Patents by Inventor Olivier Matthey

Olivier Matthey 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: 11815857
    Abstract: A horological movement provided with a generator and a circuit for regulating the frequency of rotation of this generator, the regulation circuit being arranged to be able to detect the zero crossings of an induced voltage generated in the stator by the rotating rotor and to generate first braking pulses which are triggered after zero crossings and each end before the induced voltage reaches a peak value, preferably before the rectified induced voltage reaches a power supply voltage provided by a power supply capacity. In addition, the regulation circuit is arranged so as to be able to further generate second braking pulses each of which occurs after detection of the end of a charging period of the power supply capacity during which the induced voltage reaches a peak value and each end before the induced voltage crosses zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Philippe Sauvain, Stéphane Perrier, Olivier Matthey
  • Patent number: 11644797
    Abstract: Inertia mobile component (1) for a horological resonator (100), oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D1), and including at least one magnetic area (10), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (10), included in the inertia mobile component (1), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1), this inertia mobile component (1) bearing at least one magnetic compensating element (4), the magnetisation component thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axis of oscillation (D1) can be adjusted in order to obtain a total resultant magnetic moment that is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Develonment Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jérôme Favre, Olivier Matthey, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Laurent Nagy, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 11599064
    Abstract: Horological resonator (100) including an inertia mobile component (1) oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D1) and including at least one magnetic area (10), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (10), included in the inertia mobile component (1), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1), this inertia mobile component (1) bearing at least one balancing magnet (6), the direction of the magnetic moment thereof crosses the axis of oscillation (D1) to obtain magnetic balancing of the inertia mobile component (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jérôme Favre, Olivier Matthey, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Laurent Nagy, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 11567456
    Abstract: An oscillator includes a resonator, which has an inertial mass returned by an elastic return and carries entry and exit pallets cooperating with teeth of an escape wheel each provided with a magnet. Each pallet includes a magnetic arrangement, with an annular sector, centred on the axis of oscillation of the resonator, defining a first magnetic barrier area extending above and/or below a mechanical pallet-stone of the entry pallet or exit pallet, over the entire length of this mechanical pallet-stone acting as support for the teeth during the supplementary arc, in order to form a magnetic cylinder escapement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Pascal Winkler, Marc Stranczl, Michel Willemin, Ahmad Odeh
  • Patent number: 11537085
    Abstract: A horological movement (6) including: a plate (7); a mechanical resonator (8) including an oscillating balance (11) rotatably mounted relative to the plate (7), and a spiral spring (22) coupled to the balance (11); an electromagnetic regulator (29) coupled to the mechanical resonator (8) to regulate the frequency of the oscillations of the balance (11), and including at least one permanent magnet (30) fixedly mounted relative to the plate (7), at least one coil (31), a quartz or silicon resonator (32) and an electronic circuit (33) connected to the resonator (32) and to the coil (31), all mounted on the balance (11) while being completely included in an inner cavity (18) delimited by the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Paulo Bravo, Olivier Matthey
  • Patent number: 11454932
    Abstract: A method for making a flexure bearing for an oscillator with an inertial element oscillating in a plane supported by flexible strips fixed to a stationary support returning it to a rest position includes: forming the bearing with basic strips in superposed levels, each having an aspect ratio of less than 10; breaking down the number of basic levels into a plurality of sub-units, each including one or two strips joining a basic support and a basic inertial element, which are made by etching substrates; assembling the sub-units by joining their basic inertial elements; and fixing the basic supports to the support, directly or via translational tables along one or two in-plane translational degrees of freedom, of lower translational stiffness than that of the sub-unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pierre Cusin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Alex Gandelhman, Pascal Winkler, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Olivier Matthey, Laurent Klinger, Jerome Favre
  • Patent number: 11402804
    Abstract: A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome Favre, Olivier Matthey, Gianni Di Domenico, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20220179361
