Abstract: A portable modular unit for inspecting in a timepiece the presence of a lubricating agent, or of an epilame, having fluorescent markers, from an excitation luminous flux of white light. The modular unit includes an optical housing, forming a first module, a portable white light source (200) emitting an excitation luminous flux, forming a second module, a portable magnifying device, forming a third module. The optical housing includes a first mounting interface for removably mounting the portable white light source on the optical housing, the first mounting interface being configured so that the excitation luminous flux emitted by the portable white light source is directed in the direction of the excitation filter; and a second mounting interface for removably mounting the portable magnifying device on the optical housing, the second mounting interface being configured so that the magnifying device is opposite the inspection opening.

Abstract: A device for fastening a back (1) to a middle (2) of a watch case (100), the back (1) being arranged to be driven onto the watch case (100). The device includes a casing ring (3) to which is connected at least one position pin (4), the position pin (4) being arranged to cooperate with at least one machining (10) in the back (1) so as to guarantee the orientation of the back (1) relative to the middle (2) along the 12 o'clock-6 o'clock axis of the watch.

Abstract: An horological movement includes an analogue time display, a geartrain, a barrel and an electromechanical oscillator, which is formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric balance-spring, and a mechanical escapement, and further includes an electronic control circuit connected to an electrical energy source and arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical voltage on at least one electrode of the piezoelectric balance-spring so as to generate driving electrical pulses for the oscillator. The horological movement is configured such that the barrel is capable, in a first main state, of maintaining alone a functional oscillation of the oscillator with a first amplitude, while in a second main state, the electronic control circuit powers the piezoelectric balance-spring to maintain, partially or fully, the oscillation of the resonator with a second amplitude greater than the first amplitude for any spatial orientation, the second amplitude being preferably constant.

Abstract: A thermoelectric watch including a thermoelectric module including a hot plate and a cold plate connected by semiconductor pillars, wherein the hot plate is thermally connected to the back cover of the watch, the cold plate is thermally connected to the case middle of the watch via a support element with at least two branches, at least two branches have a common end on which is held the cold plate of the thermoelectric module, and at least two branches are flexible to absorb shocks.

Abstract: A thermoelectric watch includes a thermoelectric generator; a voltage booster connected to the thermoelectric generator, and an energy management circuit connected to the voltage booster and configured to control the charging of at least one energy storage element. The energy management circuit includes an output configured to change from a first logic state to a second logic state when the thermoelectric generator starts generating electrical energy, and to change from the second logic state to the first logic state when the thermoelectric generator finishes generating electrical energy.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a resonator, which has an inertial mass returned by an elastic return and carries entry and exit pallets cooperating with teeth of an escape wheel each provided with a magnet. Each pallet includes a magnetic arrangement, with an annular sector, centred on the axis of oscillation of the resonator, defining a first magnetic barrier area extending above and/or below a mechanical pallet-stone of the entry pallet or exit pallet, over the entire length of this mechanical pallet-stone acting as support for the teeth during the supplementary arc, in order to form a magnetic cylinder escapement mechanism.

Abstract: An oscillating winding weight of a movement of a timepiece is mounted such that it rotates on an arbor of the movement. The oscillating winding weight comprises a main element conferring the overall shape of the oscillating winding weight, a heavy part allowing the weight to oscillate in response to the movement of the timepiece and the force of gravity, and a decorative element. The decorative element is a logo or initials and attached to the main element. The main element comprises a first material, the decorative element comprises a second material, and the heavy part comprises a third material. The third material has a higher density than the second material, such that the heavy part is heavier than the decorative element in order to position the decorative element in a predefined position.

Abstract: An object includes an electro-optic display device provided with an optically active element, the optical properties thereof can be modified by applying an electric voltage or current between at least one electrode and one corresponding auxiliary electrode, between which the optically active element is disposed. The object further includes a middle part which delimits an opening closed by a crystal including a bottom surface beneath which the electro-optic display device is arranged. The crystal is provided with an opaque frame which is made remotely from the edges of the opening and which covers the contour of the electro-optic display device so as to conceal electrical connection elements. The electro-optic display device defines an active display area which is confined by the opaque frame, such that, when the electro-optic display device is activated and displaying information, a transparent area remains between the opaque frame and the edges of the opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amorphous alloy corresponding to the formula: CoaNibMoc(C1-xBx)dXe wherein X is one or several elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Si, Fe, P, Y, Er, Cr, Ga, Ta, Nb, V and W; wherein the indices a to e and x satisfy the following conditions: 55?a?75 at. % 0?b?15 at. % 7?c?17 at. % 15?d?23 at. % 0.1?x?0.9 at. % 0?e?10 at. %, each element selected from the group having a content?3 at. % and preferably ?2 at. %, the balance being impurities.

Abstract: A watch is formed by a mechanical movement incorporating a mechanical resonator. The watch comprises a display displaying the time and a correction device for correcting the displayed time, which is formed by a receiver for receiving an external correction signal which is supplied by an external electronic device (in particular a mobile phone), a braking device for braking the mechanical resonator and an electronic controller. The correction device is arranged such that it can correct the time displayed as a function of a time error (loss or gain) contained in the external correction signal. For this purpose, the correction device is arranged such that the braking device can act on the mechanical resonator during a correction period to vary the running of the drive mechanism of the display, in order to correct at least for the most part the time error in the time displayed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article, the surface of the article having a metallic external appearance and non-zero surface electrical conductivity, wherein the method includes the steps of: taking at least one zirconia article, pre-shaped in its finished or semi-finished form; placing said article in a chamber in which a hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen gas mixture is heated; heating said article and the gas mixture using at least one resistive element traversed by an electric current to obtain dissociation of the hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen based gas molecules and an increase in the temperature of said article; keeping said article in the reactive atmosphere thus created to obtain diffusion of the carbon/nitrogen atoms in the external surface of said article.

