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).

  • TIMEPIECE OSCILLATOR MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20160223989
    Abstract: A timepiece oscillator comprising a structure and distinct, temporally and geometrically offset, primary resonators, each comprising a mass returned to the structure by an elastic return means, this timepiece oscillator comprises coupling means for the interaction of the primary resonators, comprising a wheel set subjected to a torque or drive force, this wheel set comprising drive and guide means arranged to drive and guide a control means articulated with transmission means, each articulated, remote from the control means, with a mass of a primary resonator, and the primary resonators and the wheel set are arranged such that the axes of articulation of any two of the primary resonators and the axis of articulation of the control means are never coplanar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Thierry CONUS, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Regulating device
    Patent number: 9389591
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnetic device for regulating the relative angular velocity of a wheel and of at least one magnetic dipole integral with an oscillating device. The wheel or the dipole is driven by a driving torque. The wheel includes a periodic, ferromagnetic pole path which alternates according to a center angle and the at least one dipole is arranged to permit magnetic coupling with the ferromagnetic path and oscillation of the dipole at the natural frequency of the oscillating element during the relative motion of the wheel and of the magnetic dipole to regulate the relative angular velocity. The wheel further includes an assembly to dissipate the kinetic energy of the at least one dipole when it moves away from the ferromagnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot
  • TUNING FORK OSCILLATOR FOR TIMEPIECES
    Publication number: 20160179058
    Abstract: A timepiece oscillator including a resonator formed by a tuning fork which includes at least two mobile oscillating parts, fixed to a connection element by flexible elements whose geometry determines a virtual pivot axis having a determined position with respect to this connection element and around which the respective mobile part oscillates, and the centre of masse of the mobile part coincides in the rest position with the respective virtual pivot axis, and, for at least one of the two mobile parts the flexible elements are formed of intersecting resilient strips extending at a distance from each other in two parallel planes, and whose directions, in projection on one of the parallel planes, intersect at the virtual pivot axis of the mobile part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Jerome FAVRE, Dominique LECHOT
  • Synchronization of timepiece resonators
    Patent number: 9354609
    Abstract: Coupling mobile member for synchronising two resonators, each including an interface pin periodically following a plane, closed trajectory, including grooves for holding the pins equidistant from an axis on a structure subjected to a torque about the axis, on which the grooves are coplanar grooves, radial with respect to the axis, for reception of the pins in symmetrical pairs with respect to a main, straight groove passing through the axis, in a plane perpendicular to the axis, and in which slides a main slide-block, which cooperates with a plurality of bars, each hinged on one side to one of the pins, and hinged on the other side to the main slide-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Jerome Favre
  • SYNCHRONIZATION OF TIMEPIECE RESONATORS
    Publication number: 20160091863
    Abstract: Coupling mobile member for synchronising two resonators, each including an interface pin periodically following a plane, closed trajectory, including grooves for holding the pins equidistant from an axis on a structure subjected to a torque about the axis, on which the grooves are coplanar grooves, radial with respect to the axis, for reception of the pins in symmetrical pairs with respect to a main, straight groove passing through the axis, in a plane perpendicular to the axis, and in which slides a main slide-block, which cooperates with a plurality of bars, each hinged on one side to one of the pins, and hinged on the other side to the main slide-block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Jerome FAVRE
  • ISOCHRONOUS PARAXIAL TIMEPIECE RESONATOR
    Publication number: 20160091862
    Abstract: A timepiece resonator including one weight connected by flexible strips to fixed attachment points of a fixed structure, this weight being subjected to a torque and/or a stress, and oscillating with at least two degrees of freedom in translation, and these flexible strips maintain the oscillations of this weight about a virtual pivot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Jean-Luc HELFER
  • REGULATING SYSTEM FOR A MECHANICAL WATCH
    Publication number: 20160070235
    Abstract: Regulating members for a mechanical timepiece, specifically a system based on magnetic interaction between a resonator, in a form of a tuning fork for example, and an escape wheel, as a magnetic escapement. In the system plural areas of magnetic interaction between the resonator and the escape wheel are arranged such that torques produced at the escape wheel by the interactions compensate each other if the escape wheel is not synchronized at the frequency of the resonator. This results in negligible torque in the escape wheel when the escape wheel rotates slowly in a direction of an arrow or opposite direction. This allows the timepiece to start with a low mainspring torque and without any start procedure or device and provides better resistance of the timepiece against a loss of synchronization in event of a shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Jean-Jacques BORN, Rudolf DINGER
