Patents by Inventor Alain Jornod

Alain Jornod has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230374707
    Abstract: A textile part (10) including at least two textile layers superimposed on one another and each including fibres, the layers being formed by an energy-generating layer (11; 12) configured to generate an electric current from light radiation or from mechanical stresses, and an energy storage layer (13) for supplying an electronic device with an electric current, the storage layer (13) being electrically connected to the generating layer (11; 13) and configured to store the electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Nathalie MARINAKIS, Nicolas FRANÇOIS, Alain JORNOD
  • Publication number: 20230375982
    Abstract: An external part component (10) of a watch including a photovoltaic cell (20) including an elementary solar cell (21) interposed between two electrodes, one of which is an upper electrode (22) arranged over a face of the elementary solar cell (21) intended to be subjected to an incident light radiation, the upper electrode (22) being formed by sections (220) arranged according to a predetermined pattern matching with a graphical representation of a constellation, the photovoltaic cell (20) being intended to be electrically connected to an electronic horological movement (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Sargis HAKOBYAN, Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ
  • Publication number: 20230315022
    Abstract: A dial for a watch includes a semi-transparent photovoltaic layer having a lower face. The dial also includes an ink-based decorative layer printed on the lower face of the photovoltaic layer. The decorative layer includes a pattern including one or more time markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Alain JORNOD
  • Patent number: 11768470
    Abstract: A dial for a watch includes a semi-transparent photovoltaic layer having a lower face. The dial also includes an ink-based decorative layer printed on the lower face of the photovoltaic layer. The decorative layer includes a pattern including one or more time markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Alain Jornod
  • Patent number: 11669051
    Abstract: A power indicator device (1) of a thermoelectric generator of a watch. The indicator device includes a first gas fluid reservoir (2), a second gas fluid reservoir (3), and at least one tubular conduit (4) connecting the two reservoirs. The first reservoir is placed on an upper surface of the thermoelectric generator in a watch case, while the second reservoir (3) is placed on a lower surface of the thermoelectric generator in contact with the back of a watch case. The tubular conduit is of the capillary type and comprises in an intermediate portion (9) a liquid forming a barrier to the gas fluid of the two reservoirs and allowing, in a display portion (24) visible from the outside of the watch case, to provide an indication of the power of the generator by measuring the temperature difference of the two reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Alain Jornod, Alexandre Haemmerli
  • Patent number: 11573535
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch includes a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator, and an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element. The energy management circuit includes an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod, Yves Theoduloz
  • Patent number: 11573534
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric module including a hot plate and a cold plate connected by semiconductor pillars, wherein the hot plate is thermally connected to the back cover of the watch, the cold plate is thermally connected to the case middle of the watch via a support element with at least two branches, at least two branches have a common end on which is held the cold plate of the thermoelectric module, and at least two branches are flexible to absorb shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alain Jornod, Francois Gueissaz, Yvan Ferri
  • Patent number: 11378921
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator; an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element, the energy management circuit including an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod, Yves Theoduloz
  • Publication number: 20220026854
    Abstract: A wearable object (42) including an electronic unit and a power supply unit formed by an electromechanical converter (6A) which includes a rotor (44) carrying first magnets (10A), a mechanical resonator (12A) provided with an inertia mass (46) capable of oscillating at a relatively high resonant frequency and carrying second magnets (20), and coils arranged so that, when the mechanical resonator is oscillating, an induced voltage is generated in these coils. The electromechanical converter is arranged so that the first magnets and the second magnets can, during a rotational drive of the rotor, interact magnetically so as to apply to the inertia mass, momentarily or temporarily, a magnetic force torque allowing to excite the mechanical resonator, in order to generate at least one oscillation of this mechanical resonator at its resonant frequency in order to generate a relatively high induced voltage allowing to recharge an accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Milan CALIC, Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ
  • Publication number: 20210341882
    Abstract: A power indicator device (1) of a thermoelectric generator of a watch. The indicator device includes a first gas fluid reservoir (2), a second gas fluid reservoir (3), and at least one tubular conduit (4) connecting the two reservoirs. The first reservoir is placed on an upper surface of the thermoelectric generator in a watch case, while the second reservoir (3) is placed on a lower surface of the thermoelectric generator in contact with the back of a watch case. The tubular conduit is of the capillary type and comprises in an intermediate portion (9) a liquid forming a barrier to the gas fluid of the two reservoirs and allowing, in a display portion (24) visible from the outside of the watch case, to provide an indication of the power of the generator by measuring the temperature difference of the two reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Alain JORNOD, Alexandre HAEMMERLI
