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 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 for the latter. 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 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: The present invention concerns a wristwatch (30) including a case (32) provided with a first electric conductor (50) and an electric circuit (36) connected to said first electric conductor, and a wristband (34) including a second electric conductor (42). This wristwatch is characterised in that the first and second conductors are arranged to form an electric connection without any mechanical contact and, more precisely, by capacitive coupling. One advantage of such an arrangement of the wristwatch is that it achieves an electric connection without mechanical coupling, i.e. an electric connection which does not require any additional external material arrangement other than the conventional articulation between the wristband and the case.

Abstract: The push-button mechanism includes a lever (11) which pivots on a plane support (2), and includes two other pins (14, 16) arranged in a triangle with respect to the stud (12), and a second member (20) including a substantially U shaped cut-out portion (21) delimiting a base (22), and first and second arms (28, 32). The base (22) supports guide means (23) which slide along a guide ramp (3) and at least one control means (24) for a function to be activated (5, 6). The first rigid arm (28) is rotatably mounted on a first pin (14) of the lever (11) and the second flexible arm (32) has at its free end (33) a notch (34) acting as support for the second pin (16) in the inactive position, said notch (34) being extended by a beak shaped tip (36) having an external edge (38) oriented towards the exterior of the U shaped cut-out portion (21) against which the second pin (16) slides compressing the flexible arm (32) and producing a clicking by passing from one position to the other.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a rotating member (1) and a contactless electric capacitive detection device for detecting positions and/or movements of the member. In order to avoid the problems posed by conventional systems with electric switches, the detection device includes at least one capacitive sensor (2), having one or more fixed electrodes (6, 7) and a toothed rotor (5) driven by the member, and an electronic detection apparatus (3) sensitive to variations in the sensor capacitance. The device may include two capacitive sensors whose output signals are in quadrature, in order to be able to indicate the direction of rotation of the member. The rotating member may be a time-setting control stem or another component such as the shaft of a watch hand.

Abstract: The invention concerns a push button device for a timepiece, in particular a chronograph, including a pusher head (2) associated with a pusher stem (4) arranged so as to slide in a recess (6) inside which it moves axially from a rest position against the resilient return force of a spring (12) when the pusher head (2) is pushed in, characterised in that the pusher stem (4) is also able to move axially from its rest position to a pulled out position when the pusher head (2) is pulled out.

Abstract: An electronic watch in which the position of the hands is managed by the electronic circuit for displaying data internal to the circuit, in particular time data. Said watch comprises means for detecting supply insufficiency combined for bringing and maintaining the hands on reference positions when such deficiency is detected, thus avoiding a discrepancy between the indications of the hands and the internal data which they must display when the supply source is back to normal.

Abstract: The time-setting device includes a stem (8) capable of driving by friction a motion work wheel (29). The stem (8) ends in a knob (31) which rests against an annular flange (32) made under the motion work wheel. When the stem (8) is in a pushed in position, the knob runs idle. When this stem is pulled out, the knob drives the motion work to set the time of the hour (23) and minute (22) hands.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece having a body or frame upon which an added element may be held, in a detachable manner. The invention also relates to a method of assembling this element on said body or frame.This timepiece is characterized in that the fixation means of the element added to the body or frame are formed by at least one rotating bolt (10) which is anchored permanently in the material itself of the body or frame (2) and is axially immobilized by said material.

Abstract: A clockwork wheel (1) including a plate (3) provided with a first series of peripheral teeth (4) and a second series of teeth (5) arranged at right angles to the plate is manufactured in a strip of steel suitable for stamping and by means of a progressive forging die. In order to form the second series of teeth (5), a die perforated with a plurality of openings arranged in a circle is applied onto one face of the strip, and the flat face of a cylinder is pressed onto the other face of the strip to cause the steel to flow inside the openings of the die. The clockwork wheel is used as a setting wheel in a time or date setting mechanism.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for securing at least one part onto the bottom of a case including at least one stud which projects from said bottom, said part having at least one substantially flat portion provided with an orifice having an axis substantially perpendicular to said bottom and into which said stud is introduced. The case further includes a cover provided, on the face thereof which is directed towards the bottom of said case, complementary means to said stud for, in a closed position of the cover, applying and holding said flat portion onto a support surface provided in the region of said bottom, and means for blocking the cover onto said case. Said complementary means are shaped for generating deformation of said distal portion outwards so that said deformed distal portion of said stud is inserted between said flat portion and said complementary means.

