Abstract: A coiling limitation device for a timepiece barrel includes at least one non-return notch arranged to cooperate with a sliding flange of the spring of the barrel, which is integrated in a watch including a resonator cooperating with an escapement mechanism. This device includes an acoustic device for the acoustic monitoring of the coiling of the barrel of a watch positioned on a receptacle included by the device, which acoustic devices are arranged to identify a click noise during each start of cooperation between the sliding flange and a notch. The device includes piloting devices arranged to stop the coiling of the barrel at the instant of the perception of the click noise or the repetition of the click noise.

Abstract: A horological torque limiting mechanism, including a first wheel with a first elastic arm projecting from a first felloe, a second wheel including a second surface to engage in frictional pressure with the first wheel for the relative actuation thereof, a travel limiter fastened to a structure to hold the first and second wheels in frictional pressure in certain angular positions, the second wheel and/or the travel limiter and/or the structure including a relief forming a ramp, to, in certain angular positions relative to the first wheel, engage in frictional pressure with the first elastic arm, and, in further positions, allow a frictionless travel between the first wheel and the component bearing the relief, the second wheel includes a second arm forming a ramp projecting from a second felloe.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mainspring, a power reserve hand configured to indicate a remaining amount of windup of the mainspring, an indicator wheel provided with the power reserve hand attached thereto, and a solar wheel configured to rotate in a first direction when the mainspring is wound, rotate in a second direction reverse to the first direction when the mainspring is unwound, and provided with at least two pinions, one of the pinions configured to drive the indicator wheel.

Abstract: The patent application relates to an automatic winding device used for automatic winding watch, which includes a box body, a rotating seat arranged on the box body and relatively rotatable to the box body, a holding seat fixed on the rotating seat and used for placing the automatic winding watch, a driving mechanism driving the rotating seat to rotate, and a control device controlling the rotating mode of the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is arranged in the box body. The automatic winding device used for automatic winding watch can be rotatably arranged on the box body through the rotating seat. The watch is sheathed on the holding seat and then placed on the rotating seat. Compared with the existing rotation in a rotating cavity, the patent application reduces the noise, and is beneficial for displaying the watch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a winding mass (10) for a watch movement, comprising a geometric rotation axis (100), a peripheral portion (10) and a connecting portion (13) between the peripheral portion (10) and the rotation axis (100), the density and the mass of the peripheral portion being greater than those of the connecting portion. The connecting portion (13) is moved by means of bird feather-like portions (20).

Abstract: The electric solar watch winder includes a rotating support, a motor arranged to drive the rotating support, an accumulator arranged to power the motor, a solar cell arranged to charge the accumulator, an internal clock, an electronic means of controlling the motor, a light sensor connected to the electronic means, and a user control interface for the electronic means. The electronic means is arranged to be controlled by the user to be selectively placed in one or other of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the rotating support is only driven when the winding mechanism is illuminated and a second mode in which a rotating support drive program is started at a pre-selected time using the control interface.

Abstract: The electric solar watch winder includes a rotating support, a motor arranged to drive the rotating support, an accumulator arranged to power the motor, a solar cell arranged to charge the accumulator, an internal clock, an electronic means of controlling the motor, a light sensor connected to the electronic means, and a user control interface for the electronic means. The electronic means is arranged to be controlled by the user to be selectively placed in one or other of a plurality of operating modes, said plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the rotating support is only driven when the winding mechanism is illuminated and a second mode in which a rotating support drive programme is started at a pre-selected time using the control interface.

Abstract: An inverter device for timepiece movements is disclosed which includes first and second toothed wheels intended to be driven in opposite rotation directions and coaxial with an output toothed member intended to be kinematically connected to a pivoting member of the timepiece movement. The wheels are connected to the output member by unidirectional transmission members adapted to transmit to the output member rotation in only the same one predefined rotation direction and to prevent the transmission of rotation of the output member in this predefined rotation direction to one or the other of the wheels. Each unidirectional transmission member includes two diametrically opposite teeth of asymmetrical shape and is connected to the output member in such a manner as to be constrained to rotate with it while being able to be moved between first and second extreme positions in a radial direction.

