436results about "Frequency stabilisation mechanism" patented technology

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece rate control device that realizes statistical pulse control with zero average external force using a single or opposing actuator, and electronic hacking including a contactless brake with zero wear. [Solution] A rate control device comprising: at least one actuator arranged opposite a balance oscillator; detection means for detecting the oscillator phase; and a control circuit for selectively executing a statistical control mode in which a probability function is generated based on the phase difference between the output of the detection means and an external reference oscillator, and symmetrical pulses are applied in an even half-cycle phase window to make the average external force zero, and a stop mode in which the actuator is continuously or intermittently driven in response to an external command to apply a brake torque and stop the oscillator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece rate stabilizer that uses an external reference but does not directly inject mechanical vibrations into the balance, and that can stabilize the rate over a long period of time with extremely low power consumption. [Solution] We provide a rate stabilizer for mechanical watches that is based on a statistical driving method with constant pulse width and amplitude and autonomously switches between four modes based on actual current consumption: normal mode using phase shift, ΔΣ1 bit stream mode, low detune frequency hopping mode, and chirp search mode.Without modifying the hairspring at all, we achieve both rate stability and low power consumption while maintaining constant instantaneous energy.

A flexible guide assembly for a rotating resonator mechanism, the assembly including a fixed support and two flexible guides extending in substantially the same plane or in two different parallel planes, the first flexible guide including a first element movable with respect to the fixed support, a first pair of flexible strips connected to the first movable element, such that the first movable element can move by bending the strips of the first pair in a circular motion about a first centre of rotation, the second flexible guide includes a second element movable with respect to first movable element, a second pair of flexible strips connecting the second movable element to the first movable element, such that the second movable element can move with respect to the first movable element by bending the strips of the second pair in a circular motion about a second centre of rotation. The first centre of rotation and the second centre of rotation are offset by a first predefined distance belonging to a plane of the assembly.

The invention relates to a regulating organ (1) for a clockwork movement comprising an inertial mass, for example an annular balance wheel (23), a balance spring (25), and a regulator system (20) for adjusting the rate of the balance spring (25). The balance spring (25) comprises a wound ribbon (2) and means for adjusting the stiffness of the balance spring having an elastic element (5) arranged in series with the wound ribbon (2). The regulator system (20) comprises a stud holder (31) having a first stud (34) and a second stud (35). The elastic element (5) is arranged between the first stud (34) and the second stud (35), the first stud (34) being movable relative to the second stud (35), the movement of the first stud (34) modifying the stiffness of the balance spring (25).

A method of manufacturing a plurality of silicon watch components (90) in a wafer is described.The method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a wafer (10, 110) having a lower side (10A, 110A) and an upper side (10B, 110B), the wafer (10, 110) comprising a single silicon layer (30, 130) without a support layer, the single layer (30, 130) having a thickness (e30, e130) greater than a maximum thickness (e90) of the watch components; (b) forming the watch components (90) by etching patterns in the silicon layer (30, 30', 130, 130') from the upper side (10B, 110B) of the wafer (10, 110); and (c) either before or after step (b), etching the wafer (10, 110) from its lower side (10A, 110A) to thin the wafer at least locally by forming at least one thinned zone (36, 38, 38', 136) in which the watch components (90) have been or will be formed, the at least one thinned zone (36, 38, 38', 136) having a thickness substantially equal to the maximum thickness (e90) of the watch components.

A balance-spring stud holder includes a clamping part defining three contact zones intended to press against a lateral wall of a projecting part of the balance bridge, a first contact zone being connected to a second contact zone by a first part and to the third contact zone by a second part of the clamping part. The first part has a first stiffness at a second median point of the second contact zone, relative to a first median point of the first contact zone, which is greater than three times a second stiffness that the second part has at a third median point of the third contact zone relative to the first median point of the first contact zone. The first stiffness can be seven times greater than the second stiffness.

