Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite compensating balance spring (31) including a first thickness E1 of a first material and at least a second thickness E2 of at least a second material.

Abstract: Method of regulating the frequency of a resonator mechanism around its natural frequency, this mechanism including an elastic return means with a balance spring or a torsion wire, wherein a regulator device acts on this resonator mechanism with a periodic motion, with a regulation frequency which is comprised between 0.9 times and 1.1 times the value of an integer multiple between 2 and 10 of this natural frequency, controlling a periodic variation in the real part and/or the imaginary part of the rigidity of this elastic return means, this method being applied to a timepiece movement comprising a resonator mechanism of this type and including a regulator device arranged to control a periodic variation in the rigidity of this elastic return means.

Abstract: A timepiece mechanism cassette includes at least one bearing surface for positioning the cassette in a movement, a plate and a bar, at least one of which is rigid, between or on which there are arranged functional components at least two of which are movable relative to each other. At least one functional component is pivotally movable and pivoted between the plate and the bar, and forms an inseparable single piece component with the plate and/or with the bar.

Abstract: A watch or timepiece regulating member includes a balance, a balance-cock, at least one light energy source, and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance-cock. The balance spring is made of quartz or of glass or of ceramic or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths or made of an at least partially amorphous material and transmits and diffuses light emitted by the light energy source.

Abstract: A compensating balance spring for a thermally compensated sprung balance resonator including a core formed from at least one non-metallic material. The core is entirely coated with a layer which is moisture proof to render the balance spring less sensitive to climatic variations. The compensating balance spring can be applied to timepieces.

Abstract: A watch including a mechanical movement with a display device including a light energy source and a slender, elastic, mobile component that is deformable during operation, or a balance spring, at least partially transparent, which transmits and diffuses light that varies with stress in the elastic and deformable portion. The light source is active or passive and injects light into one portion of the mobile component which conveys and diffuses light over at least one portion of the mobile component, or throughout the entire mobile component, to make it visible in the dark.

Abstract: A watch or timepiece regulating member includes a balance, a balance-cock, at least one light energy source, and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance-cock. The balance spring is made of quartz or of glass or of ceramic or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths or made of an at least partially amorphous material and transmits and diffuses light emitted by the light energy source.

Abstract: A timepiece including a first resonator oscillating at a first frequency and connected by a main gear train to a main energy source via a main escapement, a second resonator oscillating at a second frequency which is lower than the first frequency and cooperating with the main escapement in order to synchronize maintenance of the first resonator to the second frequency.

Abstract: A timepiece mechanism cassette including at least one bearing surface for positioning the cassette in a movement, a plate and a bar, at least one of which is rigid, and functional components arranged between or on the plate and the bar. At least two of the functional components are movable relative to each other. The plate and bar form an inseparable single piece component with at least one of the functional components and with at least one elastically deformable connecting element. The plate and bar are movable between a proximate position where they are separated by a minimum distance and a distal position where they are separated by a maximum distance. The plate and bar include a snap fit connection for holding them in the proximate position.

Abstract: Method for maintaining and regulating the frequency of a timepiece resonator mechanism (1) around its natural frequency (?0). A regulator device (2) acts on said resonator (1) with a periodic motion which requires a periodic modulation of at least the resonant frequency of said resonator (1), by requiring at least a modulation of the active length of a spring comprised in said resonator mechanism (1), with a regulation frequency (?R) which is comprised between 0.9 times and 1.1 times the value of an integer multiple of said natural frequency (?0), said integer being greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 10.

Abstract: Timepiece resonator oscillating at a natural frequency, comprising one oscillating member and oscillation maintenance means, this oscillating member carrying a regulator oscillating at a regulation frequency comprised between 0.9 times and 1.1 times the value of an integer multiple greater than or equal to 2 of the natural frequency, this resonator is included in a timepiece movement for a timepiece, particularly a watch, and this regulator imposes a periodic modulation of the resonant frequency and/or quality factor and/or point of rest of this resonator, with this regulation frequency.

