Abstract: The invention relates to a composite balance (45, 45?) formed in a layer of silicon-based material (21) and including a hub (39, 39?) connected to a felloe (37, 37?) by at least one arm (40, 41, 42, 43). According to the invention, the felloe (37, 37?) includes at least one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring (23, 23?) of higher the than the silicon-based material, which increases the inertia of the balance. The invention also relates to a method 1 of manufacturing this type of balance. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gear train (51, 51?) including an arbour (53, 53?) a first end of which is fitted with an integral collar (52, 52?), a first wheel set (55, 55?) made of micro-machinable material being fitted onto the second end of the arbour (53, 53?). According to the invention, the gear train (51, 51?) includes a second wheel set (57, 57?) made of micro-machinable material, which is independent of the movements of said first wheel set and which includes an aperture (58, 58?) whose wall is mounted opposite said arbour so that the second wheel set (57, 57?) is freely mounted on said first end of the arbour (53, 53?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (1) of fabricating a composite micromechanical component (41, 41?) including the following steps: a) providing (10) a substrate (9, 9?) that includes a horizontal top layer (21) and a horizontal bottom layer (23) made of electrically conductive, micromachinable material, and secured to each other by an electrically insulating, horizontal, intermediate layer (22); b) etching at least one pattern (26) in the top layer (21) through to the intermediate layer (22), so as to form at least one cavity (25) in the substrate (9, 9?); c) coating (16) the top part of said substrate with an electrically insulating coating (30); d) directionally etching (18) said coating and said intermediate layer so as to limit the presence thereof exclusively at each vertical wall (51, 52) formed in said top layer; e) performing (5) an electrodeposition by connecting the electrode to the conductive bottom layer (23) of the substrate (9, 9?) to form at least one metal part (33, 43, 43?) of said compon

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (1) of manufacturing a silicon-metal composite micromechanical component (51) combining DRIE and LIGA processes. The invention also relates to a micromechanical component (51) including a layer wherein one part (53) is made of silicon and another part (41) of metal so as to form a composite micromechanical component (51). The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece component (1) that has an aperture (7) for receiving a support element (3) and includes a clamping system (13) for exerting radial force, allowing said timepiece component to be secured to said support element. According to the invention, the clamping system (13) includes a radial clamping device (15) that has a crown (6) for exerting said radial force and a concentric, blind recess (8) spaced apart from said aperture, for allowing said crown to travel. The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (3) of fabricating a mould (39, 39?, 39?) that includes the following steps: a) providing (10) a substrate (9, 9?) that has a top layer (21, 21?) and a bottom layer (23, 23?) made of electrically conductive, micromachinable material, and secured to each other by an electrically insulating, intermediate layer (22, 22?); b) etching (11, 12, 14, 2, 4) at least one pattern (26, 26?, 27) in the top layer (21, 21?) as far as the intermediate layer (22, 22?) to form at least one cavity (25, 25?) in said mould; c) coating (6, 16) the top part of said substrate with an electrically insulating coating (30, 30?); d) directionally etching (8, 18) said coating and said intermediate layer to limit the presence thereof exclusively at each vertical wall (31, 31?, 33) formed in said top layer. The invention concerns the field of micromechanical parts, in particular, for timepiece movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece component (1) that has an aperture (7) for receiving a support element (3) and includes a clamping system (13) for exerting radial force, enabling said timepiece component to be secured to said support element. According to the invention, the clamping system (13) includes a radial clamping device (15) that has a crown (6) for exerting said radial force and a concentric, blind recess (8) spaced apart from said aperture, to allow a travel for the crown. Moreover, the clamping system (13) further includes a device allowing a travel (17) that has a second, concentric, blind recess (10), spaced apart from said first blind recess (8), and located on the opposite surface to said first recess, to allow said crown a greater degree of freedom relative to said support element. The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (3) of fabricating a mould (39, 39?) including the following steps: a) depositing (9) an electrically conductive layer on the top (20) and bottom (22) of a wafer (21) made of silicon-based material; b) securing (13) said wafer to a substrate (23) using an adhesive layer; c) removing (15) one part (26) of said conductive layer from the top of the wafer (21); d) etching (17) said wafer as far as the bottom conductive layer (22) thereof in the shape (26) of said part removed from the top conductive layer (22) to form at least one cavity (25) in said mould. The invention concerns the field of micromechanical parts, particularly for timepiece movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon-based Breguet overcoil balance spring (1, 31) that includes a hairspring (3, 33) made integral coaxially with a collet (5, 35), a terminal curve (7, 37) and an elevation device (9, 39) between the outer coil (15, 45) of the hairspring and the terminal curve. According to the invention, the balance spring has two single parts secured to each other to increase the development precision of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece hairspring (21, 21?) including, a balance spring (25, 25?) coaxially mounted on a collet (27, 27?), made in the same layer of silicon-based material. According to the invention, the hairspring includes an elevation device (2, 2?) for the outer coil of the balance spring above the layer of silicon-based material so as to improve the concentric development of the hairspring. The invention also relates to a timepiece including a hairspring of this type and the method of manufacturing the same. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.