Patents by Inventor Cédric Nicolas

Cédric Nicolas 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: 12292715
    Abstract: A timepiece assembly includes a watch having a mechanical movement and an analogue time display, the running of which is set by a mechanical resonator, and a support for the watch. To correct a time displayed by the analogue display, the timepiece assembly includes a correction system which is formed by a mechanical device incorporated into the watch and by an electrical device incorporated into the support. The mechanical device includes a magnet supported by an elastic blade and is arranged in the watch to brake the oscillating mechanical resonator, for example by applying periodic braking, or to momentarily stop its oscillation by exerting a magnetic force on the magnet with a magnetic field produced by a coil of the electrical device and passing through the case of the watch, to carry out essentially a set correction of the time displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme Favre, Jean-Jacques Born, Matthias Imboden, Cédric Nicolas
  • Patent number: 12282298
    Abstract: A horological movement includes an analogue time display, a gear train, a barrel driving the analogue display via the gear train, and an oscillator formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric spring, and a mechanical escapement coupling the balance to the gear train. This horological movement further includes an electric energy source which is associated with the electronic control circuit, which is arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical supply voltage to the piezoelectric spring to excite the oscillator to obtain a functional oscillation of the resonator and then to maintain this functional oscillation. The mechanical escapement is an escapement for counting the alternations of the functional oscillation, to pace the running of the horological movement, without the resonator being able to receive from the barrel via this mechanical escapement enough mechanical energy to maintain the functional oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Alexandre Haemmerli, Alexandre Didier, Cédric Nicolas
  • Publication number: 20250100012
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes surface coatings and methods of applying surface coatings to improve the performance of fluid manipulation technologies. The surface coatings may provide increased force applied to the fluid, better fluid position accuracy, improved fluid movement reliability, increased maximum fluid movement speed, resilience against surface fouling, resistance against fluid pinning. Further, the present disclosure describes fluid manipulation apparatuses having surface coatings with improved fluid manipulation performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Udayan UMAPATHI, William Kai LANGFORD, Akim LENNHOFF, Devin Laier JUNKINS, Cedric Nicolas Marie VIRY
  • Publication number: 20250085255
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for dispensing a liquid or for manipulating a droplet. In some examples, a method is provided for droplet operation. The method may comprise providing a substrate comprising a discrete location. The method may further comprise providing one or more electrodes disposed adjacent to the discrete location of the substrate and providing a droplet dispenser disposed over the substrate. Next, an electrode of the one or more electrodes may be activated or deactivated. Such activating or deactivating may be synchronized with dispensing the droplet to the discrete location or removal of at least the portion of the droplet from the discrete location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: William Kai LANGFORD, Cedric Nicolas Marie VIRY, Udayan UMAPATHI, Richard Poulos KAUFMAN, Akim LENNHOFF, Liam MASTERS, William Russell JACKSON
  • Patent number: 12228045
    Abstract: A method for repairing an end plate of a turbomachine rotor, the end plate including a crown having at least two collar fastening holes and at least one balancing-weight fastening hole located between the two collar fastening holes, each collar fastening hole being equipped with a crimped nut, the crown having a damaged portion between two collar fastening holes, the method including the steps of removing the two crimped nuts located on either side of the damage; removing the damaged crown portion, for example by machining; putting in place a strip in the form of a crown portion closing off the removed crown portion, the strip having at least one balancing-weight fastening hole and two mounting holes; fastening the strip to the crown with two crimped nuts, which penetrate the mounting holes, by crimping each nut in a collar fastening hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Jean-Hilaire Lexilus, Cédric Nicolas Bot, Patrick Jean-Louis Reghezza
  • Patent number: 12078964
    Abstract: A timepiece mechanism including a magnetic gear formed of a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel being provided with first alternating magnetic poles forming a magnetic toothing and the second wheel being provided with a toothing made of ferromagnetic material which has a magnetic coupling with the magnetic toothing, such that, when one of the first or second wheels is driven in rotation, this wheel rolls, via the magnetic coupling, over a geometric circle centred on the other wheel and linked to this other wheel. The magnetic gear further includes a ferromagnetic element arranged relative to the first wheel so as to offset at least most of a magnetic disturbance torque to which the first wheel is subjected, resulting from the magnetic coupling, this magnetic disturbance torque having a periodic variation in intensity according to the angular position of the first wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Pierre Mignot, Matthias Imboden, Cédric Nicolas