    Abstract: A horological movement provided with a generator and a circuit for regulating the frequency of rotation of this generator, the regulation circuit being arranged to be able to detect the zero crossings of an induced voltage generated in the stator by the rotating rotor and to generate first braking pulses which are triggered after zero crossings and each end before the induced voltage reaches a peak value, preferably before the rectified induced voltage reaches a power supply voltage provided by a power supply capacity. In addition, the regulation circuit is arranged so as to be able to further generate second braking pulses each of which occurs after detection of the end of a charging period of the power supply capacity during which the induced voltage reaches a peak value and each end before the induced voltage crosses zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Philippe SAUVAIN, Stéphane PERRIER, Olivier MATTHEY
  • Publication number: 20220113683
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plurality of generators, each intended to power supply an electronic circuit operating in a given power supply voltage range, includes a step of manufacturing coils distributed in N pluralities of coils, similar within the same plurality and different from one plurality to another, and a step of manufacturing a plurality of rotors which is carried out with tolerances limiting the cost of production. The plurality of rotors is classified into N classes of rotors which are associated respectively with the N pluralities of coils to form N pairs allowing the assembly of N groups of generators. The generators of each of the N groups of generators have magnetic coupling factors between their rotor and their stator which are located in a corresponding optimised value range, which is at least partially superimposed on the others of the N optimised value ranges relating to the N generator groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Olivier MATTHEY
  • Publication number: 20220066394
    Abstract: A timepiece and method for mounting a generator in the timepiece, this generator being formed of a rotor with permanent magnets and two coils. A supporting structure is preassembled with the rotor and an electronic module including the two coils is preformed. The method includes the following successive steps for laterally mounting the electronic module in the supporting structure so as to form the generator; assembly of an electronic module support with the supporting structure to form an articulation; rotation of the electronic module thanks to the articulation to bring the two coils closer to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so that these two coils are finally each located in a functional position at the same distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor; fastening of the electronic module to block the articulation after said rotation and thus maintain this electronic module in a functional angular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier MATTHEY, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Patent number: 10940906
    Abstract: The active lighting device of a bicycle includes a first optical system with a first light source for long-distance illumination, controlled by a control unit, and a second optical system with a second light source for short-distance illumination, controlled by the control unit. It includes a light sensor for determining the light intensity of a location in which the bicycle is situated and allows the control unit to adapt the light intensity of the light sources, if they are activated and if the ambient light intensity is below a determined light threshold. Moreover, a speed sensor is provided for determining the speed of the bicycle in use on a path, so that the control unit controls the activation of the first light source from at least one determined speed threshold. An orientation detector is provided for orienting the light sources depending on a curve travelled by the bicycle in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier Matthey, Michel Willemin, Bruno Scagliarini
  • Patent number: 10935933
    Abstract: A mechanical timepiece oscillator includes, between a support and an inertial element, a flexure bearing with flexible strips crossed in projection, including, superposed, an upper level that includes, between an upper support and an upper inertial element, an upper primary strip in a first direction and an upper secondary strip in a second direction, and a lower level that includes, between a lower support and a lower inertial element, a lower primary strip in the first direction and a lower secondary strip in the second direction. The upper level and lower level include, between the support and the upper or respectively lower support, a translational table with an elastic connection along one or two axes of freedom in the oscillation plane, of lower stiffness than that of each flexible strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pierre Cusin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Alex Gandelhman, Pascal Winkler, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Olivier Matthey, Laurent Klinger, Jerome Favre
  • Patent number: 10895845
    Abstract: A mechanical timepiece oscillator including, between a first element and a second inertial element, more than two distinct flexible strips returning the inertial element to a rest position in an oscillation plane, wherein the projections of these strips cross each other, at a point, through which passes the axis of pivoting of the second solid inertial element, and the height to thickness aspect ratio is less than 10 for each strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pierre Cusin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Alex Gandelhman, Pascal Winkler, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Olivier Matthey, Laurent Klinger, Jerome Favre
  • Patent number: 10895851