Abstract: The transformer (1) includes a body (2) made of piezoelectric material having an outer lateral surface (E) in the shape of a circular cylinder. Primary electrodes (5, 7, 10, 12, 17, 19, 22, 24) are arranged on the body (2) so that, when the primary voltage (Up) which is applied thereto has a determined frequency (fr), the outer lateral surface (E) alternately takes the shape of a first and a second elliptical cylinder, the major axes of these latter being perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the axis (A) of the circular cylinder.This vibration mode of the body (2) has a lower fundamental resonance frequency than that of the vibration mode of known transformer bodies having the same space requirement. The transformer (1) is thus well suited to being used in devices where the available space is limited for providing a relatively high AC voltage but having a relatively low frequency.

Abstract: Transducer, in particular clockwork driving motor, comprising a stator (2) formed of two stator parts (16 and 26) and three cores (18, 19, 20) connecting respectively three magnetic poles (28, 29, 30), defined by the first stator part (16), to the second stator part (26) used to close the magnetic paths of the transducer. The coils (22 and 24) are used to supply the transducer to drive in rotation respectively the two rotors (4 and 6). The coil (23) is connected to detection means (72) used for detecting the rotation of one or other of the two rotors (4 and 6), and in particular, for detecting zero crossing of the induced voltage (or similarly of the induced current) in the coil (23). Detection of zero crossing of the induced voltage is used to provide input signals to the supply means (70) to control driving of the rotors (4 and 6) in an efficient and reliable manner, in particular in a rapid or continuous operating mode, whether in a forward or backward rotational direction.

Abstract: The method includes applying to the coil (3) of the motor (2) driving pulses having alternately a first and a second polarity, supplying the coil (3) with a determined quantity of electric energy during each driving pulse, detecting, after each driving pulse, the rotation or non rotation of the rotor of the motor (2) in response to said driving pulse, and adjusting said determined quantity of electric energy as a function of said detection.In order to further reduce the quantity of electric energy consumed by the motor, the method is characterised in that the adjustment of the quantity of electric energy supplied to the coil (3) is effected separately for the driving pulses having the first polarity and for the driving pulses having the second polarity.

Abstract: A device for limiting the acceleration which an oscillating weight (1) used to drive or wind a power generator powering an instrument of small volume, can undergo, includes a bearing raceway (2) against which such weight abuts when it undergoes an acceleration substantially exceeding that occurring in normal use of the instrument. For this purpose, the weight (1) is elastically mounted on a moving support member (4) so as to move in the plane of such weight which is then braked by the bearing raceway (2) when the weight undergoes an acceleration which exceeds a certain maximum value.

Abstract: The power generator (1) powers an instrument of small volume and is driven, via a gear train, by an oscillating weight (2), said train including a plurality of wheels and pinions (18, 4, 6, 19) arranged in a chain (3). The chain includes a sliding wheel and pinion (4) arranged to disengage from at least one of the other wheel and pinions (18) when the weight (2) is subjected to an acceleration substantially exceeding that occurring during normal use of the instrument.

Abstract: Analogue display timepiece comprising a mechanism for hand setting via direct action of a pull-out piece (4) on an intermediate wheel (10) mobile along a shaft perpendicular to the general plane of the plate (P) of said timepiece between at least one neutral position in which said intermediate wheel (10) is disengaged from a motion-work wheel (20) and a hand setting position in which it meshes with said motion-work wheel (20), said intermediate wheel (10) being moved from one position to the other by translation of a hand setting stem (1) by being drawn at its base (12) by resilient means (15) into the hand setting position and being brought into a neutral position by an arm (7) of the pull-out piece (4) acting directly on the head (11) of the intermediate wheel in order to oppose the resilient means (15).

Abstract: The coil (1) of the motor includes a coil body carrying two flanges (7, 8). Made in one piece with one of the flanges (8), a plate (10) covers a lug (4) of the core. This plate (10) acts as anchoring point for the output wires (11, 12) of a wire winding (9) by embedding of the end zones (13, 14) of each of said wires in the plate. Prior to reaching the end zones (13, 14), the wires (11, 12) follow a channel (15) made in the plate, a hole (16, 17) arranged perpendicular to the wires and ending in this channel, being made both in the plate and in the lug.

Abstract: Portable receiver for receiving and displaying radio broadcast messages having a series of characters, the portable receiver including a housing (6) having at least one face (7); a memory (45) for storing messages; a display (2) mounted on or visible through the face, for displaying the stored messages; and at least one control device (4) including a manually actuable member (200), the control device being adapted to enable manipulation of the stored messages by a rotation applied to the manually actuable member. Control device (4) includes a stem (205) rotatably mounted in housing (6) around its longitudinal axis. Manually actuable member (200) includes a dome-shaped portion (5) at least partially emerging from face (7). Stem (205) is fixedly attached to manually actuable member (200) so that dome-shaped portion (5) is rotatable around the longitudinal axis.