Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Abstract: A sensor including at least one sensor element configured for measuring an external parameter and outputting one or more results representative for the external parameter, an output buffer configured for receiving the one or more results or a processed version thereof and for applying an analog signal representative for the result or a time multiplexed sequence of analog signals representative for the results on a sensor terminal, and a control circuit configured for obtaining an ID of the sensor, and for receiving a trigger signal, and for determining whether the trigger signal matches the ID of the sensor, and for enabling the output buffer during a predefined period when the trigger signal matches the ID of the sensor.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding includes a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel; b) obtaining a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature; c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel; d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy; and e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold. The process also includes a step for over-molding flexible centering components in the hub.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a control device for controlling the frequency of the mechanical oscillator. This control device is arranged to be capable of generating time-separated control pulses, each including a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the control device between two electrodes of the piezoelectric balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. The control device is arranged to be capable of applying a plurality of control pulses during each time of a series of distinct correction times or without interruption in a continuous time window, in order to respectively synchronize the mechanical oscillator at a correction frequency whose value depends on a detected positive or negative temporal drift or at a desired frequency for the mechanical oscillator.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a silicon substrate having an active surface; a first sensing area disposed near a first edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate such that the first sensing area has at least one first magnetic sensing element is made of a first compound semiconductor material and contact pads; and a second sensing area disposed near a second edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate, such that the second edge is substantially opposite to the first edge, such that the second sensing area has at least one second magnetic sensing element made of a second compound semiconductor material and contact pads. A processing circuit is disposed of in the silicon substrate and is electrically connected via wire bonds and/or a redistribution layer with the contact pads of the first and second sensing areas.

Abstract: A recharging device for an electronic or electromechanical watch equipped, on the one hand, with a device for the storage of electrical energy for powering electronic components of the watch and, on the other hand, with an auxiliary source of electrical energy adapted to power the device for the storage of electrical energy for recharging thereof. The device includes a casket provided with a support for receiving the watch. The device further includes at least one source of energy configured to supply energy to the auxiliary source of electrical energy, when the watch is placed on the receiving support, so that the auxiliary source of electrical energy converts the received energy into electrical energy and delivers a charge for maintaining a predetermined level of power supply voltage to the device for the storage of electrical energy.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed of a mechanical resonator, and a device for regulating the frequency of the mechanical oscillator. This regulation device includes an auxiliary oscillator, an electromechanical device for stopping the mechanical resonator, a sensor arranged to detect the passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof, and a measuring device arranged to measure a time drift of the mechanical oscillator. The regulation device is arranged to stop, during a given alternation, the natural oscillation movement of the mechanical resonator selectively either momentarily during a first half-alternation occurring before the passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof when the time drift measured corresponds to at least a certain gain, or prematurely during a second half-alternation occurring after the passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof when the time drift measured corresponds to at least a certain loss.

Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Abstract: A watch formed by a mechanical movement incorporating a mechanical resonator, including a display displaying the actual time, a correction device formed by a device for detecting the passage of at least one hand through at least one reference time position and by an electronic correction circuit allowing an overall time error for the display to be determined, and a device for braking the mechanical resonator. The correction device is arranged such that it can correct the actual time displayed as a function of the overall time error (loss or gain) previously determined. For this purpose, the correction device is arranged such that the braking device can act on the mechanical resonator during a correction period to vary the running of the drive mechanism of the display, in order to correct the actual time displayed.

Abstract: A watch is formed by a mechanical movement incorporating a mechanical resonator. The watch comprises a display displaying the time and a correction device for correcting the displayed time, which is formed by a receiver for receiving an external correction signal which is supplied by an external electronic device (in particular a mobile phone), a braking device for braking the mechanical resonator and an electronic controller. The correction device is arranged such that it can correct the time displayed as a function of a time error (loss or gain) contained in the external correction signal. For this purpose, the correction device is arranged such that the braking device can act on the mechanical resonator during a correction period to vary the running of the drive mechanism of the display, in order to correct at least for the most part the time error in the time displayed.

Abstract: A method of magnetic sensing uses at least two magnetic sensing elements including a first and a second magnetic sensor element. The method includes: a) measuring in a first configuration a combination of the first and second signal obtained from both sensors; b) measuring in a second configuration an individual signal obtained from the first sensor only; c) testing a consistency of the combined signal and the individual signal, or testing a consistency of signals derived therefrom, in order to detect an error. A sensor device is configured for performing this method. A sensor system includes the sensor device and optionally a second processor connected thereto.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a silicon substrate having an active surface; a first sensing area disposed near a first edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate such that the first sensing area has at least one first magnetic sensing element is made of a first compound semiconductor material and contact pads; and a second sensing area disposed near a second edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate, such that the second edge is substantially opposite to the first edge, such that the second sensing area has at least one second magnetic sensing element made of a second compound semiconductor material and contact pads. A processing circuit is disposed of in the silicon substrate and is electrically connected via wire bonds and/or a redistribution layer with the contact pads of the first and second sensing areas.

Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Abstract: An angular position sensor system includes a two-pole magnet rotatable about a rotation axis; a magnetic sensor device having a plurality of horizontal Hall elements including at least a first, second and third horizontal Hall element located on a virtual circle having a centre located on the rotation axis. The Hall elements are spaced by multiples of 90. The magnetic sensor device has a processing unit connected to the horizontal Hall elements for obtaining a first, second and third signal, and for determining a first pairwise difference between the first and second sensor signal, and for determining a second pairwise difference between the second and third sensor signal, and for determining an angular position of the magnet relative to the sensor device based on a ratio of these pairwise differences.

Abstract: A hybrid position sensor for determining a position of a hybrid target includes a conductive target and a magnet configuration which are rigidly connected and at least partially overlapping. The position sensor has a first transducer configured for generating a first signal induced by the conductive target and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a second transducer, at least partially overlapping with the first transducer, and configured for generating a second signal induced by the magnet configuration and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a processing device configured for receiving the first signal to determine a first position of the hybrid target and for receiving the second signal to determine a second position of the hybrid target and for determining reliability of the position sensor based on the determined first and second position.

Abstract: The mechanical timepiece is equipped with a movement which includes an indicator mechanism of at least one time data item, a mechanical resonator forming a slave oscillator which paces the running of the indicator mechanism, and a mechanical correction device to prevent a possible time drift in the running of the indicator mechanism. The mechanical correction device is formed by a master mechanical oscillator and a mechanical braking device of the mechanical resonator, this braking device arranged to apply periodically to the mechanical resonator mechanical braking pulses at a braking frequency determined by the master mechanical oscillator. Then, the mechanical system, formed by the mechanical resonator and the braking device, is configured to enable the braking device to be able to start the braking pulses preferably at any position of the mechanical resonator. Preferably, the braking pulses have a duration of less than one quarter of a set-point period.

Abstract: Angular position sensor system comprising: a cylindrical magnet rotatable about a rotation axis; and an angular position sensor device comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements configured for measuring a first magnetic field component in a first direction and a second magnetic field component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a processing circuit configured for calculating the angular position; the sensor device being oriented such that the first direction is oriented in a circumferential direction, and the second direction is either parallel or orthogonal to the rotation axis; the sensor device being located at a predefined position where a magnitude of a third magnetic field component orthogonal to the first and second magnetic field component is negligible over the 360° angular range.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical movement with a mechanical oscillator and an electronic device for regulating the medium frequency of this mechanical oscillator. It includes an electromagnetic transducer and an electric converter which includes a primary storage unit for powering the regulation circuit. The electromagnetic transducer is arranged to supply a voltage signal exhibiting first voltage lobes in first half-alternations and second voltage lobes in second half-alternations of the oscillations of the mechanical oscillator. The regulating device includes a load pump arranged to transfer electric loads from the primary storage unit into a secondary storage unit, these electric loads being extracted selectively in different time zones according to a time drift detected in the functioning of the mechanical oscillator relative to an auxiliary oscillator, particularly quartz-based.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a regulating device for regulating the frequency of the mechanical oscillator which is arranged to be able to produce time-separated regulating pulses, each consisting of a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the regulating device between two electrodes of the balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. Each regulating pulse produces a variation of rate which varies as a function of its moment of starting in a half-period of the mechanical oscillator, the characteristic function of this variation of rate relative to the moment of starting of at least one regulating pulse respectively in at least one half-period of the mechanical oscillator being negative in a first temporal zone of at least one half-period and positive in a second temporal zone of at least one half-period.

Abstract: Angular position sensor system comprising: a cylindrical magnet rotatable about a rotation axis; and an angular position sensor device comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements configured for measuring a first magnetic field component in a first direction and a second magnetic field component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a processing circuit configured for calculating the angular position; the sensor device being oriented such that the first direction is oriented in a circumferential direction, and the second direction is either parallel or orthogonal to the rotation axis; the sensor device being located at a predefined position where a magnitude of a third magnetic field component orthogonal to the first and second magnetic field component is negligible over the 360° angular range.