Patents by Inventor Raphael Haenni

Raphael Haenni 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: 10041813
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor to determine instantaneous angular position of a rotatable element in a timepiece, such as a setting stem of a wristwatch. Static electrodes are configured to form, in conjunction with rotor electrodes of the rotatable element, a first differential capacitance pair and a second differential capacitance pair. A sensor calculation unit is configured to sense difference values from the differential capacitances pairs and to evaluate the angular position of the rotatable element from the difference values using predetermined information relating the differential capacitance values to angular position values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yvan Ferri, Raphael Haenni, Damien Schmutz, Pascal Lagorgette, Raphael Balmer
  • Publication number: 20170307414
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor to determine instantaneous angular position of a rotatable element in a timepiece, such as a setting stem of a wristwatch. Static electrodes are configured to form, in conjunction with rotor electrodes of the rotatable element, a first differential capacitance pair and a second differential capacitance pair. A sensor calculation unit is configured to sense difference values from the differential capacitances pairs and to evaluate the angular position of the rotatable element from the difference values using predetermined information relating the differential capacitance values to angular position values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yvan FERRI, Raphael HAENNI, Damien SCHMUTZ, Pascal LAGORGETTE, Raphael BALMER
  • Patent number: 9664534
    Abstract: Electromechanical apparatus including a wheel set and an analogue indicator member which are integral in rotation, a stepping motor, and a capacitive device for detection of the angular position of the wheel set, including a rotor, a stator and an electronic measuring circuit, the stator including a first pair of electrodes having a first capacitance and a second pair of electrodes having a second capacitance, the rotor being adapted such that the values of the two capacitances depend on the angular position of the rotor, and an electronic measuring circuit being provided for generating an output signal representative of a difference between the respective values of the first and of the second capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Francois Klopfenstein, Pascal Lagorgette, Damien Schmutz, Raphael Haenni, Matthieu Tardivon
  • Publication number: 20160178402
    Abstract: Electromechanical apparatus comprising a wheel set and an analogue indicator member (14) which are integral in rotation, a stepping motor, and a capacitive device for detection of the angular position of the wheel set, comprising a rotor (4: 10), a stator (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22, 24, 26a, 26b, 26c) and an electronic measuring circuit (28), the stator comprising a first pair of electrodes (18a, 18b) having a first capacitance (C1) and a second pair of electrodes (20a, 20b) having a second capacitance (C2), the rotor being adapted such that the values of the two capacitances depend on the angular position of the rotor, and an electronic measuring circuit (28) being provided for generating an output signal representative of a difference between the respective values of the first (C1) and of the second (C2) capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Francois Klopfenstein, Pascal Lagorgette, Damien Schmutz, Raphael Haenni, Matthieu Tardivon