  • WINDING DEVICE FOR SELF-WINDING AUTOMATIC WATCH
    Publication number: 20160004223
    Abstract: A device for winding automatic watches, including an electrical energy source and a receptacle support including a surface configured to receive in abutment a back cover of a watch, the device configured to generate a magnetic and/or electrostatic field or eddy currents, in a fixed position underneath the bearing surface and generate, on a substantially annular angular sector, a magnetic and or electrostatic field that varies as a function of time and whose direction is orthogonal to the bearing surface, or generating eddy currents that vary as a function of time. The device can be provided for a watch including an automatic winding mechanism with an oscillating weight including a first ferromagnetic inner part and a second heavy metal peripheral part, and possibly with a paramagnetic conductive disc coaxial to the oscillating weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Francois KLOPFENSTEIN, Patrick RAGOT
  • Universal timepiece
    Patent number: 9116507
    Abstract: A universal timepiece includes a manual mechanism to shift selectively some of geographical labels borne by a dial by 1/24th of a revolution, to make it possible to change, by one hour, local times associated with the geographical labels during a change from wintertime to summertime or from summertime to wintertime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Vuilleumier, Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot
  • REGULATING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20150177696
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnetic device for regulating the relative angular velocity of a wheel and of at least one magnetic dipole integral with an oscillating device, said wheel or said dipole being driven by a driving torque, said wheel including a periodic, ferromagnetic pole path which alternates according to a center angle and said at least one dipole being arranged to permit magnetic coupling with said ferromagnetic path and oscillation of said dipole at the natural frequency of the oscillating element during the relative motion of the wheel and of the magnetic dipole to regulate said relative angular velocity, said device being characterized in that said wheel further includes means for dissipating the kinetic energy of said at least one dipole when it moves away from said ferromagnetic path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jerome FAVRE, Baptiste HINAUX, Dominique LECHOT, Patrick RAGOT
  • Universal timepiece
    Patent number: 9025419
    Abstract: The universal timepiece comprises a winter/summer switching mechanism (27, 29, 31, 25, 19, 19H, 19E, 20, 20H, 20E, 21, 21E, 21H, 22, 22E, 22H, 23, 23E, 23H, 11, 11A, 12, 12A, 13, 13A, 14, 14A, 15, 15A, 17) arranged to be driven intermittently by the movement to selectively displace some of the geographic indications carried by the dial (3) by 1/24th of a turn in order to change by one hour the local time associated with these geographic indications during a change from winter time to summer time or from summer time to winter time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Dominique Lechot, Alain Vuilleumier, Jean-Jacques Born
  • DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND SYNCHRONISING THE POSITION OF A WHEEL OF A TIMEPIECE MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20150109890
    Abstract: A device for detecting and synchronising a position of at least one first wheel of a timepiece mechanism for an electronic analogue wristwatch, includes this first wheel extending in a plane. The detection and synchronisation device includes at least one light source emitting a light beam and at least one light detection system. A first light-reflecting element projects from one of an upper or lower surfaces of the first wheel of the timepiece mechanism. The light source and the light detection system are arranged so that in a determined position of the first wheel of the timepiece mechanism, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first light-reflecting element in the direction of the light detection system. The detection and synchronisation device is housed within a case of the wristwatch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Devlopment Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Pierpasquale TORTORA, Cedric NICOLAS, Pascal LAGORGETTE
  • Device for detecting and synchronising the position of a wheel of a timepiece mechanism
    Patent number: 9010996
    Abstract: Device for detecting and synchronising the position of at least one first wheel (16) of a timepiece mechanism (1) for an electronic analogue watch, wherein this first wheel (16) extends in one plane, the detection and synchronisation device (30) comprises at least one light source (32) emitting a light beam (34) and at least one light detection system (36), and this detection and synchronisation device is characterised in that a first light-reflecting element (40) projects from one of the upper or lower surfaces of the first wheel (16) of the timepiece mechanism (1), wherein the light source (32) and the light detection system (36) are arranged so that in a determined position of the first wheel (16) of the timepiece mechanism (1), the light beam (34) emitted by the light source (32) is reflected by the first reflective element (40) in the direction of the light detection system (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Pierpasquale Tortora, Cedric Nicolas, Pascal Lagorgette
