655results 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).

Disclosed is an adjustment method for a timepiece oscillator including a balance, a support and a flexure pivot connecting the balance to the support and guiding the balance in rotation as to the support about a virtual axis of rotation, the flexure pivot having, in orthogonal projection in a plane perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation, an axis of symmetry which is also an axis of symmetry for the points where the flexure pivot joins the balance. In the method, the unbalance of the balance is adjusted so, in orthogonal projection in the plane, the center of mass of the balance is substantially on the axis of symmetry and at a position distinct from that of the virtual axis of rotation and chosen to reduce, and preferably render minimal, the dependency of the oscillation frequency with respect to the orientation of gravity for a predetermined amplitude of oscillation.

The invention discloses a mechanical watch movement, relates to the technical field of mechanical watch movements, and aims to solve the problem that a biaxial tourbillon movement is affected by gravitational attraction when placed on a movement plane. The mechanical watch movement comprises a middle clamping plate, a three-clamping plate, a lower clamping plate and a bottom clamping plate, and further comprises a second upper supporting 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.

An object of the present invention is to provide an accuracy improvement device that achieves high accuracy comparable to that of a quartz clock and solves the accuracy problems of conventional mechanical clocks without significantly changing the existing clock structure. 【Means for solving the problem】 A mechanical clock is built-in with an external transmitter separate from the balance wheel, and its pulsation is converted into mechanical vibration by a piezo element, and the vibration energy is transmitted to the balance wheel. As a result, mechanical vibration is transmitted to the balance wheel of the mechanical clock, and the balance wheel is resonated by utilizing the pulling-in phenomenon. Due to this resonance, the vibration of the balance wheel is forcibly synchronized with the frequency of the quartz transmitter, and the accuracy is significantly improved.

A method for manufacturing a batch of horological balance springs (2a), the average of whose stiffnesses lies within a predetermined range, includes forming in a wafer the horological balance springs (2b, 2c) with dimensions that differ from the dimensions required to obtain the batch of horological balance springs (2a), the average of whose stiffnesses lies within said predetermined range; determining the stiffnesses of said systems; computing a dimensional correction to be applied to the horological balance springs; andmmodifying the dimensions of the horological balance springs (2b, 2c) formed, on the basis of a dimensional correction computed to obtain the batch of horological balance springs (2a).

In particular, a clockwork mechanism (10T) is described comprising a rotating regulating system (SR) kinematically linked to a finishing train (RF), the rotating regulating system (SR) including a rotating cage (CR) carrying an escapement (EC) and a regulating member (BL), the rotating regulating system (SR) being capable of operating according to a first operating mode where the rotating cage (CR) is driven in rotation and at least according to a second operating mode where the rotating cage (CR) is immobilized while ensuring continuity of operation of the escapement (EC) and the regulating member (BL). The finishing train (RF) is kinematically linked to the rotating regulating system (SR) via a drive device (100) switchable between a first configuration and at least a second configuration.In the first configuration of the drive device (100), the rotating regulating system (SR) is operated according to the first operating mode and the going train (RF) is kinematically linked to the rotating cage (CR) via the drive device (100). In the second configuration of the drive device (100), the rotating regulating system (SR) is operated according to the second operating mode and the going train (RF) is disengaged from the rotating cage (CR), allowing the rotating cage (CR) to be immobilized, the going train (RF) remaining kinematically linked to the escapement (EC).

To provide a balance spring for a horological regulating member, the balance spring being provided with temperature-dependent adjustment means.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a balance spring, in particular, for a horological regulating member, the balance spring (100) including a flexible strip (2) wound about its own axis multiple turns, the strip (2) having a predefined stiffness. The balance spring (100) has means of adjusting the stiffness of the strip (2) The balance spring (1) also has actuating means (10) for actuating the adjustment means, the actuating means (10) being configured to actuate the adjustment means depending on ambient temperature. The invention also relates to a horological regulating member including such balance spring.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

