Patents Assigned to THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT LTD
  • Patent number: 11927921
    Abstract: The main element 2 is connected to the mechanism of the movement, having parts 4, 5, by an arbor about which it can turn. To this end, it comprises an attachment 6 for fixing to the movement, which is for example formed by a small ring arranged in the opening 9 of the ring of the main element 2. The attachment 6 is thus composed of the same material as the main element and is arranged in the same plane. By virtue of the attachment 6, the winding mass can make a circular movement about the arbor, when it oscillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Loïc Oberson
  • Patent number: 11927922
    Abstract: A coiling limitation device for a timepiece barrel includes at least one non-return notch arranged to cooperate with a sliding flange of the spring of the barrel, which is integrated in a watch including a resonator cooperating with an escapement mechanism. This device includes an acoustic device for the acoustic monitoring of the coiling of the barrel of a watch positioned on a receptacle included by the device, which acoustic devices are arranged to identify a click noise during each start of cooperation between the sliding flange and a notch. The device includes piloting devices arranged to stop the coiling of the barrel at the instant of the perception of the click noise or the repetition of the click noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme Favre, Jean-Jacques Born, Nakis P. Karapatis, Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 11921371
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device including a reflective or transflective liquid crystal cell whose liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a planar or vertical manner, this liquid crystal cell being formed of a transparent front substrate located on the side of an observer, and a rear substrate, also transparent, which extends beneath the front substrate, parallel to and at a distance from the latter, these two front and rear substrates being joined to each other with a sealing frame which defines a sealed enclosure in which a liquid crystal composition is confined, the front and rear substrates being coated on their opposite faces with electrically conductive transparent electrodes and counter-electrodes, the optical properties of the liquid crystal composition being modified by application of an electric field at the point of intersection between an electrode and a corresponding counter-electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Sagardoyburu, Simon Springer
  • Publication number: 20240067873
    Abstract: A coloured article made of a ceramic including an oxide-based matrix and a doped or co-doped component of the aluminium garnet family, and a method for manufacturing the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Marta FORNABAIO, Lucie TABARD, Stewes BOURBAN
  • Publication number: 20240069495
    Abstract: A watch incorporating an assembly (70) including a light sensor (72), including a photovoltaic cell, a negative electrode (78) and a positive electrode (79). The assembly has a first portion (52A), in which the electrodes are arranged, and a second portion (54A) which is not included in the first portion and which comprises or covers an antenna (80). The semiconductor material wafer extends into the first and second portions, and all the electrodes are arranged below the semiconductor material wafer. Preferably, this semiconductor material wafer or layer has no conductive doping in the second portion. The wafer, or layer, determines, together with additional layers provided thereon, the homogeneous colour and uniform appearance of the assembly from the side of its upper surface. Also, a dial formed by such an assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Gian Carlo POLI
  • Publication number: 20240061377
    Abstract: A regulating member for a horological movement includes an oscillating weight, for example a balance, a balance spring including a flexible strip wound about itself in a plurality of turns, the strip having a predefined rigidity to allow the oscillating weight to undergo a rotary oscillatory motion, and the strip including an outer end of the strip. The regulating member includes a resilient device for compensating for external pressure, connecting the outer end to a first support that is immobile with respect to the horological movement, the resilient compensation device being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the external pressure in order to compensate for an effect of the external pressure on the regulating member. Additionally, the horological movement includes the regulating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20240053708
    Abstract: A non-acoustic alarm for a portable object includes an electromagnetic motor which can be electrically controlled in order to generate a vibratory effect. The electromagnetic motor includes a movable magnetic circuit and a stationary magnetic circuit. The movable magnetic circuit includes a coil, a ferromagnetic core coupled to a magnetic cage forming an extension of the ferromagnetic core. The magnetic assembly of the movable magnetic circuit constitutes a movable magnetic mass of the non-acoustic alarm capable of generating the vibratory effect. The non-acoustic alarm includes resilient connection elements resiliently connecting the movable magnetic circuit to the stationary magnetic circuit. The resilient connection elements are shaped to guide and ensure that the movable magnetic circuit undergoes a linear, or quasi-linear, oscillatory motion during the electrical control of the electromagnetic motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Gian Carlo POLI
