Patents by Inventor Thierry Hessler
Thierry Hessler 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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Publication number: 20130329040Abstract: A method of measuring accuracy of a watch including a visual display device, including: storing a first instant, at which the display is in a first display position corresponding to a first image, with a corresponding time reference source; determining a first display value for the first image and stored in a storage in correlation with the first instant; storing, after a determined time interval, a second instant, at which the display is in a second display position corresponding to a second image, with the corresponding source; determining a second display value for the second image and stored in the storage in correlation with the second instant; and calculating displaying on a viewing device the variation in rate of the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Michel Willemin, Cedric Decosterd, Thierry Hessler, Thierry Conus
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Publication number: 20130170330Abstract: The invention concerns a method of making a controlled or reduced contact or contactless transmission in a timepiece movement. At least one pair of opposing cooperating surfaces of said timepiece movement, one of which drives the other or is supported thereby, is made or transformed by applying a surface or through treatment conferring an electrostatic and/or magnetic charge of the same polarisation and/or magnetisation on said opposing cooperating surfaces, such that said opposing components tend to repel each other when they are moved closer to each other. Said treatment consists in creating or depositing at least one thin layer on said cooperating surface and/or on said opposing cooperating surface. The invention also concerns a timepiece mechanism incorporating at least one pair of opposing components, one of which drives the other or is supported thereby, said pair being made or transformed by implementing this method.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Thierry Hessler, Michel Willemin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Francois Gueissaz, Thierry Conus
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Publication number: 20130070572Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece (1) comprising a first resonator (15) oscillating at a first frequency (f1) and connected by a first gear train (5) to an energy source (9) and a second oscillator (35) oscillating at a second frequency (f2) and connected to a second gear train (25). According to the invention, the second gear train (25) is connected to the first gear train (5) by an elastic coupling means (41), in order to synchronise the rate of the two oscillators (15, 35) using the same energy source (9). The invention concerns the field of precision mechanical timepieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Jean-Luc HELFER, Thierry HESSLER, Thierry CONUS
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Publication number: 20130070569Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece (1) comprising a first resonator (R1) oscillating at a first frequency (f1) and connected by a main gear train (T2) to a main energy source (B2) via a main escapement (D2). According to the invention, the timepiece comprises a second resonator (R2) oscillating at a second frequency (f2) which is lower than the first frequency and cooperating with the main escapement (D2) in order to synchronise maintenance of the first resonator (R1) to said second frequency (f2). The invention concerns the field of coupled oscillators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Davide SARCHI, Nakis KARAPATIS, Thierry HESSLER, Jean-Luc HELFER
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Publication number: 20130070568Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece (1) comprising a first oscillator (15) oscillating at a first frequency and connected by a first gear train (5) to an energy source (9) to display the time and a chronograph system (51) comprising a second gear train (25) connected to the first gear train (5) via a coupling device (44) for selectively measuring a time. According to the invention, the chronograph system (51) further comprises a second oscillator (35), which is connected to the second gear train (25) and oscillates at a second frequency. Moreover, the second gear train (25) is connected to the first gear train (5) by an elastic coupling means (41), in order to synchronise the rate of the two oscillators (15, 35) using the same energy source (9) when the coupling device authorises said time measurement. The invention concerns the field of mechanical timepieces comprising a chronograph system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Thierry Hessler, Thierry Conus
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Publication number: 20120230159Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventors: Thierry Hessler, Thierry Conus, Kaspar Truempy
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Publication number: 20110305120Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature-compensated resonator including 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 said first and second orders temperature coefficients (?, ?, ??, ??) of said resonator so as to render the latter substantially zero. The invention concerns the field of time and frequency bases.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTDInventors: Thierry Hessler, Silvio Dalla Piazza
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Patent number: 8047705Abstract: The collet, which can be made in a single piece and at the same time as the balance-spring, is formed by a plate (1) which includes an aperture (3) for attachment to a balance staff (5) and has an asymmetrical contour (9) which follows at a substantially constant distance d the contour of the first coil (11) of the inner terminal curve. The plate can further include recesses (13) for repositioning the centre of gravity g on the balance staff (5).Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Thierry Hessler, Jean-Jacques Born
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Patent number: 7950846Abstract: The resonator (1) for a timepiece results from coupling a first, low frequency resonator (2) with a second, higher frequency resonator (3). The first resonator (2) has a first balance (4) associated with a first balance spring (5). The second resonator (3) has a second balance (6) associated with a second balance spring (7). A third balance spring is arranged between the first (4) and second (6) balances to couple said first (2) and second (3) resonators.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Thierry Hessler, Kaspar Trumpy, Jean-Luc Helfer, Thierry Conus
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Patent number: 7889028Abstract: The coupled resonator comprises a first low frequency resonator, such as a balance spring (1) and a second higher frequency resonator, such as a tuning fork (2), the two resonators (1 and 2) including permanent mechanical coupling means. Application to the regulating system of a timepiece.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Thierry Hessler, Kaspar Trümpy
