Patents by Inventor Stefan ROMBACH

Stefan ROMBACH 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).

  • Publication number: 20220413440
    Abstract: A display module (100) for displaying at least two time zones. The display module (100) includes at least one date wheel (110), at least one main wheel (120) and at least one movable intermediate wheel (130). The at least one date wheel (110) is configured to displace said at least one movable intermediate wheel (130) into at least one first position (101) and to drive the at least one main wheel (120) via the at least one movable intermediate wheel (130). The at least one main wheel (120) is configured to displace the at least one movable intermediate wheel (130) into at least one second position (102) so as to disengage the at least one movable intermediate wheel (130) from the at least one date wheel (110) and to correct the time of the at least one second time zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Rombach
  • Patent number: 11526130
    Abstract: A power reserve indicator mechanism is for displaying the power reserve of an energy storage of a timepiece movement, powered in a winding phase by an input wheel actuated by a winding-stem or an automatic winding mechanism of the movement, or by an external winder, and arranged to restore energy in the unwinding phase via an output wheel. The power reserve indicator mechanism includes at least one display wheel set indirectly driven by the input wheel or by the output wheel, via a differential mechanism of which the input wheel and the output wheel constitute two inputs, and, at a single output, an output wheel set directly or indirectly driving the display wheel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Stefan Rombach, Raphael Courvoisier
  • Patent number: 11454931
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism includes an energy accumulator, a regulating system, and a gear train connecting the energy accumulator to the regulating system. The energy accumulator is formed by a strip-spring and includes a device for driving the gear train arranged to regulate the torque delivered by the strip-spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20200110362
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism includes an energy accumulator, a regulating system, and a gear train connecting the energy accumulator to the regulating system. The energy accumulator is formed by a strip-spring and includes a device for driving the gear train arranged to regulate the torque delivered by the strip-spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20200089169
    Abstract: A power reserve indicator mechanism is for displaying the power reserve of an energy storage of a timepiece movement, powered in a winding phase by an input wheel actuated by a winding-stem or an automatic winding mechanism of the movement, or by an external winder, and arranged to restore energy in the unwinding phase via an output wheel. The power reserve indicator mechanism includes at least one display wheel set indirectly driven by the input wheel or by the output wheel, via a differential mechanism of which the input wheel and the output wheel constitute two inputs, and, at a single output, an output wheel set directly or indirectly driving the display wheel set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Stefan ROMBACH, Raphael COURVOISIER
  • Patent number: 9733619
    Abstract: Grand date calendar display device for a watch movement comprising a first disc and a second disc, arranged to display, at least on certain dates, first date values through a combination of symbols borne by the first disc and symbols borne by the second disc, wherein the device includes a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism between the first disc and the second disc such that, at least on certain dates, the first disc drives the second disc, and on certain other dates, the second disc drives the first disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Rombach
  • Patent number: 9664704
    Abstract: A circuit for activating a capacitive MEMS structure is provided, with the capacitive MEMS structure having an oscillator element and an electrostatic excitation unit with a first input connection and a second input connection. The circuit includes a high voltage generator, a first pump capacitor, a second pump capacitor, a control unit, and a low voltage operation amplifier. The high voltage generator generates a high voltage and connects to the first input connection and the second input connection. The first pump capacitor is connected to the high voltage generator and includes a first connection connected to the first input connection. The second pump capacitor connects to the high voltage generator and includes a first connection connected to the second input connection. The control unit connects to a second connection of the first pump capacitor and a second connection of the second pump capacitor. The low voltage operation amplifier connects to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg
    Inventors: Stefan Rombach, Maximilian Marx, Yiannos Manoli
  • Patent number: 9547279
    Abstract: Grand date calendar display device for a watch movement comprising a first disc and a second disc, arranged to display, on certain dates, first date values by combining symbols borne by said first disc and symbols borne by said second disc, and on other dates, second date values by symbols borne only by said second disc. The first disc is a modified units display disc, bearing a first series of symbols comprising a first sequence of at most nine first consecutive units numerals truncated by at least a second units numeral with respect to the complete series of ten units, and the second disc is a modified tens display disc including a second series of symbols for the display of at least the tens of the date, comprising at least one combination of two numerals formed of a tens numeral and a second units numeral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Rombach
  • Patent number: 9535405
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism including an energy accumulator, a regulating system, a chronograph counter train including a minute-counter having a minute wheel set and at least one minute indicator member, and a seconds-counter having a seconds wheel set and a seconds indicator member, a chronograph zero-reset mechanism including a minute zero-reset mechanism. The minute zero-reset mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the minute wheel set, the minute indicator member being permanently integral with the minute wheel set, and the chronograph counter train includes an uncoupling device between the minute-counter and the seconds-counter, arranged to kinematically connect the minute wheel set and the seconds wheel set during the counting and to uncouple the seconds wheel set from the minute wheel set when the chronograph mechanism is reset to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20160246256
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism including its own energy accumulator, its own regulating system, and a gear train connecting the energy accumulator to the regulating system. The energy accumulator is formed by a strip-spring and includes a device for driving the gear train arranged to regulate the torque delivered by the strip-spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain ZAUGG, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20160246261
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism including an energy accumulator, a regulating system, a chronograph counter train comprising including a minute-counter having a minute wheel set and at least one minute indicator member, and a seconds-counter having a seconds wheel set and a seconds indicator member, a chronograph zero-reset mechanism including a minute zero-reset mechanism. The minute zero-reset mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the minute wheel set, the minute indicator member being permanently integral with the minute wheel set, and the chronograph counter train includes an uncoupling device between the minute-counter and the seconds-counter, arranged to kinematically connect the minute wheel set and the seconds wheel set during the counting and to uncouple the seconds wheel set from the minute wheel set when the chronograph mechanism is reset to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain ZAUGG, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20160195851
