Patents by Inventor François Gueissaz

François Gueissaz 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).

  • Publication number: 20100064779
    Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: ASULAB S.A.
    Inventors: François Gueissaz, Jean-Paul Randin
  • Publication number: 20100024525
    Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric components, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrates, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ASULAB S.A.
    Inventors: François Gueissaz, Jean-Paul Randin
  • Patent number: 7643860
    Abstract: A portable instrument for measuring a physiological quantity arranged to contact with the surface of organic tissue includes, essentially arranged in the same plane: an illumination device including at least one light source with an illumination surface for subjecting a portion of organic tissue to light emission in at least one wavelength range; and a detection device distant from the illumination device for detecting intensity of light emission produced by the illumination device after propagation in the organic tissue. The illumination device includes an optical element forming a guide coupled to the at least one light source for guiding light emission from the source by total internal reflection in a substantially parallel direction to the surface of the organic tissue and for distributing light emission into several illumination zones on the surface of the organic tissue over a substantially broader area than the illumination surface of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Gueissaz
  • Patent number: 7601537
    Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: François Gueissaz, Jean-Paul Randin
  • Patent number: 7404667
    Abstract: The magnetic control device (1) for a timepiece comprises a sealed tube (3) which comprises a blind end inserted into an opening of the timepiece, whereas the other end of the tube opens towards the outside. A control stem (12) is provided in order to slide inside the tube (3). It carries a magnet (21) which is displaced integrally with the stem inside the tube. By manipulating the end of the stem which emerges from the tube (3), the wearer of the watch can make the magnet selectively occupy three positions. A first and a second magnetic sensor (22, 23) with two states are disposed inside the timepiece along the sealed tube so that three different combinations of a state of the first sensor (22) with a state of the second sensor (23) are respectively associated with three predefined positions of the first magnet (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, François Gueissaz
  • Publication number: 20080112275
    Abstract: The magnetic control device (1) for a timepiece comprises a sealed tube (3) which comprises a blind end inserted into an opening of the timepiece, whereas the other end of the tube opens towards the outside. A control stem (12) is provided in order to slide inside the tube (3). It carries a magnet (21) which is displaced integrally with the stem inside the tube. By manipulating the end of the stem which emerges from the tube (3), the wearer of the watch can make the magnet selectively occupy three positions. A first and a second magnetic sensor (22, 23) with two states are disposed inside the timepiece along the sealed tube so that three different combinations of a state of the first sensor (22) with a state of the second sensor (23) are respectively associated with three predefined positions of the first magnet (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Francois Gueissaz
  • Patent number: 7274624
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece including a mechanical power source (1) coupled, on the one hand, to first means (5) displaying time related information and, on the other hand, to a generator (2), a regulator circuit (6) for enslaving the generator frequency to a reference frequency, said regulator circuit including switching means (7) arranged for electrically braking the generator when the generator frequency is higher than the reference frequency, and second power-reserve display means (12a) controlled by means for measuring the power-reserve (12b), said timepiece being characterized in that it further includes means (11) for accumulating the electrical energy dissipated during the generator braking periods and means (13) for actuating said second display means to display the power-reserve by means of the electrical energy accumulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Gueissaz
  • Publication number: 20070196923
    Abstract: In order to check the hermeticity of a closed cavity of at least one micrometric component, said component includes a structure made over or in one portion of a substrate, a cap fixed to one zone of the substrate to protect the structure, and an indicator element whose optical or electrical properties change in the presence of a reactive fluid. The indicator element may be a copper layer for an optical check or a palladium resistor for an electrical check. The micrometric component is placed in a container which is then hermetically closed. This container is filled with a reactive fluid under pressure, which is oxygen for the optical check and hydrogen for the electrical check. The component in the container is subjected to a reactive fluid pressure higher than 10 bars for a determined time period, and to thermal (T>100° C.) or optical (?<500 nm) activation. After this time period, an optical or electrical check of the indicator element determines the hermeticity of said cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: ASULAB S.A.