A method for the fine adjustment of the rate of a mechanical oscillator with an oscillating inertial mass, equipped, in a first step, with an actuator made of material suitable for irreversible local micro-expansion under the action of laser fires, to impart to an inertia-block a radial travel during suitable laser fires on a writing zone of the actuator, in a second step, the initial rate of the oscillator is set and measured, in a third step, the direction and the value of the deviation required to achieve a predetermined rate range, and of the travel to be imparted to inertia-blocks are calculated, in a fourth step, a writing zone is subjected to femtosecond laser fires to create expansion lines by local molecular expansion to radially deform the actuator, in a fifth step the rate is measured and the third step and fourth step are repeated if required.

The present invention relates to an escapement mechanism (1) arranged to supply mechanical impulses from a driving source to an oscillating regulator (2) of a clock movement via a leaf spring (6) operating in buckling around an inflection point (I). The mechanism comprises a winding rocker (10), a release rocker (12), and a locking rocker (14). The leaf spring (6), in normal operation, is capable of accumulating energy from the driving source transmitted by winding elements (40a, 40b) during a winding phase, remaining in a wound state during a locking phase, and then releasing the accumulated energy to the oscillating regulator (2) during a pulse phase preceded by a release phase. The locking rocker (14) comprises two locking arms (56a, 56b), each equipped with a locking member. (58a, 58b) arranged to cooperate with a locking member (46a,46b) respective complement of the cocking lever (10) to block said cocking lever (10) during the locking phase. Each locking arm (56a, 56b) of said locking rocker (14) has, at its free end, an inclined plane (66a, 66b) configured to cooperate with the starting inclined plane (61a, 61b) provided correspondingly on the arming rocker (10) during a self-start phase during which an activation of the drive source causes the arming rocker (10) to move, the free passage of which is permitted by the locking rocker (14) which was previously positioned by the detent rocker (12) under the influence of the oscillating regulator (2) at rest, said angular movement of the arming rocker causing a displacement of the locking rocker (14) by pushing one of the starting inclined planes (61a, 61b) on the corresponding inclined plane (66a, 66b) of the locking rocker (10),so that said locking lever (14) rotates the oscillating regulator (2) out of the lifting angle, the escapement mechanism (1) positioning itself in a position corresponding to a locking phase ready to be followed by an unlocking phase and a pulse phase of normal operation.

The invention relates to a horological movement comprising a striking mechanism of a watch including a vibrating element and a striking device of said vibrating element comprising a hammer fixed overhanging a structure of the horological movement by means of strips of a flexible guide, said strips being both arranged so as to extend in directions intersecting at a point materialising an instantaneous centre of rotation C disposed along an axis T tangent to the vibrating element.

The present invention relates to a device (6) for autonomous adjustment of the active length of a balance spring (5), for a balance-spring type oscillator (4, 5), comprising a cock (12) mounted on a plate (13) of a watch movement (2) and in which a balance shaft pivots, the balance spring (5) having an inner end fixed to the balance shaft and an outer end fixed to a stud (8) attached to a stud holder (10), the stud holder (10) being pivotally mounted on the cock (12) concentrically with the balance shaft, and means for modifying the active length of the balance spring (5).

Method for manufacturing watch components (100), comprising the steps of: (a) taking a wafer (10) comprising a support layer (20), a working layer (30) and a buried layer (40) formed of graphene and separating the working layer (30) from the support layer (20), (b) etching at least a part of the watch components into the working layer (30), (c) separating the working layer (30) from the support layer (20) and / or the buried layer (40) formed of graphene.

The piezoelectric spiral spring (3) is intended for a self-regulating circuit (10) for the oscillation frequency of an oscillating mechanical system (2, 3), or for an energy recovery circuit, or for a motor circuit for actuation of the movement or its automatic maintenance. The piezoelectric spiral spring (3) comprises at least one piezoelectric layer (7, 7', 17, 17', 27, 27') disposed on a top (20) or bottom face of a certain number of coils of the spring in planar orientation, and at least two pairs of electrodes (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) where the electrodes of each pair are disposed on two opposite faces of the same piezoelectric layer or respectively of two piezoelectric layers so as to apply a reverse bias voltage to each pair of electrodes.

