Patents Examined by Jason M Collins
  • Patent number: 11733653
    Abstract: A device for displaying a succession of periodic events, such as zodiac periors, which form an annual cycle, this display device including a periodic event indicator organ; a mechanism for managing a duration for displaying periodic events by the periodic event indicator organ, this management mechanism including a cam for managing a periodic event display duration arranged to control the change from the indication of a periodic event to the indication of a next periodic event by the periodic event indicator organ; a date indicator mechanism driven by a horological movement; a month finger controlled by the date indicator mechanism so as to advance the management cam by one pitch per month, and a periodic event finger disposed between the management cam and the periodic event indicator organ and arranged to drive the periodic event indicator organ during a change of periodic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stephane Bachmann
  • Patent number: 11720061
    Abstract: A watch includes a chargeable power supply, a crystal oscillation circuit including a crystal oscillator and an oscillation circuit and configured to stop oscillating when a power supply voltage falls below an oscillation stop voltage and to start oscillating when the power supply voltage exceeds an oscillation start voltage, which is higher than the oscillation stop voltage, and a divider circuit that outputs a reference signal by dividing an oscillation signal output from the oscillation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11720063
    Abstract: A system for fastening and/or extracting a dial disposed on a support. The dial includes a holding portion configured to bring the dial against the support and an extracting portion configured to move the dial away from the support. The system includes a movable organ configured to displace or be displaced between a fastening position and an extraction position. The movable organ includes a holding surface configured to cooperate with the holding portion so as to bring the dial against the support and an extraction surface configured to cooperate with the extraction portion so as to move the dial away from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Bernat Monferrer, Orane Romano
  • Patent number: 11714383
    Abstract: A device (1), and timepiece having the device, for displaying a succession of periodic events which form an annual cycle, including a periodic events indicator member (2) and a mechanism (4) for managing a duration during which the periodic events are displayed by the periodic events indicator member (2). The management mechanism includes a cam (8) for managing a duration during which the periodic events are displayed, which cam is arranged such that it controls the change from the indication of a periodic event to the indication of a subsequent periodic event by the periodic events indicator member, a periodic driver (10) for driving the management cam (8) and a member (6) disposed between the management cam and the periodic events indicator member and arranged such that it drives the periodic events indicator member (2) during a change in event. The device displays the periods of the zodiac.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTUDE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventor: Stephane Bachmann
  • Patent number: 11703805
    Abstract: A timepiece mobile for a semi-instantaneous jump mechanism, including a stop member, an elastic return device, and a drive wheel including, around an axis a hub for guiding this movable stop member with respect to the drive wheel and including a disengageable stop finger movable between a wound position where its radial extension is maximum with respect to the axis, and an unwound position where its radial extension is minimal with respect to the axis, this stop finger being moved away from the axis by the elastic return device, and the stop member including a housing the walls of which are arranged to bearingly cooperate, during the winding of the elastic return device with a contact surface that this elastic return device includes to limit the value of the winding and to limit the deformation of the elastic return means to its elastic range only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventor: Julien Saglini
  • Patent number: 11693367
    Abstract: A timepiece includes an arithmetic circuit, a first switch that controls connection of a temperature compensation table storage to a power supply circuit, and a second switch that controls connection of a device-difference compensation data storage to the power supply circuit. The arithmetic circuit calculates a compensation amount based on a temperature measured by a temperature detector, a temperature compensation data, a device-difference compensation data, and outputs to a frequency adjustment control circuit and a theoretical regulation circuit. The first switch is controlled to the connect state during a first power supply connection period including a temperature compensation data read period. The second switch is controlled to the connect state during a second power supply connection period including a device-difference compensation data read period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11687036
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a drive module, a dial including a central opening, an hour pipe passing through the central opening of the dial and driven in rotation by the drive module, and a dial attachment device. The attachment device includes a holding tube arranged around the hour pipe and mechanically connected to the drive module. The holding comes to bear against the dial or against a dial support to which the dial is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Raphael Balmer
