define a complete charge of the barrel system and a second end () to define a complete discharge. A lever () is rotatably mounted about a lever axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the control wheel. A contact element () disposed in the aperture contacts the second end during a zero power reserve indication. A portion of the lever contacts a component of the movement to stop its operation when power reserve indication is at zero.

Mechanical horological movement with power reserve detection

A timepiece resonator including an inertia element suspended from a flexible strip deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of the strip, which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib extending substantially along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections of the strip located outside the ribs, and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib of the strip, along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip between its embedments.

Timepiece resonator comprising at least one flexure bearing

There is disclosed a timepiece resonator having an inertia element suspended from a flexible strip deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of said strip, which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib extending along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections of the strip located outside the ribs, and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib of the strip, along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip between its embedments.

A method for making a flexure bearing for an oscillator with an inertial element oscillating in a plane supported by flexible strips fixed to a stationary support returning it to a rest position includes: forming the bearing with basic strips in superposed levels, each having an aspect ratio of less than 10; breaking down the number of basic levels into a plurality of sub-units, each including one or two strips joining a basic support and a basic inertial element, which are made by etching substrates; assembling the sub-units by joining their basic inertial elements; and fixing the basic supports to the support, directly or via translational tables along one or two in-plane translational degrees of freedom, of lower translational stiffness than that of the sub-unit.

Method for making a flexure bearing mechanism for a mechanical timepiece oscillator

A mechanical timepiece oscillator includes, between a support and an inertial element, a flexure bearing with flexible strips crossed in projection, including, superposed, an upper level that includes, between an upper support and an upper inertial element, an upper primary strip in a first direction and an upper secondary strip in a second direction, and a lower level that includes, between a lower support and a lower inertial element, a lower primary strip in the first direction and a lower secondary strip in the second direction. The upper level and lower level include, between the support and the upper or respectively lower support, a translational table with an elastic connection along one or two axes of freedom in the oscillation plane, of lower stiffness than that of each flexible strip.

Timepiece oscillator with flexure bearings having a long angular stroke

A mechanical timepiece oscillator including, between a first element and a second inertial element, more than two distinct flexible strips returning the inertial element to a rest position in an oscillation plane, wherein the projections of these strips cross each other, at a point, through which passes the axis of pivoting of the second solid inertial element, and the height to thickness aspect ratio is less than 10 for each strip.

A mechanical oscillator with an inertia element oscillating about a virtual pivot axis of fixed position with respect to a fixed base to which it is suspended by several flexible connections, each including a deformable compass-like member including elastic strips forming a first arm fixed to a base and a second arm fixed to the inertia element, joined at a reversal edge defining a apex of the deformable compass-like member, wherein in an unstressed rest state of the oscillator, the projection of the apex is on a first side of the pivot axis, opposite to a second side where the ends of the first and second arms are projected.

Mechanical timepiece oscillator which is isochronous in all positions

A timepiece or watch includes at least one resonator, which includes at least one weight that oscillates with respect to a connecting element fixed to a structure of a timepiece movement. The weight is suspended from the connecting element by resilient crossed strips which extend at a distance from each other in two parallel planes. The projections of the strips on one of the parallel planes intersect at a virtual pivot axis of the weight, and define a first angle which is the apex angle opposite which there extends the portion of the connecting element that is located between the attachments of the crossed strips to the connecting element. The first angle is between 68&#xb0; and 76&#xb0;.

Timepiece resonator with crossed strips

A method for adjusting an oscillation frequency of a sprung balance assembly, in which a removal or a displacement of material is conducted on a component of this sprung balance assembly under an effect of a pulse of a laser source to conduct a micromachining or microfusion operation on the material of this component to vaporize or displace this material. This pulse is controlled by a controller configured to generate, sequence, interrupt any pulse and to control movements of a beam of this laser source, and the controller is automatically controlled by a measuring or comparing mechanism.

Method for adjusting the oscillation frequency and/or adjusting the inertia and/or balancing of a movable timepiece movement component or of a timepiece spring balance assembly

The invention relates to a timepiece movement including a resonator formed by the cooperation of a balance with a balance spring, said resonator being pivotally mounted between a bar and another part such as a bar or a main plate. According to the invention, the timepiece movement further includes a device preventing adhesion of said balance spring against said bar including a surface decreasing means formed on the bar for limiting the contact surface when the faces of said balance spring and of said bar touch each other.

Anti-adhesion device for a balance spring on a bar

Timepiece wheel () comprising teeth () with play compensation each including a catch () projecting from a catch foot (), and an elastic strip () projecting from a strip foot () opposite said catch () from which said strip () is separated by a ventral notch () and an intrados profile () of which, on the side opposite said catch (), delimits a dorsal notch (), said strip foot () being delimited, towards the pivot axis (D) of said wheel (), by an inner end () of said ventral notch () and by an inner end () of said dorsal notch (). Said inner end () is located closer to said axis (D) than said inner end () and extends, on the side of said axis (D) underneath said catch foot () or underneath the inner extension () of said ventral notch () towards said pivot axis (D).

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Bienne, Switzerland

Laurent Klinger