Abstract: A composite material having a grainy appearance, this composite material including a metal matrix which represents, in terms of volume fraction, between 50 and 95% of the grainy composite material, the ceramic particles having a diameter that lies in the range 0.1 to 2 mm and which represent, in terms of volume fraction, between 50 and 5% of the composite material are dispersed in the metal matrix and form the remainder of this grainy composite material. A method for manufacturing a grainy synthetic material.

Abstract: A method for operating a fast start-up oscillator system, which includes a reference oscillator and a quartz oscillator connected to an electronic oscillator circuit, which is provided to supply a master clock signal to a start-up controller configured to perform a fast start-up procedure of the quartz oscillator via the reference oscillator. The start-up controller includes a calculation unit and a memory unit for storing data in connection with the reference oscillator for starting the quartz oscillator. The method includes parameterising the calculation unit for starting the quartz oscillator, generating excitation bursts, determining a phase deviation in different successive periods between the oscillation of the reference oscillator and the oscillation of the quartz oscillator, calculating a frequency error in the calculation unit, and correcting the frequency of the reference oscillator to the frequency of the quartz oscillator.

Abstract: A coloured article made of a ceramic and including: a high-performance zirconia, present at between 80% and 99.5% by weight based on the total weight of the ceramic, pigments, present at between 2.5% and 20% by weight based on the total weight of the ceramic, and containing one or more oxides selected from the list consisting of Al, Si, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ce, V, Nd, Pr and Ti oxides, including mixed oxides from this list. The total percentage by weight of the high-performance zirconia, pigments and any impurities are 100%, and the ceramic has a hardness HV30 greater than 1100 HV and a toughness greater than 12 MPav?m. Also, a method for manufacturing this article.

Abstract: A horological movement including a mechanical resonator and a hybrid escapement including an escapement wheel and a pallet assembly with at least one magnetic pallet-stone formed of a magnet and associated with a mechanical banking, the escapement wheel including a periodic magnetised structure defining increasing gradients of magnetic potential energy for the magnetic pallet-stone, and protruding parts associated with the increasing gradients of magnetic potential energy. When the force torque is equal to a nominal force torque or has a value within at least an upper part of a given range of values, one of the protruding parts of the escapement wheel is subjected to at least one shock on the mechanical banking of the pallet assembly after the magnetic pallet-stone has climbed any one of the increasing gradients of magnetic potential energy, thus dissipating at least partially a kinetic energy of the escapement wheel.

Abstract: A substrate comprising a surface at least a portion of which is covered with an epilame agent, comprising at least one compound in the form of a copolymer comprising units M and units N, associated by covalent bonds via their main chains, where M is N is where R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, are H, a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C2-C10 alkenyl group; X and Y, which may be identical or different, are spacer arms consisting of a heteroatom or a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain containing at least one heteroatom and comprising at least one carbon atom; A, which may be identical or different, forms an anchoring group to the substrate; L, which may be identical or different, is a halogenated ether group according to formula (I) where Q is a halogen atom; P, which may be identical or different, is a C1-C10 alkyl group or a C2-C10 alkenyl group comprising at least one halogen atom and being linear or branched; p is chosen between 1 and 4; and n is chosen between 1 and 20.

Abstract: A case configured to receive a plurality of mechanical watch movements in the wound state, each movement being housed inside a compartment, configured to receive and maintain the movement according to a predefined orientation. In this position, the winding buttons of the movements are positioned facing respective microphones which are mounted inside the case. The microphones are configured such that they cancel the noises detected, such that the acoustic measurements of each of the movements are essentially not disturbed by the noises produced by the adjacent movements. Also, a method for testing a plurality of mechanical movements installed in the case, and to a testing system which includes the case. The movements are measured by a plurality of cycles of consecutive and successive measurement periods.

Abstract: An intermittent display mechanism for a timepiece includes a mobile component in motion, an energy source for supplying a light emission source coupled with a light guide, and light emission control means. The light emission control means includes a flexible body bearing a flexible piezoelectric film or coating coated in an electrically insulating shell and attached to a fixed structure and including a distal zone overhanging with respect to the structure, arranged to interfere mechanically, at periodic or random times, with the mobile component during the travel thereof and move away from the rest position thereof before starting vibration of the flexible body and the piezoelectric film or coating, which constitutes an energy source, to convert the mechanical energy supplied by the mobile component into electrical energy supplied to the light emission source.

Abstract: A method for coating an external part (1) used in the horology, fashion, jewellery and gemstone jewellery fields, the coating method comprising the steps of at least partially overmoulding the external part (1) with an overmoulding layer (4) made of a plastic polymer material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers of the polyurethane family and thermosetting polymers of the epoxy polymer family, or from the group consisting of thermoplastic acrylic resins.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator, in particular for a rotary piezoelectric motor, the resonator including a stationary base and an oscillating mass extending around a longitudinal axis, the oscillating mass being provided with at least one flyweight, preferably two opposing flyweights, wherein the resonator includes a flexible guide connecting the oscillating mass to the base, so as to be able to cause the oscillating mass to oscillate about a centre of rotation in a pendulum movement, the flexible guide comprising at least a first flexible blade connecting the base to the oscillating mass, the first flexible blade comprising at least in part an electrically actuatable piezoelectric material for deforming the first flexible blade and causing the oscillating mass to oscillate.

