Abstract: The present invention proposes improving the yield of a microgenerator (1) used for operating a timepiece. Such a microgenerator operates on the basis of the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, it is thus desirable to limit as far as possible the presence of magnetic masses in proximity to said generator. Research undertaken has shown that the electrically conductive paths (9), and even their single protective layer, arranged in proximity to the microgenerator brake it, when they are formed of a magnetic material, and in particular a ferromagnetic material. Thus, the selection of exclusively non-magnetic materials is proposed for manufacturing the conductive paths.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object such as a timepiece (18) capable of being worn on a user's wrist by means of a wristband, this portable object being supplied with electric power by at least one rechargeable accumulator able to be recharged by induction charging means, these inductive charging means including a primary winding (56) and a secondary winding (2), said portable object being characterised in that the secondary winding (2) is housed in a strand (16, 26) of the wristband.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an automatic time-setting system for a portable object having an horological function. The present invention also concerns a portable object having an horological function capable of being automatically set to the right time, such as an electronic timepiece. According to the present invention, the portable object (100) includes means (11) for receiving an acoustic time-setting signal (50) and means (12, 13) for deriving time-setting indications (ho, mo) from this acoustic time-setting signal (50) allowing said time indication of the portable object (100) to be corrected. According to the present invention, the portable object may advantageously be set to the right time via an acoustic time-setting signal (50) transmitted for example by the loud speaker of a personal computer, a television, a radio or a telephone receiver.

Abstract: A time base including a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure having a plurality of thermally compensating members (65) which are adapted to alter a mass moment of inertia of the free-standing oscillating structure as a function of temperature so as to compensate for the effect of temperature on the resonant frequency of the ring resonator.

Abstract: The portable instrument with a wristband (4) includes an electronic circuit and a rechargeable power source for supplying the electronic circuit with electricity. The wristband includes two electric contact portions (10,11) arranged on a same strand (4) of the wristband and conductive paths (8, 9) connecting the power source. The two electric contact portions (10, 11) are intended to be placed on two complementary conductive portions of an electric charger to allow the power source to be recharged. A loop (12) can be brought into a blocking position above the contact portions (10, 11) to cover and protect them.

Abstract: The watch according to the invention includes a movement (2) on which a dial (4) is assembled and which is mounted in a casing ring (12) itself mounted in a case (14) including a crystal (16) secured to a bezel (20), a middle part (24) and a back cover (22). According to the invention, the case (4) includes an inner tubular part (38) at least partially surrounding the casing ring (12) and itself surrounded by the middle part (24) and snap fitting assembling means (64, 76) for connecting the back cover (22) and the bezel (20) via the inner tubular part (38). Moreover, this tubular part is designed to allow the casing ring (12) and the middle part (24) to be angularly positioned with respect to each other. In order to do this, it can have an axial slot (98) open towards the back cover (22), which an external projecting portion (94) of the casing ring and an internal projecting portion (96) of the middle part penetrate.

Abstract: A time base including a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate in a first oscillation mode. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure (6). Electrodes (100, 120; 130, 150) are positioned under the free-standing oscillating structure in such a way as to drive and sense a second oscillation mode in a plane substantially perpendicular to the substrate and having a resonant frequency which is different from the resonant frequency of the first oscillation mode, a frequency difference between the resonant frequencies of both oscillation modes being used for compensating for the effect of temperature on the frequency of the signal produced by the time base.

Abstract: There is described a stacked assembly of a plurality of modules (32, 33, 36) and a timepiece (1) including such an assembly forming a movement (3). The modules are mounted via assembly orifices on a plurality of mounting pins (24) and assembled by compression between first and second planes (23, 25). In order to absorb variations in thickness (e) in a first element (34) of the assembly, the latter includes a plurality of tube-shaped intermediate elements, called stepped tubes (8), mounted respectively on the mounting pins, each stepped tube being inserted in an assembly orifice (34a) of the first element.

Abstract: The dial (3) is secured onto a lower element (10) of the case, preferably the casing ring. The lower element (10) includes at least two through passages (12) each having a first part (13) forming an orifice (14) on the dial (3) side separated from a second part (17) on the opposite side, by a neck portion (15), the whole of the first part and at least a portion of the second part of said passages (12) being filled with an adhesive material (19) having a strong power of adhesion to at least the material forming the lower face of the dial (3).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a communication system between a portable unit, such as a watch, and a communication terminal (2) such as a personal computer or PC, characterized in that the communication terminal (2) includes at least means for transmitting an acoustic signal carrying, and in that the portable unit (1) includes at least processing means for processing data, and receiving and conversion means for picking up said acoustic signal and converting said acoustic signal into data intended to be processed by said processing means.

