Patents by Inventor Gianni DI DOMENICO
Gianni DI DOMENICO 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).
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Publication number: 20190064741Abstract: Isochronous pivot for a resonator including two flexible strips joining attachment points of a first and a second element, defining two strip directions, and a pivot axis, at the intersection of their projections or at their intersection, each strip having a free length between its attachment points, and an axial distance between the pivot axis and the attachment point thereof farthest from the axis, the attachment point ratio X=D/L being greater than one for each strip, the strip directions defining with the axis a first apex angle whose value in degrees is comprised between f1(X)=108+67/(10X?6), and f2(X)=113+67/(10X?6).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Publication number: 20190064742Abstract: An isochronous pivot for a resonator including two flexible strips joining attachment points of a first and a second element, defining two strip directions, and a pivot axis, at the intersection of their projections or at their intersection, each strip having a free length between its attachment points, and an axial distance between the pivot axis and the attachment point thereof farthest from the axis, the attachment point ratio X=D/L being greater than one for each strip, the strip directions defining with the axis a first apex angle whose value in degrees includes between f1(X)=108+67/(10X?6), and f2(X)=113+67/(10X?6).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Publication number: 20190033784Abstract: Mechanical timepiece oscillator comprising, between a first element and a second inertial element, two distinct flexible strips returning the inertial element to a rest position in an oscillation plane, the projections of these strips crossing each other, in the rest position, at a point, through which passes the pivoting axis of the second solid inertial element, the embedding points of the strips in the first element and the second inertial element defining two directions in which each strip has a free length between its embedding points, and an axial distance between the pivoting axis and the the farthest of its embedding points, and, for each strip, the embedding point ratio is comprised between 0 and 1, and the vertex angle at the crossing point of the directions of the strips is less than 70°.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique LECHOT, Jerome FAVRE, Baptiste HINAUX, Jean-Jacques BORN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
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Publication number: 20190032644Abstract: Mechanical horological movement comprising at least one energy storage means designed to drive a gear train of which an output mobile component is designed to pivot about a drive axis and comprising a rotary resonator which comprises at least one central mobile component designed to pivot about a central axis and comprising an input mobile component designed to collaborate with the output mobile component, this rotary resonator comprises a plurality of inertial elements each one designed to pivot with respect to the central mobile component about a secondary axis perpendicular to the central axis and each returned towards a rest position, relative with respect to the central mobile component, by at least one elastic return element, and each secondary axis passes through the centre of mass of the inertial element associated with it.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc Helfer, Gianni Di Domenico, Yves-Alain Cosandier
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Patent number: 10152025Abstract: Movement including an escapement mechanism and a resonator including an inertial element subjected to the action of a flexible gimbal and cooperating with an escape wheel set pivoting about a main axis, which includes driving means cooperating in a continuous transmission of motion with complementary means of the inertial element in every angular position of the latter, the flexible gimbal tending to return these complementary means towards the main axis, and including elastic return means about axes orthogonal to the main axis and restricting the mobility of the inertial element in two rotational degrees of freedom, about a fixed position of the centre of inertia of the inertial element with respect to a plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Gianni Di Domenico, Jean-Luc Helfer
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Publication number: 20180341226Abstract: A method for adjusting the rate of a watch with an oscillator arranged to generate oscillation at a nominal frequency N0, with a servo-system including a master oscillator arranged to generate excitation oscillation at an excitation frequency NE, which is approximately equal to, or equal to the nominal frequency N0, or to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the watch is subjected to excitation oscillation or to a modulated motion, generated by the master oscillator, during a transition phase after which the oscillator of the watch is stabilised at excitation frequency NE, and there is incorporated in the servo-system a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, arranged to move a support on which such a watch is fixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Jerome FAVRE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Dominique LECHOT, Gianni DI DOMENICO
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Publication number: 20180341225Abstract: Method for adjusting the rate of a basic oscillator of a watch arranged to oscillate at a nominal frequency N0, with a master oscillator generating an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the master oscillator subjecting the watch to excitation or a modulated motion during a transition phase after which the basic oscillator is stabilised at the excitation frequency NE, and a state of display correction method with a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, moving a support carrying the watch and comprising a state of display correction oscillator, having a lower variation of rate value than the initial variation of rate value DI of this basic oscillator, and oscillating at a correction frequency NC to impose oscillation or a motion on the watch, during a state of display correction phase whose duration is adjusted to exactly correct a state of display error measured at the initial moment of actuation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Jerome FAVRE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Dominique LECHOT, Gianni DI DOMENICO
