IP Library Granted Patent US 8,724,431
Granted Patent B2
US 8,724,431 · App. 13/156,648 · Granted May 13, 2014

First and second orders temperature-compensated resonator

Inventors: Thierry Hessler (St-Aubin, CH); Silvio Dalla Piazza (St-Imier, CH)
Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,724,431
App. No.
13/156,648
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
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 (θ′) in a quartz crystal determining the first and second orders temperature coefficients (α, β, α′, β′). 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 (CTE 1 , CTE 2 , CTE 1 ′, CTE 2 ′) according to temperature of opposite signs respectively to the first and second orders temperature coefficients (α, β, α′, β′) of the resonator so as to render compensated first and second orders temperature coefficients substantially zero.

Claims (19)

1. A temperature-compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, wherein a core of the body is formed from a plate formed at a cut angle in a quartz crystal in order to determine first and second orders temperature coefficients that are respectively positive and negative, wherein the body includes a coating deposited at least partially on the core and having first and second orders Young's modulus variations according to temperature that are respectively negative and positive in order to render the first and second orders temperature coefficients of the resonator substantially zero.

2. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 , wherein the body has a substantially quadrilateral-shaped section with faces in identical pairs.

3. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes a substantially quadrilateral-shaped section whose faces are entirely coated.

4. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 , wherein the coating includes synthetic diamond.

5. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 , wherein the body is a bar wound around itself to form a balance spring and is coupled with an inertia member.

6. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes at least two symmetrically mounted arms forming a tuning fork.

7. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 6 , wherein the tuning fork is selected from the group consisting of an inverted type, a grooved type, a conical type, and a flipper type, and combinations thereof

8. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 , wherein the body is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System.

9. A timepiece that includes at least one temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 1 .

10. A temperature-compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, wherein a core of the body is formed from a plate formed at a cut angle in a quartz crystal in order to determine first and second orders temperature coefficients of the resonator that are both negative, wherein the body includes a coating deposited at least partially on the core and having first and second orders Young's modulus variations according to temperature that are respectively both positive in order to render the first and second orders temperature coefficients of the resonator substantially zero.

11. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the body has a substantially quadrilateral-shaped section with faces in identical.

12. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the body includes a substantially quadrilateral-shaped section whose faces are entirely coated.

13. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the body is a bar wound around itself to form a balance spring and is coupled with an inertia member.

14. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the body includes at least two symmetrically mounted arms forming a tuning fork.

15. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 14 , wherein the tuning fork is selected from the group consisting of an inverted type, a grooved type, a conical type, and a flipper type, and combinations thereof.

16. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the body is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System.

17. A timepiece that includes at least one temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 .

18. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the coating includes germanium oxide.

19. The temperature-compensated resonator according to claim 10 , wherein the coating includes tantalum oxide.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2011
From: HESSLER, THIERRY; DALLA PIAZZA, SILVIO
To: SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD, THE
Reel/Frame 026417/0069 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 10165563 · Jun 10, 2010 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110305120A1 · Dec 15, 2011