    Abstract: An active lighting device is placed on a person's wrist to light a path that the person is taking. The device is preferably in the form of a wristwatch. The device includes first light sources, which are controlled by a control unit. The first light sources are placed on a portion of a case. Each first light source activated by the control unit can produce a light beam of different orientation from another first light source activated by the control unit. The device further includes a motion sensor connected to the control unit to determine the wrist movement of the person wearing the device in order to allow the control unit to select certain first light sources to be activated depending on the person's wrist movement in order to light the path to be followed in the same defined forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier Matthey, Michel Willemin, Bruno Scagliarini
  • Publication number: 20200409310
    Abstract: Inertia mobile component (1) for a horological resonator (100), oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D1), and including at least one magnetic area (10), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (10), included in the inertia mobile component (1), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1), this inertia mobile component (1) bearing at least one magnetic compensating element (4), the magnetisation component thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axis of oscillation (D1) can be adjusted in order to obtain a total resultant magnetic moment that is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jérôme FAVRE, Olivier MATTHEY, Dominique LECHOT, Baptiste HINAUX, Laurent NAGY, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20200409311
    Abstract: Horological resonator (100) including an inertia mobile component (1) oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D1) and including at least one magnetic area (10), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (10), included in the inertia mobile component (1), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1), this inertia mobile component (1) bearing at least one balancing magnet (6), the direction of the magnetic moment thereof crosses the axis of oscillation (D1) to obtain magnetic balancing of the inertia mobile component (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jérôme FAVRE, Olivier MATTHEY, Dominique LECHOT, Baptiste HINAUX, Laurent NAGY, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20200319598
    Abstract: A horological movement (6) including: a plate (7); a mechanical resonator (8) including an oscillating balance (11) rotatably mounted relative to the plate (7), and a spiral spring (22) coupled to the balance (11); an electromagnetic regulator (29) coupled to the mechanical resonator (8) to regulate the frequency of the oscillations of the balance (11), and including at least one permanent magnet (30) fixedly mounted relative to the plate (7), at least one coil (31), a quartz or silicon resonator (32) and an electronic circuit (33) connected to the resonator (32) and to the coil (31), all mounted on the balance (11) while being completely included in an inner cavity (18) delimited by the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Paulo BRAVO, Olivier MATTHEY
  • Publication number: 20200089168
    Abstract: An oscillator includes a resonator, which has an inertial mass returned by an elastic return and carries entry and exit pallets cooperating with teeth of an escape wheel each provided with a magnet. Each pallet includes a magnetic arrangement, with an annular sector, centred on the axis of oscillation of the resonator, defining a first magnetic barrier area extending above and/or below a mechanical pallet-stone of the entry pallet or exit pallet, over the entire length of this mechanical pallet-stone acting as support for the teeth during the supplementary arc, in order to form a magnetic cylinder escapement mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Pascal Winkler, Marc Stranczl, Michel Willemin, Ahmad Odeh
  • Publication number: 20200070915
    Abstract: The active lighting device of a bicycle includes a first optical system with a first light source for long-distance illumination, controlled by a control unit, and a second optical system with a second light source for short-distance illumination, controlled by the control unit. It includes a light sensor for determining the light intensity of a location in which the bicycle is situated and allows the control unit to adapt the light intensity of the light sources, if they are activated and if the ambient light intensity is below a determined light threshold. Moreover, a speed sensor is provided for determining the speed of the bicycle in use on a path, so that the control unit controls the activation of the first light source from at least one determined speed threshold. An orientation detector is provided for orienting the light sources depending on a curve travelled by the bicycle in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier Matthey, Michel Willemin, Bruno Scagliarini
  • Publication number: 20200073335
    Abstract: An active lighting device is placed on a person's wrist to light a path that the person is taking. The device is preferably in the form of a wristwatch. The device includes first light sources, which are controlled by a control unit. The first light sources are placed on a portion of a case. Each first light source activated by the control unit can produce a light beam of different orientation from another first light source activated by the control unit. The device further includes a motion sensor connected to the control unit to determine the wrist movement of the person wearing the device in order to allow the control unit to select certain first light sources to be activated depending on the person's wrist movement in order to light the path to be followed in the same defined forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier MATTHEY, Michel WILLEMIN, Bruno SCAGLIARINI