Abstract: The invention concerns a portable object, in particular a wristwatch (1), including a case (2) with which are associated at least two different electronic modules, each module allowing access to a particular service, the portable object also including means (22) for selecting and activating one of said electronic modules as a function of the service desired by the user.

Abstract: A control device with a snap function includes a support (10), a push-button (12) mounted so as to move in translation along an axis on the support, and a spring element (14) which is not secured to the support or to the push-button. The spring element (14) is formed of an elongated sheet made of resilient material, inserted between the push-button (12) and the support (10), and includes a pair of support zones (36) located at its ends and at least a median support zone arranged in its central portion. These support zones cooperate respectively with the head (28) of the push-button and with a raised surface (24c) of the support. In the rest position, the sheet has a bent or V-shaped cross section, which can deform to create a snap action during the travel of the push-button which tends to bend the spring element longitudinally. Such a device can be applied to control a mechanical or electrical function of a watch or another apparatus of small size.

Abstract: Peripheral lighting device for the scale of a dial (11) of an apparatus of small dimensions including a case (1) in which are housed a movement (14) driving at least one hand (12a, 12b, 12c) with respect to the scale, a power source (6) and an electronic circuit (15) able to supply a pulsed voltage, said case being closed by crystal (4) extended on the dial side by an annular extension forming a flange (17), characterized in that a circular recess (19) is provided inside the base (18) of the flange (17) to accommodate on the one hand, an electroluminescent ring (20) formed of a strip having a border (21) extending beyond the base and a connecting lug (22), and on the other hand a ring (30) made of translucent plastic material forced into the annular recess (19) to hold the electroluminescent ring (20) at the bottom thereof.

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: 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.

Abstract: Control button having a metal body (10) provided along its axis with a blind hole (16) closed by a cap (18) and extended by a wall (14) of revolution. The body (10) includes a groove (20) made in the outer surface of the wall (14) and channels (26) connecting said surface to the inside of the blind hole (16). The button further includes a fitting (12) made of synthetic material, formed of a ring (28) closing the groove and extended radially by raised portions (34) as far as the openings of the channels (26) in the wall (14) of a radial structure with several branches (30) closing the channels (26), and a core (32) connecting the branches (30) to secure between them the different parts (28, 30, 32, 34) of the fitting (12).

Abstract: In order to angularly position and centre the crystal (5) with respect to the dial (4), the dial is provided with at least one lug (8) capable of being introduced precisely into a hollow (11) made in a collar (10) of the crystal (5). Thus, if the crystal has a lens (41) and the dial (4) has a window (40), the lens will be superposed exactly on said window.

Abstract: The watch case includes a back cover (2), a middle part (3) and a bezel (4) closed by a crystal (5) delimiting together a space in which a watch movement (1) is housed for an analogue or digital time display on a dial (6) arranged below the crystal (5). It is characterized in that the bezel (4) is made of metal and has locally a ring (14) of sufficient thickness to include in its lower portion a first series of threaded holes (11) for screwing in a first series of screws (10) for fixing the movement (1) onto the bezel (4) and a second series of threaded holes (21), offset angularly with respect to the first series, passing through the movement (1), and intended for screwing the back cover (2) into the lower part of the bezel (4).

Abstract: The device includes a barrel (2) inserted in the kinematic chain between the rotor (11) of the generator (1) and the oscillating weight (3). The barrel includes a spiral coiled spring (4) and a sliding strip (6), wound in the same direction as the spiral coiled spring over the length of a turn, without any mechanical connection with the spring, but forming a protective envelope in the open position in case of shock. The shockproof device can be applied to the generator of a wristwatch.

Abstract: The monophase electromechanical transducer (2) includes a stator (8) and a rotor (4) including a permanent bipolar magnet (6). The stator is formed of a planar structure (10) defining first and second magnetic stator poles (18,20) and a core (12) carrying a coil (14), said core magnetically connecting first and second magnetic poles. The coil is situated in an opening (35) the edge (36) of which is closed on itself and the part of the planar structure which defines said second magnetic pole surrounds completely said opening and a hole (16) in which said bipolar magnet is situated.

Abstract: Encapsulated piezoelectric resonator including on the one hand a central plate (5) made of a piezoelectric material cut to form a frame (6) and a central resonant element (9) connected to said frame (6), the top and bottom faces having a metal coating, on the other hand bottom (11) and top (16) covers, each being formed by a spacing frame (12, 17) made of metal or a metal alloy and a closing plate (14, 19), characterised in that at least one of the elements (12, 14, 17, 19) forming the covers (11, 16) is electrically connected to the frame (6) of the central plate (5) and has an extension (10, 13, 18, 20) bent into a Z shape to bring its distal portion (10a, 13a, 18a, 20a) in line with a covering plate (14, 19) and to form electrical and mechanical connection means situated in a same plane.