Abstract: Method of regulating the frequency of a resonator mechanism around its natural frequency, this mechanism including an elastic return means with a balance spring or a torsion wire, wherein a regulator device acts on this resonator mechanism with a periodic motion, with a regulation frequency which is comprised between 0.9 times and 1.1 times the value of an integer multiple between 2 and 10 of this natural frequency, controlling a periodic variation in the real part and/or the imaginary part of the rigidity of this elastic return means, this method being applied to a timepiece movement comprising a resonator mechanism of this type and including a regulator device arranged to control a periodic variation in the rigidity of this elastic return means.

Abstract: A pallet lever mechanism for an escapement mechanism including a structure carrying a balance and an escape wheel, the pallet lever including pallet stones cooperating with the escape wheel, and a flexible, multistable element, and the pallet lever cooperates with the balance with horns of a first portion of the pallet lever connected by one such flexible element to the structure or to a second portion of the pallet lever carrying the pallet stones connected by one such flexible element to the fixed structure or to the first portion. One flexible element includes a prestressed beam buckled in an S or Z shape, the pallet lever mechanism including a pivot forcing the beam to have a node at the middle thereof.

Abstract: Method for creating a flexible, multistable element (5): a silicon component (S) is etched with a beam (P) connecting two ends (E1, E2) of a rigid mass (MU) having a cross-section more than ten times that of said beam (P), SiO2 is grown at 1100° C. for a duration adjusted to obtain, on said beam (P), a first ratio (RA) of more than 1 between the section of a first peripheral layer (CP1) of SiO2, and that of a first silicon core (A1), and, on said mass (MU), a second ratio (RB) between the section of a second peripheral layer (CP2) of SiO2 and that of a second silicon core (A2), which is less than a hundredth of said first ratio (RA); cooling to ambient temperature is performed, to deform said beam (P) by buckling when said mass (MU) cools and contracts more than said beam (P).

Abstract: An escapement mechanism for a timepiece movement or timepiece including at least one balance and at least one escape wheel. A transmission of impulses between the balance and the escape wheel is achieved by a single-piece flexible mechanism including at least one feeler spindle cooperating with the escape wheel or, respectively, with the balance, and the single-piece, flexible mechanism is connected by at least one flexible blade to a fixed structure of the timepiece, or respectively to the escape wheel.

Abstract: A temperature compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, the core of the body including a first material. The body includes at least a first and second coating allowing the resonator to have substantially zero first and second order temperature coefficients. The temperature compensated regulator can be used in the field of time and frequency bases.

Abstract: A resonator includes a balance spring formed in a single crystal quartz with crystallographic axes x, y, z, where the x axis is an electrical axis and the y axis is a mechanical axis, and cooperating with a balance. A thermal expansion coefficient of the balance is comprised between +6 ppm.° C.?1 and +9.9 ppm.° C.?1 and a cut angle of the balance spring to the z axis of the single crystal quartz is comprised between ?5° and +5°, so as to match the balance to the balance spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermocompensated resonator comprising a body used in deformation, the core of the body being formed by a first material. According to the invention, at least one part of the body comprises at least one coating made of shape-memory metal, the variations in the Young's modulus of which as a function of the temperature (CTE) are of opposite sign to those (CTE) of the first material used for the core so as to allow said resonator to have a frequency variation as a function of the temperature which is substantially zero at least to the first order (?, ?).

Abstract: An escape mechanism including a flexible single-piece mechanism for transmission of impulses between an impulse pin of a balance, and teeth of an escape wheel. Each tooth includes a lever with a pin that can be actuated by a lifting piece, a low level of the wheel carrying the pins on a same level as stop members of a plate, and a high level carrying the lifting pieces. The impulse pin pivots a lever opposite thereto, either to cause the pin to cooperate in abutment with the second stop member, or to move the lifting piece thereof opposite the first stop member and to cause the pin to bypass the second stop member, allowing the wheel to rotate to a next tooth.

Abstract: A timepiece movement comprising including a sprung balance resonator mounted between a bar and a bottom plate wherein the balance is formed from a ferromagnetic material. The timepiece movement includes a magnetic polarizing device for the balance spring for maintaining a predefined state of polarization in the balance spring and including a permanent magnetizing device which forms a magnetic field in the plane of the balance spring so as to totally or almost totally magnetically saturate the balance spring in the absence of an external magnetic field.