Patents Examined by Daniel Wicklund
  • Patent number: 10228658
    Abstract: A motorization group including power and control devices, and a motor module for watches, with a motor with a coil driving an output wheel set on an output arbor, this motor module includes main mechanical and electrical connectors to a structure or another motor module, and flat links cooperating with another motor module, each coil being electrically connected to two main connectors or to two flat links, more particularly, the flat links of the motor modules are arranged for an electrical connection, a main motor module carrying a main arbor parallel to each output arbor, electrically connected by main connectors or flat links, either to the structure, or to another motor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal Lagorgette, Raphael Balmer
  • Patent number: 10228662
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a turnable hand and a processor that controls a turn of the hand. When the processor performs a rapid shift of the hand to a set target position, the processor performs a control of a damping of reciprocation of the hand in which the hand performs a predetermined reciprocation about the target position as a reference position and gradually decreases an amplitude of the reciprocation thereof during the rapid shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morohoshi, Takeshi Miyake, Tatsuyoshi Omura
  • Patent number: 10222757
    Abstract: Regulating members for a mechanical timepiece, specifically a system based on magnetic interaction between a resonator, in a form of a tuning fork for example, and an escape wheel, as a magnetic escapement. In the system plural areas of magnetic interaction between the resonator and the escape wheel are arranged such that torques produced at the escape wheel by the interactions compensate each other if the escape wheel is not synchronized at the frequency of the resonator. This results in negligible torque in the escape wheel when the escape wheel rotates slowly in a direction of an arrow or opposite direction. This allows the timepiece to start with a low mainspring torque and without any start procedure or device and provides better resistance of the timepiece against a loss of synchronization in event of a shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Rudolf Dinger, Jean-Pierre Mignot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 10222746
    Abstract: The mechanical timepiece movement includes an escapement having a pallet-lever arranged to move alternately into abutment with two banking elements in locking periods. The pallet-lever carries at least a first permanent magnet and the timepiece movement further includes a first element and a second element of high magnetic permeability and a second magnet and a third magnet respectively integral with first and second elements of high magnetic permeability and each arranged on an opposite side to a first magnet relative to the respective elements of high magnetic permeability. This magnetic system generates, in a first part of a first half vibration of any vibration of the pallet-lever, an overall force of magnetic attraction, defining a magnetic draw additional to the mechanical draw generated by the escape wheel, and, in a second part of this first half vibration, an overall force of magnetic repulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Davide Sarchi, Benoit Legeret, Benoit Junod, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis
  • Patent number: 10222748
    Abstract: Watch comprising a movement, with a timepiece balance wheel comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, carried by a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the timepiece balance wheel, the movement further including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilizing the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Donald William Corson, Dominique Lechot
  • Patent number: 10222744
    Abstract: A timepiece torque variator mechanism regulates the torque ratio between a first path extending about a first pivot axis and a second path about a second pivot axis. The mechanism includes a planetary element that simultaneously cooperates in a first contact area with a first path and in a second contact area with a second path. The mechanism also includes a control device arranged to adjust the radial position of the first contact area with respect to the first pivot axis and/or to adjust the radial position of the second contact area with respect to the second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Benoit Junod
  • Patent number: 10222749
    Abstract: Timepiece display mechanism including a cam driven by a time base, and a pivoting lever including an elastically returned feeler member following the contour of the cam and a first rack meshing with a first angular orientation wheel which drives an indicator plate synchronously or via a differential mechanism, the indicator plate projecting radially with respect to a main axis and being parallel to or coplanar with the first wheel, the display mechanism includes a connecting rod articulated at a first end to a carriage slidably mounted on the indicator plate and carrying a retractable hand, a second end of the connecting rod being pivoted on a fixed pivot or on a movable pivot comprised in an elongation wheel set driven directly or indirectly by the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Mehdi Denden, Edmond Capt
  • Patent number: 10222762
    Abstract: A method of managing an electronic apparatus including a case containing a microcontroller powered with electrical energy by an electrical energy storage and connected to a time base, a mechanism of measuring light intensity, a mechanism of detecting whether the apparatus is being worn, the microcontroller also being connected to a first display and a second display, arranged, in an active operating mode, to be controlled by the electronic control circuit to display at least a first temporal data item at least provided by the time base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Fabien Balli, Stephane Claude, Jean Laconte
  • Patent number: 10146188
    Abstract: A smart watch includes a case, a display device configured to present a user interface disposed in substantially all of a face of the case, a bezel around the display device configured to be rotated to select a mode of operation of the smart watch, and an analog first watch arm and an analog second watch arm disposed over the display, the second watch arm coaxial with the first watch arm. In a first mode of operation, the user interface presents a watch dial and control the first and second watch arms indicate a time of day first and second watch arms to indicate a time of day. In a second mode of operation, the user interface presents a dial and control the first and second watch arms form a pointer, the pointer configured to indicate a reading on the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen R. Katzer, Carey J. Spesard
  • Patent number: 10101708
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a power generator that generates electric energy, a power storage that stores the electric energy, a capacity detector that detects remaining capacity of the power storage, an operation unit, an operation detector that detects a measurement display operation for instructing the operation unit to display a measurement time, and a capacity display operation for instructing the operation unit to display the remaining capacity, an indicating hand that is used in displaying the measurement time and the remaining capacity, a drive unit that drives the indicating hand, and displays the remaining capacity after moving the indicating hand so as to indicate a preset reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osami Yamada
  • Patent number: 10095185
