Patents by Inventor Pascal Winkler
Pascal Winkler 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).
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Patent number: 11262702Abstract: A timepiece oscillator structure includes at least one divisible unit, which includes at least one component which includes at least one flexible blade or at least one blade with necks, joining two main units, each more rigid than the flexible blade or blade with necks, where the divisible unit includes at least one protection unit adjacent to at least one main unit to which it is connected by at least one divisible linkage which is designed in order to make possible the detachment of this protection unit from the component when the component is fixed, with at least the particular main unit which is adjacent to the protection unit, to a more rigid external element than the flexible blade or than the necks of the blade with necks.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Daniel Mallet, Pierre Cusin, Raphael Courvoisier, Pascal Winkler
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Patent number: 11175630Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism including a structure carrying, via a flexible suspension system, an anchor unit to which is suspended an inertia element oscillating with a first rotational degree of freedom RZ, under the action of return forces exerted by a flexure pivot including first elastic strips each fixed to the inertia element and to the anchor unit, the flexible suspension system being arranged to allow the anchor unit some mobility in every degree of freedom except the first rotational degree of freedom RZ wherein only the inertia element can move to avoid any disturbance to its oscillation, and the stiffness of the suspension system in the first rotational degree of freedom RZ is very considerably higher than the stiffness of the flexure pivot in this same rotational degree of freedom RZ.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer
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Publication number: 20210223741Abstract: A timepiece oscillator structure includes at least one divisible unit, which includes at least one component which includes at least one flexible blade or at least one blade with necks, joining two main units, each more rigid than the flexible blade or blade with necks, where the divisible unit includes at least one protection unit adjacent to at least one main unit to which it is connected by at least one divisible linkage which is designed in order to make possible the detachment of this protection unit from the component when the component is fixed, with at least the particular main unit which is adjacent to the protection unit, to a more rigid external element than the flexible blade or than the necks of the blade with necks.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Daniel MALLET, Pierre CUSIN, Raphael COURVOISIER, Pascal WINKLER
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Patent number: 11054791Abstract: A method for adjusting a rate of a timepiece after encasing a movement to ensure a better rate for the timepiece.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Thierry Conus, Pascal Winkler
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Publication number: 20210181679Abstract: A balance for timepieces includes a rim, a hub, and at least one arm connecting the hub to the rim. At least one portion of the balance is made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. The at least partially amorphous metal alloy is based on an element chosen from the group consisting of platinum, zirconium and titanium, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion comprised between 7 ppm/° C. and 12 ppm/° C. The balance can be manufactured by moulding. A resonator can include such a balance and a monocrystalline quartz balance spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: June 17, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Alexandre HAEMMERLI, Francois GUEISSAZ, Jean-Claude MARTIN, Lionel PARATTE, Yves WINKLER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Lionel TOMBEZ, Bapitste HINAUX, Donald Willan CORSON, Michel WILLEMIN
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Patent number: 11022942Abstract: Isochronous pivot for a resonator including two flexible strips joining attachment points of a first and a second element, defining two strip directions, and a pivot axis, at the intersection of their projections or at their intersection, each strip having a free length between its attachment points, and an axial distance between the pivot axis and the attachment point thereof farthest from the axis, the attachment point ratio X=D/L being greater than one for each strip, the strip directions defining with the axis a first apex angle whose value in degrees is comprised between f1(X)=108+67/(10X?6), and f2(X)=113+67/(10X?6).Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Publication number: 20210124309Abstract: A device for assembly and alignment on a first bridge, particularly a timepiece movement plate, arranged in a first plane, the device including a second bridge arranged in a second plane, the second bridge being intended to carry a component, in particular a moving component of a timepiece resonator mechanism, the device including a device for aligning the second bridge on the first bridge, the alignment device including at least two bearing faces of the second bridge arranged orthogonally to the second plane in two different directions, the alignment device further including at least two movable adjustment pieces connected to the first bridge, the adjustment pieces each being configured to contact with one of the bearing faces to position the second bridge in a position on the first bridge, the movable pieces defining a plurality of positions of the second bridge on the first bridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Raphaël COURVOISIER
