Patents by Inventor Jean-Jacques Born

Jean-Jacques Born 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: 11402804
    Abstract: A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome Favre, Olivier Matthey, Gianni Di Domenico, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20220209558
    Abstract: A power management method for a solar watch or a solar automatic watch. The power management method including at least one providing a primary power supply from at least one energy supplier. The primary power supply is converted to a secondary power supply when the primary power supply reaches at least one primary threshold and/or at least one secondary threshold. A motor is supplied with the secondary power supply such as to wind a mainspring via the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Alexandre HAEMMERLI, Lionel PARATTE, Christophe GERMIQUET, François GUEISSAZ, Michel WILLEMIN
  • Publication number: 20220179361
    Abstract: A horological movement provided with a generator and a circuit for regulating the frequency of rotation of this generator, the regulation circuit being arranged to be able to detect the zero crossings of an induced voltage generated in the stator by the rotating rotor and to generate first braking pulses which are triggered after zero crossings and each end before the induced voltage reaches a peak value, preferably before the rectified induced voltage reaches a power supply voltage provided by a power supply capacity. In addition, the regulation circuit is arranged so as to be able to further generate second braking pulses each of which occurs after detection of the end of a charging period of the power supply capacity during which the induced voltage reaches a peak value and each end before the induced voltage crosses zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Philippe SAUVAIN, Stéphane PERRIER, Olivier MATTHEY
  • Patent number: 11334026
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome Favre, Michel Willemin, Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot, Gianni Di Domenico
  • Publication number: 20220137559
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome FAVRE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Dominique LECHOT, Gianni DI DOMENICO
  • Publication number: 20220107607
    Abstract: A coiling limitation device for a timepiece barrel includes at least one non-return notch arranged to cooperate with a sliding flange of the spring of the barrel, which is integrated in a watch including a resonator cooperating with an escapement mechanism. This device includes an acoustic device for the acoustic monitoring of the coiling of the barrel of a watch positioned on a receptacle included by the device, which acoustic devices are arranged to identify a click noise during each start of cooperation between the sliding flange and a notch. The device includes piloting devices arranged to stop the coiling of the barrel at the instant of the perception of the click noise or the repetition of the click noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme FAVRE, Jean-Jacques BORN, Nakis P. KARAPATIS, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20220066394
    Abstract: A timepiece and method for mounting a generator in the timepiece, this generator being formed of a rotor with permanent magnets and two coils. A supporting structure is preassembled with the rotor and an electronic module including the two coils is preformed. The method includes the following successive steps for laterally mounting the electronic module in the supporting structure so as to form the generator; assembly of an electronic module support with the supporting structure to form an articulation; rotation of the electronic module thanks to the articulation to bring the two coils closer to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so that these two coils are finally each located in a functional position at the same distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor; fastening of the electronic module to block the articulation after said rotation and thus maintain this electronic module in a functional angular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Olivier MATTHEY, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20220050418
    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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Matthias IMBODEN, Cédric NICOLAS
  • Patent number: 11144013
    Abstract: A presentation case is arranged for receiving an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor for driving the watch hands. The presentation case includes a box with a support for receiving the watch, a system for detecting the position of the hands, and a device for resetting the watch connected to the hand position detection system. The resetting device resets the watch based on information received from the hand position detection system and a time reference when the watch is placed on the receiving support. The resetting device includes a driver for the stepping motor of the electromechanical watch, which is arranged inside the presentation case facing the stepping motor, when the watch is placed on the receiving support, and causes a rotation of the stepping motor by inductive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Harry Winston SA
    Inventors: Johnny Buehler, Jean-Jacques Born, Cedric Nicolas
  • Publication number: 20210311437
    Abstract: A watch includes a striking mechanism, including an attached gong (4) and a hammer (15), as well as a battery (6) and an integrated circuit (7) powered by the battery and configured to produce current pulses, and an electrodynamic actuator (17) which is connected to the integrated circuit and configured to receive said pulses, the actuator being integral with the hammer or connected to the hammer to generate in response to the pulses a movement of the hammer from a rest position thereof, the movement being able to actuate an impact of the hammer on the gong. The mechanism also includes a spring (27) connected to the hammer so as to return the hammer to its rest position after the impact. Depending on particular embodiments, the hammer undergoes one or more pre-oscillations before reaching the impact. The hammer and the gong may be provided with attracting magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme Favre, Lionel Paratte, Laurent Nagy, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 11063537
