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 timepiece escape mechanism sub-assembly includes at least one bar and at least one balance spring. The outer end of the balance spring is secured to a balance spring stud. The balance spring and the balance spring stud associated therewith form a single-piece assembly with the bar.

Abstract: A timepiece escapement mechanism, including a balance having no roller and an escape wheel, between which impulses are transmitted by a flexible, single-piece mechanism, connected by at least one flexible strip to a fixed structure or to the wheel. Oscillation is maintained by a balance spring ending in a balance spring stud which is mobile during operation, and which is guided by a flexible guide member with flexible strips, and whose center of rotation is coaxial to the balance, the balance spring stud receiving a pin which is mobile in a cam path of the wheel. During the oscillations, the balance spring stud is moved relative to its locking position under action of force exerted by the balance spring, and the pin maintains and regulates the oscillation.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing a resonator in a substrate characterized in that it includes the following steps: a) modifying the structure of at least one region of the substrate in order to make said at least one region more selective; b) etching said at least one region in order to selectively manufacture said resonator.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component in a substrate including: a) modifying a structure of at least one region of the substrate to make the at least one region more selective; and b) chemically etching the at least one region to selectively manufacture the component.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a first oscillator oscillating at a first frequency and connected by a first gear train to an energy source to display the time. The timepiece also includes a chronograph system including a second gear train connected to the first gear train via a coupling device for selectively measuring a time. The chronograph system further includes a second oscillator, which is connected to the second gear train and oscillates at a second frequency. Moreover, the second gear train is connected to the first gear train by an elastic coupling, in order to synchronize the rate of the two oscillators using the same energy source when the coupling device is in a coupled position.

Abstract: Shock resistant bearing for a timepiece including an elastic structure and a central portion carried by the elastic structure, the central portion having a blind hole intended to receive a pivot of a rotating wheel set of the timepiece. The elastic structure and the central portion are formed by a single-piece part formed of single crystal quartz and the blind hole has at least partially the shape of a truncated or non-truncated trigonal pyramid against which the end of the pivot abuts. The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing a shock resistant bearing of this type wherein the single-piece wafer is machined in an anisotropic etching bath for single crystal quartz. Preferably, two masks are respectively arranged on the two sides of the wafer to simultaneously etch the quartz from both sides.

Abstract: The invention relates to an element arranged to cooperate with another part so as to form an encapsulation device for a component including the element at least partially coated with a metallization. According to the invention, the metallization includes at least one metal layer protected by an intermetallic compound which is coated by a non-diffused portion of a material whose melting point is lower than 250° C.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, a core of the body being formed by ceramic. At least one part of the body includes a coating whose Young's modulus variation with temperature is of an opposite sign to that of the ceramic used for the core, so that at least the first order frequency variation with temperature of the resonator is substantially zero frequency.

Abstract: 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, between or on which there are arranged functional components at least two of which are movable relative to each other. The plate and bar form an inseparable single piece component with such a functional member, with at least one elastically deformable connecting element, and are movable between a proximate position where they are separated by a minimum distance (EMIN) and a distal position where they are separated by a maximum distance (EMAX). They include snap fit means and complementary snap fit means for holding them in the proximate position.

Abstract: Inseparable single-piece timepiece component including a position adjustable mechanism having a rigid structure carrying, by means of at least one resilient strip, a position adjustable component including an indexing means arranged to cooperate with a complementary indexing means comprised in an adjustment mechanism. Said adjustment mechanism is incorporated in said inseparable single-piece component.

Abstract: Timepiece escape mechanism sub-assembly including at least one bar and at least one balance spring, the outer end of which is secured to a balance spring stud. At least one said balance spring and said balance spring stud associated therewith form a single-piece assembly with said bar.

Abstract: 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, 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: Timepiece mechanism structure (1) for receiving and guiding at least one pivoting wheel set (10). The structure includes at least one inseparable single-piece structure (11), including at least one inseparable single-piece frame (17) which includes pivot housings (12) aligned in pairs in a direction of alignment (A) for receiving the pivots of an arbour (47) of at least one said pivoting wheel set (10), and in that each such pivot housing (12) is an open housing formed by a semi-bearing or by a dihedral, and includes at one end a stop bearing surface (120) in this direction of alignment (A).

Abstract: Mechanism for adjusting the active length of a timepiece balance spring whose outer end is fixed to a balance spring stud secured to a bar, this mechanism including two pins for clamping or touching the outer coil of the balance spring during the operation of this balance spring. These two pins are in a single piece with this bar.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a first resonator oscillator oscillating at a first frequency and connected by a first gear train to an energy source and a second oscillator oscillating at a second frequency and connected to a second gear train. The second gear train is connected to the first gear train by an elastic coupling device, in order to synchronize the rate of the two oscillators using the same energy source.

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: Anti-trip mechanism for limiting the travel of a timepiece balance including a pin projecting from a staff, including a flexible multistable or bistable element carrying an anti-trip stop member and which is fixed, via flexible and elastic connecting members, to a rigid structural element of a timepiece movement. One end of said anti-trip stop member is arranged, according to the angular position of the balance, to interfere with the trajectory of the pin, and to perform the function of a stop if the balance exceeds its normal angular travel. Each anti-trip stop member includes two arms whose respective ends each interfere with the trajectory of the pin.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated resonator includes a body used in deformation, wherein the core (58, 58?, 18) of the body (3, 5, 7, 15, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, 37, 43, 45, 47) is formed from a plate formed at a cut angle (??) in a quartz crystal determining the first and second orders temperature coefficients (?, ?, ??, ??). According to the invention, the body (3, 5, 7, 15, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, 37, 43, 45, 47) includes a coating (52, 54, 56, 52?, 54?, 56?, 16) deposited at least partially on the core (58, 58?, 18) and having first and second orders Young's modulus variations (CTE1, CTE2, CTE1?, CTE2?) according to temperature of opposite signs respectively to the first and second orders temperature coefficients (?, ?, ??, ??) of the resonator so as to render compensated first and second orders temperature coefficients substantially zero.

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