Abstract: A bracelet including an upper strip and a lower strip forming at least one strand of the bracelet, the bracelet includes a flexible intermediate layer disposed between the upper strip and the lower strip, the flexible intermediate layer being formed by at least one encapsulated phase-change material having a transition temperature of between 0° C. and 40° C.

Abstract: A rotary piezoelectric motor, in particular for a timepiece, the motor including: a rotor configured to rotate and actuate a mechanical device, a stator configured to rotate the rotor, the stator including a piezoelectric actuator, the piezoelectric actuator including a moving element whose movement causes the rotor to rotate in a first direction, the piezoelectric actuator including only two electrically actuatable resonators, the two resonators being connected to the moving element to move it against the rotor to cause it to rotate, the two resonators being arranged relative to the moving element so as to cause the moving element to oscillate in first and second directions different from each other, each resonator including a centre of rotation, the two resonators being disposed relative to the moving element so that, around each centre of rotation, the torque resulting from all the acceleration forces being applied in the plane of each resonator is zero.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator for a rotary motor, the resonator including a stationary base and an oscillating mass extending around a longitudinal axis, the oscillating mass having an inertia-block. The resonator includes a flexible blade guide connecting the oscillating mass to the base, so as to be able to cause the oscillating mass to oscillate about a centre of rotation in a balance movement, the flexible guide including a first RCC-type pivot provided with an intermediate moving element, a first pair of flexible blades connecting the base to the intermediate moving element, and a second pair of flexible blades forming a second RCC-type pivot connecting the intermediate moving element to the oscillating mass, the piezoelectric resonator including a first flexible blade connecting the intermediate moving element to the base, the first flexible blade including at least in part a piezoelectric material that can deform the first flexible blade and cause the oscillating mass to oscillate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator, in particular for a rotary piezoelectric motor, the resonator including a stationary base and an oscillating mass extending about a longitudinal axis, the oscillating mass being provided with at least one inertia-block, preferably two opposing inertia-blocks, wherein the resonator includes a flexible blade guide connecting the oscillating mass to the base, so that the oscillating mass can be oscillated about a centre of rotation in a pendulum movement, the flexible guide including at least one first flexible blade connected to the base and/or to the oscillating mass to allow the displacement of the oscillating mass relative to the base, the flexible blade guide including a spiral spring connected to the base and/or to the oscillating mass, the spiral spring including at least partially an electrically actuatable piezoelectric material to deform the spiral spring and oscillate the oscillating mass.

Abstract: A watch case including a hollow pivoting bezel formed of first and second external elements including a near-field communication device provided with at least one microcircuit connected to an antenna, the case including a device for remotely controlling the communication device configured to activate or deactivate the communication device.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for verifying the state of a watch and resetting it to the correct time. In a case of the device, a watch can be disposed on a watch support, which can be moved from a position without measurement to a measurement position in a vision system, or vice versa. In a position without measurement, the watch on its support can be observed from the outside of the case of the device through at least one electronic shutter activated or an optical valve activated to be in a transparent state, whereas in the measurement position, the electronic shutter or the optical valve is deactivated to be made opaque.

Abstract: A mechanical part (2, 3) including a functional surface intended to come into frictional contact with another functional surface, wherein the functional surface of the mechanical part (2, 3) is made of polyethylene furanoate.

Abstract: A timepiece (2) includes an actuator, which applies braking pulses to the balance, which has an electromechanical device (6) and an electric control circuit (8). The device (6) includes a flexible member (16), formed by an elastic blade (20) and a mechanical element (22) defining a braking pad, and an electromagnetic system (10) formed by a coil carried by the flexible member and by a permanent magnet rigidly connected to a support (18) of the electromechanical device. When an electric pulse is provided to the coil, an electromagnetic force of repulsion is engendered between the coil and the permanent magnet so the mechanical element moves to a position of contact with the balance. To stabilise the rest position of the flexible member, a magnetic element (26) is rigidly connected to the coil to exert a magnetic return force complementary to the force of the elastic blade is provided.

Abstract: A horological component including a first part having a body provided with a first and a second cavity, the second cavity receiving a second part by engagement therewith, the first and second cavities being connected to each other by a capillary channel configured to allow the capillary flow of an adhesive from the first cavity to the second.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, the display device including: two facing transparent substrates designated respectively front substrate and rear substrate, the front substrate being same disposed on the observer side, the front and rear substrates being provided on the inner faces thereof with transparent structured electrodes whereof the superposition defines shape pixels switchable between two optical states, the electrodes being connected to a voltage source via a control circuit, forming a cell closed by a sealing frame for receiving in the spaced delimited by the substrates and the sealing frame a liquid crystal composition; and a decorative pattern in direct contact with the front substrate or the rear substrate.

Abstract: A flexible timepiece component, in particular for an oscillator mechanism or for a barrel of a horological movement, the component extending along a main plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanowires (3) being juxtaposed, the matrix (2) including a material (4) for filling the interstices between the nanowires (3) to join them to each other, each nanowire (3) forming a solid one-piece tube, the nanowires (3) being disposed substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the main plane (P) of the component (6, 7).