  • Patent number: 11892807
    Abstract: A method for measuring the medium frequency of a digital signal derived from a reference periodic signal generated by an electronic oscillator (quartz oscillator) forming a timepiece (2) which includes an analogue time display device and a continuous rotation electromechanical transducer (generator or continuous rotation motor) which is kinematically linked to this display device and wherein the medium rotational speed is regulated by a regulation device. The medium frequency of the digital signal is determined by a measurement device (70) without galvanic contact with the movement of the timepiece. The measurement method makes it possible to determine the rate of the timepiece and the precision of the electronic oscillator based on regulation impulses detected by a magnetic sensor (72) and over a measurement period limited to the duration of an inhibition cycle of periods of the reference periodic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Laurent Nagy
  • Patent number: 11886146
    Abstract: A horological movement includes an escapement with a magnetic system to generate magnetic force impulses, so as to sustain the oscillation of the mechanical resonator associated with the escapement. In order to make possible an effective self-starting of the assembly formed of the mechanical resonator and of the escapement during a winding of the barrel, after a stop of the horological movement due to the unwound barrel spring, the escape wheel includes teeth and the pallet assembly includes two mechanical pallet-stones arranged to receive, upon starting, at least one mechanical force impulse of the escape wheel via one of the teeth thereof, the mechanical force impulse generating a starting force torque on the pallet assembly that is transmitted to the balance of the mechanical resonator to begin an oscillation of the latter so that the assembly can operate normally after a starting phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Marc Stranczl, Benoît Légeret
  • Publication number: 20240027807
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel SAGARDOYBURU, Loïc CURCHOD
  • Publication number: 20240027966
    Abstract: A regulating member (1) for a horological movement including an oscillating weight, for example a balance, and a balance spring including a flexible strip (2) wound about itself in a plurality of turns, the strip (2) having a predefined rigidity to allow the oscillating weight to undergo a rotary oscillatory motion, the strip (2) including an outer end (9), wherein the regulating member (1, 10) includes a temperature-compensating resilient device configured to adapt the stiffness thereof as a function of the temperature to compensate for the effect of temperature on the regulating member (1, 10), the resilient device including a resilient element (5) connecting the outer end (9) to a first support (7) that is stationary relative to the horological movement, as well as preloading means (6) for applying a variable force or torque to the resilient element (5) as a function of the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20240027967
    Abstract: A member for a horological movement including an oscillating mass, for example a balance, a flexible guide including at least two main flexible blades connecting a movable support to the oscillating mass to enable the oscillating mass to make a rotary movement about a virtual pivot, wherein the regulating member includes an elastic device for compensating for the temperature arranged so as to connect the movable support to a securing device for securing the regulating member on the horological movement, the elastic compensation device being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the temperature in order to compensate for the effect of temperature on the regulating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20240027969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horological movement comprising a striking mechanism of a watch including a vibrating element and a striking device of said vibrating element comprising a hammer fixed overhanging a structure of the horological movement by means of strips of a flexible guide, said strips being both arranged so as to extend in directions intersecting at a point materialising an instantaneous centre of rotation C disposed along an axis T tangent to the vibrating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Baptiste HINAUX, Jérôme FAVRE, Jonathan MEYER
  • Publication number: 20240027968
    Abstract: A horological movement includes a striking mechanism of a watch including a vibrating element and a device for striking the vibrating element including a hammer fastened cantilevered to a structure of the horological movement through blades of a flexible guide. The blades are arranged so as to extend according to directions parallel to an axis T tangent to the vibrating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Baptiste HINAUX, Jérôme FAVRE, Jonathan MEYER
  • Publication number: 20240027964
    Abstract: A regulating member for a horological movement including an oscillating mass, for example a balance, a flexible guide including at least two flexible blades connecting a rigid support to the oscillating mass to enable the oscillating mass to make a rotary movement about a virtual pivot, the regulating member including an elastic device for compensating for the external pressure, the elastic compensation device being arranged in series with the rigid support, so as to connect the rigid support to means for securing the regulating member to the horological movement, the elastic compensation device being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the external pressure in order to compensate for the effect of external pressure on the regulating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20240027965