  • Patent number: 11687039
    Abstract: A method for assembling at least a first element and a second element to form, once assembled, an external component for a portable device, including the steps of: a) making the first element; b) making the second element; c) arranging at least a first groove in the first element and at least a second groove in the second element; d) placing and holding the first and second element end-to-end with at least a third connecting element which is inserted and locked in the first and second grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Comadur SA
    Inventor: Alexandre Netuschill
  • Patent number: 11687035
    Abstract: A display panel includes a plate-shaped decoration member including a shading part and a light transmission part formed within the shading part, as well as a plate-shaped reflection member disposed on a back side of the decoration member. The shading part and the light transmission part create a fine pattern in plan view. The reflection member is configured to reflect light. The decoration member is disposed on a front surface of the reflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Satoh, Motoyoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 11681258
    Abstract: A time display apparatus for indicating time in a plurality of time zones simultaneously, the apparatus includes a case having a compartment enclosed by a cover, the case having a dial member indicating a 12-hour time clock and a 24-hour time clock, a first wheel completing one revolution in 12 hours and coupled to an hour hand, a second wheel completing one revolution in 1 hour and coupled to a multi-zone minute hand having at least two different vertices, and a third wheel completing one revolution in 24 hours and coupled to a multi-zone hour indicator hand having at least two different indicators, wherein each vertex of the multi-zone minute hand indicates a different minute marking on the 12 hour time clock and each indicator of the multi-zone hour indicator hand indicates a different hour marking on the 24 hour time clock corresponding to different time zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Navaneeth Krishnan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 11675313
    Abstract: A timepiece mechanism includes a first energy source with a regulating member, a second independent energy source, a control member driven by the second energy source, and a blocking device controlled by the first energy source to block the second energy source and release it to allow the control member to be displaced by jumps powered by the second energy source. The blocking device includes first and second mobile parts kinematically interconnected, the first mobile part including a drive device, the second mobile part including a stopping device; a rotating drive member connected to the first energy source and cooperating with the drive device to displace the mobile parts, alternately in opposite directions; and a rotating blocking member connected to the second energy source and cooperating with the stopping device to be blocked by the second mobile part and released at the determined times by second mobile part movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
    Inventors: James Hide, Stéphane Oes, Frédéric Maier
  • Patent number: 11669047
    Abstract: A universal device is for preparation of a watch with a gain/loss correction crown and an oscillating resonator. The device includes winding and a gain/loss corrector with a robotic manipulator for manoeuvring the crown. It also includes an adjustment device with a gain/loss correction device including a gain/loss-corrector oscillator generating an oscillation to subject the watch to an oscillation at a correction frequency NC and/or to a modulated movement. The gain/loss correction device includes a gain/loss controller that controls the oscillation of the gain/loss-corrector oscillator, interfaced with a device to measure the gain/loss of the watch. The gain/loss correction device also includes an automatic winder with a watch-holder stand subjected to the oscillations or movements generated by the gain/loss-corrector oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome Favre, Jean-Jacques Born, Cedric Nicolas, Baptiste Hinaux
  • Patent number: 11650546
    Abstract: A universal device for the winding and time-setting of a watch with oscillating resonator, including a rewinding and state corrector, including an automatic winding mechanism, state measurer relative to a reference, stoppage monitor to observe the stoppage of the resonator, running monitor of the resonator, controller to identify the stoppage time displayed, compute the time remaining until a synchronisation between the actual time indicated by the reference and the stoppage time, and, when this remaining time has elapsed, activate the winding mechanism to rewind the storage device of the watch, and, following activation of the winding mechanism, await the determination of the stabilisation of the nominal running of the resonator by these monitors before allowing adjustment of the state of the watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Develonment Ltd
    Inventors: Baptiste Hinaux, Jérôme Favre
  • Patent number: 11651171
    Abstract: A system of activity timing uses a radio frequency identification reader; radio frequency tags; circuit board; battery; and software to determine the elapsed time of a participant in the activity. The activity can be used for activities including, but not limited to, foot races and bicycle races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: THE HOUST
