Patents by Inventor Jean-Pierre Mignot

Jean-Pierre Mignot 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: 20230205136
    Abstract: A mechanism (1) including a magnetic gear (2) including a first wheel (6A) and a second wheel (6B), the first wheel (6A) being provided with first permanent magnetic poles (7) forming first magnetic toothing (8), the second wheel (6B) being provided with a second magnetic toothing (10) made of a ferromagnetic material, the first wheel (6A) and the second wheel (6B) being arranged such that the first magnetic toothing has a first magnetic coupling with the second magnetic toothing (10). The gear (2) has a third wheel (6C) having second permanent magnetic poles (9) which form a third magnetic toothing (12), the third wheel and the second wheel being arranged such that the third magnetic toothing has a second magnetic coupling with the second magnetic toothing; the magnetic gear (2) being arranged such that the first and third wheels are each angularly positioned in a specific manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Cédric NICOLAS, Nicolas LIVAT
  • Publication number: 20230195039
    Abstract: A mechanism including a rotary element and a magnetic device for guiding this rotary element in rotation arranged so as to exert a radial magnetic biasing force on the rotary element when a central axis of this rotary element undergoes a radial movement relative to a given axis of rotation. The magnetic device includes a pair of annular magnets the first annular magnet of which is carried by the rotary element and the second annular magnet is carried by a structure of the mechanism. The second annular magnet is parallel and axially superimposed with the first annular magnet when the central axis of the rotary element is coincident with the axis of rotation, the first and second annular magnets being arranged in magnetic attraction so as to impart on one another an axial magnetic force and a radial magnetic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Milan CALIC, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT
  • Publication number: 20230062527
    Abstract: A mechanism (1) including a magnetic gear (2) including a first wheel (6B) and a second wheel (6C) provided with a first magnetic toothing (10) and a second magnetic toothing (12) respectively. The first and second magnetic toothings are respectively formed by first and second teeth made of a soft ferromagnetic material; and the magnetic gear (2) further includes a third wheel (6A) arranged between the first and second wheels (6B, 6C) and provided with a third magnetic toothing (8) formed by permanent magnetic poles, in particular by bipolar magnets. In general, the first wheel is a drive wheel, whereas the second wheel is driven into order to carry out a function or transmit a torque. The third intermediate wheel is preferably mounted such that it can rotate freely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Milan CALIC, Cédric NICOLAS, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20230060562
    Abstract: A mechanism including a magnetic gear including a first wheel, a second wheel and a third wheel. The first wheel is provided with permanent magnetic poles which are arranged so as to form the magnetised teeth of a first magnetic toothing. The second wheel and the third wheel are provided with teeth made of a soft ferromagnetic material respectively defining a second magnetic toothing and a third magnetic toothing, each with a number of teeth that is greater than that of the first magnetic toothing and having a magnetic coupling with this first magnetic toothing. The second magnetic toothing is directly coupled with the first magnetic toothing and with the third magnetic toothing thanks to the magnetic fluxes provided by the magnetised teeth of the first toothing and the teeth of the second magnetic toothing are magnetically separated from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Milan CALIC, Cédric NICOLAS, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20220308527
    Abstract: A timepiece (2) includes an actuator, which applies braking pulses to the balance, which has an electromechanical device (6) and an electric control circuit (8). The device (6) includes a flexible member (16), formed by an elastic blade (20) and a mechanical element (22) defining a braking pad, and an electromagnetic system (10) formed by a coil carried by the flexible member and by a permanent magnet rigidly connected to a support (18) of the electromechanical device. When an electric pulse is provided to the coil, an electromagnetic force of repulsion is engendered between the coil and the permanent magnet so the mechanical element moves to a position of contact with the balance. To stabilise the rest position of the flexible member, a magnetic element (26) is rigidly connected to the coil to exert a magnetic return force complementary to the force of the elastic blade is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220026854
    Abstract: A wearable object (42) including an electronic unit and a power supply unit formed by an electromechanical converter (6A) which includes a rotor (44) carrying first magnets (10A), a mechanical resonator (12A) provided with an inertia mass (46) capable of oscillating at a relatively high resonant frequency and carrying second magnets (20), and coils arranged so that, when the mechanical resonator is oscillating, an induced voltage is generated in these coils. The electromechanical converter is arranged so that the first magnets and the second magnets can, during a rotational drive of the rotor, interact magnetically so as to apply to the inertia mass, momentarily or temporarily, a magnetic force torque allowing to excite the mechanical resonator, in order to generate at least one oscillation of this mechanical resonator at its resonant frequency in order to generate a relatively high induced voltage allowing to recharge an accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Milan CALIC, Matthias IMBODEN, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ
  • Patent number: 10222757
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Rudolf Dinger, Jean-Pierre Mignot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20180181072
    Abstract: The present invention concerns regulating members for a mechanical timepiece, specifically a system based on the magnetic interaction between a resonator, in the form of a tuning fork for example, and an escape wheel, called a “magnetic escapement”. The system is characterized in that there are several areas of magnetic interaction between the resonator and the escape wheel which are arranged such that the torques produced at the escape wheel by these 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 latter rotates slowly in the direction of the arrow or the 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 the event of a shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Rudolf DINGER, Jean-Pierre MIGNOT, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9004747
    Abstract: A timepiece movement comprising including a sprung balance resonator mounted between a bar and a bottom plate wherein the balance is formed from a ferromagnetic material. The timepiece movement includes a magnetic polarizing device for the balance spring for maintaining a predefined state of polarization in the balance spring and including a permanent magnetizing device which forms a magnetic field in the plane of the balance spring so as to totally or almost totally magnetically saturate the balance spring in the absence of an external magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Charbon, Thierry Hessler, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 8477981