    Abstract: A regulating member (10) for a horological movement including a balance, a balance spring including a flexible strip (2) coiled on itself in several turns, the strip (2) having a predefined rigidity to enable the balance to perform a rotary oscillatory movement, the strip including an outer end (9). The regulating member (10) includes a resilient device for compensating the direction of gravity with respect to the regulating member (10), the resilient device adapting its stiffness according to gravity to compensate for the effect of gravity on the regulating member, the resilient device including a resilient element (5) connecting the outer end (9) to a first non-movable support (7) with respect to the horological movement, as well as prestressing means (6) for applying a variable force or torque on the resilient element (5) according to the direction of gravity with respect to the regulating member (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Patent number: 11882210
    Abstract: A method for tracing a digital information element in a computer system including electronic devices of users and a system for archiving digital information elements including a blockchain-type distributed database, the method including a step of making the digital information element from the electronic device of one of the users, a step of archiving the digital information element, the archiving step including a substep of generating an identification element of the version of the digital information element, the method including a step of adding the identification element signed with a secure element associated to this user and/or to their electronic device in the distributed database, the addition step including a substep of encrypting the identification element from a cryptographic algorithm and the secure element, the cryptographic algorithm including at least one metric variable associated to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Bazin
  • Publication number: 20240019814
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a timepiece component including successive steps of: providing a timepiece component (1); breaking the timepiece component (1) into a plurality of pieces (10); depositing the pieces (10) on a support (2) and creating a desired pattern to be reassembled, the pattern having interstices (1) between the various pieces (10) of the timepiece component (1); transferring the support (2) into a mould adapted by hot forming and placing a preform (3) on the pieces (10) of the timepiece component; heating the whole to a temperature higher than the vitreous transition temperature of the preform (3) and applying a force on the preform to fill the interstices (11) and obtain a reassembled timepiece component (1?); cooling the whole below the vitreous transition temperature of the preform (3) to form the reassembled timepiece component (1?); recovering the reassembled timepiece component (1?) and machining it to the required dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Loïc OBERSON, Alexandre NETUSCHILL, Stéphane LAUPER, Gregory KISSLING, Stewes BOURBAN, Pierre SAURET
  • Publication number: 20240012360
    Abstract: A time-limited power generation device (100) for a timepiece (1000), including a manoeuvring member (1) manoeuvrable by a user against an elastic return (2) arranged to indirectly drive an electric generator (6) for generating an electric current for a limited time period, and including a toothed member (3) movable with a degree of freedom relative to said manoeuvring member (1) and delimiting therewith a separate chamber (20) for receiving each elastic return (2), held compressed in its chamber (20) between a pre-stressed position of rest and a maximum compression position, between a first support banking (11) that includes the manoeuvring member (1) and a second support banking (32) that includes the toothed member (3), arranged to be driven by the elastic return (2) for driving the electric generator (6) directly or indirectly through a geartrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierpasquale TORTORA, Cédric NICOLAS, Jean-Jacques BORN, Arnaud MAUREL
  • Patent number: 11868092
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical movement with a mechanical oscillator and an electronic device for regulating the medium frequency of this mechanical oscillator. It includes an electromagnetic transducer and an electric converter which includes a power supply capacitor for powering the regulation circuit. The electromagnetic transducer is arranged to supply a voltage signal exhibiting first voltage lobes in first half-alternations and second voltage lobes in second half-alternations of the oscillations of the mechanical oscillator. The regulating device includes a load pump arranged to store momentarily electric loads which are extracted selectively in different time zones according to a time drift detected in the functioning of the mechanical oscillator relative to an auxiliary oscillator, particularly quartz-based. The electric loads extracted are rendered after a certain delay to the power supply capacitor also according to the time drift detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Lionel Tombez