Patents by Inventor Michel G. Plancon

Michel G. Plancon 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).

  • Patent number: 8144547
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz, Ronald S. Lizzi
  • Publication number: 20110069589
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz, Ronald S. Lizzi
  • Patent number: 7859951
    Abstract: A movement assembly for controlling at least one display indicator of a first display assembly and at least one display indicator of a second display assembly in a wearable electronic device, wherein the at least one display indicator of the first display assembly is arranged different from the arrangement of the at least one display indicator of the second display assembly, wherein the movement assembly is adapted for individually receiving both the first display assembly and the second display assembly, wherein the display functionality of the wearable electronic device is changeable based on the display assembly operatively coupled to one or more gears in the module and whereby the module can be used to provide differing display functionality based on the display assembly coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventor: Michel G. Plancon
  • Patent number: 7821878
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz, Ronald S. Lizzi
  • Patent number: 7420880
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a controller having an integrated circuit operable in at least a first and second mode, and a dial having a window through which at least one indicator is visible, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode indicator positioned on an actuation mechanism side of the dial, wherein the mode indicator has at least a first indicator and a second indicator each respectively representative of one of the at least two modes within which the electronic device is operable; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the mode indicator so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the mode indicator; an actuation mechanism, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the mode indicator; wherein the integrated circuit controls the actuation of the actuation mechanism so as to initiate the rotation of the mode indicator; and ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans Schnell, Martin Dietrich, Ulrich Kalmbach, Michel G. Plancon
  • Patent number: 7406003
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes functionality to perform at least two functions, a first of which may be timekeeping and the other of which is at least a function other than the first function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Louis M. Galie, Michel G. Plancon, Helmut Zachmann, Herbert Schwartz, Roland Burghausen, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 7266051
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a display hand in an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Helmut Zachmann, Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20070153635
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a controller having an integrated circuit operable in at least a first and second mode, and a dial having a window through which at least one indicator is visible, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode indicator positioned on an actuation mechanism side of the dial, wherein the mode indicator has at least a first indicator and a second indicator each respectively representative of one of the at least two modes within which the electronic device is operable; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the mode indicator so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the mode indicator; an actuation mechanism, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the mode indicator; wherein the integrated circuit controls the actuation of the actuation mechanism so as to initiate the rotation of the mode indicator; and ac
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans Schnell, Martin Dietrich, Ulrich Kalmbach, Michel G. Plancon
  • Patent number: 7215601
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 7113450
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 7027361
    Abstract: A timepiece comprising a date display, comprising a date display assembly comprising a date ring, a first gearing assembly being meshingly coupled to the date ring for causing the rotation of the date ring; and a stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the first gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the date ring to rotate; a date-keeping assembly operatively coupled to the date display assembly, comprising: at least a second gearing assembly comprising at least an hour wheel and a detection wheel assembly, wherein at least certain rotational increments of the detection wheel, and the clockwise or counterclockwise direction thereof, causes the rotor of the stepping motor to rotate so that the date ring can be rotated in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; whereby the rotation of the hour wheel through a predetermined midnight position results in that the stepping motor causes the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Louis M. Galie, Michel G. Plancon, Helmut Zachmann, Gerhard Stotz, Siegfried Grau
  • Publication number: 20040240323
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes functionality to perform at least two functions, a first of which may be timekeeping and the other of which is at least a function other than the first function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkhardt, Louis M. Galie, Michel G. Plancon, Helmut Zachmann, Herbert Schwartz, Roland Burghausen, Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20040233791
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a display hand in an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Helmut Zachmann, Gerhard Stotz
  • Publication number: 20040233788
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Michel G. Plancon, Louis M. Galie, Herbert Schwartz, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 4470707
    Abstract: An electronic analog timepiece is disclosed that utilizes digital storage devices for setting alarm time and when selectively displaying, in response to the activation of a setting member, either alarm time or actual, updated time by the timepiece hands. When setting the alarm time, the minute hand and second hand are positioned on the timepiece display to indicate alarm time in hours and minutes, respectively. Specifically, the minute and second representations of the minute hand and second hand positions on the display are transformed, in a selected storage device, to alarm time hour and minute representations, respectively. When displaying either alarm time or actual, updated time from the other time presently being displayed, the setting member is activated to produce fast rotation of the hands from one time setting to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventors: Jean P. Chambon, Paul Grand-Chavin, Jean P. Migeon, Georges J. Perrin, Michel G. Plancon
  • Patent number: 4336471
    Abstract: The efficiency of a stepping motor is increased by using a stator assembly comprising (a) a magnetically permeable first stator member having a central hub and multiple, spoke-like pole pieces radiating from the hub and (b) a stator bridge assembly in which a plastic holder member is united to a magnetically permeable second stator member having a central hub and radiating pole pieces in spaced, overlapping relation to the hub and pole pieces of the first stator member. The plastic holder member includes thermoplastically worked portions which form a bushing in a central aperture in the hub of the second stator member to rotatably receive one end of the rotor axle while the other end of the rotor axle extends through an axially aligned central aperture in the hub of the first stator member. Other portions of the plastic holder member form a support bridge between the first and second stator members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventor: Michel G. Plancon