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Publication number: 20210124306Abstract: A flexible guide for a rotary resonator mechanism, in particular of a horological movement, the guide including a first support, an element movable relative to the first support, a first pair of flexible strips connecting the first support to the movable element, so that the movable element can displace relative to the first support by bending the strips in a circular movement about a centre of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in a plane, including a prestressing device, the prestressing device being configured to apply a force for buckling the flexible strips by bringing the first support closer to the movable element, so that the flexible guide includes two stable positions of the element movable relative to the first support for which the return moment is zero, the two stable positions having a predetermined angle of rotation therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Yves-Alain COSANDIER
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Patent number: 10935933Abstract: A mechanical timepiece oscillator includes, between a support and an inertial element, a flexure bearing with flexible strips crossed in projection, including, superposed, an upper level that includes, between an upper support and an upper inertial element, an upper primary strip in a first direction and an upper secondary strip in a second direction, and a lower level that includes, between a lower support and a lower inertial element, a lower primary strip in the first direction and a lower secondary strip in the second direction. The upper level and lower level include, between the support and the upper or respectively lower support, a translational table with an elastic connection along one or two axes of freedom in the oscillation plane, of lower stiffness than that of each flexible strip.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pierre Cusin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Alex Gandelhman, Pascal Winkler, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Olivier Matthey, Laurent Klinger, Jerome Favre
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Patent number: 10927824Abstract: A mechanical horological movement includes at least one energy storage to drive a gear train of which an output mobile component pivots about a drive axis and including a rotary resonator which has at least one central mobile component to pivot about a central axis and including an input mobile component to collaborate with the output mobile component, this rotary resonator includes a plurality of inertial elements that each pivot with respect to the central mobile component about a secondary axis perpendicular to the central axis and each returned towards a rest position, relative with respect to the central mobile component, by at least one elastic return element, and each secondary axis passes through the centre of mass of the inertial element associated with it.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer, Gianni Di Domenico, Yves-Alain Cosandier
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Patent number: 10928779Abstract: An isochronous pivot for a resonator including two flexible strips joining attachment points of a first and a second element, defining two strip directions, and a pivot axis, at the intersection of their projections or at their intersection, each strip having a free length between its attachment points, and an axial distance between the pivot axis and the attachment point thereof farthest from the axis, the attachment point ratio X=D/L being greater than one for each strip, the strip directions defining with the axis a first apex angle whose value in degrees includes between f1(X)=108+67/(10X?6), and f2(X)=113+67/(10X?6).Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Publication number: 20210034016Abstract: A device for guiding a pivoting mass about an axis. A first support is fixed and a second support forms or supports the pivoting mass. The device is includes a first and second flexible leaf oriented in the same direction when the device is at rest, and an intermediate leaf having a rigidity notably greater than the flexible leaves and connecting the first flexible leaf to the second, the device including a first fixed link formed by the first support and a first end of the first leaf, a second fixed link formed by a second end of the first leaf and by a first end of the intermediate leaf, a third fixed link formed by a second end of the intermediate leaf and by a first end of the second leaf and a fourth fixed link formed by at least one second end of the second leaf, wherein the first and/or the fourth link is arranged substantially between the second and the third link in the direction when the device is at rest.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Patent number: 10895845Abstract: A mechanical timepiece oscillator including, between a first element and a second inertial element, more than two distinct flexible strips returning the inertial element to a rest position in an oscillation plane, wherein the projections of these strips cross each other, at a point, through which passes the axis of pivoting of the second solid inertial element, and the height to thickness aspect ratio is less than 10 for each strip.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pierre Cusin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Alex Gandelhman, Pascal Winkler, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Olivier Matthey, Laurent Klinger, Jerome Favre
