A method for manufacturing a resonator 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; b) etching the at least one region to selectively manufacture the resonator.

The method for test the rate of an electronic watch with a time base device (1) comprises three main steps for the test on test equipment. The time base device comprises at least one watch module (2) with a resonator (3) connected to an oscillator of an electronic circuit (4), which is followed by a divider circuit, which is controlled by an inhibition circuit, and which provides a divided timing signal for a motor. In a first step, a measurement is made of the frequency of the oscillator reference signal in at least one measurement period without inhibition. A second step is provided for acquiring the current inhibition value to inhibit a certain number of clock pulses in a subsequently inhibition period and to determine the inhibition value. Finally, a third step is provided for calculating the corresponding rate frequency of the watch.

The method for test the rate of an electronic watch with a time base device (1) comprises three main steps for the test on test equipment. The time base device comprises at least one watch module (2) with a resonator (3) connected to an oscillator of an electronic circuit (4), which is followed by a divider circuit, which is controlled by an inhibition circuit, and which provides a divided timing signal for a motor. In a first step, a measurement is made of the frequency of the oscillator reference signal in at least one measurement period without inhibition. A second step is provided for acquiring the current inhibition value to inhibit a certain number of clock pulses in a subsequently inhibition period and to determine the inhibition value. Finally, a third step is provided for calculating the corresponding rate frequency of the watch.

A pair of vibrating arm portions are disposed lined up in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction and are configured such that base end sides thereof in the first direction are fixed to a base portion. A pair of inclined surfaces are formed on both sides in the second direction on the base end side of the vibrating arm portion so that a width of the vibrating arm portion in the second direction is gradually widened from the distal end side to the base end side. A length of a region, having the pair of inclined surfaces formed therein, in the first direction is set to equal to or greater than 0.25 times and equal to or less than 0.5 times of a total length of the vibrating arm portion from the base end to the distal end.

A horological movement includes an analogue time display, a gear train, a barrel driving the analogue display via the gear train, and an oscillator formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric spring, and a mechanical escapement coupling the balance to the gear train. This horological movement further includes an electric energy source which is associated with the electronic control circuit, which is arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical supply voltage to the piezoelectric spring to excite the oscillator to obtain a functional oscillation of the resonator and then to maintain this functional oscillation. The mechanical escapement is an escapement for counting the alternations of the functional oscillation, to pace the running of the horological movement, without the resonator being able to receive from the barrel via this mechanical escapement enough mechanical energy to maintain the functional oscillation.

A horological movement includes an analogue time display, a gear train, a barrel driving the analogue display via the gear train, and an oscillator formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric spring, and a mechanical escapement coupling the balance to the gear train. This horological movement further includes an electric energy source which is associated with the electronic control circuit, which is arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical supply voltage to the piezoelectric spring to excite the oscillator to obtain a functional oscillation of the resonator and then to maintain this functional oscillation. The mechanical escapement is an escapement for counting the alternations of the functional oscillation, to pace the running of the horological movement, without the resonator being able to receive from the barrel via this mechanical escapement enough mechanical energy to maintain the functional oscillation.

A rotary piezoelectric motor (1), in particular for a timepiece, including a rotor (3) configured to rotate and actuate a mechanical device, and a stator (2) configured to rotate the rotor (3), the stator (2) including a piezoelectric actuator provided with a resonator (29) arranged to perform an oscillatory motion, and a fixed element (4). The resonator in a movable element (5) arranged at a distance from the fixed element (4) and connected to the fixed element (4), the piezoelectric actuator being configured to move the movable element (5) against the rotor (3) to make it rotate, the movement of the movable element (5) making the rotor (3) rotate in a first direction.

A rotary piezoelectric motor (1), in particular for a timepiece, including a rotor (3) configured to rotate and actuate a mechanical device, and a stator (2) configured to rotate the rotor (3), the stator (2) including a piezoelectric actuator provided with a resonator (29) arranged to perform an oscillatory motion, and a fixed element (4). The resonator in a movable element (5) arranged at a distance from the fixed element (4) and connected to the fixed element (4), the piezoelectric actuator being configured to move the movable element (5) against the rotor (3) to make it rotate, the movement of the movable element (5) making the rotor (3) rotate in a first direction.

An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece includes: a mainspring; a train wheel that transmits mechanical energy of the mainspring; hands; a governor; a controller that controls the governor; a generator that converts the mechanical energy into electric energy; first and second power storage devices that stores electric energy; and a connection circuit that connects the first and second power storage devices in parallel. The connection circuit is switched to: a first state, in a first case, in which the first and second power storage devices are connected; a second state, in a second case, in which the first and second power storage devices are connected in a state in which an amount of electric charge transfer per unit time is smaller than that in the first state; and a third state, in a third case, in which the first and second power storage devices are disconnected from each other.

An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece includes: a mainspring; a train wheel that transmits mechanical energy of the mainspring; hands; a governor; a controller that controls the governor; a generator that converts the mechanical energy into electric energy; first and second power storage devices that stores electric energy; and a connection circuit that connects the first and second power storage devices in parallel. The connection circuit is switched to: a first state, in a first case, in which the first and second power storage devices are connected; a second state, in a second case, in which the first and second power storage devices are connected in a state in which an amount of electric charge transfer per unit time is smaller than that in the first state; and a third state, in a third case, in which the first and second power storage devices are disconnected from each other.