  • System for adjusting the length of a bracelet or strap
    Patent number: 8893938
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object (1). This portable object includes a case (2) to which a bracelet or strap (3) is fixed taking the form of two bracelet or strap strands. The portable object is characterized in that at least one of the bracelet or strap strands is moveably mounted to slide relative to the case so that the length of the bracelet or strap can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pascal Grossenbacher, Jean-François Dionne, Yves Winkler, Jean-Jacques Born, Erik Jan Frenkel
  • Solar electric winder for a self-winding watch
    Patent number: 8870447
    Abstract: The electric solar watch winder includes a rotating support, a motor arranged to drive the rotating support, an accumulator arranged to power the motor, a solar cell arranged to charge the accumulator, an internal clock, an electronic means of controlling the motor, a light sensor connected to the electronic means, and a user control interface for the electronic means. The electronic means is arranged to be controlled by the user to be selectively placed in one or other of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the rotating support is only driven when the winding mechanism is illuminated and a second mode in which a rotating support drive program is started at a pre-selected time using the control interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Beat Gilomen
  • Shock absorber bearing for a rotating wheel set of a timepiece movement
    Patent number: 8777481
    Abstract: The timepiece movement includes a shock absorber bearing for a rotating wheel set, formed of an elastic device having a rigid central part and an elastic structure connected to said central part and extending at the periphery thereof, the central part having an aperture in which a pierced jewel is arranged and being materially connected to the timepiece movement via the elastic structure. This bearing further includes an endstone, which forms a top stop member for the pivot of the rotating wheel set and is assembled to said central part so as to move integrally therewith. This endstone extends at least partially above the elastic structure and is secured to the central part by a material connection between said central part and the bottom surface of the endstone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Jean-Jacques Born
  • SOLAR ELECTRIC WINDER FOR A SELF-WINDING WATCH
    Publication number: 20140177400
    Abstract: The electric solar watch winder includes a rotating support, a motor arranged to drive the rotating support, an accumulator arranged to power the motor, a solar cell arranged to charge the accumulator, an internal clock, an electronic means of controlling the motor, a light sensor connected to the electronic means, and a user control interface for the electronic means. The electronic means is arranged to be controlled by the user to be selectively placed in one or other of a plurality of operating modes, said plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the rotating support is only driven when the winding mechanism is illuminated and a second mode in which a rotating support drive programme is started at a pre-selected time using the control interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Beat GILOMEN
  • UNIVERSAL TIMEPIECE
    Publication number: 20140078869
    Abstract: The universal timepiece comprises a winter/summer switching mechanism (27, 29, 31, 25, 19, 19H, 19E, 20, 20H, 20E, 21, 21E, 21H, 22, 22E, 22H, 23, 23E, 23H, 11, 11A, 12, 12A, 13, 13A, 14, 14A, 15, 15A, 17) arranged to be driven intermittently by the movement to selectively displace some of the geographic indications carried by the dial (3) by 1/24th of a turn in order to change by one hour the local time associated with these geographic indications during a change from winter time to summer time or from summer time to winter time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Dominique LECHOT, Alain VUILLEUMIER, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • UNIVERSAL TIMEPIECE
    Publication number: 20140003198
    Abstract: A universal timepiece includes a manual mechanism to shift selectively some of geographical labels borne by a dial by 1/24th of a revolution, to make it possible to change, by one hour, local times associated with the geographical labels during a change from wintertime to summertime or from summertime to wintertime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Alain Vuilleumier, Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot
  • Governor for a timepiece wheel set or strike wheel set
    Patent number: 8588034
    Abstract: A timepiece wheel governor for regulating the pivoting speed (?) of a wheel set, about a pivot axis, including a pivoting inertia-block. It includes a spring to return this block towards this axis, and, when the wheel set pivots at a lower speed than a reference speed (?c), this block remains confined within a first volume of revolution, and, when the wheel set pivots at a higher speed than the reference speed (?c), this block is engaged, in one peripheral portion thereof, in a second volume contiguous with and external to the first one, this peripheral portion cooperating in this second volume with a regulator arranged to brake the wheel set and return the pivoting speed (?) thereof to the reference speed (?c), and to dissipate the surplus energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Jan Pittet, Jean-Jacques Born, Thierry Conus, Eric Goeller, Patrick Ragot, Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi, Jérôme Favre