Patents by Inventor Bruno Studer

Bruno Studer 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).

  • Patent number: 7626318
    Abstract: The tuning fork resonator (1) includes a base (4) from which first and second parallel vibrating arms (2, 3) extend, carrying a set of excitation electrodes (5, 6) for vibrating the arms at a fundamental frequency. Grooves (7, 8) are formed on at least one of the top or bottom surfaces of each of said arms. The vibrating arms have a generally tapered shape, and are extended by an enlarged flipper shaped portion (9, 10) which forms the free end of each arm. The groove (7, 8) is extended in the direction of the free end of an arm to beyond the start of the flipper (9, 10) so as to increase said first motional capacitance of the resonator for the fundamental frequency, to decrease said second motional capacitance of the resonator for the partial frequency and to ensure better distribution of mechanical stress along the vibrating arms and to increase shock resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer, Felix Staub
  • Publication number: 20090021120
    Abstract: The tuning fork resonator (1) includes a base (4) from which first and second parallel vibrating arms (2, 3) extend, carrying a set of excitation electrodes (5, 6) for vibrating the arms at a fundamental frequency. Grooves (7, 8) are formed on at least one of the top or bottom surfaces of each of said arms. The vibrating arms have a generally tapered shape, and are extended by an enlarged flipper shaped portion (9, 10) which forms the free end of each arm. The groove (7, 8) is extended in the direction of the free end of an arm to beyond the start of the flipper (9, 10) so as to increase said first motional capacitance of the resonator for the fundamental frequency, to decrease said second motional capacitance of the resonator for the partial frequency and to ensure better distribution of mechanical stress along the vibrating arms and to increase shock resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer, Felix Staub
  • Patent number: 7412886
    Abstract: A transducer for measuring an angular velocity formed by a single piezoelectric tuning fork (21) that rotates at the angular velocity. The tuning fork has a detection leg (24) which has a cross-shaped section including two top lateral faces (33, 34) and two bottom lateral faces (37, 38) separated by protruding parts (41, 42) projecting with respect to the faces. The detection leg has detecting electrodes which are arranged such that the electrical field between electrodes is substantially rectilinear through the detection leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer
  • Patent number: 7253554
    Abstract: The invention concerns a piezoelectric resonator (10), intended to be packaged in a case, including a base (12) formed of a first fixing zone (121), a second central mechanical uncoupling zone (122) and a third zone (123) opposite to the first fixing zone. At least two vibrating arms (13a, 13b) extend from said third zone, on each of which at least one groove (141a-144a, 141b-144b) is formed on at least one of the top or bottom faces of the arms. The resonator is characterised in that the base is provided with a hole (15) through the second central mechanical uncoupling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Thomas Lüthi, Bruno Studer
  • Patent number: 7168319
    Abstract: A transducer for measuring an angular velocity formed by a single piezoelectric tuning fork (21) that rotates at said angular velocity, including first (23) and second (24) vibrating legs extending from a base (22), excitation electrodes (25a, 25b, 26a, 26b) arranged on the excitation leg (23), detection electrodes (27a, 27b, 28a, 28b), arranged on the detection leg (24), characterized in that the detection leg includes at least one first groove (33, 34) on the top face and at least one second groove (35, 36) on the bottom face, and in that the detection electrodes include first and second detection electrodes arranged facing each other, the first (27a) respectively the second detection electrode (28a) being arranged on one lateral flank of the groove (33) respectively of the groove (34) such that the electrical field between the first and second detection electrodes is substantially rectilinear through the detection leg, and third and fourth detection electrodes arranged facing each other, the third (27b) re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Eta SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer
  • Publication number: 20060279176
    Abstract: The piezoelectric resonator according to the invention is to be mounted in a case and includes a tuning fork shaped part with two parallel vibrating arms, connected to each other by a linking part, from which protrude a central arm located between both vibrating arms of the tuning fork shaped part. The vibrating arms carry electrodes to make them vibrate, these electrodes being connected to connection elements carried by the central arm, the connection elements being electrically connected and fixed to the case, wherein at least one connection element comprises an opening through the central arm for positioning the resonator into the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer, Thomas Luethi
  • Publication number: 20060279179
    Abstract: The piezoelectric resonator according to the invention includes a tuning fork shaped part with two parallel vibrating arms, connected to each other by a linking part, from which protrude a central arm located between both vibrating arms of the tuning fork shaped part, the vibrating arms carrying first electrodes to make them vibrate, these electrodes being connected to connection elements carried by the central arm, wherein a slot has been cut within the linking part opposite to the central arm and wherein second electrodes have been arranged along said slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Silvio Piazza, Bruno Studer, Thomas Luethi
  • Patent number: 7138752
    Abstract: The piezoelectric resonator according to the invention includes a tuning fork shaped part with two parallel vibrating arms, connected to each other by a linking part, from which protrude a central arm located between both vibrating arms of the tuning fork shaped part, the vibrating arms carrying first electrodes to make them vibrate, these electrodes being connected to connection elements carried by the central arm, wherein a slot has been cut within the linking part opposite to the central arm and wherein second electrodes have been arranged along said slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer, Thomas Luethi
  • Patent number: 7112914
    Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly comprising a piezoelectric resonator and a case, said case including a main part with a bottom and sides, in which said resonator is mounted and a cover fixed to said main part, said resonator including a tuning fork shaped part with two parallel vibrating arms connected to each other by a linking part, and a central arm protruding from said linking part and located between both vibrating arms carrying at least two electrodes to make them vibrate, these two electrodes being connected respectively to at least first and second connection pads located on a back face of said central arm oriented toward the bottom of the case, said case further comprising at least one support secured to its bottom on which said central arm of the resonator is fixed by means of at least first and second connection elements located on said support and electrically connected respectively to said first and second connection pads by a conductive adhesive, wherein guiding means are provided at least wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer, Thomas Luethi
  • Patent number: 7084556
    Abstract: The piezoelectric resonator according to the invention includes a tuning fork shaped part with two parallel vibrating arms, connected to each other by a linking part, from which protrude a central arm located between both vibrating arms of the tuning fork shaped part, wherein at least one groove is formed on at least one of a front side and a rear side of each vibrating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer, Thomas Luethi
  • Publication number: 20060130578
    Abstract: The invention concerns a transducer for measuring an angular velocity formed by a single piezoelectric tuning fork (21) that rotates at said angular velocity. The tuning fork includes two vibrating legs(23, 24) extending from a base (22), means (25a, 25b, 26a, 26b) exciting a first vibration of the tuning fork, arranged on the excitation leg (23), and means (27a, 27b, 28a, 28b) detecting a second vibration of the tuning fork generated in response to the first vibration and to a rotation of the tuning fork, arranged on the detection leg (24). The detection leg has a cross-shaped section including two top lateral faces (33, 34) and two bottom lateral faces (37, 38), separated by protruding parts (41, 42) projecting with respect to said faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Silvio Piazza, Bruno Studer
  • Publication number: 20060130579
    Abstract: The invention concerns a transducer for measuring an angular velocity formed by a single piezoelectric tuning fork (21) that rotates at said angular velocity, including first (23) and second (24) vibrating legs extending from a base (22), excitation means (25a, 25b, 26a, 26b) arranged on the excitation leg (23), detection means (27a, 27b, 28a, 28b), arranged on the detection leg (24), characterized in that the detection leg includes at least one first groove (33, 34) on the top face and at least one second groove (35, 36) on the bottom face, and in that the detection means include first and second detection electrodes arranged facing each other, the first (27a) respectively the second detection electrode (28a) being arranged on one lateral flank of the groove (33) respectively of the groove (34) such that the electrical field between the first and second detection electrodes is substantially rectilinear through the detection leg, and third and fourth detection electrodes arranged facing each other, the third
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Bruno Studer
  • Publication number: 20060049722
    Abstract: The invention concerns a piezoelectric resonator (10), intended to be packaged in a case, including a base (12) formed of a first fixing zone (121), a second central mechanical uncoupling zone (122) and a third zone (123) opposite to the first fixing zone. At least two vibrating arms (13a, 13b) extend from said third zone, on each of which at least one groove (141a-144a, 141b-144b) is formed on at least one of the top or bottom faces of the arms. The resonator is characterised in that the base is provided with a hole (15) through the second central mechanical uncoupling zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Thomas Luthi, Bruno Studer
  • Patent number: 6700313
    Abstract: The resonator according to the invention, which is intended to be mounted in a case, includes a tuning fork shaped part (42) with two parallel arms (44, 46) connected to each other by a base (48) and carrying electrodes (52, 54) to make them vibrate, these electrodes being connected to connection pads (60, 62) intended to be electrically connected to the exterior of the case. In accordance with the invention, the resonator (40) also includes a central arm (50) attached to the base (48) and located between the arms (44, 46) of the tuning fork shaped part (42), substantially equidistant from them, this central arm (50) having a greater mass than that of the arms of the tuning fork shaped part and the connection pads (60, 62) are carried by this central arm. This resonator (40) is mounted in a case of parallelepiped shape by fixing its central arm (50) to at least one support secured to the bottom of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Eta Sa Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Thomas Lüthi, Bruno Studer
  • Publication number: 20030067248
    Abstract: The resonator according to the invention, which is intended to be mounted in a case, includes a tuning fork shaped part (42) with two parallel arms (44, 46) connected to each other by a base (48) and carrying electrodes (52, 54) to make them vibrate, these electrodes being connected to connection pads (60, 62) intended to be electrically connected to the exterior of the case. In accordance with the invention, the resonator (40) also includes a central arm (50) attached to the base (48) and located between the arms (44, 46) of the tuning fork shaped part (42), substantially equidistant from them, this central arm (50) having a greater mass than that of the arms of the tuning fork shaped part and the connection pads (60, 62) are carried by this central arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: ETA SA FABRIQUES D'EBAUCHES
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Thomas Luthi, Bruno Studer
  • Patent number: 5153478
    Abstract: A resonator has a parallelepipedal bar of a piezoelectric material designed to vibrate in an extension mode, and suspension means of said bar which form a single, integral part with the latter and which are only connected to one of its lateral faces. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the number of parasitic vibration modes which could couple to the main mode as well as coupling between these modes, and hence variations as a function of the temperature in the characteristics of the resonator, notably in its quality factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Walter Zingg, Bruno Studer
  • Patent number: 4701987
    Abstract: The resonator obtained by this process comprises an active central portion, the thickness of which is reduced until the desired frequency is obtained. This may be of the order of 50 to 100 MHz. This central portion is surrounded by a considerably thicker reinforcing frame to which it is mechanically connected by means of one or more connecting members which are thinner than the active portion. The connecting member or members eliminate the need for coupling between the reinforcing frame and the active portion. Electrodes are provided for exciting the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Bruno Studer