Patents by Inventor Benjamin Krahenbuhl

Benjamin Krahenbuhl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Micro-mechanical part made of insulating material and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 7824097
    Abstract: A micro-mechanical part made of insulating material, such as a silicon balance spring (1) for a timepiece movement, tends to adhere to a neighboring part when it is in movement, such as the balance cock (9). This drawback is removed by carrying out, over all or part of the surface, a thin deposition of a layer of conductive material, such as a metal, which is preferably non-oxidizing and non-magnetic, such as gold, platinum, rhodium or silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Marc Lippuner, Thierry Conus, Philippe Marmy, Benjamin Krähenbühl, Michael Reber
  • Mobile micromechanical element with shock controlled rotation
    Patent number: 7708454
    Abstract: The mobile element includes a central rigid zone (2) provided with arms (6) extending radially from the central zone (2) towards a peripheral zone including teeth (8). The arms (6) are flexible to allow a small tangential and/or radial movement of the teeth (8) in order to absorb shocks. The invention is characterized in that the arms (6) are curved and bend gradually towards an orientation tangential to the rotation of the mobile element, in that the thickness of the arms gradually decreases, and finally, in that the ends of the arms form the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Omega S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Marmy, Benjamin Krähenbühl, Thierry Conus
  • MICRO-MECHANICAL PART MADE OF INSULATING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20080037376
    Abstract: A micro-mechanical part made of insulating material, such as a silicon balance spring (1) for a timepiece movement, tends to adhere to a neighbouring part when it is in movement, such as the balance cock (9) as shown in the left part of the Figure. This drawback is removed, as shown in the right part of the Figure, by carrying out, over all or part of the surface, a thin deposition of a layer of conductive material, such as a metal, which is preferably non-oxidising and non-magnetic, such as gold, platinum, rhodium or silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Marc Lippuner, Thierry Conus, Philippe Marmy, Benjamin Krahenbuhl, Michael Reber
  • MOBILE MICROMECHANICAL ELEMENT WITH SHOCK CONTROLLED ROTATION
    Publication number: 20080008051
    Abstract: The mobile element includes a central rigid zone (2) provided with arms (6) extending radially from the central zone (2) towards a peripheral zone including teeth (8). The arms (6) are flexible to allow a small tangential and/or radial movement of the teeth (8) in order to absorb shocks. The invention is characterized in that the arms (6) are curved and bend gradually towards an orientation tangential to the rotation of the mobile element, in that the thickness of the arms gradually decreases, and finally, in that the ends of the arms form the teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: Omega S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Marmy, Benjamin Krahenbuhl, Thierry Conus