Patents by Inventor Michel Willemin

Michel Willemin 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).

  • Patent number: 9836027
    Abstract: A device for winding automatic watches, including an electrical energy source and a receptacle support including a surface configured to receive in abutment a back cover of a watch, the device configured to generate a magnetic and/or electrostatic field or eddy currents, in a fixed position underneath the bearing surface and generate, on a substantially annular angular sector, a magnetic and or electrostatic field that varies as a function of time and whose direction is orthogonal to the bearing surface, or generating eddy currents that vary as a function of time. The device can be provided for a watch including an automatic winding mechanism with an oscillating weight including a first ferromagnetic inner part and a second heavy metal peripheral part, and possibly with a paramagnetic conductive disc coaxial to the oscillating weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Jean-Jacques Born, Francois Klopfenstein, Patrick Ragot
  • Patent number: 9798291
    Abstract: Wristwatch comprising a mechanical device for executing a first mechanical function arranged to produce a first acoustic alarm signal, and an electronic device housed in a bracelet and arranged to produce a second acoustic alarm signal and/or a mechanical vibration, wherein the electronic device is arranged to produce the second acoustic alarm signal at the moment when the mechanical device for executing the first mechanical function produces the first acoustic alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Martin, Jean-Jacques Born, Thierry Conus, Jean-Claude Eggen, Emmanuel Fleury, Michel Willemin
  • Patent number: 9786959
    Abstract: The smart battery includes an electronic circuit for managing the supply voltage connected to a battery. The electronic circuit includes a battery end-of-life detector, a management unit, an oscillator stage, a DC-DC converter powered on when the supply voltage of the battery is close or equal to a battery end-of-life threshold, and a data or command communication interface. The data or command communication interface is a 1-wire interface which is connected to a positive supply voltage terminal of the smart battery for transmitting a modulated data or command signal through one of the supply voltage terminals. The modulated signal transmitted by the interface may include battery end-of-life information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Marc Degrauwe, Sergio Rota
  • Patent number: 9682593
    Abstract: A writing instrument including: a body extending longitudinally along a central axis; a resilient element fixed to at least one portion of the body. The resilient element of the at least one portion of the body is in one piece and is made of at least partially amorphous metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Nakis Karapatis, Jean-Claude Martin
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20170102672
    Abstract: Wristwatch comprising a mechanical device for executing a first mechanical function arranged to produce a first acoustic alarm signal, and an electronic device housed in a bracelet and arranged to produce a second acoustic alarm signal and/or a mechanical vibration, wherein the electronic device is arranged to produce the second acoustic alarm signal at the moment when the mechanical device for executing the first mechanical function produces the first acoustic alarm signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Claude MARTIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Thierry CONUS, Jean-Claude EGGEN, Emmanuel FLEURY, Michel WILLEMIN
  • Patent number: 9573411
    Abstract: A protective element for a writing tip of a writing instrument including a cap extending longitudinally along a central axis and configured to be fitted onto a body of the instrument, and a clip extending substantially parallel to the central axis from a first end fixed to the cap to a free end. The clip and the cap are in one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Nakis Karapatis, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Publication number: 20170034561
    Abstract: A set of devices including: at least one receiver and at least one portable device, the receiver including a mechanism receiving a multichannel signal capable of preserving a part of the signal transmitted on a particular channel allowing information to be received, a conversion mechanism associated with a propagation mechanism broadcasting the information, and a communication mechanism; a portable object including an electronic module, the electronic module including at least a calculation unit and a wireless communication circuit to communicate with the communication mechanism of the receiver. The portable object can detect, via the wireless communication circuit, presence of at least one receiver belonging to the set of devices and acting on the at least one receiver to change the particular channel and to select a particular channel whose identifier or whose program currently being broadcast has at least one identifier identical to the identifier programmed in the portable object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Georges Nicolas HAYEK, Michel WILLEMIN, Hans-Rudolf GOTTIER, Jean-Luc BAZIN
  • Publication number: 20170003656
    Abstract: Watchmaker's portable lubrication tool including at least one lubricant reservoir, with a plurality of chambers, each only accessible to a user in a first open position of the tool, each reservoir being closable by a sealed lid which, in a second closed position, is kept sealingly pressed on the reservoir, and the tool includes a structure which carries such a lid associated with such a reservoir, and which is a component of a multi-function pocket knife of the “Swiss army knife” type, with a frame on which pivots a plurality of blades, the tool comprises at least one elastic return arranged to exert, in the second closed position, a force on at least one lid to press it sealingly on an associated reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Claude MARTIN, Michel WILLEMIN
  • Patent number: 9535402
    Abstract: A timepiece indicates the sunrise and sunset taking into account seasonal variations. The timepiece includes a sphere representing the Earth, a shell arranged concentrically to the sphere and arranged to delimit a part of the globe where it is night time from another part where it is daytime by indicating the position of the Earth's terminator. The shell can pivot around the globe along two perpendicular axes. The shell is driven by the movement in order to revolve at the rate of one revolution every 24 hours around the polar axis. A differential mechanism is controlled by a year cam that has a profile representing the inclination of the sun in relation to the equatorial plane. The differential mechanism controls the inclination of the shell around the axis by a drive shaft concentric to the polar axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat Gilomen, Michel Willemin, Dominique Lechot
  • Patent number: 9488543
    Abstract: The electronic device is provided with an automatic leak detection means, notably for a gas leak, in the case of the device. The automatic leak detection means includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a calculation unit connected to the pressure sensor and to the temperature sensor. The calculation unit, which is a microcontroller, the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are arranged inside the case. In operation, the microcontroller checks, based on measurements performed by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor over time, whether the variation in pressure in the case is within a defined margin proportional to the variation in temperature to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin, Christophe Germiquet