    Abstract: A watch (1) has a microphone (16) placed in a watchcase (2), a bracelet (3) with two end parts respectively attached to two opposite sides of the case and at least one through aperture (7) made in a lateral wall (12) of the case. The through aperture defines a first sound wave guide channel, and opens into the case in the direction of said microphone. The microphone is connected in the case to a sound wave processing unit circuit (19) for voice recognition. The watch further includes an audio guide member (6) fitted with a second open sound wave guide channel that comes into direct contact with the external surface of the lateral wall of the case across an area (13) that extends on either side of the aperture so as to guide the sound waves towards said first channel. This guide member may be made in an end part of the bracelet. In this manner, any interference from reflecting cavities, edges or surfaces in said area close to the aperture can be removed or attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research & Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pascal Heck, Paul Dinnissen, Frédéric Meylan, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 8337078
    Abstract: The device for protecting a timepiece balance spring (1) from stray magnetic fields includes at least one disc (2) with high magnetic permeability, arranged in a parallel plane to the plane of the balance spring, wherein the disc (2) and the balance spring are mounted coaxially with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mignot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20110038234
    Abstract: The device for protecting a timepiece balance spring (1) from stray magnetic fields includes at least one disc (2) with high magnetic permeability, arranged in a parallel plane to the plane of the balance spring, wherein the disc (2) and the balance spring are mounted coaxially with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mignot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20100111333
    Abstract: A watch (1) has a microphone (16) placed in a watchcase (2), a bracelet (3) with two end parts respectively attached to two opposite sides of the case and at least one through aperture (7) made in a lateral wall (12) of the case. The through aperture defines a first sound wave guide channel, and opens into the case in the direction of said microphone. The microphone is connected in the case to a sound wave processing unit circuit (19) for voice recognition. The watch further includes an audio guide member (6) fitted with a second open sound wave guide channel that comes into direct contact with the external surface of the lateral wall of the case across an area (13) that extends on either side of the aperture so as to guide the sound waves towards said first channel. This guide member may be made in an end part of the bracelet. In this manner, any interference from reflecting cavities, edges or surfaces in said area close to the aperture can be removed or attenuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Paul Dinnissen, Pascal Heck, Frédèric Meylan, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 7167689
    Abstract: The telephone watch includes a crystal (1) including a keyboard (2) formed in particular of a plurality of capacitive sensors (3) disposed under the crystal. This crystal includes a thick zone (4) at its center and a thinned zone (5) at its periphery. The keyboard (2) is deposited under the thinned zone (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Martin, Dominique Dubugnon, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 7042809
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an electronic device for recognizing characters traced manually on an input zone (10) comprising a plurality of sensors (15) each capable of being activated by a finger or a tracing instrument (13). The method consists in comparing the manual trace of a character (100) produced on the input zone with a group of characters of a predetermined set of characters. The invention is characterised in that each character of the set of characters is represented by at least one predetermined model representative of a way in which the character can be traced, and in that a model representative of the way in which the manual trace of the character (100) has been performed on the input zone is elaborated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 6865278
    Abstract: The device for implanting a microphone (1) and at least one pressure compensating member (2) in a telephone watch consists in placing the microphone and the compensating member close together. A membrane (5) covers the microphone (1) and a disc (6) forms the compensating member (2). The membrane (5) and the disc (6) open at least partially into a single chamber (7) opening onto the outside via an opening (8) in the form of a slot. A liquid (arrow A) can be injected through this slot to rid the chamber, the membrane and the disc of foreign bodies which could accumulate therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Dominique Dubugnon, Jean-Pierre Mignot, Paul Dinnissen
  • Publication number: 20040042346
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an electronic device for recognising characters traced manually on an input zone (10) comprising a plurality of sensors (15) each capable of being activated by a finger or a tracing instrument (13). The method consists in comparing the manual trace of a character (100) produced on the input zone with a group of characters of a predetermined set of characters. The invention is characterised in that each character of the set of characters is represented by at least one predetermined model representative of a way in which the character can be traced, and in that a model representative of the way in which the manual trace of the character (100) has been performed on the input zone is elaborated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 6590835
    Abstract: A wristwatch (1) includes a keyboard whose control keys (4) are distributed over the length of the wristband (3), a processing unit (19) for data introduced via the keyboard, at least one display device (6) for displaying time functions and/or data provided by the processing unit, and a power source for the electric power supply of the electronic components of the wristwatch. In order to allow the use of its keyboard, the wristwatch (1) is placed on a work surface, the length of the wristband (3) facing a user. The display of the alphanumerical characters (7a) occurs in the direction of the length of the wristwatch, i.e., rotated by 90° with respect to the usual time display (7b). At least one integrated encoding circuit (9) acts as a communication interface between the keys (4) of the keyboard and the processing unit (19) integrated in the case of the wristwatch. The encoding circuit is placed in the wristband (3) and communicates with the unit via one of the two electric supply wires of said circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André Farine, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Pierre Mignot