The utility model discloses a mechanical watch movement, relates to the technical field of mechanical watch movement, aims to solve the problem that a biaxial tourbillon movement is influenced by gravitational attraction when being placed on a movement plane, and comprises a middle clamping plate, a triple clamping plate, a lower clamping plate, a bottom clamping plate, a second upper support assembly and a transmission assembly, a second gear shaft is rotationally connected between the second upper supporting assembly and the bottom clamping plate, the top end of the second gear shaft is in interference connection with a second shaft support, a fixed planet wheel and a movable planet wheel are arranged on the second shaft support, and the movable planet wheel is in meshed connection with a rail wheel; the spherical frame is rotationally arranged between the fixed planet wheel and the movable planet wheel; a second clamping plate connecting piece is rotationally connected to the bottom of the interior of the spherical frame, a fixed second wheel sheet is fixedly connected to the interior of the spherical frame, and a swing clamping plate is fixedly connected to the second clamping plate connecting piece; and an escapement mechanism is also arranged.

To provide a balance with a hairspring that can maintain high accuracy, a watch, and a method for manufacturing a balance with a hairspring.SOLUTION: A balance with a hairspring comprises: a balance staff 410 that is rotatably supported on a bottom board; a collet 440 that is fixed to the balance staff 410; a balance spring 70 that is fixed to the collet 440, and has the Grossmann curve arranged on the side of the collet 440 and the Archimedes curve connected with the Grossmann curve; and a shock resistant member 500 that prevents displacement of the shape of the Grossmann curve at least on the side of the collet 440.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

The invention describes a system for a watch movement to control the speed and / or direction of movement of a driven mechanism. The system comprises a power source arranged to drive a finishing gear train at a constant speed, cooperating with a first input of a differential system; and a variable intermediate gear train cooperating with a second input of said differential system. This intermediate gear train is arranged to define a variable output speed. The differential system is arranged to control the ratio between the rotational speed of the finishing gear and the rotational speed of the intermediate gear train so as to control, at the output of the differential, the speed and / or direction of movement of a driven mechanism, the system maintaining a constant speed on the finishing gear.

A resonator mechanism (100) for a timepiece comprising a structure (1) and an anchoring block (30) from which is suspended at least one inertial element (2) arranged to oscillate according to a first rotational degree of freedom RZ about a pivot axis (D) extending in a first direction Z, said inertial element (2) being subjected to return forces exerted by a flexible guide (200) forming a virtual pivot, said anchoring block (30) being suspended from said structure (1) by a flexible suspension (300) arranged to allow the mobility of said anchoring block (30) according to a plurality of degrees of freedom, at least two of which are in an XY plane, in a second direction X and in a third direction Y orthogonal to said second direction X,the clockwork resonator mechanism (100) comprising means (10) for retaining the flexible suspension (300) configured to dampen the rotation of the inertial element (2) and of the flexible suspension (300) around the second direction X, and / or around the third direction Y.,

The invention relates to a regulating organ (1) for a clockwork movement comprising an oscillating mass (19), for example a balance wheel, a balance spring comprising a flexible ribbon (2) wound upon itself in several turns, the ribbon (2) having a predefined stiffness to allow the oscillating mass to perform a rotary oscillatory motion, the ribbon (2) comprising an external end (9) of the ribbon (2), the regulating organ (1) comprising an elastic compensating device (50) for external pressure, connecting the external end (9) to a first support fixed (7) relative to the clockwork movement, the elastic compensating device (50) being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the external pressure in order to compensate for the effect of the external pressure on the regulating organ (1). The invention also relates to a clockwork movement comprising such a regulating organ (1).