  • Patent number: 9465364
    Abstract: A device for illuminating at least one display indicator incorporated in a case underneath an aperture of a horological or scientific apparatus, the device including a phosphorescent light source inside the case, a mechanism collecting external light energy from an ambient medium of the case towards the phosphorescent light source, and at least one light component formed, either by the source, or by a light relay connected to the source by a transmission mechanism, and the light component is configured, to illuminate the indicator, either on the opposite side to the aperture relative to the indicator, or at a periphery of the aperture, and a controller is configured to move a cover insertable between the light component and the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin, Pierpasquale Tortora
  • Patent number: 9383725
    Abstract: A device for measuring the accuracy of a mechanical watch includes a time reference source, a calculating mechanism, and another data processing unit. The time reference source is formed by an internal time reference source, or by a receiving and processing mechanism arranged to receive and process signals transmitted by an external time source to permanently update a repeater clock internal to the device. The calculating mechanism is arranged to calculate time differences between display values, and/or between time reference points provided by the time reference source, and to calculate a variation in rate. The another data processing unit is arranged to store and process at least one variation in rate calculated by the calculating mechanism, and/or a viewing mechanism arranged to display at least one variation in rate calculated by the calculating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Cedric Decosterd, Thierry Hessler, Thierry Conus
  • Patent number: 9348317
    Abstract: A method of measuring accuracy of a watch including a visual display device, including: storing a first instant, at which the display is in a first display position corresponding to a first image, with a corresponding time reference source; determining a first display value for the first image and stored in a storage in correlation with the first instant; storing, after a determined time interval, a second instant, at which the display is in a second display position corresponding to a second image, with the corresponding source; determining a second display value for the second image and stored in the storage in correlation with the second instant; and calculating displaying on a viewing device the variation in rate of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Cedric Decosterd, Thierry Hessler, Thierry Conus
  • Patent number: 9342050
    Abstract: A watch includes a mechanical timepiece movement that includes at least one timepiece display device including a mobile timepiece component. The component transmits and diffuses light emitted by at least one light energy source included in the display device. The component is formed of a first material which is silica, or quartz, or single crystal quartz, or glass, or sapphire, or ceramic or material partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a transparent or translucent at least partially amorphous material, and of at least a second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in a thin layer to at least one of surfaces of the component. The light source, which is active or passive, injects light into one portion of the component which conveys and diffuses the light over at least one portion of the component, or throughout an entirety of the component, to make the component visible in the dark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Thierry Hessler, Jean-Claude Martin, Michel Willemin
  • Patent number: 9335739
    Abstract: The timepiece comprises means for indicating the sunrise and sunset taking account of seasonal variations. These means comprise a sphere reproducing the terrestrial globe, a shell arranged concentrically to the sphere and arranged to demarcate one portion of the terrestrial globe where it is night from another portion where it is day by indicating the position of the Earth's terminator. The shell can pivot about the globe on two axes perpendicular to each other. The shell is driven by the movement so as to rotate at a rate of one revolution per 24 hours about the polar axis. A disconnecting mechanism is controlled by an annual cam which has a profile representative of the tilt of the Sun with respect to the equatorial plane. The disconnecting mechanism controls the tilt of the shell about the axis by means of a drive shaft concentric to the polar axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat Gilomen, Michel Willemin, Dominique Lechot
  • Patent number: 9310272
    Abstract: The electronic device (1) is provided with an automatic leak detection means, notably for a gas leak, in the case (2) of the device. The automatic leak detection means includes an internal pressure sensor (3), an external pressure sensor (4) and a calculation unit (5) connected to the internal pressure sensor and to the external pressure sensor. The calculation unit, which is a microcontroller, and the internal pressure sensor are arranged inside the case, whereas the external pressure sensor is arranged on an external surface of the case. The microcontroller (5) checks, based on measurements performed by the pressure sensors over time, whether the pressure variation inside the case is different from the pressure variation outside the case to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin, Christophe Germiquet
  • Publication number: 20160098012
    Abstract: The timepiece comprises means for indicating the sunrise and sunset taking account of seasonal variations. These means comprise a sphere reproducing the terrestrial globe, a shell arranged concentrically to the sphere and arranged to demarcate one portion of the terrestrial globe where it is night from another portion where it is day by indicating the position of the Earth's terminator. The shell can pivot about the globe on two axes perpendicular to each other. The shell is driven by the movement so as to rotate at a rate of one revolution per 24 hours about the polar axis. A disconnecting mechanism is controlled by an annual cam which has a profile representative of the tilt of the Sun with respect to the equatorial plane. The disconnecting mechanism controls the tilt of the shell about the axis by means of a drive shaft concentric to the polar axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat GILOMEN, Michel WILLEMIN, Dominique LECHOT
  • Publication number: 20160070236
    Abstract: A device for measuring the accuracy of a mechanical watch includes a time reference source, a calculating mechanism, and another data processing unit. The time reference source is formed by an internal time reference source, or by a receiving and processing mechanism arranged to receive and process signals transmitted by an external time source to permanently update a repeater clock internal to the device. The calculating mechanism is arranged to calculate time differences between display values, and/or between time reference points provided by the time reference source, and to calculate a variation in rate. The another data processing unit is arranged to store and process at least one variation in rate calculated by the calculating mechanism, and/or a viewing mechanism arranged to display at least one variation in rate calculated by the calculating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel WILLEMIN, Cedric DECOSTERD, Thierry HESSLER, Thierry CONUS
  • Patent number: 9268414
    Abstract: A method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector array is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin SA
    Inventors: Lawrence Bieber, Michel Willemin