Abstract: Timepiece movement 1 including an energy source 36 coupled to an oscillating weight 2 by a first kinematic chain 3 for automatically winding the movement 1, the timepiece movement 1 being characterized in that the energy source 36 is also coupled to an actuation device 41 and a vibrating element 42 via a second kinematic chain 4 to form a vibrating alarm mechanism that can be released at a predetermined time.

Abstract: Mechanical timepiece movement (100) in the form of a modular unit. It includes at least one mechanical modular unit (1) for performing a particular timepiece function, which is irreversibly pre-adjusted by the irreversible securing of adjustment and/or assembling components (9) comprised in said functional module (1) after said particular horological function has been adjusted and function checked on the test bench, and in that said at least one pre-adjusted functional module (1) is irreversibly secured to a plate (10) comprised in said movement (100) or comprised in another pre-adjusted functional module (1) of said movement (100), or is irreversibly secured to another pre-adjusted functional module (1) comprised in said movement (100).

Abstract: An inverter device for timepiece movements is disclosed which includes first and second toothed wheels intended to be driven in opposite rotation directions and coaxial with an output toothed member intended to be kinematically connected to a pivoting member of the timepiece movement. The wheels are connected to the output member by unidirectional transmission members adapted to transmit to the output member rotation in only the same one predefined rotation direction and to prevent the transmission of rotation of the output member in this predefined rotation direction to one or the other of the wheels. Each unidirectional transmission member includes two diametrically opposite teeth of asymmetrical shape and is connected to the output member in such a manner as to be constrained to rotate with it whilst being able to be moved between first and second extreme positions in a radial direction.

Abstract: A timepiece has a basic movement including at least one barrel (12) and a set of hands (14) for displaying the time now, the set of hands being situated at a first level, a mechanism for a supplementary function connected to at least one hand (18a) for displaying the supplementary function, the hand being situated at a second level and on a different axis from the set of hands (14), and an automatic winding mechanism for the barrel (12), including an oscillating mass (24) consisting of a carrier (24a) and a heavy sector (24b) situated at the periphery of the carrier. The carrier (24a) pivots in a plane situated between the first and second levels.

Abstract: Barrel for a self-winding timepiece including a drum of axis AA provided with an internal lateral wall having friction surfaces alternating with locking structures forming salient or inward edges at the boundary of the friction surfaces and a mainspring forming a winding including an outer coil, which is friction coupled to said internal lateral wall and free to slip against said internal lateral wall in the event of overwinding of the mainspring, characterized in that said friction surfaces are demarcated, downstream relative to the direction in which said outer coil slips, by a rounded salient edge or an inward edge.

Abstract: A watch movement, includes a frame (10, 11, 20, 22, 24), defined by a first and a second parallel plane surface and defining reference planes (A, B), the second plane (B) being located alongside the movement for placing adjacent to the wrist of the wearer, at least one balance wheel (30), pivoting in bearings fixed in the frame, at least one escape mechanism (26, 28) providing support for the balance wheel, an energy source (12), clockwork finishing movements (14), connecting the energy source to the escape mechanism and motion work (42).The balance wheel turns about an axis (YY), inclined in relation to the reference planes and intersecting the same, the point of intersection (PA) of the axis (Y) with the first plane (A) being closer to the centre of the movement than the point of intersection (PB) of the axis (Y) with the second plane (B).

Abstract: A device is described for use in winding self-winding watches that includes a case having a cavity for receiving a watch winder; and an electrically powered watch winder insertable in the case cavity. The watch winder has a first or display orientation and a second or winding orientation, and including a winding mechanism circuit with a tilt switch that is open when the winder is in the display orientation and closed when the winder is in the winding orientation. The winder may be oriented as a unit with, or independent of, the case. The winding mechanism may also include a manually operable on-off switch.

Abstract: A timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, includes a constant-force device for acting on an oscillating system, the constant-force device including a switching unit and a tensioning module having a primary spring-energy store and a secondary spring-energy store. A seconds shaft bearing a seconds wheel and a cam plate is driven to rotate constantly by the secondary spring-energy store. The seconds wheel drives the oscillating system, and the cam plate acts on the switching unit for the periodic tensioning of the secondary spring-energy store by the primary spring-energy store.

