Patents by Inventor Frédéric Kohler

Frédéric Kohler 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: 11822289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method including: a) obtaining a substrate extending in a predetermined plane with a first layer parallel to the plane; b) forming a through-hole in the first layer; c) depositing a second layer on the first, the second layer filling the a through-hole to form a bridge of material; d) etching a hairspring in an etching layer made up of the second layer or the substrate, the one of the second layer and the substrate in which the a hairspring is not etched constituting a support, the bridge of material connecting the hairspring to the support perpendicular to the predetermined plane; e) removing the first layer, the hairspring remaining attached to the support by the bridge of material; f) subjecting the hairspring to a thermal treatment; and g) detaching the hairspring from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CSEM CENTRE SUISSE D'ELECTRONIQUE ET DE MICROTECHNIQUE SA—RECHERCHE ET DEVELOPPEMENT
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Frédéric Kohler, Olivier Hunziker, Jean-Luc Bucaille
  • Publication number: 20230305492
    Abstract: Micromechanical component, particularly a timepiece wheel, particularly an escapement wheel, including a substrate with a first material including at least nickel and phosphorus, which substrate is covered, on at least one surface of the substrate of the wheel, by a coating of a second material including at least nickel and poorer in phosphorus than the first material, or devoid of phosphorus, and the second material constitutes the peripheral layer of the wheel at this at least one surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Serge NICOUD, Samuel VIGNIER, Sébastien RODER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Christian CHARBON, Frédéric KOHLER
  • Publication number: 20230288872
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a timepiece wheel, according to which a substrate is produced with a first material including at least nickel and phosphorus, the substrate is shaped to the geometry of the wheel, and a coating of the substrate is performed, galvanically and/or chemically, on at least one surface of the substrate of the wheel, with at least one second material, which constitutes the peripheral layer of the wheel at the at least one surface of the substrate of the wheel, and which includes at least nickel and which is poorer in phosphorus than the first material, or which includes nickel and is devoid of phosphorus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Serge NICOUD, Samuel VIGNIER, Sébastien RODER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Christian CHARBON, Frédéric KOHLER
  • Publication number: 20230136065
    Abstract: The method for manufacturing a timepiece component is capable of thermocompensating a functional assembly including the timepiece component. The method includes at least the following actions: a) providing (e1) a substrate (1) of semiconductor or metallic material; b) proceeding with the deposition (e2) of a polycrystalline or monocrystalline silicon layer (5) on the substrate (1); c) releasing (e4) the timepiece component (10) from the substrate (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Bucaille, Olivier Hunziker, Frédéric Kohler
  • Publication number: 20220235438
    Abstract: An assembly (10), in particular fora timepiece, including a rotary wheel and a bearing, like a jewel (20), the rotary wheel being provided with at least one pivot (17) including at least partly a non-magnetic material, preferably entirely, the bearing including a face (6) provided with a hole (8) formed in the body of the bearing and with a functional geometry at the entrance of the hole (8), wherein the functional geometry has the shape of a cone (12), and wherein the non-magnetic material of the pivot (17) includes an alloy to be chosen from materials containing copper, materials containing palladium or materials containing aluminium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Cyril RUCHTI, Xavier BERDAT, Frédéric KOHLER
  • Publication number: 20200379408
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method including: a) obtaining a substrate extending in a predetermined plane with a first layer parallel to the plane; b) forming a through-hole in the first layer; c) depositing a second layer on the first, the second layer filling the a through-hole to form a bridge of material; d) etching a hairspring in an etching layer made up of the second layer or the substrate, the one of the second layer and the substrate in which the a hairspring is not etched constituting a support, the bridge of material connecting the hairspring to the support perpendicular to the predetermined plane; e) removing the first layer, the hairspring remaining attached to the support by the bridge of material; f) subjecting the hairspring to a thermal treatment; and g) detaching the hairspring from the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Michel DESPONT, Frédéric KOHLER, Olivier HUNZIKER, Jean-Luc BUCAILLE
  • Patent number: 10338528
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions of increased thickness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to remove, locally, a volume of material, in order to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA—Recherche et developpement
    Inventors: Frederic Kohler, Jean-Luc Bucaille, Olivier Hunziker
  • Patent number: 10324418
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions to obtain a deliberately lower stiffness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to compensate for said missing thickness of material required to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA-Recherche et développement
    Inventors: Frederic Kohler, Jean-Luc Bucaille, Olivier Hunziker