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Publication number: 20100283556Abstract: The coupled resonator comprises a first low frequency resonator, such as a balance spring (1) and a second higher frequency resonator, such as a tuning fork (2), the two resonators (1 and 2) including permanent mechanical coupling means. Application to the regulating system of a timepiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2007Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTDInventors: Thierry Hessler, Kaspar Trümpy
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Patent number: 7791255Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly comprising a piezoelectric resonator (14) and a case (10), the case including a base part (11), on which the resonator is mounted, a wall (12) extending from said base part so as to surround at least partially said resonator, and a cover fixed to said wall in such a way as to close said case. The base part includes a main portion (17) and at least two conductive vias (16a, 16b). The conductive vias electrically connect The piezoelectric resonator to an outside circuit through the base part, and each of the conductive vias is surrounded by a insulating lining (18) so as to insulate the vias from the main portion (17). The main portion (17) of the base part (11) is divided into two parts by an insulating partition (21) in such a way that the two conductive vias are on different sides of the partition.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Thierry Hessler
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Patent number: 7753581Abstract: The balance spring is made from a photostructurable glass plate by UV irradiation, thermal treatment and etching, said glass having a Young's modulus thermal coefficient CTE0. The value CTE0 of selected zones of the balance spring are altered to a value CTEi by UV irradiation through one or several masks, possibly completed by a thermal treatment.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Thierry Hessler, Joachim Grupp
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Publication number: 20100117491Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly comprising a piezoelectric resonator (14) and a case (10), the case including a base part (11), on which the resonator is mounted, a wall (12) extending from said base part so as to surround at least partially said resonator, and a cover fixed to said wall in such a way as to close said case. The base part includes a main portion (17) and at least two conductive vias (16a, 16b). The conductive vias electrically connect The piezoelectric resonator to an outside circuit through the base part, and each of the conductive vias is surrounded by a insulating lining (18) so as to insulate the vias from the main portion (17). The main portion (17) of the base part (11) is divided into two parts by an insulating partition (21) in such a way that the two conductive vias are on different sides of the partition.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSEInventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Thierry Hessler
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Publication number: 20100061192Abstract: The collet, which can be made in a single piece and at the same time as the balance-spring, is formed by a plate (1) which includes an aperture (3) for attachment to a balance staff (5) and has an asymmetrical contour (9) which follows at a substantially constant distance d the contour of the first coil (11) of the inner terminal curve. The plate can further include recesses (13) for repositioning the centre of gravity g on the balance staff (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2007Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTDInventors: Thierry Hessler, Jean-Jacques Born
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Publication number: 20100002548Abstract: The resonator (1) for a timepiece results from coupling a first, low frequency resonator (2) with a second, higher frequency resonator (3). The first resonator (2) has a first balance (4) associated with a first balance spring (5). The second resonator (3) has a second balance (6) associated with a second balance spring (7). A third balance spring is arranged between the first (4) and second (6) balances to couple said first (2) and second (3) resonators.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTDInventors: Thierry HESSLER, Kaspar Trumpy, Jean-Luc Helfer, Thierry Conus
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Patent number: 7643207Abstract: A stabilised gain semiconductor optical amplifier (CG-SOA) includes and active waveguide (1) comprising an amplification medium (2), extending in longitudinal (Z), lateral (X) and vertical (Y) directions, and coupled to a laser oscillation structure comprising at least two resonant cavities (13, 14) extending in first (D1) and second (D2) directions which are different from the longitudinal direction (Z) of the active waveguide (1) and arranged in such a way as to permit the establishment of laser oscillations having at least two different relaxation oscillation frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Avanex CorporationInventors: Beatrice Dagens, Romain Brenot, Guang-Hua Duan, Thierry Hessler
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Patent number: 7503688Abstract: The balance-spring is structured by photolithography and etching in a strip pre-cut from a quartz monocrystal such that the height h of the coils form, with the crystallographic axis z, an angle ? for adapting the thermal behaviour of the balance-spring to that of the balance, thereby reducing the variation of rate due to temperature variations.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Asulab S.A.Inventors: Thierry Hessler, Rudolf Dinger
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Publication number: 20090016173Abstract: The balance spring is made from a photostructurable glass plate by UV irradiation, thermal treatment and etching, said glass having a Young's modulus thermal coefficient CTE0. The value CTE0 of selected zones of the balance spring are altered to a value CTEi by UV irradiation through one or several masks, possibly completed by a thermal treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2006Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTDInventors: Thierry Hessler, Joachim Grupp
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Publication number: 20050259317Abstract: A stabilised gain semiconductor optical amplifier (CG-SOA) includes and active waveguide (1) comprising an amplification medium (2), extending in longitudinal (Z), lateral (X) and vertical (Y) directions, and coupled to a laser oscillation structure comprising at least two resonant cavities (13, 14) extending in first (D1) and second (D2) directions which are different from the longitudinal direction (Z) of the active waveguide (1) and arranged in such a way as to permit the establishment of laser oscillations having at least two different relaxation oscillation frequencies.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2003Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventors: Beatrice Dagens, Romain Brenot, Guang-Hua Duan, Thierry Hessler