The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse

Raphael Haenni

Pascal Lagorgette

Damien Schmutz

Yvan Ferri

Raphael Balmer

Francois Klopfenstein

Matthieu Tardivon

A capacitive sensor to determine instantaneous angular position of a rotatable element in a timepiece, such as a setting stem of a wristwatch. Static electrodes are configured to form, in conjunction with rotor electrodes of the rotatable element, a first differential capacitance pair and a second differential capacitance pair. A sensor calculation unit is configured to sense difference values from the differential capacitances pairs and to evaluate the angular position of the rotatable element from the difference values using predetermined information relating the differential capacitance values to angular position values.

Position sensor for a timepiece setting stem

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

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Sion, Switzerland

Raphael Haenni