Patents Examined by Sean P Kayes
  • Patent number: 10571866
    Abstract: A thin electronic timepiece can receive satellite signals and standard time signals. An electronic timepiece has a planar antenna for receiving satellite signals, a bar antenna for receiving standard time signals, a time display unit with a plurality of hands, a plurality of motors for driving the hands, a battery, and a timepiece case. In a plan view of the electronic timepiece, the planar antenna, bar antenna, and battery are disposed to positions not mutually superimposed; the plural motors are disposed inside the timepiece case at positions not superimposed in plan view with the planar antenna and bar antenna; and at least one of the plural motors is disposed superimposed in plan view with the battery inside the timepiece case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 10564605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece balance spring comprising a single strip wound on itself between an inner coil and an outer coil, the strip having 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 inner coil to the penultimate coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Yves-Alain Cosandier
  • Patent number: 10551796
    Abstract: Embodiments of a watch can include a watch having an analog watch face, a first watch band portion, and a second watch band portion, where the watch can include a digital clasp having a digital display and a circuit board associated with a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: WEARATEC LLC
    Inventor: Dilshan Thilina Modaragamage
  • Patent number: 10551798
    Abstract: A compact crown for an electronic device such as an electronic watch, including a set of wipers capable of determining a rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed, is disclosed. The set of wipers is in contact with at least one resistance member at different angular positions around a rotation axis. The crown may have a group of ground taps disposed along the resistance member and a measured signal may vary based on the position of each wiper as it contacts the at least one resistance member. A compact crown may also include capacitive members and capacitive sensors in order to similarly determine rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Stephen N. Sweet, Sriram Moorthy, Huan Peng
  • Patent number: 10545460
    Abstract: A motor group including motor modules, each including a motor device driving a display wheel set, with a centre pipe fixed on a plate, including a device for rotational guiding, about a main axis, of a display wheel set internal or external to the centre pipe, this module includes an axial stop arranged to limit to a predetermined value the axial play in the direction of the main axis between the centre pipe and the display wheel set, wherein a protruding surface of the centre pipe or of the display wheel set, or an added axial stop, captively mounted between the centre pipe and the display wheel set, or fixed to the display wheel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Raphael Balmer, Pascal Lagorgette
  • Patent number: 10539926
    Abstract: A balance spring for an oscillator of a timepiece, wherein it comprises a component part, in particular at least a coil or a portion of a coil, provided with heavily doped silicon having an ion density greater than or equal to 1018 at/cm3, in order to permit the thermo-compensation of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Richard Bossart, Olivier Hunziker
  • Patent number: 10528005
    Abstract: A mechanism for a timepiece, comprising a an oscillating regulator mechanism, a rotary energy distribution toothed wheel, a blocking mechanism controlled by the regulator mechanism to alternatively hold and release the energy distribution wheel, and a monostable elastic member linked to the regulator mechanism and bearing on the teeth of the energy distribution wheel. The teeth of the energy distribution wheel are adapted to elastically deform the monostable elastic member by cam effect during rotation of the wheel, and the monostable elastic member is adapted to elastically return to its rest position, thus releasing mechanical energy to the regulator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: LVMH SWISS MANUFACTURES SA
    Inventors: Guy Semon, Wout Johannes Benjamin Ypma, Nima Tolou
  • Patent number: 10528011
    Abstract: An oscillation device includes an oscillation circuit configured including an oscillation inverter, and adapted to oscillate a resonator, a frequency adjustment circuit adapted to perform frequency adjustment of the oscillation circuit, and a constant voltage circuit adapted to drive the oscillation circuit, in the oscillation circuit and the frequency adjustment circuit, a gate and a substrate of a field-effect transistor having a connection relationship with one of a gate and a drain of the oscillation inverter are driven with a constant voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10520890
    Abstract: A timepiece regulator comprising an inertial regulating member which is mounted on a support by an elastic suspension so as to be able to oscillate in translation, along a main direction of translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: LVMH SWISS MANUFACTURES SA
    Inventors: Guy Semon, Wout Johannes Benjamin Yoma, Sybren Lennard Weeke, Nima Tolou
  • Patent number: 10520896
    Abstract: Embodiments of a watch can include a watch having an analog watch face, a first watch band portion, a second watch band portion and an analog watch face. The watch can include a digital clasp having a digital display and a circuit board associated with a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: WEARATEC LLC
    Inventor: Dilshan Thilina Modaragamage
  • Patent number: 10514660
    Abstract: Timepiece movement with a carillon striking mechanism, striking the hours and quarter-hours with different melodies, the striking mechanism including a quarter surprise-piece coaxial to and superposed on the quarter-snail, in a limited angular travel with respect to the quarter-snail, arranged to ensure the sequential playing of the melodies of the four quarter-hours on the full hour, in the first minute of the new hour, and further including, in the plane of the quarter surprise-piece, a quarter surprise-piece jumper, arranged to drive and/or to lock this quarter surprise-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Julien Behra, Mehdi Denden, Julien Peter
  • Patent number: 10509365
    Abstract: A display hand intended to equip a timepiece, including a body and a pipe, providing an arbor hole arranged for fitting the display hand onto a drive arbor. The body is made of a composite material, the pipe includes, over all or part of the outer periphery, a surface for connection to the hand body to ensure the adhesion of the composite material to the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Olivier Mertenat