    Abstract: Grand date calendar display device for a watch movement comprising a first disc and a second disc, arranged to display, at least on certain dates, first date values through a combination of symbols borne by the first disc and symbols borne by the second disc, wherein the device includes a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism between the first disc and the second disc such that, at least on certain dates, the first disc drives the second disc, and on certain other dates, the second disc drives the first disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan ROMBACH
  • Publication number: 20160187853
    Abstract: Grand date calendar display device for a watch movement comprising a first disc and a second disc, arranged to display, on certain dates, first date values by combining symbols borne by said first disc and symbols borne by said second disc, and on other dates, second date values by symbols borne only by said second disc. The first disc is a modified units display disc, bearing a first series of symbols comprising a first sequence of at most nine first consecutive units numerals truncated by at least a second units numeral with respect to the complete series of ten units, and the second disc is a modified tens display disc including a second series of symbols for the display of at least the tens of the date, comprising at least one combination of two numerals formed of a tens numeral and a second units numeral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan ROMBACH
  • Publication number: 20150268262
    Abstract: A circuit for activating a capacitive MEMS structure is provided, with the capacitive MEMS structure having an oscillator element and an electrostatic excitation unit with a first input connection and a second input connection. The circuit includes a high voltage generator, a first pump capacitor, a second pump capacitor, a control unit, and a low voltage operation amplifier. The high voltage generator generates a high voltage and connects to the first input connection and the second input connection. The first pump capacitor is connected to the high voltage generator and includes a first connection connected to the first input connection. The second pump capacitor connects to the high voltage generator and includes a first connection connected to the second input connection. The control unit connects to a second connection of the first pump capacitor and a second connection of the second pump capacitor. The low voltage operation amplifier connects to the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAT FREIBURG
    Inventors: Stefan Rombach, Maximilian Marx, Yiannos Manoli
  • Patent number: 9122247
    Abstract: Device for displaying a date indication in an aperture of a watch dial including: a units indicator which carries on a periphery the ten individual numbers from “0” to “9” in a regularly spaced manner, each of the ten individual numbers being separated from the following individual number by an empty space or a display aperture arranged at the periphery of the units indicator; a tens indicator which carries on a periphery a series of thirty-one regularly spaced numbers, namely nine times in a row the number “0”, then ten times in a row the number “1”, then ten times in a row the number “2”, and finally two times in a row the number “3”; wherein the units indicator is arranged above the tens indicator, wherein the tens indicator advances one step per day and drives the units indicator forward by one step every day, except the day that the date indication display changes from “31” to “01”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Rombach
  • Publication number: 20150220063
    Abstract: Device for displaying a date indication in an aperture of a watch dial including: a units indicator which carries on a periphery the ten individual numbers from “0” to “9” in a regularly spaced manner, each of the ten individual numbers being separated from the following individual number by an empty space or a display aperture arranged at the periphery of the units indicator; a tens indicator which carries on a periphery a series of thirty-one regularly spaced numbers, namely nine times in a row the number “0”, then ten times in a row the number “1”, then ten times in a row the number “2”, and finally two times in a row the number “3”; wherein the units indicator is arranged above the tens indicator, wherein the tens indicator advances one step per day and drives the units indicator forward by one step every day, except the day that the date indication display changes from “31” to “01”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan ROMBACH
  • Patent number: 8763252
    Abstract: Device for securing and locking a display element (1) mounted on a support (3) using at least one assembly element (2) in a direction of assembly (D). The device includes at least one locking element (4) for the assembly element (2) and the locking element (4) is accessible from the visible side (11) of the display element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Eta SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Rombach
  • Publication number: 20140060185
    Abstract: A device for measuring yaw rate, having a mechanical yaw rate sensor, which has an inert mass that can be set into a primary vibration along a primary axis by means of an excitation device and can be deflected along a secondary axis extending transversely with respect to the primary axis so that when a yaw rate occurs about a sensitive axis extending transversely with respect to the primary and to the secondary axis, said device carries out a secondary vibration excited by the Coriolis force. A sensor element detects an amplitude-modulated signal for the secondary vibration. A sigma-delta modulator has a low pass filter connected to the sensor element, a quantizer and a secondary actuator disposed in a feedback path for applying a force which counteracts the Coriolis force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: HAHN-SCHICKARD-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ANGEWANDTE FORSCHUNG E.V., ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITÄT FREIBURG
    Inventors: Stefan Rombach, Thomas Northemann, Michael Maurer, Mattias Dienger, Yiannos Manoli
  • Patent number: 8605553
    Abstract: The annual calendar device carries a date ring (1) and a drive wheel (5) for said ring. The drive wheel (5) carries a mechanism (10) including a first finger (6) driving the ring (1) through one step each day and a second finger (7) which is inserted, at the end of the months of less than thirty-one days, into the trajectory of the teeth (4) of the ring (1) to move said ring forward one additional step. The second finger (7) is inserted into said trajectory by a kinematic chain (9) controlled by a toothing (8) carried by the ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Chaignat, Stefan Rombach
  • Publication number: 20120188852
    Abstract: The annual calendar device carries a date ring (1) and a drive wheel (5) for said ring. The drive wheel (5) carries a mechanism (10) including a first finger (6) driving the ring (1) through one step each day and a second finger (7) which is inserted, at the end of the months of less than thirty-one days, into the trajectory of the teeth (4) of the ring (1) to move said ring forward one additional step. The second finger (7) is inserted into said trajectory by a kinematic chain (9) controlled by a toothing (8) carried by the ring (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Julien CHAIGNAT, Stefan ROMBACH