Patents Assigned to ETA SA Fabriques D'Ebauches
  • Patent number: 5917257
    Abstract: The motor (1) includes three stator parts (11, 12, 13) and two coaxial rotors (2, 3) each including a multipolar magnet having axial magnetization (4, 5) arranged between the third (13) and the first (11) respectively the second stator poles (12). The latter each comprises two stator poles (15, 16, 22, 23) having a plurality of teeth (19, 20, 26, 27) staggered with respect to one another. In the rest positions of the rotors (2, 3) the magnetic dipoles (6) of their magnets (4, 5) are phase-shifted with respect to the respective teeth (19, 20, 26, 27). Two coils (51, 52) are each coupled to a stator pole (15, 22), a third coil (53) is coupled to the other two stator poles (16, 23).As result of this arrangement, the motor (1) is compact and its rotors (2, 3) are able to rotate in both directions independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 5909070
    Abstract: The two-phase electromechanical transducer (2) comprises a stator (4) formed by a planar structure (12) and two cores (14, 16) respectively carrying two coils (18, 20). The planar structure defines three magnetic stator poles (22, 23, 24) and has a stator hole (48) closed on itself and within which the two coils are situated relative to a projection in the plane of this planar structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 5907522
    Abstract: Portable device for receiving and/or transmitting radio-transmitted messages comprising:a case (11; 42; 51),an antenna (12; 31, 32; 52, 53) capable of picking up both a magnetic component and an electric component of an electromagnetic field carrying radio-transmitted messages, anda micro-receiver (13) receiving the messages picked up by the antenna, said antenna comprising two conductive plates (15, 16; 31, 32; 52, 53) disposed so as to pick up the radial electric component (E.sub.r) of said electromagnetic field with respect to the body of the wearer.The antenna (12; 31, 32; 52, 53) is formed by a coil (17) comprising a turn arranged in said case (11; 42; 51) to pick up the azimuthal magnetic component (H.sub..PHI.) of said electromagnetic field around said body and the plates (15, 16; 31, 32; 52, 53) form part of said coil (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Viron Teodoridis, Felix Gassmann, Francesco Spina
  • Patent number: 5907524
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a balance-spring for a clockwork movement wherein a spring is formed by winding, from a wire or metal strip, said spring including an inner end intended to be fixed to a balance and a outer end zone intended to be fixed to the balance-spring stud and wherein the whole spring is subjected to a first heat treatment subsequent to the winding step of said wire. The method of the invention is characterized in that it further includes an additional step consisting in subjecting at least said outer end zone to a second heat treatment.This method improves in particular the shock resistance of the balance-spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Eta Sa Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventors: Philippe Marmy, Eric Favre, Christoph Schlencker
  • Patent number: 5894456
    Abstract: Wristwatch including a case (1) for accommodating a movement (4), luminous elements carried by the bezel or by the middle part of said case, a source of energy (44, 45) and an electronic circuit (33) housed in said case to control the power supply of said luminous elements and at least one control element (5), characterized in that at least one luminous element is formed by a finger (11-15) made of flexible materials, supported by said case and extending beyond the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventor: Rolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 5889738
    Abstract: The invention concerns a clockwork movement comprising a lower plate (1) situated on the side of the dial (19), a bridge (2), an upper plate (3) and a rotary shaft (10) which passes through a guiding tube (15) mounted in the bridge (2) and the lower plate (1).The tube (15) has two opposite shoulders (21, 26) which abut respectively against the bridge and the plate to maintain a determined gap between the latter. Three tubes of this type are preferably provided, corresponding to three shafts (10) which may be shafts of chronograph counter hands. At least one of the tubes (15) has an external bearing surface (22) which assures the positioning of a printed circuit board (24).The invention applies to any type of watch, in particular to chronograph watches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Marc Huter
  • Patent number: 5831939
    Abstract: A timepiece and a case intended to fit such a timepiece. This timepiece comprises a clockwork movement (12), a case (2) consisting of a caseband (4) and a back cover (6) forming a housing (10) for receiving said movement (12), means for axial positioning (25, 26) and means for lateral positioning (P) of the movement (12) with respect to the case (2). The axial positioning means are arranged in a peripheral region of the housing (10) and may allow a lateral play along a support plane (27). The lateral positioning means (P) are arranged respectively on the back cover (6) of the case (2) and on a lower part (14b) of the frame (14), preferably in the form of a central stud (6) fixed to the back cover (6) and engaged with an axial play in an opening (38) of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Eta Sa Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventor: Laurent Kaelin
  • Patent number: 5825106
    Abstract: An electromecanic transducer comprises a stator 4 formed of three parts 6, 8 and 18 each presenting merlons or teeth 52, 54 and 60 superposed to a multipolar magnet 34 of rotor 30. Three statoric magnetic poles 10, 12 and 20 are situated in a same statoric plane and define, together with two branches 22 and 24 each containing a coil 26 and 28, two principal magnetic circuits of the transducer. The transducer is particularly suitable for a step functioning, in particular when a relatively high number of steps per turn is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 5798984
    Abstract: Timepiece including a case, a bezel and a transponder including a radio broadcast signal transmitting and/or receiving circuit and an antenna connected to that circuit, the antenna and the transmitting and/or receiving circuit being both fixed to the bezel wherein they are, for example arranged in an appropriate recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daniel Koch
  • Patent number: 5781512
    Abstract: A watch (1) whose case (3) comprises a groove (7) on its periphery is mounted in a removable manner in a suspension and support device consisting of two parts (11 and 12) attached by a hinge (13). The first part (11) has the shape of an resilient open ring which engages in the groove of the case. The second part (12) is substantially flat and comprises suspension means opposite to the hinge (13), and a shoulder capable of stopping it at an acute angle with respect to the first part. In this case, the assembly may be placed on a table (34) or any other horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Laurent Pantet
  • Patent number: 5774427