  • Patent number: 10509367
    Abstract: An electronic tourbillion clock including a clock case having a plurality of high-resolution digital displays that extend around an outer circumference of the clock case as an indicator of hours. A seven segment display is located within the clock case as an indicator of minutes elapsed within an hour. A microcontroller determines the current time and other chronological indications depending on the output signals generated by a position of a tourbillon mechanism disposed in the clock case. A sub-circuit is disposed within the clock case and interconnected with the microcontroller for creating a plurality of distinctive sound patterns directed through one or more speakers in response to the output signals generated by the position of the tourbillon mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Randy Alarcon
  • Patent number: 10506853
    Abstract: Watch comprising at least one case and a strap formed by a flexible blade with a first end fixed to the case and a second opposite end provided to cooperate with a device for attaching and adjusting the length of the strap. According to the invention, the adjustment device comprises a clasp formed by a cap and a lever between which the flexible blade slides, the clasp being hinged on the case by linking means which define an axis of rotation about which the lever can undergo a rotation in order to be able to move into an open position and into a closed position, the lever comprising an eccentric which is integral with the lever in the vicinity of the axis of rotation and is provided in order to clamp the free end of the blade against the cap and to retain the strap when the lever is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Bazin, Francois Maire, Jean-Claude Gracia
  • Patent number: 10496039
    Abstract: A shock absorbing coupling device for a timepiece, includes a coupling wheel (2) able to take a coupled position and an uncoupled position, a coupling member (1) bearing the coupling wheel and a coupling cam (6) engaging with the coupling member (1) to define the coupled position and uncoupled position of the coupling wheel (2). The device also includes a locking member (12) rigidly attached to the coupling cam (6) and an intermediate member (9) controlled by the coupling member (1). The intermediate member (9) is intended to engage with the coupling member (1) and the locking member (12) to prevent or limit the movement of the coupling member (1) under the effect of a shock when the coupling wheel (2) is in the coupled position, to thus avoid the coupling wheel (2) leaving the coupled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
    Inventors: Anthony Kruttli, David Chabloz
  • Patent number: 10481557
    Abstract: A tourbillon (1) with a rotation cage which is rotatably arranged about a tourbillon axis is provided. The rotation cage mounts a balance wheel (3) and an escapement with an escape wheel (8) and a lever. The tourbillon is characterised in that the rotation cage comprises a bearing wheel (22) which is mounted by bearing elements (13) which engage peripherally on a running surface (11) of the bearing wheel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Bucherer AG
    Inventor: Joachim Mutrux
  • Patent number: 10474104
    Abstract: A resonator of the inertia/elasticity type includes a balance-spring coupled to an inertia flywheel and a system for adjusting the frequency of the resonator including an index-assembly arranged to cooperate with one coil of the balance-spring in order to selectively choose the active length of the balance-spring. The portion of the coil of the balance-spring cooperating with the index-assembly includes at least one area of larger cross-section than the other balance-spring coils for finer adjustment of the frequency of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Marc Stranczl, Laurent Jeanneret, Xavier Berdat
  • Patent number: 10474111
    Abstract: Apparatus for an alarm clock with one or more alarms that are challenging to deactivate are provided. The alarm clock is fixedly attached to a wall or other surface, and contains a power source such that the alarm cannot be deactivated by unplugging the alarm clock or by easily removing batteries. The alarm(s) may be programmed to activate for a first length of time. To deactivate the alarm, a user must take some action to interact with the alarm clock, for a second length of time, which second length of time is sufficient for the user to become fully awake. Aspects of the alarm clock may be digital or analog, may have manual or electronic or remote controls, may have one or more alarms of different types, and may require different types of user interaction with alarm deactivation components in order to deactivate the one or more alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Andrew Larkin
  • Patent number: 10474107
    Abstract: Sub-assembly for watches, including an arbor including a magnetized or electrically charged surface pivoting inside a housing, and a pole piece subjecting this surface to a magnetic or electrostatic field about an axis, one pole piece cooperating axially with this surface to absorb a shock and then return the arbor to an operating position, and creating, in proximity to this surface, a magnetic or electrostatic field, which radially attracts the arbor towards a wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Rochat, Benoit Legeret, Davide Sarchi, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis
  • Patent number: 10468215
    Abstract: The timepiece includes a chronograph mechanism with a coupling device including an operating member and a switching member which can be switched alternately between two stable positions coupled state and uncoupled state. This timepiece includes a magnetic system formed of a first bipolar magnet fixed to the switching member, a second bipolar magnet fixed to the support of the switching device in order to continually offer a magnetic interaction with the first bipolar magnet, and at least one highly magnetically permeable element forming the operating member and able to undergo a reciprocating motion between two operating positions. The switching device is arranged so that, when the highly magnetically permeable element is in its first operating position, the two magnets generate between them a force of magnetic repulsion and so that, when the highly magnetically permeable element is in its second operating position, the two magnets generate between them a force of magnetic attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Deirdre Lenoir, Davide Sarchi, Benoit Legeret, Stephane Beugin