  • Publication number: 20170176941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions of increased thickness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to remove, locally, a volume of material, in order to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA - Recherche et developpement
    Inventors: Frederic KOHLER, Jean-Luc BUCAILLE, Olivier HUNZIKER
  • Publication number: 20170176942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a balance spring of a predetermined stiffness comprising the steps of fabricating a balance spring in dimensions to obtain a deliberately lower stiffness, determining the stiffness of the balance spring formed in step a) in order to compensate for said missing thickness of material required to obtain the balance spring having the dimensions necessary for said predetermined stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA-Recherche et developpement
    Inventors: Frederic KOHLER, Jean-Luc BUCAILLE, Olivier HUNZIKER
  • Patent number: 9457536
    Abstract: An assembly of a member, made of a first material in an aperture of a part, made of a second material having no plastic domain, using an intermediate part made of a third material, mounted between the member and the part. The intermediate part includes a hole for receiving the member. The part includes pierced holes forming a deformation mechanism distributed around the aperture thereof. The elastically and plastically deformed intermediate part radially grips the member and stresses the elastic deformation mechanism of the part so as to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for the part. Such an assembly can for example be used in the field of timepieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Marco Verardo, Igor Saglini, Frederic Kohler
  • Patent number: 9128463
    Abstract: An assembly of an axially extending member, made of a first material, in an aperture of a part, made of a second material having no plastic domain. The part includes pierced holes forming an elastic deformation mechanism distributed around the aperture thereof. Further, the member includes an elastically and plastically deformed, radially flared portion that radially grips a wall of the part surrounding the aperture by stressing the elastic deformation mechanism, so as to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for the part. The assembly can be used in the field of timepieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Marco Verardo, Igor Saglini, Frederic Kohler
  • Patent number: 8944676
    Abstract: An assembly including a member made of a first material, which is axially driven into a circular aperture of a part made of a second material that is brittle, using an intermediate part made of a third material and mounted between the member and the part is disclosed. The intermediate part is a continuous cylinder including a hole for receiving the member so that the intermediate part absorbs radially and in a uniform manner, at least part of the axial driving force of the member. The part includes pierced holes forming elastic deformation units distributed around the circular aperture thereof for absorbing any of the radial force not absorbed by the intermediate part, so as to secure the assembly in a non-destructive manner for the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Marco Verardo, Frédéric Kohler, Igor Saglini, Andrés Cabezas Jurin, Jacques Jacot, Maxence Perret-Gentil
  • Publication number: 20130309446
    Abstract: An assembly of a member, made of a first material in an aperture of a part, made of a second material having no plastic domain, using an intermediate part made of a third material, mounted between the member and the part. The intermediate part includes a hole for receiving the member. The part includes pierced holes forming a deformation mechanism distributed around the aperture thereof. The elastically and plastically deformed intermediate part radially grips the member and stresses the elastic deformation mechanism of the part so as to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for the part. Such an assembly can for example be used in the field of timepieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Marco Verardo, Igor Saglini, Frederic Kohler
  • Publication number: 20130286795
    Abstract: An assembly of an axially extending member, made of a first material, in an aperture of a part, made of a second material having no plastic domain. The part includes pierced holes forming an elastic deformation mechanism distributed around the aperture thereof. Further, the member includes an elastically and plastically deformed, radially flared portion that radially grips a wall of the part surrounding the aperture by stressing the elastic deformation mechanism, so as to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for the part. The assembly can be used in the field of timepieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Marco Verardo, Igor Saglini, Frederic Kohler
  • Publication number: 20120090933
    Abstract: An assembly including a member made of a first material, which is axially driven into a circular aperture of a part made of a second material, having no plastic domain, using an intermediate part made of a third material and mounted between the member and the part is disclosed. The intermediate part is a continuous cylinder including a hole for receiving the member so that the intermediate part absorbs radially and in a uniform manner, at least part of the axial driving force of the member. The part includes pierced holes forming elastic deformation units distributed around the circular aperture thereof for absorbing any of the radial force not absorbed by the intermediate part, so as to secure the assembly in a non-destructive manner for the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Thierry CONUS, Marco Verardo, Frédéric Kohler, Igor Saglini, Andrés Cabezas Jurin, Jacques Jacot, Maxence Perret-Gentil