    Abstract: Timepiece striking mechanism including control means, releasable by a timepiece movement or by a user, and arranged to start a melody or striking sound, and melody selection means including a lever for selecting a selector mechanism arranged to allow the movement of a specific control-piece in order to perform a specific melody or striking sound, this striking mechanism including a safety mechanism for preventing the selection or the actuation of a melody or striking sound when a melody or striking sound is already being performed, this safety mechanism includes, for each control piece, a cam arranged to prevent the operation of the melody selection means by immobilizing the lever, when its control piece has started to perform a melody or striking sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventor: Julien Behra
  • Patent number: 10054907
    Abstract: The timepiece movement is provided with an analog display device for an item of information whose value varies periodically or intermittently, this analog display device including an indicator for said information provided with a toothing and a mechanism for the periodic or intermittent driving of the indicator, this mechanism comprising a rotating wheel set whose pinion, in a meshing relationship with the toothing, is formed of two pins which are diametrically opposite relative to the rotational axis of the rotating wheel set, these two pins being configured to alternately penetrate successive hollows in the toothing and to form a self-locking system when the timepiece movement is subjected to shocks. Each of the two pins has, in a general plane of the toothing perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotating wheel set, a transverse profile having a first outer portion substantially in the arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Daniel Gruenig
  • Patent number: 10054906
    Abstract: A wearable terminal apparatus includes an enclosure, a dial provided in the enclosure and having on-dial markings, a first timepiece hand, a second timepiece hand, a third timepiece hand, a processing section that controls rotation of the first timepiece hand, the second timepiece hand, and the third timepiece hand, and a measured value acquisition section that acquires a measured value. The processing section controls placement of the timepiece hands among the on-dial markings in such a way that the first timepiece hand is placed in a position corresponding to a lower limit value of the measured value, the second timepiece hand is placed in a position corresponding to an upper limit value of the measured value, and the third timepiece hand is placed in a position corresponding to the measured value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Matsuno, Yoshihiro Tatara, Yosuke Wakamiya, Tomohiro Ogawa, Akira Hatta, Ryota Fujinaka
  • Patent number: 10054908
    Abstract: A timepiece escapement mechanism including a resonator and an escape wheel arranged to cooperate with this resonator directly or indirectly through a stopper forming part of this escapement mechanism, this escape wheel including a succession of tracks carrying magnetic or electrostatic field potential ramps arranged to cooperate with the resonator or respectively with the stopper, this escapement mechanism comprising a non-return device arranged to oppose the recoil of the escape wheel, and the stopper cooperates, on the one hand, with a plate forming part of the resonator and, on the other, with these magnetic or electrostatic field potential ramps by at least one pole shoe forming part of the stopper and arranged to move in the field corresponding to the magnetic or electrostatic field potential ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre
  • Patent number: 10042326
    Abstract: A bracelet or strap for a watch case including a first arm inside which is housed a first printed circuit portion and a second arm, where the first arm is extended by a median part arranged to be situated underneath the watch case and which includes a second printed circuit portion connected to the first printed circuit portion by electrical connection, where the first printed circuit portion carries at least one electrical energy source and a microcontroller for powering and controlling a pressure sensor, where the median part is covered by an insert arranged to act as a seat for the watch case, where a housing, inside which the pressure sensor is arranged, is provided in the insert and communicates with the exterior to allow the pressure sensor to be placed in contact with a surrounding medium, and the pressure sensor is mounted on the second printed circuit portion with the insertion of a sealing gasket between the housing and the second printed circuit portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Dimitri Fostinis
  • Patent number: 10018964
    Abstract: A one-piece balance spring includes a single strip wound on itself between an inner coil and an outer coil. The strip has a geometry such that when the angle of contraction of the balance spring has a value of 360 degrees, there is a constant distance between each coil from the second coil to the penultimate coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Yves-Alain Cosandier
  • Patent number: 10009116
    Abstract: Either the electronic timepiece or the communication device of a communication system has a first communicator, and the other has a second communicator. The first communicator has a first transmitter including a transmission coil and a drive circuit configured to drive the transmission coil, and is configured to transmit signals by communicating through electromagnetic coupling; and an first receiver including a photodetector and a detection circuit that detects the output value of the photodetector, and configured to receive signals by optical communication. The second communicator has an second transmitter including a light-emitting device and a drive circuit that drives the light-emitting device, and configured to transmit signals by optical communication; and a second receiver including a reception coil and a detection circuit that detects the output value of the reception coil, and configured to receive signals by communicating through electromagnetic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norimitsu Baba, Hirokazu Nishijima
  • Patent number: 10001750
    Abstract: A compensating balance spring for a thermally compensated sprung balance resonator including a core formed from at least one non-metallic material. The core is partially coated with at least one layer which is moisture proof to render the balance spring less sensitive to climatic variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Thierry Hessler, Fatmir Salihu, Lucie Brocher
  • Patent number: 10001749
    Abstract: A compensating balance spring for a thermally compensated sprung balance resonator including a core formed from at least one non-metallic material. The core is entirely coated with a layer which is moisture proof to render the balance spring less sensitive to climatic variations. The compensating balance spring can be applied to timepieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Thierry Hessler, Fatmir Salihu, Lucie Brocher, Hung Quoc Tran
  • Patent number: 9989931
    Abstract: A wrist watch charging assembly is provided. The wrist watch charging assembly may include a charging cord, a charging port connector and a charging head that are electrically connected to two ends of the charging cord, and a mobile pin electrically connected to a circuit board inside the watch case, wherein the charging cord is fixed relative to the watch band, and the charging head is attached onto the watch case by means of magnetic adhesion to be in electrical contact with the mobile pin. A wrist watch that has an integrated wrist watch charging assembly is also provided. The end of the charging head for connecting the mobile pin is optionally snapped into a holding groove on the watch band, and the charging port for external connection is optionally snapped into a charging port cap on the watch band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: JRD Communication Inc.
    Inventors: Wangfa Zhan, Jun Zhang, Xulin Cao