Eta Sa Fabriques D'ebauches

Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse

Rainer Platz

Metin Giousouf

Heinz K&uuml;ck

Heinz Kück

Eric Saurer

Naci Basturk

A time base including a resonator () and an integrated electronic circuit () for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate () and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure having a plurality of thermally compensating members () which are adapted to alter a mass moment of inertia of the free-standing oscillating structure as a function of temperature so as to compensate for the effect of temperature on the resonant frequency of the ring resonator.

Temperature compensation mechanism for a micromechanical ring resonator

A time base including a resonator () and an integrated electronic circuit () for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate () and adapted to oscillate in a first oscillation mode. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure (). Electrodes () are positioned under the free-standing oscillating structure in such a way as to drive and sense a second oscillation mode in a plane substantially perpendicular to the substrate and having a resonant frequency which is different from the resonant frequency of the first oscillation mode, a frequency difference between the resonant frequencies of both oscillation modes being used for compensating for the effect of temperature on the frequency of the signal produced by the time base.

There is described a time base comprising a resonator ( ) and an integrated electronic circuit ( ) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to this oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical tuning fork resonator ( ) supported above a substrate ( ) and adapted to oscillate in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate. The tuning fork resonator comprises a base member ( ) extending substantially perpendicularly from the substrate, a free-standing oscillating structure ( ) connected to the base member and including at least a first pair of substantially parallel fork tines ( ) and an electrode structure ( ) disposed adjacent to the fork tines and connected to the integrated electronic circuit.

Time base comprising an integrated micromechanical tuning fork resonator

A display assembly is disclosed including an electro-optical cell ( ), for example a liquid crystal cell, and a photovoltaic cell ( ) acting as a back reflector. In order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the display, the photovoltaic cell ( ) reflects predetermined wavelengths and thus exhibits a desired color in the transparent zones ( ) of the electro-optical cell. In particular, the reflected light can be colored by reflection onto a multi-layered reflective filter including a transparent electrode ( ) of the photovoltaic cell. This cell may form part of the dial of a watch.

Display assembly including an electro-optical cell and a photovoltaic cell

A time base having a resonator ( ) and an integrated electronic circuit ( ) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to this oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator ( ) supported above a substrate ( ) and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator has a central post ( ) extending from the substrate along the axis of rotation, and a free-standing oscillating structure ( ) including an outer ring ( ) coaxial with the axis of rotation, and a plurality of spring elements ( ) disposed symmetrically around the central post and connecting the outer ring to the central post.

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Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Rainer Platz