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of controlling a rotational speed of a rotor (3) of a direct current electric motor (1) comprising an inductor circuit (A, B) for rotating the rotor, which is configured to rotate continuously and is equipped with permanent magnets. The method comprises: measuring the rotational speed of the rotor; determining a time drift in the rotor rotation compared to a reference signal; defining N speed thresholds with at least one being a variable speed threshold depending on the determined time drift, the N speed thresholds defining N+1 rotational speed ranges for the rotor; determining in which one of the N+1 rotational speed ranges the determined rotational speed of the rotor is; and finally selecting an action relative to the control of the inductor circuit, based on the determined rotational speed range, for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Christophe Germiquet, Laurent Nagy
  • Publication number: 20210191337
    Abstract: A musical or striking mechanism (1) for a timepiece or musical box, includes an energy source (6) delivering a mechanical torque and device for transmitting mechanical torque from the energy source to a wheel set for generating music or a striking wheel set (4). The mechanism also includes a wheel set governor (2) configured to regulate, around a reference speed value, the pivoting speed of the wheel set about a pivot axis, and including a break for braking the wheel set configured to return the pivoting speed thereof to the reference speed. The wheel set governor includes a system having an electric generator (16) whereof a rotor is mechanically connected to the energy source delivering the mechanical torque, and an electronic circuit for regulating the rotation speed of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme FAVRE, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20210181687
    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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme FAVRE, Cedric NICOLAS, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20210173350
    Abstract: An inertial mass with adjustment of inertia and/or unbalance for a horological resonator, including a plurality of mobiles for adjusting inertia and/or unbalance, toothed or fluted, each mounted pivotably about a mobile axis with respect to a flange that the inertial mass includes, and with a centre of mass off-centre with respect to this mobile axis, each mobile cooperating by meshing with an inertia and/or unbalance adjustment crown, toothed or fluted, under a permanent constraint exerted by an elastic return force exerted by the crown and/or the mobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Lionel PARATTE, Gianni DI DOMENICO
  • Patent number: 11022942
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
  • Patent number: 11012014
    Abstract: A motor drive unit for driving a direct current electric motor including a moving part equipped with permanent magnets. The motor drive unit, which is powered by a voltage supply source, includes a switch circuit, an inductor circuit and a capacitor circuit including a set of capacitors. By selectively opening and closing the switches of the switch circuit, a series of consecutive low energy pulses can be generated such that the power consumption of the motor drive circuit is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Laurent Nagy, Christophe Germiquet, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 10985679
    Abstract: A continuously rotating electric motor includes a rotor provided with permanent magnets and a stator formed by two coils in which, when the rotor is rotating, two induced voltage signals (UB1 and UB2) are respectively generated, which signals have an electric phase shift ? where 5°???90°, preferably 30°<?<65°. The control device includes a circuit for detecting intersection times (TC) at which values of the two induced voltage signals are substantially equal. The control device is arranged to generate electric driving pulses to rotate the rotor, which are respectively initiated at initiation times determined by respective intersection times, and such that the electric driving pulses can be applied to the two coils arranged in series. Preferably, the control device is arranged such that the initiation times of the electric driving pulses occur directly after detections of corresponding intersection times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Laurent Nagy, Christophe Germiquet
  • Patent number: 10972027
    Abstract: A DC motor including a continuous rotation rotor; a first inductor characterized by first parameters; a second inductor characterized by second parameters; a voltage supply unit; a measurement unit for detecting time instants when a first induced voltage in the first inductor equals a second induced voltage in the second inductor; and a control unit for controlling the application of drive voltage pulses to the inductors. The rotor faces first the second inductor before facing the first inductor when being rotated. At least one of the second parameters is selected different from a corresponding parameter of the first parameters such that a maximum induced voltage in the first inductor is greater than a maximum induced voltage in the second inductor. The control unit is arranged to trigger each of the drive voltage pulses after a detection of an equal induced voltage in the first and second inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Laurent Nagy, Christophe Germiquet, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 10948879
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome Favre, Michel Willemin, Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot, Gianni Di Domenico
  • Patent number: 10948881
    Abstract: Timepiece movement fitted with an electromagnetic transducer comprising at least one coil and a rotor formed of a central shaft, of two magnetic plates that are mounted on the central shaft and of a plurality of bipolar magnets which are axially polarized and mounted on at least one of the two magnetic plates, said at least one coil penetrating at least partially into a circular space which is defined by the rotor between its two magnetic plates and left free by this rotor. The central shaft comprises a pinion which engages with a wheel of the timepiece movement, this pinion being arranged between the two magnetic plates and said wheel being partially arranged between the two magnetic plates, in an angular sector of the circular space that is left free by the electromagnetic transducer, so as to engage with the pinion. Advantageously, said wheel has a roller that is almost or entirely non-conductive and a non-magnetic staff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Yvan Ferri