Abstract: A power indicator device (1) of a thermoelectric generator of a watch. The indicator device includes a first gas fluid reservoir (2), a second gas fluid reservoir (3), and at least one tubular conduit (4) connecting the two reservoirs. The first reservoir is placed on an upper surface of the thermoelectric generator in a watch case, while the second reservoir (3) is placed on a lower surface of the thermoelectric generator in contact with the back of a watch case. The tubular conduit is of the capillary type and comprises in an intermediate portion (9) a liquid forming a barrier to the gas fluid of the two reservoirs and allowing, in a display portion (24) visible from the outside of the watch case, to provide an indication of the power of the generator by measuring the temperature difference of the two reservoirs.

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 flexible timepiece component, in particular for an oscillator mechanism or for a barrel of a horological movement, the component extending along a main plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanowires (3) being juxtaposed, the matrix (2) including a material (4) for filling the interstices between the nanowires (3) to join them to each other, each nanowire (3) forming a solid one-piece tube, the nanowires (3) being disposed substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the main plane (P) of the component (6, 7).

Abstract: An IR radiator element suitable for use as a miniature infrared emitter (micro-hotplate) in a gas sensor, IR-spectrometer or electron microscope. The micro-hotplate comprises a plate supported by multiple support arms. The plate and arms are fabricated as a MEMS device comprising a single contiguous piece of electrically-conducting refractory ceramic such as hafnium carbide (HfC) or tantalum hafnium carbide (TaHfC). Each of the arms, in addition to providing structural cantilever support for the plate (2), acts as a heating element for the plate. The plate is heated by applying a voltage across the arms. The arms may also be shaped to absorb thermomechanical stress which arises during the heating and cooling of the arms and plate. The plate, which may have an area of less than 0.05 mm2 and a thickness of between 1% and 10% of the largest dimension of the plate, for example, can be heated to 4,000 K or more and cooled again with a duty cycle of as little 0.

Abstract: A dial for a watch includes a semi-transparent photovoltaic layer having a lower face. The dial also includes an ink-based decorative layer printed on the lower face of the photovoltaic layer. The decorative layer includes a pattern including one or more time markers.

Abstract: A timepiece is provided with a mechanical movement which includes a mechanical resonator, a sensor detecting oscillations of the mechanical resonator, and a braking device arranged to generate braking pulses in response to a control signal provided by a control circuit associated with an auxiliary oscillator. The control circuit is arranged to be capable of detecting a negative or positive temporal drift in the oscillation of the mechanical resonator and to generate, in a correction period, in association with the braking device, when the temporal drift corresponds to at least a certain loss, a series of braking pulses which are applied to the mechanical resonator at a frequency FSUP in a given range of values which is preferably higher than a frequency FZ (N)=2·F0c/N, F0c being a set point frequency for the mechanical resonator and N a positive integer number.

Abstract: The invention provides a device comprising a movable micromirror adapted to receive light from one or more light source(s) and manipulate the reflected light. The micromirror can be actuated electrothermally. In particular, the micromirror is adapted to do at least one of: (a) tipping along a first axis; (b) tilting along a second axis; (c) changing focal length (i.e., varifocal mode); and (d) elevating (i.e., piston mode). The invention also provides a system comprising at least one device comprising a movable micromirror and at least one light source. The invention can be used in smart lighting applications.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a MEMS device. The MEMS device includes a substrate having a first end and a second end extending along a longitudinal axis, the substrate including an electrostatic actuator. The device also includes a movable plate having a first end and a second end. The device also includes a thermal actuator having a first end coupled to the first end of the substrate and a second end coupled to the first end of the plate. The actuator moves the plate in relation to the substrate. Further, the device includes a power source electrically coupled to the thermal actuator and the substrate. The application is also directed to a method for operating a MEMS device.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a tunable filter system. The system includes a resonator having an inner wall surrounding a cavity. The resonator includes a MEMS device positioned in the cavity including a substrate, a movable plate and a thermal actuator. The thermal actuator is has a first end coupled to the substrate and a second end coupled to the plate. The actuator moves the plate between a first and a second position in relation to the substrate. The application is also directed to a method for operating the tunable filter.

Abstract: The invention provides a device comprising a movable micromirror adapted to receive light from one or more light source(s) and manipulate the reflected light. The micromirror can be actuated electrothermally. In particular, the micromirror is adapted to do at least one of: (a) tipping along a first axis; (b) tilting along a second axis; (c) changing focal length (i.e., varifocal mode); and (d) elevating (i.e., piston mode). The invention also provides a system comprising at least one device comprising a movable micromirror and at least one light source. The invention can be used in smart lighting applications.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a tunable filter system. The system includes a resonator having an inner wall surrounding a cavity. The resonator includes a MEMS device positioned in the cavity including a substrate, a movable plate and a thermal actuator. The thermal actuator is has a first end coupled to the substrate and a second end coupled to the plate. The actuator moves the plate between a first and a second position in relation to the substrate. The application is also directed to a method for operating the tunable filter.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a MEMS device. The MEMS device includes a substrate having a first end and a second end extending along a longitudinal axis, the substrate including an electrostatic actuator. The device also includes a movable plate having a first end and a second end. The device also includes a thermal actuator having a first end coupled to the first end of the substrate and a second end coupled to the first end of the plate. The actuator moves the plate in relation to the substrate. Further, the device includes a power source electrically coupled to the thermal actuator and the substrate. The application is also directed to a method for operating a MEMS device.

Abstract: A mechanical device capable of switching between two states is described. The device may include a micromechanical resonator with two distinct states in the hysteretic nonlinear regime. The devices can be used as a low-power, high-speed mechanical switch integrated on-chip with silicon circuitry.

Abstract: Electro-mechanical oscillating devices designed to convert the frequency of electrical signal(s) and methods associated with the same are described. One example of such a frequency converting device is a mixer.