Abstract: A method for assembling a stone on a setting support, the stone being cut to exhibit a table, a crown, a girdle and a pavilion, including the steps of: providing a substrate coated with a pattern including an electrically conductive layer covered with a resin layer, the pattern having an inner contour delimiting a hole through the coated substrate and an outer contour corresponding to the outer contour of the desired setting support; removing the resin layer; after dissolution of the resin layer, positioning the stone in the through hole, the stone resting on the electrically conductive layer; and electrodepositing a metal layer on the electrically conductive layer to form the setting support, in order to make the stone integral with the metal layer.

Abstract: A method of detecting gaits of an individual with a sensor worn by the individual. The sensor includes an accelerometer and a processing unit. The method includes obtaining an signal representing one or more sensor acceleration values; sampling the signal to obtain a sampled signal; segmenting the sampled signal into windows to obtain a segmented acceleration signal; extracting a feature set from the segmented acceleration signal; determining a probability value, for a respective window, n, where n is a positive integer greater than zero, the probability value giving an estimated probability value of gait occurrence for the individual during the respective window; modifying the estimated probability value by using a histogram of previously detected gait durations to obtain a modified probability value; and determining, based on the modified probability value, and by using a determination threshold whether or not the respective window represents gait occurrence.

Abstract: A method for laser additive manufacturing of a mechanical part includes providing a laser beam the operation of which will be controlled by a computer into which is introduced a CAD computer file which is cut into one or more strata which, once superimposed, allow to form the structure of the desired mechanical part, disposing a substrate in a manufacturing enclosure wherein an atmosphere of a neutral gas is created, depositing on the substrate at least a first layer of a powder of a first metallic material to be melted, levelling the first layer, subjecting by means of the laser beam the first layer to a selective melting step, if necessary, depositing on the substrate a second layer, levelling the second layer and subjecting this second layer to a step of selective melting, removing the excess material and cleaning the assembly and subjecting the part to finishing operations.

Abstract: A horological movement (6) including: a plate (7); a mechanical resonator (8) including an oscillating balance (11) rotatably mounted relative to the plate (7), and a spiral spring (22) coupled to the balance (11); an electromagnetic regulator (29) coupled to the mechanical resonator (8) to regulate the frequency of the oscillations of the balance (11), and including at least one permanent magnet (30) fixedly mounted relative to the plate (7), at least one coil (31), a quartz or silicon resonator (32) and an electronic circuit (33) connected to the resonator (32) and to the coil (31), all mounted on the balance (11) while being completely included in an inner cavity (18) delimited by the latter.

Abstract: A component of external parts for a timepiece, the component including a first silicon-based part and a second metal-based part, where one surface of the first part is welded using laser-type electromagnetic radiation onto a surface of the second part in order to secure the parts to each other. A method for fabrication of a component of external parts for a timepiece, by forming a first silicon-based part and a second metal-based part, mounting a surface of the first part on a surface of the second part, and welding, using laser-type electromagnetic radiation, the surface of the first part mounted on the surface of the second part, in order to secure the parts to each other.

Abstract: A watch includes a control member, for example a crown or a head of a push-piece, which is mounted in a resilient manner on the outer end of an elongated element projecting outside the middle, such that a user can tilt in a self-reverting manner the control member in two dimensions orthogonal and perpendicular to the central axis of the elongated element. At least one proximity sensor is incorporated into the middle of the watch, in a location allowing this proximity sensor to produce an electric signal that represents the tilting of the control member about an axis that is perpendicular to the central axis. A processor generates at least one instruction on the basis of the electric signal provided by at least one proximity sensor, for example to allow the user to browse a menu or a calendar displayed on a digital screen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a luminescent horological component for a portable object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece including, in addition to a crystal (34), the following external elements: a back (2), a middle (1), a dial (3) and two bracelet strands (30), at least one of these external elements comprising at least one part made of an at least partially transparent or translucent ceramic material, the timepiece further including at least two point light sources (10) releasing heat, each light source (10) being capable of being separately switched on/off and being disposed in or directly beneath said at least one external element comprising the ceramic material, each light source (10) producing light that passes through the ceramic material of said external element, and wherein each light source (10) is configured to produce localised light on a point or quasi-point area (40) of the ceramic material of the external element concerned, so as to produce localised illumination on said external element.

Abstract: A horological movement includes an analogue time display, a gear train, a barrel driving the analogue display via the gear train, and an oscillator formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric spring, and a mechanical escapement coupling the balance to the gear train. This horological movement further includes an electric energy source which is associated with the electronic control circuit, which is arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical supply voltage to the piezoelectric spring so as to excite the oscillator to obtain a functional oscillation of the resonator and then to maintain this functional oscillation. The mechanical escapement is configured so as to be an escapement for counting the alternations of the functional oscillation, so as to pace the running of the horological movement, without the resonator being able to receive from the barrel via this mechanical escapement enough mechanical energy to maintain the functional oscillation.