A timepiece resonator mechanism including a structure carrying, via a flexible suspension system, an anchor unit to which is suspended an inertia element oscillating with a first rotational degree of freedom RZ, under the action of return forces exerted by a flexure pivot including first elastic strips each fixed to the inertia element and to the anchor unit, the flexible suspension system being arranged to allow the anchor unit some mobility in every degree of freedom except the first rotational degree of freedom RZ wherein only the inertia element can move to avoid any disturbance to its oscillation, and the stiffness of the suspension system in the first rotational degree of freedom RZ is very considerably higher than the stiffness of the flexure pivot in this same rotational degree of freedom RZ.

The invention relates in particular to a return member for a balance wheel of a timepiece, replacing a spiral spring. This return member comprises a rake provided with a toothed sector arranged to work together with a balance wheel pinion. The rake has an axis of rotation allowing it to move between two extreme positions, called working positions, separated by a rest position. The return member also comprises two springs arranged to press the rake towards its rest position. Each spring is made up of an elastic blade arranged to store energy, then to return it to the rake. Each elastic blade works alternately so that they never work simultaneously. The invention also relates to an escapement comprising such a return member, a clockwork movement comprising this return member and a timepiece comprising such a movement.

A device (10) for guiding a pivoting mass in rotary pivoting, in particular for a horological movement comprising, arranged in series substantially in the same plane, a first support (2), a first pair of uncrossed strips (5, 6), a second support (3), a pair of crossed strips (7, 8), and a third support (4), the pair of uncrossed strips including, a first (5) and a second (6) flexible strip connecting the first support (2) to the second support (3) without crossing each other, the pair of crossed strips including a third (7) and a fourth (8) flexible strip connecting the second support (3) to the third support (4), the third (7) and fourth (8) flexible strips crossing each other between the second (3) and the third (4) support.

A one-piece silicon device with flexible blades (2, 3), in particular for timepieces, for example a pivot with crossed blades, and to a method for manufacturing the device (1). The method includes: forming (21) a one-piece silicon device (1) blank from a wafer of the SOI type, the device (1) including two flexible blades (2, 3), each formed in a different layer of the SOI wafer, the blades (2, 3) being arranged in two different substantially parallel planes, the blades (2, 3) being separated by a clearance (7); growing a first silicon oxide layer on the surface of at least one of the blades (2, 3) bordering the clearance, the first silicon oxide layer being formed from a first sub-layer of silicon of the one or more blades (2, 3); and removing the first silicon oxide layer to increase the clearance (7) between the two blades (2, 3).

A micromechanical timepiece, and a method for making the same, having a plurality of mutually secured functional sub-assemblies stacked in a direction (Z) to form a multistage assembly, wherein each functional sub-assembly comprises a single semiconductor material and is secured to another sub-assembly via bridges made of the semiconductor material, and in that at least one sub-assembly comprises at least two portions, the portions being movable relative to each other and relative to another sub-assembly to which at least one of the portions is secured via at least one deformable link integrally formed between the portions.

A flexible guide assembly (10) including a fixed support (22) and three flexible guides arranged in series, the first flexible guide including a first movable element (23) relative to the fixed support (22), a first pair of uncrossed flexible blades (26, 27) connected to the first movable element (23), the second flexible guide including a second movable element (24) relative to the first movable element (23), a second pair of uncrossed flexible blades (28, 29) connecting the second movable element (24) to the first movable element (23), the third flexible guide including a third movable element (25) and a third pair of uncrossed flexible blades (31, 32) connecting the third movable element (25) to the second movable element (24), the third movable element (25) forming a balance or a balance support of the rotary resonator mechanism.

A micromechanical timepiece, and a method for making the same, having a plurality of mutually secured functional sub-assemblies stacked in a direction (Z) to form a multistage assembly, wherein each functional sub-assembly comprises a single semiconductor material and is secured to another sub-assembly via bridges made of the semiconductor material, and in that at least one sub-assembly comprises at least two portions, the portions being movable relative to each other and relative to another sub-assembly to which at least one of the portions is secured via at least one deformable link integrally formed between the portions.

A timepiece resonator including an inertia element suspended from a flexible strip deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of the strip, which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib extending substantially along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections of the strip located outside the ribs, and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib of the strip, along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip between its embedments.

A timepiece resonator including an inertia element suspended from a flexible strip deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of the strip, which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib extending substantially along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections of the strip located outside the ribs, and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib of the strip, along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip between its embedments.

Timepiece regulator comprising a detached lever escapement mechanism, and a resonator with a quality factor Q including at least one inertia element including an integral impulse pin cooperating with a fork of the lever, this inertia element being subjected to the action of elastic return means directly or indirectly fixed to the plate and being arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set comprised in the escapement mechanism, this resonator mechanism is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis (DP), with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips attached to the plate, defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis (DP), the lever pivoting about a secondary axis (DS), and the fork is enlarged in comparison to the fork of a conventional Swiss lever.