  • Patent number: 12074494
    Abstract: A mechanism including a magnetic gear including a first wheel, a second wheel and a third wheel. The first wheel is provided with permanent magnetic poles which are arranged so as to form the magnetised teeth of a first magnetic toothing. The second wheel and the third wheel are provided with teeth made of a soft ferromagnetic material respectively defining a second magnetic toothing and a third magnetic toothing, each with a number of teeth that is greater than that of the first magnetic toothing and having a magnetic coupling with this first magnetic toothing. The second magnetic toothing is directly coupled with the first magnetic toothing and with the third magnetic toothing thanks to the magnetic fluxes provided by the magnetised teeth of the first toothing and the teeth of the second magnetic toothing are magnetically separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Jean-Pierre Mignot, Milan Calic, Cédric Nicolas, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 12019405
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for verifying the state of a watch and resetting it to the correct time. In a case of the device, a watch can be disposed on a watch support, which can be moved from a position without measurement to a measurement position in a vision system, or vice versa. In a position without measurement, the watch on its support can be observed from the outside of the case of the device through at least one electronic shutter activated or an optical valve activated to be in a transparent state, whereas in the measurement position, the electronic shutter or the optical valve is deactivated to be made opaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cédric Nicolas, Jérôme Favre, Jean-Jacques Born, Hicham Farah
  • Publication number: 20240110482
    Abstract: A method for repairing an end plate of a turbomachine rotor, the end plate including a crown having at least two collar fastening holes and at least one balancing-weight fastening hole located between the two collar fastening holes, each collar fastening hole being equipped with a crimped nut, the crown having a damaged portion between two collar fastening holes, the method including the steps of removing the two crimped nuts located on either side of the damage; removing the damaged crown portion, for example by machining; putting in place a strip in the form of a crown portion closing off the removed crown portion, the strip having at least one balancing-weight fastening hole and two mounting holes; fastening the strip to the crown with two crimped nuts, which penetrate the mounting holes, by crimping each nut in a collar fastening hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Jean-Hilaire LEXILUS, Cédric Nicolas BOT, Patrick Jean-Louis REGHEZZA
  • Patent number: 11934152
    Abstract: A device for illuminating luminescent watch displays containing luminophore material, including a case arranged to receive at least one receptacle for receiving at least one watch, the device including a illuminating device arranged to light up the displays of each said watch. The illuminating device include a control device and a time base, and at least one light source capable of exciting said luminophore material for a pre-determined charge time, or corresponding to a wearing duration chosen by the user via a control device included in the device, and watch self-winding device, including at least one such illumination device, and universal device for winding and setting the hands of a watch, including such a watch self-winding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme Favre, Cedric Nicolas
  • Publication number: 20230418231
    Abstract: A modular watch (1) including at least a middle (10), a back (11), a display module (12) having a dial, time display means, a crystal and first magnetic gear means, a horological module (13) including a horological movement with second magnetic gear means arranged to cooperate with the magnetic gear means of the display module (12), and first and second bracelet strands integral with the middle (10) at a pair of horns (20, 30). The display module (12) and the horological module (13) are mounted one on top of the other, said display module (12) being mounted such that it is fixed against the middle (10), and the horological module (13) being mounted such that it can rotate between the back (11) and the display module (12) in order to set the time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cédric Nicolas, Jean-Jacques Born, Sophie Napoli, Nicolas François, Pablo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11826612
    Abstract: A portable instrument provided with a device for controlling or managing a sports or well-being activity of a person wearing the portable instrument. The control device includes at least a motion sensor and a pressure sensor connected to a calculation unit, and a GNSS receiver module connected to the calculation unit. The calculation unit of the control device is arranged to activate the GNSS receiver module for a time of activation defined subsequent to variations in movement detected by the motion sensor differing from known movement data or walking profiles in order to determine at least one reference speed of the person, and to deactivate the GNSS receiver module after the activation time for a deactivation time greater than the activation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Kamiar Aminian, Joaquin Cabeza De Pablo, Martin Savary, Abolfazl Soltani, Hooman Dejnabadi
