Patents by Inventor Jean-Luc Helfer

Jean-Luc Helfer 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: 20170123380
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Thierry CONUS
  • Publication number: 20170123379
    Abstract: A timepiece mechanism including a first component and a second component configured to cooperate with each other in a relative motion on a trajectory in an interface area, wherein a first path of the first component includes magnetic and/or electrostatic actuation components, configured to exert a contactless stress on complementary magnetic and/or electrostatic actuation components included in a second path belonging to the second component. Throughout a monotonous relative movement of the second path with respect to the first path, interaction energy between the first component and second component has a variable gradient with at least one position of discontinuity of the gradient, which corresponds to a variation in the contactless stress, the position of discontinuity of the gradient corresponding, in a variant, to an abrupt variation in the contactless stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER, Jerome FAVRE
  • Publication number: 20170115629
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece balance spring comprising a single strip wound on itself between an inner coil and an outer coil, the strip having a geometry such that when the angle of contraction of the balance spring has a value of 360 degrees, there is a constant distance between each coil from the second coil to the penultimate coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Jean-Luc HELFER, Yves-Alain COSANDIER
  • Publication number: 20170115630
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece balance spring comprising a single strip wound on itself between an inner coil and an outer coil, the strip having a geometry such that when the angle of contraction of the balance spring has a value of 360 degrees, there is a constant distance between each coil from the inner coil to the penultimate coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Jean-Luc HELFER, Yves-Alain COSANDIER
  • Publication number: 20170075307
    Abstract: A display mechanism including a mechanism for fast correction of a position of a display wheel set, an intermediate wheel set ensuring synchronization with an automatic drive mechanism, and, inserted between the intermediate wheel set and the display wheel set, a safety lever driven by the display wheel set during periodic driving thereof, in a trajectory that interferes with a spatial volume of the intermediate wheel set, such that, when the intermediate wheel set is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the lever does not interfere with the intermediate wheel set, and, when the intermediate wheel set is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the safety lever interferes with the intermediate wheel set, which the safety lever then drives in an opposite direction to a single direction of normal operation, to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Antonio MERINO, Jean-Luc HELFER, Christian RUEFENACHT, Giuseppe CAPPADONA
  • Patent number: 9594349
    Abstract: A pallet lever including a head arranged to cooperate with an escape wheel and a fork arranged to cooperate with a balance. The angular position of the fork is variable relative to the head. A flexible strip provides the only permanent, mechanical connection between the head and the fork. An escape mechanism includes a plate, an escape wheel and a balance, cooperating with the pallet lever. The flexible strip is mounted pre-stressed buckled between the head and the fork, the pallet lever forming a bi-stable system including at least two stable states and two metastable states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Publication number: 20170045861
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal WINKLER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Thierry CONUS, Jean-Luc HELFER
  • Patent number: 9551976
    Abstract: An intermittent blocking mechanism for at least one escape wheel, that intermittent blocking mechanism cooperating with at least one regulating member or a balance which is actuated with an alternate motion under action of an elastic return mechanism, the intermittent blocking mechanism being pivoted in at least one bottom plate, and forming an inseparable single-piece component with the bottom plate. The intermittent blocking mechanism includes at least one pallet lever in a single-piece with the plate to which it is connected by the elastic return mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Thierry Hessler, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Publication number: 20170010586
    Abstract: A timepiece or watch includes at least one resonator, which includes at least one weight that oscillates with respect to a connecting element fixed to a structure of a timepiece movement. The weight is suspended from the connecting element by resilient crossed strips which extend at a distance from each other in two parallel planes. The projections of the strips on one of the parallel planes intersect at a virtual pivot axis of the weight, and define a first angle which is the apex angle opposite which there extends the portion of the connecting element that is located between the attachments of the crossed strips to the connecting element. The first angle is between 68° and 76°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Laurent KLINGER, Jean-Luc HELFER
  • Publication number: 20170003653
    Abstract: An escapement mechanism including an escape wheel subjected to a rotational torque and a resonator integral with a pivotally mounted regulating wheel set. The escape wheel includes plural actuators regularly spaced on a periphery thereof, each arranged to cooperate directly with at least a first track of the regulating wheel set. Each actuator includes a first magnetically, or respectively electrically charged, or ferromagnetic or respectively electrostatically conductive surface, to cooperate with the first track which is magnetically, or respectively electrically charged, or ferromagnetic or respectively electrostatically conductive, to repel or attract each first surface of the actuator, and each actuator includes a mechanical stop member to cooperate, in an end-of-travel stop arrangement, with at least a first complementary stop surface included in the regulating wheel set to constitute therewith an autonomous escapement mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc STRANCZL, Pascal WINKLER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jean-Luc HELFER
  • Publication number: 20160370766
    Abstract: A mechanical clock movement includes a resonator, an escapement linked to the resonator, and a display of at least one item of time information. The display is driven by a mechanical drive device via a counter wheel train, the work rate of which is set by the escapement. At least the resonator is housed in a chamber, in which a reduced pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure prevails. The escapement is a magnetic escapement including an escape wheel coupled directly or indirectly to the resonator via a non-contact magnetic coupling system, wherein the magnetic coupling system is formed so that a non-magnetic wall of the chamber runs through the magnetic escapement so that a first part of the escapement is located inside the chamber whereas a second part of the escapement is located outside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Thierry CONUS, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20160327908
    Abstract: A timepiece movement including, fixed on a same plate, a gear train subjected to a torque in a timepiece movement, and an energy storage to deliver a torque to the gear train for actuating a mechanical mechanism synchronizing rotational speed of the gear train with a resonator having a given natural resonant frequency included in the timepiece movement. The resonator is an annular resonator including a ring disposed around an axis. The ring is arranged to be periodically deformed under an action induced by motion of a drive member, included in this mechanism, and the drive member is driven in a pivoting motion, directly or indirectly, by the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER
  • Patent number: 9483026
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material of which one physical parameter is correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator, the magnetic material being arranged along the annular path so that the physical parameter varies angularly in a periodic manner. The annular path includes, in each angular period, an area of accumulation of magnetic potential energy in the oscillator, radially adjacent to an impulse area. The magnetic material, in each accumulation area, is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jerome Favre, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot, Fanel Piccini
  • Publication number: 20160299470
    Abstract: A balance spring includes a strip of polygonal section wound on itself into several coils. At least one coil of the balance spring includes a coil spacer device including at least four stop members mounted on the same face and protruding from the thickness of the at least one coil of the strip. Each of the at least four stop members is arranged to enter into contact with the opposite face of another coil of the strip preventing the other coil from touching the at least one coil in the event of a shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry CONUS, Jean-Luc HELFER, Andres CABEZAS JURIN, Patrick GASSER
  • Patent number: 9465366
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the resonator includes at least one element for magnetic coupling to the annular magnetic path, this coupling element being formed of a magnetic material having a physical parameter correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator. The radial dimension of the annular magnetic path is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the coupling element, and the magnetic material is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly in order to obtain an angularly extended magnetic potential energy area in each angular period of the annular magnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jerome Favre, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot, Fanel Piccini
  • Patent number: 9465363
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer, Gianni Di Domenico, Thierry Conus, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 9429916
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9329572
    Abstract: A timepiece hand for abrupt acceleration is mounted to pivot around a staff so as to be able to indicate an item of information. The hand is made from an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Yves Winkler