  • Publication number: 20210200157
    Abstract: A testability method (500) for testing the operation of a thermoelectric element (110) of a thermoelectric watch (100) including the thermoelectric element (110), a power circuit supplied by primary storage elements (101) and secondary storage elements (102) so as to move at least one moveable element (190) or display information on an electro-optical display device. The testability method (500) includes steps of applying a heat source (540) to the thermoelectric element (110) so as to make it possible to electrically charge (550) or recharge (550) the secondary storage elements (102) in order to move at least one moveable element (190) or display information on an electro-optical display device, and thus check the functionality of the thermoelectric element (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Patent number: 10976710
    Abstract: A device is provided, including a housing having a cavity that is open to an exterior of the housing; an electrical element positioned inside the housing; and an actuation system configured to actuate the element and including a thermoelectric module including first and second electrically insulating plates substantially parallel to one another and each bear electrically conductive terminal blocks, and semiconductive pillars that extend between the respective blocks of the first and second plates, the module housed inside the cavity such that the second plate is positioned against walls of the cavity and the first plate is accessible from outside the housing, and an electronic transmission circuit linking at least two of the blocks of the second plate to the element, and where the system extends beyond the exterior of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a plane aligned with a surface of the exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod
  • Publication number: 20210088980
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator; an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element, the energy management circuit including an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
  • Publication number: 20210072705
    Abstract: A dial for a watch includes a semi-transparent photovoltaic layer having a lower face. The dial also includes an ink-based decorative layer printed on the lower face of the photovoltaic layer. The decorative layer includes a pattern including one or more time markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Alain Jornod
  • Publication number: 20200004209
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator; an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element, the energy management circuit including an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
  • Publication number: 20200004204
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch includes a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator, and an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element. The energy management circuit includes an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
  • Publication number: 20190369565
    Abstract: A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric module including a hot plate and a cold plate connected by semiconductor pillars, wherein the hot plate is thermally connected to the back cover of the watch, the cold plate is thermally connected to the case middle of the watch via a support element with at least two branches, at least two branches have a common end on which is held the cold plate of the thermoelectric module, and at least two branches are flexible to absorb shocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain JORNOD, Francois GUEISSAZ, Yvan FERRI
  • Patent number: 10018968
    Abstract: A skeleton watch including a case provided with a back cover and a crystal, and a set of components forming a movement of the skeleton watch, the components being arranged inside the case between the back cover and the crystal and being wholly or partially visible through the crystal, wherein the skeleton watch comprises at least one solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Alain Jornod
  • Publication number: 20180173169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising: a housing having a cavity that is open to the exterior of the housing an electrical element positioned inside the housing an actuation system for actuating the electrical element, comprising: a thermoelectric module including first and second electrically insulating plates, which plates are substantially parallel to one another and bear electrically conductive terminal blocks, and semiconductive pillars that extend between the terminal blocks of the first plate and the terminal blocks of the second plate, the thermoelectric module being housed inside the cavity such that the second plate is positioned against walls of the cavity and the first plate is accessible from outside the housing an electronic transmission circuit linking two terminal blocks of the second plate to the electrical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod
  • Publication number: 20170168460
    Abstract: A skeleton watch including a case provided with a back cover and a crystal, and a set of components forming a movement of the skeleton watch, the components being arranged inside the case between the back cover and the crystal and being wholly or partially visible through the crystal, wherein the skeleton watch comprises at least one solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel WILLEMIN, Alain JORNOD