    Abstract: An electric switch device (14) co-operating with a printed circuit (13) and closing perpendicular to such circuit when it is actuated by a pressure in a direction (A) parallel to the plane (16) of the circuit.The switch comprises an elastic contact element (22) having a prominent portion (25) which receives the pressure from a push-button (4) in a direction (A) parallel to the printed circuit. At least one flexible leg (28) of the contact element is fixed to the printed circuit or close to the latter. Another leg (26) of this contact element carries at its end a contact portion (27) which is lowered onto a pad of the circuit when the contact element bends under the effect of the control pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Eta Sa Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 5774057
    Abstract: A communications system includes apparatus for generating a succession of time message signals, a central station having a transmitter for transmitting the time message signals, at least a first receiver for receiving the time message signals and timer circuits for determining the real time of receipt of each time message signal. Each time message signal is representative of the real time of receipt, by the first receiver, of a preceding time message. The first receiver includes a clock for providing the first receiver with an internal time signal. The clock is reset upon receipt of a first time message signal and is advanced, upon receipt of a subsequent time message signal, by the real time indicated by the subsequent time message signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Stefan Kalbermatter
  • Patent number: 5773914
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator of small dimensions comprises a vibrating element mounted in a tight sealed housing (1) of elongated shape. The housing comprises a base (10) onto which a metal cap (9) is fixed, and coupling conductors (11) which pass through the base to connect the vibrating element to the exterior of the housing. The metal cap is formed by a part in the shape of a rectangular parallepiped which has, in its lengthwise direction, a cylindrical axial blind hole. This shape allows the cap to have a much better mechanical resistance than that of a conventional cylindrical cap and allows the resonator to be easily mounted, in an automatic manner, onto a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Hans-Rudolf Gottier
  • Patent number: 5751086
    Abstract: A multipolar motor with two rotors includes two coaxial axially magnetised rotors (3, 5) arranged on either side of an intermediate stator part (17). First (13) and second (15) stator parts, each having a stator opening (19, 20), are respectively arranged on either side of the rotors. The first and second stator parts each have two polar expansions (13a, 13b, 15a, 15b) defining the stator opening. Each of these polar expansions is connected to the intermediate stator part (17) by a major electric circuit passing through the core (30) of a winding (33a, 33c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 5751668
    Abstract: Push button comprising a stem (10), provided with a head (5) able to be manipulated and sliding into an opening (2) provided in the middle part (3) of a timepiece, and stopping means preventing the removal of said stem (10), wherein the stem (10) comprises, on the head side (5), a main cylindrical body (11) extended by a shank (13) separated from the latter by a groove (12) intended to receive an O-ring sealing gasket (30), said shank (13) having at its end an axial stud (17) ending in an annular rim (18), and the stopping means comprise a sleeve (20) inserted between the wall of the opening (2) and the shank (13), partially blocked by a ring (22) of greater external diameter than that of the opening (2) and of substantially equal aperture to the diameter of the stud (17), said (20) sleeve compressing the O-ring sealing gasket (30) and being fixed to the shank (13) by riveting of the annular rim (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Eta sa Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: David Eray
  • Patent number: 5739647
    Abstract: In order that each of its rotors (18 to 21) may he individually controlled, the transducer (1) comprises a stator (2) having two main parts (3, 4) and 2N+1 transverse parts (5 to 13). N openings (14 to 17) through each of which a stator (18 to 21) passes, are each arranged in one of the main parts in the prolongation of one of the even rank transverse parts. N+1 coils each surround one of the odd rank transverse parts.Application to selective driving of several mobile elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 5736806
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an electromechanical transducer exhibiting a configuration of the cylindrical type and adapted in particular to serve as a stepping motor. In a three-phase embodiment, the transducer according to the invention comprises a stator (2) and a rotor (4) capable of turning around a rotation axis (6). The stator (2) comprises three pole pieces (8, 10, 12) each having a polar arm (14, 16, 18) oriented in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotor and bearing an energization winding (32, 34, 36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 5734626
    Abstract: The invention concerns a synchronisation device for synchronising the analogue display with the digital display of a timepiece.The device includes a contact wheel (1), driven by the hour-wheel of the timepiece, on which is fixed a contact spring (2) with several arms (4, 6; 8, 10). The arms make contact with conductive strips (T1-T5) distributed according to a particular arrangement on a printed circuit board associated with the device according to the invention. Via the geometry of the arms, the strips are periodically connected in different configurations. The series of combinations forming the possible different configurations is repeated periodically. The device further comprises an electronic control signal generating device for storing the initial position corresponding to a certain configuration of the contacts. Since the series of combinations is given, each movement of the hour-wheel can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventor: Doris Eckstein
  • Patent number: 5734215
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer (1), in particular a motor used in timepieces, having a stator (2) and two rotors (14 and 15). The two rotors (14 and 15) are situated respectively in two stator holes (4 and 6) each defined by three stator poles (8a, 10a, 12a; 8b, 10b, 12b). The transducer (1) is capable of functioning as a stepping motor, each of the two rotors being capable of rotating in the two possible rotational directions independently of the other rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Daho Taghezout, Yves Guerin
  • Patent number: 5712533
    Abstract: The power supply circuit for an electroluminescent lamp (7) comprises a transformer with two windings (4, 6). The primary winding (4) of the transformer is supplied cyclically by a battery via the intermediary of an "H" bridge. The use of an "H" bridge ensures that the current circulating in the primary winding (4) has no continuous component, which optimises the rates of transmission of electric energy from the primary (4) to the secondary of th transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Damien Corti