Abstract: The electronic watch includes hands (2, 4, 5) indicating the time, a device (6) displaying at least the date, this device being formed of first (9) and second (10) indicators on which are marked figures (11, 12) respectively indicating the tens and the units of said date. A control member able to be activated manually allows the hands to be set to the correct time and the date to be set. The first (9) and second (10) indicators are each driven by an independent motor (17, 18).

Abstract: A display assembly is disclosed including an electro-optical cell (28), for example a liquid crystal cell, and a photovoltaic cell (61) acting as a back reflector. In order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the display, the photovoltaic cell (61) reflects predetermined wavelengths and thus exhibits a desired color in the transparent zones (90) of the electro-optical cell. In particular, the reflected light can be colored by reflection onto a multi-layered reflective filter including a transparent electrode (69) of the photovoltaic cell. This cell may form part of the dial of a watch.

Abstract: The device (1) includes a mixer (4) which generates a signal (S4) having a frequency (F4) equal to the difference between two frequencies (F2, F3), which are those of two signals (S2, S3) each generated by a generator (2, 3) and which vary parabolically as a function of the temperature (T) with quadratic coefficients (&bgr;1,&bgr;2) that are different to each other. In order for the frequency (F4) of the signal (S4) generated by the mixer (4) to be at least substantially independent of the temperature (T), the generators (2, 3) are arranged such that the ratio of the quadratic coefficients (&bgr;1,&bgr;2) is equal to the inverse of the ratio of values (F2r, F3r) that the corresponding frequencies (F2, F3) have at a determined temperature (Tr).

Abstract: The timepiece carries a date with a large aperture including a units indicator (9) and a tens indicator (10). Between these indicators and a date control crown-wheel (14) are located mechanisms (17, 18) for driving said indicators, these mechanisms each being provided with a locking system (30, 52) preventing any inadvertent movement of these indicators when shocks are applied to the timepiece.

Abstract: There is described a time base comprising a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate, according to a first oscillation mode, around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate, the ring resonator comprising a central post (5) extending from the substrate along the axis of rotation, a free-standing oscillating structure (6) connected to the central post and including an outer ring (60) coaxial with the axis of rotation and connected to the central post by means of a plurality of spring elements (62), and electrode structures (9; 9*) disposed around the outer ring and connected to the integrated electronic circuit.

Abstract: The resonator according to the invention, which is intended to be mounted in a case, includes a tuning fork shaped part (42) with two parallel arms (44, 46) connected to each other by a base (48) and carrying electrodes (52, 54) to make them vibrate, these electrodes being connected to connection pads (60, 62) intended to be electrically connected to the exterior of the case. In accordance with the invention, the resonator (40) also includes a central arm (50) attached to the base (48) and located between the arms (44, 46) of the tuning fork shaped part (42), substantially equidistant from them, this central arm (50) having a greater mass than that of the arms of the tuning fork shaped part and the connection pads (60, 62) are carried by this central arm. This resonator (40) is mounted in a case of parallelepiped shape by fixing its central arm (50) to at least one support secured to the bottom of the case.

Abstract: The method consists in using a setting device for jewel holes or prismatic jewels including at least a reference plane, on which the jewel to be fixed is wedged, said plane including at least spatial positioning means for said jewel, such as studs or cavities. Once the jewel is set in place, it is secured to its housing by applying a laser beam to its edge, possibly with the addition of a fusible material.

Abstract: The invention concerns the structure of a timepiece movement, more particularly the structure of the hour wheel (1), the inside of whose pipe (4) includes an annular bulge (6) co-operating with an annular groove (22) arranged on the outer wall of the pipe (21) of the cannon-pinion (7). Thus, the hour wheel is snap-fitted onto the movement, without it being necessary to provide an additional part for this purpose, and its toothed wheel (3) cannot therefore be released from the motion-work pinion (19) during transport of the movement.

Abstract: A time base having a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to this oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator (4) supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator has a central post (5) extending from the substrate along the axis of rotation, and a free-standing oscillating structure (6) including an outer ring (60) coaxial with the axis of rotation, and a plurality of spring elements (62) disposed symmetrically around the central post and connecting the outer ring to the central post.

Abstract: The timepiece includes a time base (13), a generator (1) formed in particular of a rotor (2) with permanent magnets and at least one coil (3), a barrel (6) with a mainspring coupled to said generator in order to drive it, analogue time indicating means (7) also driven by said barrel. These time indicating means operate substantially synchronously relative to said time base as long as the torque CB provided by said barrel is greater than or equal to a minimum synchronisation torque CSYNC. The timepiece also includes means (12, 16) for braking said generator, magnetised means (18) having with the rotor, when the generator is stopped, a static positioning torque CP allowing said rotor to be kept in a substantially stationary position.