Patents by Inventor Pierre-Andre Meister

Pierre-Andre Meister 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: 8477565
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece (10) including a display device (26) including a first and second display member (38, 40) displaying first and second pieces of information, the value of the second piece of information being linked to the value of the first piece of information by a reduction ratio, wherein the first (38) and the second (40) display members are rotatably mounted in relation to a plate (42) and are driven by a drive device (44) with planetary gears, characterized in that the second display member (40) pivots on the axis of rotation (A2) of a planet pinion (54). The invention also proposes a timepiece (10) fitted with this display device (26) and a method for manufacturing this display device (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Fabien Blondeau, Emmanuel Fleury, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Patent number: 8149651
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic watch comprising an electric motor (5) for driving analogue display means (6), and a time base (1, 2) comprising an oscillator circuit (2) and a resonator (1), both mounted in the same case (9), characterized in that said case further comprises a control circuit (4) for said electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Thomas Meier, Fabien Blondeau, André Zanetta, Emmanuel Fleury, Silvio Dalla Piazza, Pierre-André Meister
  • Publication number: 20110051562
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece (10) including a display device (26) including a first and second display member (38, 40) displaying first and second pieces of information, the value of the second piece of information being linked to the value of the first piece of information by a reduction ratio, wherein the first (38) and the second (40) display members are rotatably mounted in relation to a plate (42) and are driven by a drive device (44) with planetary gears, characterized in that the second display member (40) pivots on the axis of rotation (A2) of a planet pinion (54). The invention also proposes a timepiece (10) fitted with this display device (26) and a method for manufacturing this display device (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Fabien Blondeau, Emmanuel Fleury, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Publication number: 20100246340
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic watch comprising an electric motor (5) for driving analogue display means (6), and a time base (1, 2) comprising an oscillator circuit (2) and a resonator (1), both mounted in the same case (9), characterized in that said case further comprises a control circuit (4) for said electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Thomas Meier, Fabien Blondeau, André Zanetta, Emmanuel Fleury, Silvio Dalla Piazza, Pierre-André Meister
  • Patent number: 7738323
    Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for the mechanical interfacing of a micromotor of the MEMS type with a toothed wheel in which the micromotor is produced in the upper layer of a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material and comprises at least one actuator which drives a rotor in rotation, characterised in that a pinion, coaxial with the rotor and arranged above the rotor, is connected in rotation to the rotor by means of at least one pin which is received in an associated housing and in that the pinion meshes with the toothed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, André Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Martin Bisig, Pierre-André Meister, Nicolas Golay
  • Patent number: 7663979
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece (10) includes a case (12) which is fitted with a dial (28) and which contains an electronic control circuit (22) driving a display device (24), of the type wherein the dial (28) includes a main body (48) in the form of a plate which is made of semiconductor material, and of the type wherein the control circuit (22) includes at least one control unit (36) and a time base circuit (34), characterized in that the control circuit (22) includes at least one integrated circuit element (34, 36) which is etched in the main body (48) of the dial (28). The invention also proposes a dial (28) to be fitted to the timepiece (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta, Emmanuel Fleury, Fabien Blondeau
  • Patent number: 7618183
    Abstract: The invention proposes an analogue display member (10) fitted to a timepiece, of the type including a main body in which an arbor hole is arranged, characterized in that the main body is made of silicon based crystalline material. The invention also proposes a timepiece provided with such a display member (10). The invention also proposes a method of fabricating analogue display members (10) to be fitted to timepieces, each analogue display member (10) including a main body, characterized in that it includes at least one step of micro-machining a wafer of silicon based crystalline material to form at least one main body in said material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta, Emmanuel Fleury, Fabien Blondeau
  • Patent number: 7575369
    Abstract: Assembly element (18) made in a plate of brittle material, including an aperture (32) provided for the axial insertion of an arbour (26). The inner wall (33) of the aperture (32) includes elastic structures (34), which are etched into the plate and which each include at least one support surface (36) for gripping the arbour (26) radially in order to secure the assembly element (18) relative to the arbour (26). The assembly element (18) includes a first series (S1) of elastic structures (34) etched in a top layer (39) of the plate and a second series (S2) of elastic structures (34) etched in a bottom layer (41) of the plate. A timepiece may be fitted with this assembly element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Roland Bitterli, Wilfried Noell, Fabien Blondeau, Lionel Paratte, Toralf Scharf, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Patent number: 7572050
