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).
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Publication number: 20230374707Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Nathalie MARINAKIS, Nicolas FRANÇOIS, Alain JORNOD
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Publication number: 20230375982Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Sargis HAKOBYAN, Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ
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Publication number: 20230315022Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Alain JORNOD
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Patent number: 11768470Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Matthias Imboden, Alain Jornod
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Patent number: 11669051Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Matthias Imboden, Alain Jornod, Alexandre Haemmerli
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Patent number: 11573535Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod, Yves Theoduloz
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Patent number: 11573534Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Alain Jornod, Francois Gueissaz, Yvan Ferri
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Patent number: 11378921Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod, Yves Theoduloz
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Publication number: 20220026854Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Milan CALIC, Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ
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Publication number: 20210341882Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Alain JORNOD, Alexandre HAEMMERLI
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Publication number: 20210200157Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
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Patent number: 10976710Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod
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Publication number: 20210088980Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
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Publication number: 20210072705Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Matthias Imboden, Alain Jornod
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Publication number: 20200004209Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
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Publication number: 20200004204Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois GUEISSAZ, Alain JORNOD, Yves THEODULOZ
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Publication number: 20190369565Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Alain JORNOD, Francois GUEISSAZ, Yvan FERRI
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Patent number: 10018968Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Michel Willemin, Alain Jornod
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Publication number: 20180173169Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Francois Gueissaz, Alain Jornod
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Publication number: 20170168460Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Michel WILLEMIN, Alain JORNOD