Abstract:
A functional micromechanical timepiece assembly including at least a first component, including a first layer defining a first contact surface configured to come into friction contact with a second contact surface defined by a second layer, the second layer belonging, either to the first component, or to at least a second micromechanical component forming the assembly with the first component. The first and second layers each include carbon with at least 50% carbon atoms and, on the first and second contact surfaces, the layers have different surface crystalline plane orientations from each other.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a timepiece component, such as a balance, an oscillating mass or a wheel, comprises a micro-manufacturing technique, such as the DRIE technique. The method may comprise forming at least one member in or at the periphery of the structure, of a material different from that of the structure. This member is typically metal and is formed by electro-forming using a cavity of the structure as a mold.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a timepiece component, such as a balance (1), an oscillating mass (12) or a wheel (20), that comprises a structure (2) made according to a micro-manufacturing technique, such as the DRIE technique. The component is characterised in that it further comprises at least one member (3) formed in or at the periphery of the structure (2) and made of a material different from that of the structure (2). This member (3) is typically metal and is formed by electro-forming using a cavity (7) of the structure (2) as a mould.
Abstract:
The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).
Abstract:
To produce a micro component, a resin base (1) capable of being dissolved by a solvent is formed, physical external force is allowed to act on the resin base (1) to form a concave (3) and after a metal is filled into the concave (3), an excessive metal is removed by grinding and the resin base (1) is dissolved by the solvent. Consequently, the necessity for lithography apparatuses such as a stepper and an etching apparatus can be eliminated, economy can be improved and production of components having complicated shapes that the lithographic technology cannot easily produce can also be produced.
Abstract:
The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).
Abstract:
A high temperature resist process is combined with microlithographic patterning for the production of materials, such as diamond films, that require a high temperature deposition environment. A conventional polymeric resist process may be used to deposit a pattern of high temperature resist material. With the high temperature resist in place and the polymeric resist removed, a high temperature deposition process may proceed without degradation of the resist pattern. After a desired film of material has been deposited, the high temperature resist is removed to leave the film in the pattern defined by the resist. For diamond films, a high temperature silicon nitride resist can be used for microlithographic patterning of a silicon substrate to provide a uniform distribution of diamond nucleation sites and to improve diamond film adhesion to the substrate. A fine-grained nucleation geometry, established at the nucleation sites, is maintained as the diamond film is deposited over the entire substrate after the silicon nitride resist is removed. The process can be extended to form microstructures of fine-grained polycrystalline diamond, such as rotatable microgears and surface relief patterns, that have the desirable characteristics of hardness, wear resistance, thermal conductivity, chemical inertness, anti-reflectance, and a low coefficient of friction.
Abstract:
A method and the product resulting from the method, for making a microminiature structure with two or more members measuring less than 1000 micrometers in any linear dimension and relatively movable to each other, comprising the steps of (a) providing a first sacrificial coating over a substrate having openings therethrough to expose a portion of the substrate, (b) depositing a first structural layer over the first sacrificial coating and the exposed portion of the substrate, with openings therethrough to expose a second portion of the substrate, (c) providing a second sacrificial coating over the second exposed portion of the substrate and said first structural layer, with openings through both the first and second sacrificial layers to expose a third portion of the substrate, (d) adding a second structural layer thereover and defining it, (e) possibly adding alternately other sacrificial coatings and other structural layers, and (f) etching the first and second and other sacrificial layers to remove them completely so that the two or more structural layers become movable relative to each other.
Abstract:
La présente invention concerne un procédé de fabrication d'une pièce d'horlogerie comprenant au moins une première partie réalisée par un procédé de micro fabrication ou de micro formage dans au moins un premier matériau, ledit procédé comprenant au moins : une étape de dépôt sur ladite première partie sans moulage d'au moins une deuxième partie de ladite pièce dans au moins un deuxième matériau et une étape de traitement du second matériau pour en lier entre eux les composants sur la première partie.
Abstract:
L'invention se rapporte à un procédé de fabrication d'une pièce (221, 321, 421, 523, 525) de micromécanique en un matériau (215, 315, 415) monobloc à base d'un allotrope synthétique du carbone caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte les étapes suivantes : a) former un substrat (201, 301, 401) comportant sur au moins trois niveaux (N 1 , N 2 , N 3 , N x ) une empreinte (203, 303, 403) négative de ladite pièce de micromécanique à fabriquer; b) recouvrir ladite empreinte (203, 303, 403) négative du substrat (201, 301, 401) d'une couche dudit matériau à base d'un allotrope synthétique du carbone d'une épaisseur (e 1 ) inférieure à la profondeur de chacun desdits au moins trois niveaux (N 1 , N 2 , N 3 , N x ) de ladite empreinte; c) retirer le substrat (201, 301, 401) afin de laisser libre la pièce de micromécanique (221, 321, 421, 523, 525) monobloc formée dans ladite empreinte négative.