A pallet (21) for a horology escapement mechanism (50), the pallet (21) including a fork (22) designed to engage with an ellipse (23) on a balance (35), an entry arm (11) and an exit arm (12) designed to engage with an escapement mobile (30), as well as an arbor (5) on which the fork (22), the entry arm (11) and the exit arm (12) are fitted, the fork (22), the entry arm (11) and the exit arm (12) being arranged on the arbor (5) in two separate parts, the fork (22) being arranged on a first level and the entry arm (11) and exit arm (12) being arranged on a second level of the arbor (5), the two levels being separated along the axis of the arbor (5) by a predetermined distance (D0).

The utility model relates to a watch movement and a watch. The watch movement comprises a mechanical resonator composed of a balance wheel and a balance spring; means for setting the oscillation frequency of the mechanical resonator; and a mechanism for setting a guide mark on the mechanical resonator. The moving member of the setting device includes a mechanism for attaching the outer end portion of the hairspring and a mechanism for defining the effective length of the hairspring. The mechanism for varying the effective length includes a first gear carried by the moving member and a first tooth arranged along the outer end portion of the hairspring, the first gear meshing with the first tooth. The fastening mechanism retains the outer end portion by friction so that the first gear can drive the outer end portion via the first teeth and thus change the effective length of the hairspring. The first gear is in meshing relationship with a second gear that is integral with the resonator support such that when the outer end portion undergoes angular displacement in a selected direction relative to the moving member, the moving member is simultaneously angularly displaced by a corresponding angular distance in an opposite direction.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing balance springs (20) intended to equip a regulating organ of a timepiece, said method comprising the manufacture of balance springs (20) in at least one silicon wafer (10), this manufacture comprising at least one lithography step to form the pattern of the balance springs (20) on or above said wafer (10) and a machining step in said at least one wafer (10) through said patterns, said method comprising the following steps: (a) determination of the stiffness of each balance spring (20); (b) classification of each balance spring (20) according to its stiffness; (c) formation of batches of balance springs (20) detached from their original wafer by stiffness class; (d) selection of batches of balance springs (20) to be corrected; (e) application of a corrective treatment adapted to said selected batches to modify the stiffness of each spiral (20) of said batches and approach a target stiffness.

Method for making a watch component (100) in amorphous metal alloy, the manufacturing process comprising: - a step (E1) of making a first preform in amorphous metal alloy, then - a step (E2) of hot drawing of the first preform to obtain a second preform, then - a step (E3) of machining of the second preform.

A method for manufacturing an oscillator for a timepiece made from a balance and a balance spring, the method including measuring the average moment of inertia of a batch of balances; providing pinned up balance springs, the balance springs having an excess number of coils forming up to three more turns than the final number of coils; making a first predetermined external cut of the balance springs over a length of one to two coils, then measuring the torque of the balance springs and sorting them according to the value of the measured torque; assembling the balance springs, whose measured torque corresponds to the balances, are assembled to form an oscillator with an intermediate frequency and to determine the length to be cut to achieve the desired oscillation frequency; making a second external cut of the balance springs selected to achieve both the desired oscillation frequency and a target value.

Comprising a wheel set carrying a display member and provided with a braking device. An electromechanical timepiece movement (2) is disclosed comprising an electromechanical motor (54), a display wheel set (30) arranged to be rotated by the electromechanical motor and comprising a stem (36) intended to carry display hands (48), and a braking device associated with the display wheel set and comprising a brake spring (10) and a gasket (8) arranged between the brake spring and the stem of the display wheel set, the brake spring is arranged so as to be able to generate a brake torque on the display wheel set via the washer pressed by the brake spring once the display wheel set is subjected to a rotational drive torque. The washer and the brake spring are arranged such that the washer remains stationary and does not rotate in normal operation. The gasket applies a total compression force to the arbor so as to create a friction force between the lateral surface of the gasket and the revolution surface of the arbor, which generates a braking torque.