Abstract: The instantaneous date change mechanism includes driving means (3) and positioning means (7) for an indicator (1). The driving means (3) include a spring (6) which ends in a finger (4) acting on a tooth (5) of the indicator. The positioning means are formed in particular of a heel (8) inserted between two teeth (9, 10) of the indicator (1). The driving means (3) are arranged so that the heel (8) can be at least partially released from the indicator teeth when the indicator has to be driven.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a sequential control method for a display assembly including two superposed, respectively top (22; 46) and bottom (24; 48), display devices, the top display device (22; 46) including at least a liquid crystal display cell (26, 28; 50) and being arranged so as to be transparent in a first state to make the bottom display device (24; 48) visible, and so as to display a data item and to be opaque and reflective and to mask at least partially the bottom display device (24; 48) in a second state, control means supplying a control voltage to cause the top display device (22; 46) to pass from the first state to the second state and vice versa, characterised in that the display assembly is made to enter an operating state in which the top display device (22; 46) automatically switches into the state in which it is transparent or into the state in which it is opaque and reflective, so that the display assembly passes alternately from a mode displaying data via the top display device (22;

Abstract: The transmission device disclosed is inserted between a rotating oscillating weight and an electric micro-generator in order to drive the generator rotor from the oscillating weight by multiplying the rotational speed. Its intermediate wheel and pinion includes a barrel (27) whose central shaft (24) is coupled to the drum (41) of the barrel by a spiral spring (30). The inner end of the spring has a bent portion (34) which engages via resilience in any one of a number of hollows (51) in the shaft and can be released by sliding over a slanting side (52) when the shaft exerts too great a torque in the given rotational direction. This arrangement prevents damage resulting from shocks, in particular in the case of a watch, without using a friction system.

Abstract: In order to adjust the oscillation frequency of a sprung balance intended for or fitted to a mechanical timepiece, in a first step a balance spring is manufactured with a greater elastic torque than a reference torque corresponding to the oscillation frequency provided for the sprung balance. Once the sprung balance is assembled, the balance spring is machined by means of a laser beam to reduce its elastic torque until it substantially reaches the reference elastic torque. In particular, the laser machining consists in removing matter in order either to reduce the height of the balance spring in certain regions, or to reduce the thickness of the strip forming said balance spring. This invention allows conventional regulating means, in particular pins associated with an index, to be omitted. This enables working errors of the timepiece as a function of its position, to be avoided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dial (1), in particular for a timepiece, including a plate having at least one recess defining a housing (6) in which a decorative element (8) or suchlike is secured, characterised in that the housing (6) includes a bottom (14) formed of an adhesive strip (16), the adhesive face of which comes into contact with the decorative element (8).

Abstract: The watch provided with a tourbillon includes a regulating device (2) engaging with an escapement (3) which itself engages with a gear train (4) meshing with a fixed wheel (5). The regulating device, the escapement and the gear train are mounted on a plate (6) fixed to a pipe (7) rotatably mounted in a support plate (8, 46), this pipe being situated at the center of the watch and driven in rotation by a spring driven device (9). Preferably, the pipe (7) surrounds a cannon pinion (11) carrying a minutes hand (12), this cannon wheel in turn surrounding a shaft (13) carrying an hours hand (14). The shaft (13) and the cannon pinion (11) are connected by a motion work (15) which is situated underneath the plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic chronograph watch (1) with an analogue display wherein the measured times are displayed on small dials (5, 6, 7) located on the periphery of the main dial (2). The measured times are displayed by small hands (8, 9, 10) each driven by a motor. The watch (1) includes a stem-crown (11) used to adjust the position of the hands (3, 4) indicating the current time via conventional mechanical means. The watch further includes at least two push-buttons (12, 13) which, when manipulated, allow access to all the functions of the chronograph part, including the function of adjusting the rest position of the chronograph hands (8, 9, 10).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electric timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, supplied with electric current by an accumulator (16) intended to be recharged once flat, this timepiece (1) including a time-setting stem (4) and at least one control member (6) for at least one horological function of said timepiece (1), characterised in that the time-setting stem (4) is electrically connected to one of the poles (18) of the accumulator (16), and in that the control member (6) can be electrically connected to the other pole of the accumulator (16) after said member has been pressed. The present invention also concerns a timepiece of the type-described above, this timepiece (1) including at least a first and a second control member (6′) each controlling at least one horological function of said timepiece (1), characterised in that each of the first and second control members (6′) can be connected to a respective pole (18, 20) of the accumulator (16) after said member (6′) has been pressed.

Abstract: A timepiece including a case (24) provided with a back cover (28) and a middle part (26), a movement (30) mounted in the casing ring (32), a dial (34) mounted above the ring (32) and a crystal (36) mounted above the dial (34), said crystal (36) being provided with an annular collar (70) surrounding the flank (64) of the dial (34), characterised in that the casing ring (32) includes means (38) arranged to remove all the play inherent in the dimensional tolerances of the dial (34), the ring (32) and the back cover (28) of the case (24), these means (38) on which the collar (70) of the crystal (36) is supported being arranged at the upper end of the ring (32), along the outer circumference (86) thereof.