The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Laurent Nagy

Jean-Jacques Born

Christophe Germiquet

Jérôme Favre

Gianni Di Domenico

Dominique Lechot

Lionel Tombez

Jean-Claude Martin

Baptiste Hinaux

Olivier Matthey

Alexandre Haemmerli

Lionel Paratte

A method for measuring the medium frequency of a digital signal derived from a reference periodic signal generated by an electronic oscillator (quartz oscillator) forming a timepiece () which includes an analogue time display device and a continuous rotation electromechanical transducer (generator or continuous rotation motor) which is kinematically linked to this display device and wherein the medium rotational speed is regulated by a regulation device. The medium frequency of the digital signal is determined by a measurement device () without galvanic contact with the movement of the timepiece. The measurement method makes it possible to determine the rate of the timepiece and the precision of the electronic oscillator based on regulation impulses detected by a magnetic sensor () and over a measurement period limited to the duration of an inhibition cycle of periods of the reference periodic signal.

Measurement of the precision of a timepiece comprising a continuous rotation electromechanical transducer in the analogue time display device thereof

A watch includes a striking mechanism, including an attached gong () and a hammer (), as well as a battery () and an integrated circuit () powered by the battery and configured to produce current pulses, and an electrodynamic actuator () which is connected to the integrated circuit and configured to receive said pulses, the actuator being integral with the hammer or connected to the hammer to generate in response to the pulses a movement of the hammer from a rest position thereof, the movement being able to actuate an impact of the hammer on the gong. The mechanism also includes a spring () connected to the hammer so as to return the hammer to its rest position after the impact. Depending on particular embodiments, the hammer undergoes one or more pre-oscillations before reaching the impact. The hammer and the gong may be provided with attracting magnets.

Watch with mechanical or electronic movement provided with a striking mechanism

Inertia mobile component () for a horological resonator (), oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D), and including at least one magnetic area (), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (), included in the inertia mobile component (), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D), this inertia mobile component () bearing at least one magnetic compensating element (), the magnetisation component thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axis of oscillation (D) can be adjusted in order to obtain a total resultant magnetic moment that is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D).

Inertia mobile component for horological resonator with magnetic interaction device insensitive to the external magnetic field

A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a control device for controlling the frequency of the mechanical oscillator. This control device is arranged to be capable of generating time-separated control pulses, each including a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the control device between two electrodes of the piezoelectric balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. The control device is arranged to be capable of applying a plurality of control pulses during each time of a series of distinct correction times or without interruption in a continuous time window, in order to respectively synchronize the mechanical oscillator at a correction frequency whose value depends on a detected positive or negative temporal drift or at a desired frequency for the mechanical oscillator.

Timepiece including a mechanical movement whose operation is controlled by an electronic device

Horological resonator () including an inertia mobile component () oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D) and including at least one magnetic area (), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (), included in the inertia mobile component (), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D), this inertia mobile component () bearing at least one balancing magnet (), the direction of the magnetic moment thereof crosses the axis of oscillation (D) to obtain magnetic balancing of the inertia mobile component ().

A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a regulating device for regulating the frequency of the mechanical oscillator which is arranged to be able to produce time-separated regulating pulses, each consisting of a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the regulating device between two electrodes of the balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. Each regulating pulse produces a variation of rate which varies as a function of its moment of starting in a half-period of the mechanical oscillator, the characteristic function of this variation of rate relative to the moment of starting of at least one regulating pulse respectively in at least one half-period of the mechanical oscillator being negative in a first temporal zone of at least one half-period and positive in a second temporal zone of at least one half-period.

Timepiece comprising a mechanical movement whose rate is regulated by an electronic device

The present invention concerns a method of controlling a rotational speed of a rotor () of a direct current electric motor () comprising an inductor circuit (A, B) for rotating the rotor, which is configured to rotate continuously and is equipped with permanent magnets. The method comprises: measuring the rotational speed of the rotor; determining a time drift in the rotor rotation compared to a reference signal; defining N speed thresholds with at least one being a variable speed threshold depending on the determined time drift, the N speed thresholds defining N+1 rotational speed ranges for the rotor; determining in which one of the N+1 rotational speed ranges the determined rotational speed of the rotor is; and finally selecting an action relative to the control of the inductor circuit, based on the determined rotational speed range, for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor.

Control method of a direct current electric motor

A motor drive unit for driving a direct current electric motor including a moving part equipped with permanent magnets. The motor drive unit, which is powered by a voltage supply source, includes a switch circuit, an inductor circuit and a capacitor circuit including a set of capacitors. By selectively opening and closing the switches of the switch circuit, a series of consecutive low energy pulses can be generated such that the power consumption of the motor drive circuit is minimized.

Motor drive unit of a DC electric motor

A continuously rotating electric motor includes a rotor provided with permanent magnets and a stator formed by two coils in which, when the rotor is rotating, two induced voltage signals (Uand U) are respectively generated, which signals have an electric phase shift &#x3c6; where 5&#xb0;&#x2264;&#x3c6;&#x2264;90&#xb0;, preferably 30&#xb0;&#x3c;&#x3c6;&#x3c;65&#xb0;. The control device includes a circuit for detecting intersection times (T) at which values of the two induced voltage signals are substantially equal. The control device is arranged to generate electric driving pulses to rotate the rotor, which are respectively initiated at initiation times determined by respective intersection times, and such that the electric driving pulses can be applied to the two coils arranged in series. Preferably, the control device is arranged such that the initiation times of the electric driving pulses occur directly after detections of corresponding intersection times.

Continuously rotating electric motor having a permanent magnet rotor

A DC motor including a continuous rotation rotor; a first inductor characterized by first parameters; a second inductor characterized by second parameters; a voltage supply unit; a measurement unit for detecting time instants when a first induced voltage in the first inductor equals a second induced voltage in the second inductor; and a control unit for controlling the application of drive voltage pulses to the inductors. The rotor faces first the second inductor before facing the first inductor when being rotated. At least one of the second parameters is selected different from a corresponding parameter of the first parameters such that a maximum induced voltage in the first inductor is greater than a maximum induced voltage in the second inductor. The control unit is arranged to trigger each of the drive voltage pulses after a detection of an equal induced voltage in the first and second inductors.

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Liebefeld, Switzerland

Laurent Nagy