    Abstract: Assembly element made in a plate of brittle material, such as silicon, in particular for a timepiece, including an aperture provided for the axial insertion of an arbour, the inner wall of the aperture including elastic structures which are etched into the plate and which each include at least one support surface for gripping the arbour radially in order to secure the assembly element relative to the arbour. Each elastic structure is formed by a fork which is connected to the inner wall of the aperture by a bridge of material and which includes two branches extending, on either side of the bridge of material, generally towards the arbour. Each branch includes a support surface in proximity to the free end thereof. The invention also proposes a timepiece fitted with an assembly element of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére Suisse
    Inventors: Roland Bitterli, Wilfried Noell, Fabien Blondeau, Lionel Paratte, Toralf Scharf, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Patent number: 7505373
    Abstract: The invention proposes a MEMS micromotor produced in a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material, in particular based on silicon, which comprises a lower layer forming a substrate, and an upper layer in which at least one actuator and a rotor is etched, the actuator driving the rotor in rotation about a shaft (64), characterized in that the shaft (64) is connected to the plate, in that the shaft (64) extends axially through a hole of the plate, and in that the shaft (64) is clamped in the hole and centered in the hole by means of elastic fixing structures which are produced by etching in the substrate and which are arranged on the circumference of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére Suisse
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Wilfried Noell, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, Nicolas Golay, Yves Petremand, André Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Pierre-André Meister
  • Patent number: 7447119
    Abstract: The invention proposes a drive module intended to engage with a clock wheel having a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material comprising a lower layer, which forms a substrate, and an upper layer, into which an MEMS type of micromotor is etched, wherein the micromotor has at least one actuator rotatably driving a rotor, characterized in that a pinion arranged coaxially to the rotor is rotatably connected to the rotor and disposed above the rotor, said pinion being provided to engage with the clock wheel in an engagement zone located close to an outer peripheral edge of the plate, that the rotor is disposed on the plate in order to minimize the distance between the outer peripheral edge of the rotor and the outer peripheral edge of the plate corresponding to the engagement zone, and that the diameter of the pinion is larger than that of the rotor so as to protrude relative to the plate into the engagement zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, André Zanetta, Pierre-André Meister, Yves Petremand, Nicolas Golay, Fabien Blondeau, Wilfried Noell
  • Patent number: 7438465
    Abstract: Assembly element (18) made in a plate of brittle material, including an aperture (32) provided for the axial insertion of an arbour (26), the inner wall (33) of the aperture (32) including elastic structures (34), which are etched into the plate to grip the arbour (26) radially. Each elastic structure (34) includes a first rectilinear elastic strip (L1) which extends along a tangential direction relative to the arbour (26). According to the invention, each elastic structure (34) is formed by a radial stack of several parallel elastic strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Roland Bitterli, Wilfried Noell, Fabien Blondeau, Lionel Paratte, Toralf Scharf, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Publication number: 20080198702
    Abstract: The invention proposes an analogue display member (10) fitted to a timepiece, of the type including a main body in which an arbour hole is arranged, characterized in that the main body is made of silicon based crystalline material. The invention also proposes a timepiece provided with such a display member (10). The invention also proposes a method of fabricating analogue display members (10) to be fitted to timepieces, each analogue display member (10) including a main body, characterized in that it includes at least one step of micro-machining a wafer of silicon based crystalline material to form at least one main body in said material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Pierre-Andre Meister, Andre Zanetta, Emmanuel Fleury, Fabien Blondeau
  • Publication number: 20080197749
    Abstract: The invention proposes a MEMS micromotor produced in a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material, in particular based on silicon, which comprises a lower layer forming a substrate, and an upper layer in which at least one actuator and a rotor is etched, the actuator driving the rotor in rotation about a shaft (64), characterised in that the shaft (64) is connected to the plate, in that the shaft (64) extends axially through a hole of the plate, and in that the shaft (64) is clamped in the hole and centred in the hole by means of elastic fixing structures which are produced by etching in the substrate and which are arranged on the circumference of the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Wilfried Noell, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, Nicolas Golay, Yves Petremand, Andre Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Pierre-Andre Meister