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Patent number: 10126711Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism having a central wheel train fixed in rotation around an axis of an input wheel train subjected to a driving torque, arranged to turn continuously, and having a plurality of N inertial elements, each movable in relation to the central wheel train, and restored to the axis by elastic restoring device. The mechanism having device between all the inertial elements that are arranged to maintain all centers of mass of these inertial elements at the same distance from the axis at any time, and the elastic restoring device cause an elastic potential such as: Vtot=(d?0/dt)2·?j (Mj·Rj2), where: Vtot is the elastic potential, ?j is the sum over the js of the quantity between parentheses, (d?0/dt) is the speed of rotation to be imposed, Rj is the position of the center of mass G of the inertial element j of mass Mj.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer, Gianni Di Domenico
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Patent number: 10114340Abstract: Timepiece movement including a flexible strip resonator cooperating with a magnetic escapement mechanism, wherein an escape wheel set includes tangential magnetized areas repelling first magnetized areas of an inertial element of the resonator, this movement includes isochronism correction means combining the first magnetized areas and compensating magnets on the escape wheel set, each arranged in proximity to a tangential magnetized area and producing a leakage field in a different direction from that of the field of the tangential magnetized area, the leakage field intensity being low compared to that of the field of the second tangential magnetized area, and this leakage field interacting with one of the first magnetized areas to produce a low variation in the operation of the resonator mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Jean-Jacques Born
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Patent number: 10095187Abstract: Watch with a timepiece movement, a resonator mechanism, including a magnetic escapement mechanism including an escape wheel set including a magnetized track, with a succession of areas according to a scrolling period in which its magnetic features are repeated, each area including an increasing magnetic field ramp followed by a magnetic field barrier with an increasing field and of higher field gradient that that of the ramp, the track includes a continuous, closed magnetic layer over the entire periphery of the escape wheel set, of constant thickness and variable width, whose geometry defines these magnetic field ramps and barriers, this escape wheel set cooperating with a sprung balance via a pivoting magnetic stop member comprising a pole piece arranged to cooperate alternately with an internal track and an external track of the magnetic layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Benoit Legeret, Davide Sarchi
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Patent number: 10054908Abstract: A timepiece escapement mechanism including a resonator and an escape wheel arranged to cooperate with this resonator directly or indirectly through a stopper forming part of this escapement mechanism, this escape wheel including a succession of tracks carrying magnetic or electrostatic field potential ramps arranged to cooperate with the resonator or respectively with the stopper, this escapement mechanism comprising a non-return device arranged to oppose the recoil of the escape wheel, and the stopper cooperates, on the one hand, with a plate forming part of the resonator and, on the other, with these magnetic or electrostatic field potential ramps by at least one pole shoe forming part of the stopper and arranged to move in the field corresponding to the magnetic or electrostatic field potential ramps.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre
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Patent number: 10001753Abstract: A device regulating motion of a mechanical horological movement includes: a frame; a resonator attached to the frame and including a first annular magnetic structure including N1 magnets arranged regularly in a circle and a resilient structure; a second annular magnetic structure including N2 magnets defining a central axis about which the structure rotates, N2 being different than N1. The resonator is configured so that a resonant mode in which the first magnetic structure is subject to curvilinear, or substantially circular, translation about the central axis may be excited by rotation of the second magnetic structure. The two magnetic structures define a magnetic cycloid gear such that the regulating device incorporates a reducer of frequency between the resonance frequency and the rotational frequency of the second magnetic structure which is rigidly connected to an escapement wheel.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Gianni Di Domenico, Jean-Jacques Born
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Patent number: 9983549Abstract: A watch including a movement including itself an isochronous timepiece oscillator mechanism including a fixed support bearing a crosspiece carrying N primary resonators each including a weight carried by a rotating flexible bearing fixed to this crosspiece. Each primary resonator has a center of mass which, at rest, is on the virtual pivot axis of its rotating flexible bearing and is arranged to oscillate in rotation about this virtual pivot axis. The primary resonators are arranged in rotational symmetry of order N about a main axis parallel to the virtual pivot axes, and oscillating motions of any two primary resonators are phase shifted by the value of the central angle formed by their respective virtual pivot axes with the main axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer, Gianni Di Domenico, Thierry Conus