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Patent number: 10866565Abstract: A mechanical timepiece oscillator includes, between a first element and a second inertial element, two distinct flexible strips returning the inertial element to a rest position in an oscillation plane, the projections of these strips crossing each other, in the rest position, at a point, through which passes the pivoting axis of the second solid inertial element, the embedding points of the strips in the first element and the second inertial element defining two directions in which each strip has a free length between its embedding points, and an axial distance between the pivoting axis and the farthest of its embedding points, and, for each strip, the embedding point ratio is comprised between 0 and 1, and the vertex angle at the crossing point of the directions of the strips is less than 70°.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
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Patent number: 10838364Abstract: A mechanical oscillator with an inertia element oscillating about a virtual pivot axis of fixed position with respect to a fixed base to which it is suspended by several flexible connections, each including a deformable compass-like member including elastic strips forming a first arm fixed to a base and a second arm fixed to the inertia element, joined at a reversal edge defining a apex of the deformable compass-like member, wherein in an unstressed rest state of the oscillator, the projection of the apex is on a first side of the pivot axis, opposite to a second side where the ends of the first and second arms are projected.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Laurent Klinger, Jean-Luc Helfer
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Publication number: 20200192291Abstract: Timepiece resonator (100) comprising an inertia element (4; 5) suspended from a flexible strip (2) deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of said strip (2), which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib (3) extending substantially along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections (6) of the strip (2) located outside the ribs (3), and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib (3) of the strip (2), along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip (2) between its embedments.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSEInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Laurent Klinger, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Gianni Di Domenico, Jean-Bernard Peters
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Publication number: 20200192290Abstract: Timepiece resonator (100) comprising an inertia element (4; 5) suspended from a flexible strip (2) deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of said strip (2), which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib (3) extending substantially along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections (6) of the strip (2) located outside the ribs (3), and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib (3) of the strip (2), along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip (2) between its embedments.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSEInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Laurent Klinger, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Gianni Di Domenico, Jean-Bernard Peters
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Patent number: 10671021Abstract: Timepiece movement for a mechanical watch, comprising, arranged on a main plate, a resonator mechanism with two degrees of freedom, and a maintaining mechanism subjected to the torque of driving means comprised in the movement, wherein this maintaining mechanism is a continuous maintaining mechanism, and includes a crank movable about a crank rotational axis, and which includes, on the crank rotational axis, an axial element subjected to the torque of driving means, and, off-centre relative to the crank rotational axis, a crankpin which is arranged to travel on a track of a stiff ring comprised in the resonator mechanism, this stiff ring being movable in the two degrees of freedom.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Pascal Winkler, Gianni Di Domenico
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Publication number: 20200159170Abstract: Timepiece (1) comprising at least one mechanical movement (10) including at least a main plate (2), a resonator (11) and energy storage and distribution means (3) connected to an escape wheel set (4) by a going train (5), wherein at least one of the wheel sets, comprised in the going train (5) or an escapement mechanism (6) to which the escape wheel set (4) belongs, and which cooperates with the resonator (11), and which moves in a jerky or reciprocating motion during operation of the resonator (11), is a display wheel set (7) which includes at least two distinct pictures or patterns (8), which are arranged to move in succession before a fixed point of the main plate (2), during operation of the resonator (11), and to display thereon a sequence of animated images.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSEInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER
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Publication number: 20200150595Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism includes a structure carrying, via a flexible suspension system, an anchor unit to which is suspended an inertia element oscillating about a pivot axis extending in a first direction Z, in a first rotational degree of freedom RZ, under the action of the return forces of a flexure pivot including longitudinal elastic strips each fixed to this inertia element and to this anchor unit. The flexible suspension system includes, between the anchor unit and a first intermediate mass directly or indirectly fixed to the structure, a transverse translation table with a flexure bearing and including transverse strips or transverse flexible shafts which are rectilinear and extend in this second direction X orthogonal to the first direction Z and symmetrically around a transverse axis crossing this pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventor: Pascal Winkler