Abstract: The timepiece comprises means for indicating the sunrise and sunset taking into account seasonal variations (17, 27). These means comprise a sphere (17) representing the Earth, a shell (27) 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 (X-X, Y-Y). The shell is driven by the movement in order to revolve at the rate of one revolution every 24 hours around the polar axis (X-X). A differential mechanism (50) is controlled by a year cam (72) 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 (Y-Y) by means of a drive shaft (35) concentric to the polar axis (X-X).

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.

Abstract: The timepiece includes sunrise and sunset indicating means taking account of seasonal variations, said means include 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 sphere is arranged to be driven by the movement so as to rotate at the rate of one revolution per 24 hours about a first axis of rotation oriented parallel to the plane of the dial, and the shell is mounted to pivot about a second axis perpendicular to the plane of the dial. The sunrise and sunset indicating means also include an annual cam arranged to be driven in rotation by the movement at the rate of one revolution per year, the cam having a profile representative of the tilt of the sun relative to the equatorial plane.

Abstract: A single electronic module includes a autoregulating circuit that regulates an oscillation frequency of an oscillating mechanical system, such as a balance having a balance spring. A piezoelectric element is mounted on the oscillating balance spring and connected to the autoregulating circuit to generate an alternating voltage. The autoregulating circuit rectifies the alternating voltage and regulates the alternating voltage frequency. The rectified voltage is stored in a capacitor to power the autoregulating circuit. The autoregulating circuit includes an oscillator connected to a mirco-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator that supplies a reference signal, and compares the frequency of the alternating voltage to the reference signal frequency. The autoregulating circuit supplies frequency adaptation signal to the piezoelectric element according to the result of the comparison, in order to regulate the oscillation frequency of the balance.

Abstract: A watch or timepiece regulating member includes a balance, a balance-cock, at least one light energy source, and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance-cock. The balance spring is made of quartz or of glass or of ceramic or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths or made of an at least partially amorphous material and transmits and diffuses light emitted by the light energy source.

Abstract: A watch or timepiece regulating member includes a balance, a balance-cock, at least one light energy source, and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance-cock. The balance spring is made of quartz or of glass or of ceramic or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths or made of an at least partially amorphous material and transmits and diffuses light emitted by the light energy source.

Abstract: A watch including a mechanical movement with a display device including a light energy source and a slender, elastic, mobile component that is deformable during operation, or a balance spring, at least partially transparent, which transmits and diffuses light that varies with stress in the elastic and deformable portion. The light source is active or passive and injects light into one portion of the mobile component which conveys and diffuses light over at least one portion of the mobile component, or throughout the entire mobile component, to make it visible in the dark.

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.

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.

Abstract: The timepiece includes sunrise and sunset indicating means taking account of seasonal variations, said means include 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 sphere is arranged to be driven by the movement so as to rotate at the rate of one revolution per 24 hours about a first axis of rotation oriented parallel to the plane of the dial, and the shell is mounted to pivot about a second axis perpendicular to the plane of the dial. The sunrise and sunset indicating means also include an annual cam arranged to be driven in rotation by the movement at the rate of one revolution per year, the cam having a profile representative of the tilt of the sun relative to the equatorial plane.

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.

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.

Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbor of a timepiece wheel set. The arbor includes a pivot-shank extended by a pivot. The bearing includes a support including a recess for receiving a pivot system into which the pivot-shank is inserted. The pivot system is arranged to absorb, at least in part, shocks experienced by the timepiece wheel set and is formed of a single piece made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.

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.

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.

Abstract: The electronic circuit has a capacitive sensor that includes two capacitors mounted in differential, whose common electrode can move relative to each fixed electrode of the two capacitors to alter the capacitive value of each capacitor. The electronic circuit has an interface connected to the capacitive sensor, which includes a charge transfer amplifier unit connected to the common electrode, an integrator unit, and an excitation unit arranged between the output of the first integrator unit and the sensor to polarise each fixed electrode of the sensor capacitors at a determined voltage value. A compensation capacitor is connected to the input of the integrator unit. The electronic circuit interface includes comparison means for comparing the output voltage with a comparison voltage to control disconnection of the compensation capacitor at the integrator unit input, if the deviation between the output voltage and the comparison voltage exceeds a determined voltage threshold.

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.

Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbour of a timepiece wheel set. The arbour includes a pivot-shank extended by a pivot. The bearing includes a support including a recess for receiving a pivot system into which the pivot-shank is inserted. The pivot system is arranged to absorb, at least in part, shocks experienced by the timepiece wheel set and is formed of a single piece made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of making a controlled or reduced contact or contactless transmission in a timepiece movement. At least one pair of opposing cooperating surfaces of said timepiece movement, one of which drives the other or is supported thereby, is made or transformed by applying a surface or through treatment conferring an electrostatic and/or magnetic charge of the same polarisation and/or magnetisation on said opposing cooperating surfaces, such that said opposing components tend to repel each other when they are moved closer to each other. Said treatment consists in creating or depositing at least one thin layer on said cooperating surface and/or on said opposing cooperating surface. The invention also concerns a timepiece mechanism incorporating at least one pair of opposing components, one of which drives the other or is supported thereby, said pair being made or transformed by implementing this method.

Abstract: The measuring method is for measuring a physical parameter using an electronic interface circuit (1) for a capacitive sensor (2) with at least two capacitors (C1X, C2X) whose common electrode (CM) is mobile between the fixed electrodes. The electronic circuit includes an amplifier (4) connected to the common electrode (CM) by a switching unit (3), a logic unit (5) connected to the amplifier for supplying first and second digital measuring signals, and a digital-analogue converter (7) for supplying a measurement voltage (VDAC) to the electrodes on the basis of a conversion of one of the digital signals.