The watch movement comprises a mechanical resonator (2) and an escapement (12) including an escape wheel (16), which has a plurality of flexible teeth (42), and an anchor (14) formed of two mechanical pallets (28, 29) which are capable of abutting, when the anchor swings between its two rest positions, any of the flexible teeth depending on the angular position of the escape wheel. Each flexible tooth is arranged so as to be able to flex by undergoing elastic deformation under the action of a radial force that can be exerted by one of the two mechanical pallets abutting that flexible tooth when the escape wheel is in an unfavorable angular position and the mechanical resonator is braked by the anchor.Each tooth has an elastic capacity that allows it to elastically absorb, in a radial direction, most of the maximum mechanical energy that the mechanical resonator can have during the normal operation of the watch movement, so as to avoid breakage or deterioration of the escapement.

The invention relates to a flexible guide (20) for a rotary resonator mechanism, in particular for a clockwork movement, the guide (20) comprising a fixed support (25), a movable element (26) relative to the fixed support (25), at least two main flexible blades (36, 37, 38) allowing the movable element (26) to move relative to the fixed support (25) by bending the main flexible blades (36, 37, 38) in a rotary motion around a center of rotation, the flexible guide (20) being arranged substantially in a plane, the flexible guide comprising at least two translation tables (33, 34, 35) each joined to one end of a main flexible blade (36, 37, 38), such that each translation table (33, 34, 35) is configured to move in translation at least partially under the effect of the bending of the main flexible blade (36, 37, 38). 37, 38) corresponding, the flexible guide (20) comprising at least one tertiary flexible blade (31, 39,41) linking the two translation tables (33, 34, 35).

To provide a mechanical assembly allowing secure attachment without resilient deformation of an outer last coil of a balance spring and without use of any adhesive.SOLUTION: An assembly for removable attachment of a balance spring 2 includes means 8 of retaining the balance spring 2 on one hand, and a removable locking part 10 on the other hand. A second free end 18 of an outer last coil 20 of the balance spring 2 includes attachment means in which the retaining means 8 is engaged to ensure the removable attachment of the balance spring 2 by the outer last coil 20. The attachment means is dimensioned such that, in its natural rest position, the balance spring 2 is not in contact with the retaining means 8 engaged with the attachment means. The locking part 10 for the removable attachment of the second free end 18 of the outer last coil 20 of the balance spring 2 is engaged with the retaining means 8 to lock the attachment means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

The invention discloses a tourbillon structure of a mechanical watch with counterweight compensation, and relates to the technical field of mechanical watch application, the tourbillon structure comprises a frame plate, a first direction shaft, an outer tourbillon, a second direction shaft, an inner tourbillon, an escapement mechanism and a transmission system, the outer tourbillon is rotatably connected with the frame plate through the first direction shaft, and the outer tourbillon is rotatably connected with the frame plate through the second direction shaft; the outer tourbillon is rotatably connected with the inner tourbillon through a first direction shaft, the axis of the outer tourbillon is perpendicular to the first direction shaft, the inner tourbillon is rotatably connected with the outer tourbillon through a second direction shaft, the escapement mechanism is arranged on the inner tourbillon, and the escapement mechanism comprises an escapement wheel, an escapement fork and a hairspring balance wheel. And in combination with an inertia fine adjustment mechanism on the balance wheel, collaborative optimization is performed from two levels of frame dynamic balance and speed regulation period, so that the problem of uneven mass distribution easily caused by a complex structure of the double-shaft tourbillon is effectively solved, and frictional resistance and unnecessary energy loss of the rotating frame are remarkably reduced.

The invention relates to a method for machining a watch or jewelry component (20) by cutting material, comprising the steps of: - obtaining a support substrate (10), - positioning or clamping the support substrate (10) in a machine tool, - machining at least partially the watch or jewelry component (20), - applying a vibratory excitation to the watch or jewelry component (20) still attached to the support substrate (10), - measuring a vibratory response of the watch or jewelry component (20), to determine at least one characteristic of a resonance frequency, - providing said at least one resonance frequency characteristic to a machining prediction machine to determine or modify at least one machining step to be carried out before finishing the watch or jewelry component (20).