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 invention relates to a balance spring, particularly for a resonator mechanism in watchmaking, the balance spring (100) comprising a flexible ribbon (2) wound upon itself in several turns, the ribbon (2) having a predefined stiffness, the balance spring (100) comprising means for adjusting its stiffness, the adjustment means comprising a flexible element (5) arranged in series with the ribbon (2), the flexible element (5) connecting one end (4) of said ribbon (2) to a fixed support (38), so as to add additional stiffness to the ribbon (2), the flexible element (5) preferably having a stiffness greater than that of the ribbon (2), characterized in that the flexible element (5) comprises two flexible parts (15, 16) each connecting the ribbon (2) to the fixed support (38), the two flexible parts (15, 16) being arranged relative to each other by axial symmetry along an axis (A) passing through preferably substantially through the center (0) of the spiral spring.The invention also relates to a clockwork resonator mechanism comprising such a spiral spring.

To provide a smart watch with a device for connecting electrical members of a watch movement to a common ground.SOLUTION: A smart watch 1 includes a processing unit 13 and a communication module 12 that are electrically connected to an electrical connector 18 included in a watch movement 10. The smart watch 1 includes a common ground device formed by a conductive elastic ring 200 including an annular body 205 having a central axis Z and a fastening tab 210 provided on the annular body 205. The fastening tab 210 cooperates with an intermediate section 110 to form a bayonet locking system 300 by rotation of the conductive elastic ring 200 relative to the intermediate section 110 about the central axis Z between inserted and locked positions. The conductive elastic ring 200 includes a conductive lug 250 configured to electrically contact a conductor 18 of the watch movement 10 when the conductive elastic ring 200 is in the locked position within the intermediate section 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

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.

Method for adjusting the rate of a basic oscillator of a watch arranged to oscillate at a nominal frequency N0, with a master oscillator generating an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the master oscillator subjecting the watch to excitation or a modulated motion during a transition phase after which the basic oscillator is stabilised at the excitation frequency NE, and a state of display correction method with a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, moving a support carrying the watch and comprising a state of display correction oscillator, having a lower variation of rate value than the initial variation of rate value DI of this basic oscillator, and oscillating at a correction frequency NC to impose oscillation or a motion on the watch, during a state of display correction phase whose duration is adjusted to exactly correct a state of display error measured at the initial moment of actuation.

Part for a timepiece movement, made of a composite material comprising a rigid matrix and a forest of nanotubes contained in the rigid matrix.

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 timepiece escapement mechanism improved in the self-starting of calibers not sufficient for an escapement to start on its own.SOLUTION: A timepiece escapement mechanism includes a lever 10 and an escapement wheel. The lever 10 is arranged to cooperate with an inertial mass of a mechanical oscillator and, at pallets 1 carried by the lever 10 or included in the lever 10, cooperate with teeth of the escapement wheel. The contact between a pallet 1 and an escapement tooth includes at least three zones, namely: a rest zone where the torque is in the negative direction, where the angle between the normal to the contact and the radius vector of the lever 10 is negative; a first zone corresponding to the first half lift angle, where the torque is in the positive direction, and where the angle ω1 is positive; and a second zone corresponding to the second half lift angle, where the torque is in the positive direction, and where the angle ω2 is positive.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

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

To provide an assembly of two timepiece components with improved assembly means.SOLUTION: An assembly of a horological movement comprises a first timepiece component (22), for example, a plate extending in a first plane, and a second timepiece component (30), for example, an actuator of an actuation system. The assembly (1) comprises means (40) for assembling the first timepiece component (22) to the second timepiece component (30). The assembly means (40) includes means (50) for positioning the second component (30) on the first component (22) in a plane substantially parallel to the first component (22), and means (60) for bearing on the second component (30) to lock the second component (30) on the first component (22).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

A stud-holder (1) for a regulating member (10) of a horological movement, the regulating member (10) including an inertial mass, for example a balance (23), a balance spring (25) including a strip (2) wound about itself in several turns, and a balance cock (22), the stud-holder (1) including a main body (31) intended to be mounted on the balance cock (42), and a stud (34) mounted on the main body (31) in a first direction, wherein the stud-holder (1) includes an arm (5) extending from the stud (34), the arm (5) being directed in a second direction under the main body (31), the second direction forming a non-zero angle with the first direction, so as to pass at least in part beneath a balance spring (25) held by the stud (34), when the stud-holder (1) is mounted on the regulating member (10).

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 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.