    Inventor: Jack McClintic
  • Patent number: 11640142
    Abstract: A striking watch is provided with an acoustic radiating membrane made of metallic material or amorphous metal. The membrane takes the form of a loop with walls of a certain thickness to be connected by a first edge portion to a middle part of a watch case and by a second edge portion to a bezel fixed to a watch crystal. The bezel connected to crystal is movable with respect to the case middle via the membrane during the vibration of membrane once a sound is generated by a watch striking mechanism in the watch case. The membrane is configured with a wall of a specific thickness in an active region dependent on the mass of the bezel connected to the crystal, to obtain a frequency f0 of a first vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Alain Delizee, Mehdi Denden, Jerome Favre
  • Patent number: 11635732
    Abstract: A correction device for a timepiece, including a differential gear having a first input, a second input and an outlet output, wherein: — the first inlct input is arranged to be driven by a timepiece movement; — the second input is kinematically linked with a corrector gear extending from a control member and including a clutch for establishing and interrupting the kinematic link between the control member and the second input; — the output is arranged to drive a display device of the timepiece movement, the angular position of the output being defined on the basis of the angular position of the first input as well as on that of the second input, wherein the correction device further includes a memory cam desmodromically linked with the second input, in that the memory cam experiences a return force provided by a resilient member tending to maintain the memory cam in at least one predetermined angular position when the kinematic link between the control member and the second input is interrupted, the resilient
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventors: Samuel Vuillemez, Séverin Donze
  • Patent number: 11619910
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a control device for controlling the frequency of the mechanical oscillator. This control device is arranged to be capable of generating time-separated control pulses, each including a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the control device between two electrodes of the piezoelectric balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. The control device is arranged to be capable of applying a plurality of control pulses during each time of a series of distinct correction times or without interruption in a continuous time window, in order to respectively synchronize the mechanical oscillator at a correction frequency whose value depends on a detected positive or negative temporal drift or at a desired frequency for the mechanical oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Lionel Tombez, Laurent Nagy, Alexandre Haemmerli
  • Patent number: 11604437
    Abstract: A moving mechanism for a decorative element of a timepiece including a circular drive element arranged to be rotatable about a central axis, the decorative element being mounted on the drive element with an arbor integral with the decorative element and parallel to the central axis, and first device for driving the decorative element in a rotational motion about its own arbor and/or in a translational motion along its own arbor, the first drive device for the decorative element being mounted on the circular drive element and arranged to cooperate with fixed actuation device arranged in the periphery of the circular drive element such that the decorative element rotates about its arbor and/or moves along its arbor while rotating about the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Montres Jaquet Droz SA
    Inventors: Julien Leskerpit, Bernat Monferrer, Julien Feyer, Pierre Isambert, Edmond Capt
  • Patent number: 11599063
    Abstract: A timepiece, that includes a display mechanism arranged to control the movements of a display organ with respect to an indication scale including different indications having at least two different widths and being separated from one another by corresponding separation spaces, where the separation spaces all have substantially one and the same width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MANUFACTURE D'HORLOGERIE AUDEMARS PIGUET SA
    Inventor: Giulio Papi
  • Patent number: 11599065
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed of a mechanical resonator, and a device for regulating the frequency of the mechanical oscillator. This regulation device includes an auxiliary oscillator, an electromechanical device for stopping the mechanical resonator, a sensor arranged to detect the passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof, and a measuring device arranged to measure a time drift of the mechanical oscillator. The regulation device is arranged to stop, during a given alternation, the natural oscillation movement of the mechanical resonator selectively either momentarily during a first half-alternation occurring before the passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof when the time drift measured corresponds to at least a certain gain, or prematurely during a second half-alternation occurring after the passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof when the time drift measured corresponds to at least a certain loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Lionel Tombez