  • 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: 11669050
    Abstract: A watch self-winding device with rotary motion, including a base carrying a motor driving in rotation a support carrying a watch and includes an upper watch holder with a surface in direct contact with a watch, this support includes a microphone for listening to a watch and an embedded electronic circuit processing the signal from the microphone, the device includes, in order to supply power to the embedded electronic circuit, a first coil fixed to the base and powered by a power source carried or relayed by the base, and a second coil embedded in the support, coaxial to the first coil and arranged to transmit power to the embedded electronic circuit, which is arranged to exchange information with a static electronic circuit in the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme Favre, Cedric Nicolas, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 11651882
    Abstract: A magnetic microactuator (100) including a coil (6; 61; 62) controlling the axial movement of a sliding block (30) including at least one permanent magnet (2) joined or aligned with a ferromagnetic or magnetised rear arbor (42) and guiding the field lines of the magnetic field of revolution in the axial direction (D) through the coil (6; 61; 62) wherein circulates the sliding block (30), up to a rear end (43) of said rear arbor (42) that tends to cooperate by magnetic attraction with at least one first ferromagnetic restoration element (8), located in the vicinity of a rear face (25) of the structure (20) of the microactuator (100), in order to bring said sliding block (30) back into a rear end-of-travel position when no coil (6; 61; 62) is powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Cédric Nicolas, Nicolas Livat
  • Patent number: 11625005
    Abstract: A display mechanism of a watch including at least one indicator member and a drive member assembly. The indicator member is mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation and is configured to indicate a time. The indicator member also has a second axis of rotation extending along the indicator member and a rotary element mounted to rotate about the second axis of rotation. The drive assembly includes a first drive member and a second drive member such that the first drive member drives the rotary element when it is moving about the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Simon Springer, Ahmad Odeh, Michel Willemin
  • Patent number: 11540748
    Abstract: A method of detecting gaits of an individual with a sensor worn by the individual. The sensor includes an accelerometer and a processing unit. The method includes obtaining an signal representing one or more sensor acceleration values; sampling the signal to obtain a sampled signal; segmenting the sampled signal into windows to obtain a segmented acceleration signal; extracting a feature set from the segmented acceleration signal; determining a probability value, for a respective window, n, where n is a positive integer greater than zero, the probability value giving an estimated probability value of gait occurrence for the individual during the respective window; modifying the estimated probability value by using a histogram of previously detected gait durations to obtain a modified probability value; and determining, based on the modified probability value, and by using a determination threshold whether or not the respective window represents gait occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Abolfazl Soltani, Hooman Dejnabadi, Martin Savary, Kamiar Aminian
  • Patent number: 11410514
    Abstract: A transponder for securing a product displayed in a shop. The transponder includes two blocks each including a contact surface, the contact surfaces being positioned face to face, the blocks being connected to each other by an adjustable connection, that allows to manually adjust the moving closer together or farther apart of the blocks with respect to one another, thus allowing the transponder to be attached to a suitable element of the product, by gripping the element between the contact surfaces of the blocks, one of the blocks including wireless detection and transmission equipment, which allows the remote management of the presence of the transponder on the suitable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alexandre Lamontagne, Jonathan Bregnard, Cedric Nicolas, Cedric Kaltenrieder, Paulo Bravo
  • Patent number: 11312047
    Abstract: A method for making a bracelet provided with an electronic component insert, the method includes fabricating a basic, flexible support for an insert in the form of a band, making conductive paths on the flexible support or in the flexible support, disposing on the flexible support various electronic components connected to the conductive paths, and coating the electronic components disposed on the flexible support with a transparent or opaque protective layer to finish the insert of the bracelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Nicolas Francois, Claire Rannoux, Cedric Nicolas
  • Patent number: 11154146
    Abstract: A display stand (1) for a watch, the display stand including an open or closed support loop (2), and configured to support a wristwatch when the strap is closed around the loop (2). The loop includes at least one electrical switch that can be actuated in one or other of two states, and wherein the state of the switch is determined according to the presence or absence of the watch around the loop (2), making it possible to manage the presence of the watch on the display stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alexandre Lamontagne, Jonathan Bregnard, Cedric Nicolas