    Inventors: Francois Gueissaz, Jean-Paul Randin
  • Patent number: 7016263
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for data entry into a portable object, in particular a watch, with display screen comprising a control button (1) consisting of an elastic mass (2) wherein is housed a permanent magnet (3) and a positioning analogue magnetic sensor (4) with Hall effect for example, arranged inside the object opposite to and spaced apart from said control button (1), said sensor being adapted to measure the movements of the magnet (3) in at least one direction for data entry. The control button (1) is arranged in a blind housing (7) of a non-magnetic wall (5) of the object structure, to be mechanically uncoupled from the sensor, said wall not in contact with said sensor acting as sealing protection for the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: François Gueissaz, Dominique Piguet
  • Publication number: 20050270908
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for monitoring the water resistance of a case (2) of an electronic timepiece (1) including a time base (42) for generating a standard frequency signal and a central processing unit (44) for determining the time from the standard signal, characterized in that it includes an electronic sensor (32) capable of measuring fluctuations in the concentration of a gas in the atmosphere contained in the case (2), the results of the measurement carried out by the electronic sensor (32) being processed by the central processing unit (44) which, in response to the measurement signal, emits, if necessary, an acoustic or visual alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Gueissaz
  • Publication number: 20050249046
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for data entry into a portable object, in particular a watch, with display screen comprising a control button (1) consisting of an elastic mass (2) wherein is housed a permanent magnet (3) and a positioning analogue magnetic sensor (4) with Hall effect for example, arranged inside the object opposite to and spaced apart from said control button (1), said sensor being adapted to measure the movements of the magnet (3) in at least one direction for data entry. The control button (1) is arranged in a blind housing (7) of a non-magnetic wall (5) of the object structure, to be mechanically uncoupled from the sensor, said wall not in contact with said sensor acting as sealing protection for the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Francois Gueissaz, Dominique Piquet
  • Publication number: 20050128881
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece including a mechanical power source (1) coupled, on the one hand, to first means (5) displaying time related information and, on the other hand, to a generator (2), a regulator circuit (6) for enslaving the generator frequency to a reference frequency, said regulator circuit including switching means (7) arranged for electrically braking the generator when the generator frequency is higher than the reference frequency, and second power-reserve display means (12a) controlled by means for measuring the power-reserve (12b), said timepiece being characterised in that it further includes means (11) for accumulating the electrical energy dissipated during the generator braking periods and means (13) for actuating said second display means to display the power-reserve by means of the electrical energy accumulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: ASULAB S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Gueissaz
  • Publication number: 20040236227
    Abstract: There is disclosed a portable instrument for measuring a physiological quantity arranged to be brought into contact with the surface of an organic tissue including, essentially arranged in the same plane, an illumination device including at least one light source with a determined illumination surface for subjecting a portion of the organic tissue to a light emission in at least one determined wavelength range; and a detection device distant from the illumination device for detecting the intensity of the light emission produced by the illumination device after propagation in the organic tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Gueissaz
  • Patent number: 6454160
    Abstract: The method for hermetically encapsulating microsystems in situ consists, in a first phase, of mounting on a common substrate (1), several microsystems (6) surrounded by a metal adhesion layer (4) deposited on the substrate (1). In a second phase, in a common deposition step a first metal layer (7) is deposited by electrolytic means on each microsystem (6) and on an annular zone (7a) of the adhesion layer (4) surrounding each microsystem (6), so as to completely cover each microsystem by overlap. Subsequently a second metal layer (9) is deposited by electrolytic means on the first metal layer (7) and on the adhesion layer so as to cover most of the first layer with the exception of at least one passage (10) per microsystem (6), providing access to the first layer (7). The metal of the first layer is different from the metals of the adhesion layer, the second layer and the microsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: François Gueissaz