Abstract: The mechanism includes, mounted to rotate freely on an arbour 6, a driving wheel (5) driven by an oscillating drive pinion (3) and a driven wheel (7) meshed with the first wheel set (1) of a kinematic chain and comprising a dome (11) for housing a coupling device (10) comprising at least one bent locking arm (12) one end (14) of which has a pivoting point (14a, 14b) on the driving wheel (5) and the other end (16) of which has a point of abutment (16a) against the inner wall (2) of the dome (11) of the driven wheel (7) via the action of a spring (20) integral with said arm (12). The pivoting point (14b) preferably moves along a cam (21). Application to automatic winding by an oscillating weight.

Abstract: To provide a self-winding timepiece having a thin and small-sized movement in which a train wheel setting apparatus for setting a balance with hairspring is efficiently arranged at the movement. A self-winding timepiece includes a main plate, a time indicating wheel, a winding stem and a switching apparatus. A movement barrel complete is arranged on a top side of the main plate and arranged to overlap a main plate reference horizontal axis line between a first region and a fourth region. A balance with hairspring is arranged on the top side of the main plate and arranged to overlap the main plate reference horizontal axis line between a second region and a third region. The switching apparatus is arranged on a back side of the main plate. A train wheel setting apparatus includes a train wheel setting portion for setting the balance with hairspring by penetrating the main plate.

Abstract: To provide a hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece whose ability has been improved. As to a spring having a flat portion and a bent portion, the flat portion is disposed between a second chronograph wheel and a center wheel, and the bent portion is sandwiched and supported under a pressurized state by a train wheel bridge and a bottom plate. By this, the spring portion prevents a hand motion irregularity of the second chronograph wheel by the fact that the second chronograph wheel is pressure-contacted with the train wheel bridge. Further, by forming a gap between the second chronograph wheel and the center wheel, an accompanying rotation between the second center wheel and the center wheel is prevented.

Abstract: To provide a hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece whose assembling ability has been improved. As to a spring having a flat portion and a bent portion, the flat portion is disposed between a second chronograph wheel and a center wheel, and the bent portion is sandwiched and supported under a pressurized state by a train wheel bridge and a bottom plate. By this, the spring portion prevents a hand motion irregularity of the second chronograph wheel by the fact that the second chronograph wheel is pressure-contacted with the train wheel bridge. Further, by forming a gap between the second chronograph wheel and the center wheel, an accompanying rotation between the second chronograph wheel and the center wheel is prevented.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive element within a timepiece which includes a casing, movement, mainspring and a bi-directional rotation to unidirectional rotation converting mechanism for winding the mainspring where the temperature sensitive element tends to angularly deflect with change in temperature and such tendency produces energy to wind the mainspring. More specifically, the invention in one form thereof utilizes a temperature sensitive bimetallic coil, which is restrained from radial deflection and the free end moves to rotate the shaft in the self-winding mechanism and effects self-winding of the timepiece. The free end of the coil will move with change in temperature. The coil is anchored at its inner end and the other end thereof, upon movement, will drive a driver member in the form of an orbit gear. In this embodiment, the orbit gear will drive a plurality of planet gears, which drive a sun gear mounted to a shaft.

Abstract: Sense amplifier circuitry (SC) includes a differential amplifier (A) having a reference input and a memory input. The output of a first sense amplifier (SA1) is coupled to the reference input of the differential amplifier (A) and to the input of a second sense amplifier (SA2). The output of the second sense amplifier (SA2) is coupled to the memory input of the differential amplifier (A) and to the input of the first sense amplifier (SA1). The first sense amplifier (SAR) and the second sense amplifier (SA2) include identical mirror transistor circuits (M1, M2, M3, M4).

Abstract: The watch has a winding weight comprising an arm 10a and an oscillating mass 10b. The arm is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of a toothed ring 12 by way of which the spring barrel 20 is kept wound and which axis is offset with respect to the watch hand axis X, X'. The oscillating mass 10a is at the same level relative to the case back 6 as the spring barrel 20. The length L' of the winding weight is greater than the offset L and more than half the largest dimension of the case 6. The oscillating mass 10b thus occupies substantially half the casing of the watch and is almost as thick as the distance between the glass and the back 6 which is also the rear plate of the movement.