  • Publication number: 20080112276
    Abstract: Assembly element (18) made in a plate of brittle material, including an aperture (32) provided for the axial insertion of an arbour (26). The inner wall (33) of the aperture (32) includes elastic structures (34), which are etched into the plate and which each include at least one support surface (36) for gripping the arbour (26) radially in order to secure the assembly element (18) relative to the arbour (26). The assembly element (18) includes a first series (S1) of elastic structures (34) etched in a top layer (39) of the plate and a second series (S2) of elastic structures (34) etched in a bottom layer (41) of the plate. A timepiece may be fitted with this assembly element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Roland Bitterli, Wilfried Noell, Fabien Blondeau, Lionel Paratte, Toralf Scharf, Pierre-Andre Meister, Andre Zanetta
  • Publication number: 20080113154
    Abstract: Assembly element (18) made in a plate of brittle material, including an aperture (32) provided for the axial insertion of an arbour (26), the inner wall (33) of the aperture (32) including elastic structures (34), which are etched into the plate to grip the arbour (26) radially. Each elastic structure (34) includes a first rectilinear elastic strip (L1) which extends along a tangential direction relative to the arbour (26). According to the invention, each elastic structure (34) is formed by a radial stack of several parallel elastic strips. The invention also proposes a timepiece fitted with this assembly element (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Roland Bitterli, Wilfried Noell, Fabien Blondeau, Lionel Paratte, Toralf Scharf, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta
  • Publication number: 20080111445
    Abstract: The invention proposes a drive module intended to engage with a clock wheel having a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material comprising a lower layer, which forms a substrate, and an upper layer, into which an MEMS type of micromotor is etched, wherein the micromotor has at least one actuator rotatably driving a rotor, characterised in that a pinion arranged coaxially to the rotor is rotatably connected to the rotor and disposed above the rotor, said pinion being provided to engage with the clock wheel in an engagement zone located close to an outer peripheral edge of the plate, that the rotor is disposed on the plate in order to minimise the distance between the outer peripheral edge of the rotor and the outer peripheral edge of the plate corresponding to the engagement zone, and that the diameter of the pinion is larger than that of the rotor so as to protrude relative to the plate into the engagement zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Andre Zanetta, Pierre-Andre Meister, Yves Petremand, Nicolas Golay, Fabien Blondeau, Wilfried Noell
  • Publication number: 20080111449
    Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for the mechanical interfacing of a micromotor of the MEMS type with a toothed wheel in which the micromotor is produced in the upper layer of a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material and comprises at least one actuator which drives a rotor in rotation, characterised in that a pinion, coaxial with the rotor and arranged above the rotor, is connected in rotation to the rotor by means of at least one pin which is received in an associated housing and in that the pinion meshes with the toothed wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Jean-Philippe Rebeaud, Andre Zanetta, Fabien Blondeau, Martin Bisig, Pierre-Andre Meister, Nicolas Golay
  • Publication number: 20080112274
    Abstract: Assembly element (18) made in a plate of brittle material, such as silicon, in particular for a timepiece (10), including an aperture (32) provided for the axial insertion of an arbour (26), the inner wall (33) of the aperture (32) including elastic structures (34) which are etched into the plate and which each include at least one support surface (36, 38) for gripping the arbour (26) radially in order to secure the assembly element (18) relative to the arbour (26). Each elastic structure (34) is formed by a fork which is connected to the inner wall (33) of the aperture by a bridge of material (40) and which includes two branches (42, 44) extending, on either side of the bridge of material (40), generally towards the arbour (26). Each branch (42, 44) includes a support surface (36, 38) in proximity to the free end (46, 48) thereof. The invention also proposes a timepiece fitted with an assembly element (18) of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Roland Bitterli, Wilfried Noell, Fabien Blondeau, Lionel Paratte, Toralf Scharf, Pierre-Andre Meister, Andre Zanetta
  • Patent number: 7333400
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control system for a servomechanism comprising a control member that can move between first and second positions defining a variable electric quantity respectively between a minimum quantity and a maximum quantity, characterized in that the control system further comprises low voltage powering means, voltage increase means connected to the terminals of the low voltage powering means and delivering a high voltage at output, means for measuring a value of the variable electric quantity, powered by the low voltage powering means when the high voltage is being generated, and means for regulating the voltage increase means arranged to increase the high voltage delivered for a variation in the measured electric quantity value lower than a variation threshold determined by the servomechanism, respectively to decrease the high voltage delivered for a variation in the measured electric quantity values higher than the determined variation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Fabien Blondeau, Emmanuel Fleury, Pierre-André Meister, André Zanetta