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Publication number: 20180143591Abstract: A method for manufacturing a flexible strip, including forming a plate of the required thickness with one or more micromachinable substrate wafers; affixing, on either side of the plate, an upper mask with an upper window and a lower mask with a lower window, of identical geometry; etching the plate, at least to mid-thickness, from the upper side of each upper etching window, and from the side of each lower etching window; removing the upper mask and the lower mask, to delimit a flexible strip having a height equal to the thickness of the plate, and whose edges are as-etched. A flexible strip made of micromachinable material, including, between two parallel upper and lower surfaces, two peripheral, tapered and reverse-tapered edge surfaces, for a flexible pivot, a resonator, a movement or a watch.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Pierre Cusin, Alex Gandelhman
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Publication number: 20180136607Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism includes a structure and an inertial element oscillating around an axis and subjected to restoring forces exerted by a plurality of elastic blades, each fixed directly or indirectly to the structure at a first end and fixed directly or indirectly to an inertial element at a second end. The elastic blade extends in a perpendicular plane to the pivot axis and is deformable substantially in this plane, where this resonator mechanism includes an axial stop including at least a lower axial stop and/or an upper axial stop, and the axial stop is arranged for the protection of the blade resonator mechanism against axial shocks in the direction of the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Dominique LECHOT, Pascal WINKLER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jean-Jacques BORN
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Patent number: 9971303Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism with a pivoting weight pivoting about a virtual axis, and including a flexure pivot mechanism and a first and second fixed support to which is attached, by a first resilient assembly and respectively a second resilient assembly which together define the virtual axis, a rotary support carrying the pivoting weight, this flexure pivot mechanism is planar, the first resilient assembly includes, on either side of the virtual axis, a first outer flexible strip and a first inner flexible strip, joined to each other by a first intermediate strip stiffer than each of the latter, together defining a first direction passing through the virtual pivot axis, and the second resilient assembly includes a second flexible strip defining a second direction passing through the virtual pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler
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Patent number: 9971309Abstract: The mechanical timepiece movement includes at least one barrel, a set of gear wheels driven at one end by the barrel, and an escapement mechanism of a local oscillator with a resonator in the form of a sprung balance and a feedback system for the timepiece movement. The escapement mechanism is driven at another end of the set of gear wheels. The feedback system includes at least one precise reference oscillator combined with a frequency comparator to compare the frequency of the two oscillators and a mechanism for regulating the local oscillator resonator to slow down or accelerate the resonator based on the result of a comparison in the frequency comparator.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Gianni Di Domenico, Thierry Conus, Jean-Luc Helfer
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Patent number: 9958831Abstract: A watch or movement including a timepiece resonator movement including two RCC flexural pivots mounted in series about an intermediate rotary support and having the same virtual pivot axis, each including two straight flexible strips of the same length, whose clamping points opposite to this pivot axis are at the same distance with respect to this axis, and which define linear directions, forming angles, in pairs, with this virtual pivot axis, whose value expressed in degrees is comprised between: 109.5+5/[(D/L)?(2/3)] and 114.5+5/[(D/L)?(2/3)], or more particularly between 107+5/((D/L)?(2/3)) and 112+5/((D/L)?(2/3)).Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Publication number: 20180113423Abstract: Timepiece movement including a flexible strip resonator cooperating with a magnetic escapement mechanism, wherein an escape wheel set includes tangential magnetized areas repelling first magnetized areas of an inertial element of the resonator, this movement includes isochronism correction means combining the first magnetized areas and compensating magnets on the escape wheel set, each arranged in proximity to a tangential magnetized area and producing a leakage field in a different direction from that of the field of the tangential magnetized area, the leakage field intensity being low compared to that of the field of the second tangential magnetized area, and this leakage field interacting with one of the first magnetized areas to produce a low variation in the operation of the resonator mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jerome FAVRE, Dominique LECHOT, Baptiste HINAUX, Olivier MATTHEY, Jean-Jacques BORN
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Publication number: 20180113420Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism having a central wheel train fixed in rotation around an axis of an input wheel train subjected to a driving torque, arranged to turn continuously, and having a plurality of N inertial elements, each movable in relation to the central wheel train, and restored to the axis by elastic restoring device. The mechanism having device between all the inertial elements that are arranged to maintain all centers of mass of these inertial elements at the same distance from the axis at any time, and the elastic restoring device cause an elastic potential such as: Vtot=(d?0/dt)2·?j (Mj·Rj2), where: Vtot is the elastic potential, ?j is the sum over the js of the quantity between parentheses, (d?0/dt) is the speed of rotation to be imposed, Rj is the position of the center of mass G of the inertial element j of mass Mj.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Gianni DI DOMENICO