EP2952978A1 - Covering part made of photostructurable glass - Google Patents

Abstract

Cladding piece (21, 61) having a first portion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, 43, 45) based on photostructurable glass, at least a second part (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, 43, 45) based on at least one second material. According to the invention, a surface (24, 28, 30, 31) of the first portion is secured to a surface of the second portion to form a one-piece cladding piece (21, 61).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a photostructurable glass-based covering part and in particular to such a covering part comprising at least one part based on photostructurable glass and at least one other part based on silicon, metal or ceramic .

Background of the invention

In the field of watchmaking, an increasing proportion of trim parts are formed using fragile materials such as those based on silicon or ceramic. As an example, consider forming the ice, the bracelet or the crown.

However, the engraving techniques of these fragile materials limit the possibilities as to the possible shapes of the trim pieces.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages mentioned above by providing a trim part which is less limited in its shape while having the possibility of always using silicon-based or ceramic parts.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a covering part comprising a first portion based on photostructurable glass, at least a second part based on at least one second material characterized in that a surface of the first part is secured on a surface of the second part to form a piece of one-piece cladding.

Advantageously according to the invention, it is understood that the covering part is of the composite type, that is to say formed of glass photostructurable and at least one other material. It is thus clear that particular shapes can be obtained by the photostructurable glass part while keeping a functional element based on silicon, metal or ceramic.

• ledit au moins un deuxième matériau est à base de silicium et comporte du silicium monocristallin, du silicium monocristallin dopé, du silicium polycristallin, du silicium polycristallin dopé, du silicium poreux, de l'oxyde de silicium, du quartz, de la silice, du nitrure de silicium ou du carbure de silicium ;
• ledit au moins un deuxième matériau est à base de céramique et comporte du verre photostructurable, du borosilicate, de l'aluminosilicate, du verre de quartz, du zérodur, du corindon monocristallin, du corindon polycristallin, de l'alumine, de l'oxyde d'aluminium, du nitrure d'aluminium, du rubis monocristallin, du rubis polycristallin, de l'oxyde de zirconium, de l'oxyde de titane, du nitrure de titane, du carbure de titane, du nitrure de tungstène, du carbure de tungstène, du nitrure de bore ou du carbure de bore ;
• ledit au moins un deuxième matériau est à base de métal et comporte un alliage de fer, un alliage de cuivre, du nickel ou un de ses alliages, du titane ou un de ses alliages, de l'or ou un de ses alliages, de l'argent ou un de ses alliages, du platine ou un de ses alliages, du ruthénium ou un de ses alliages, du rhodium ou un de ses alliages ou du palladium ou un de ses alliages ;
• ledit au moins un deuxième matériau comporte en outre au moins un revêtement partiel d'oxyde de silicium, de nitrure de silicium, de carbure de silicium ou d'un allotrope du carbone ;
• la première partie et/ou la deuxième partie forme un boîtier, une carrure, une corne, un cadran, un réhaut, une lunette, un poussoir, une couronne, un fond de boîtier, une aiguille, un bracelet, un maillon, un fermoir, un décor, une applique, une glace, un pied de cadran, une tige de couronne, une tige de poussoir.

According to other advantageous variants of the invention:

• said at least one second material is based on silicon and comprises monocrystalline silicon, doped monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, doped polycrystalline silicon, porous silicon, silicon oxide, quartz, silica, silicon nitride or silicon carbide;
• said at least one second material is based on ceramics and comprises photostructurable glass, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, quartz glass, zerodur, monocrystalline corundum, polycrystalline corundum, alumina, oxide of aluminum, aluminum nitride, monocrystalline ruby, polycrystalline ruby, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, tungsten nitride, carbide tungsten, boron nitride or boron carbide;
• said at least one second material is based on metal and comprises an iron alloy, a copper alloy, nickel or one of its alloys, titanium or one of its alloys, gold or one of its alloys, silver or one of its alloys, platinum or one of its alloys, ruthenium or one of its alloys, rhodium or an alloy thereof, or palladium or an alloy thereof;
• said at least one second material further comprises at least one partial coating of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide or a carbon allotrope;
• the first part and / or the second part forms a case, a caseband, a horn, a dial, a flange, a bezel, a pusher, a crown, a caseback, a needle, a bracelet, a link, a clasp , a decor, an applique, an ice cream, a dial foot, a crown rod, a push rod.

The invention relates to a timepiece characterized in that it comprises a trim piece according to one of the preceding variants.

1. a) se munir d'une première plaquette à base de verre photostructurable comportant un premier motif gravé ;
2. b) se munir d'au moins une deuxième plaquette en au moins un deuxième matériau comportant au moins un deuxième motif gravé ;
3. c) solidariser la première plaquette à ladite au moins une deuxième plaquette pour réaliser un substrat et, par superposition desdits motifs, former une pièce d'habillage monobloc comportant une première épaisseur à base de verre photostructurable et au moins une deuxième épaisseur dudit au moins un deuxième matériau ;
4. d) libérer du substrat la pièce d'habillage.
   De plus, selon un deuxième mode de réalisation, l'invention se rapporte à un procédé de fabrication d'une pièce d'habillage monobloc comportant les étapes suivantes :
5. e) solidariser une première plaquette à base de verre photostructurable à au moins une deuxième plaquette en au moins un deuxième matériau pour réaliser un substrat ;
6. f) graver un motif dans chacune des plaquettes du substrat et, par superposition desdits motifs, former une pièce d'habillage monobloc comportant une première épaisseur à base de verre photostructurable et au moins une deuxième épaisseur dudit au moins un deuxième matériau ;
7. g) libérer du substrat la pièce d'habillage monobloc.

In addition, according to a first embodiment, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a monoblock cladding piece comprising the following steps:

1. a) providing a first photostructurable glass plate having a first etched pattern;
2. b) providing at least a second wafer in at least a second material having at least a second etched pattern;
3. c) securing the first wafer to said at least one second wafer to make a substrate and, by superposition of said patterns, forming a one-piece wrap piece having a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness of said at least one second material;
4. d) releasing the dressing part from the substrate.
   In addition, according to a second embodiment, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a one-piece cladding piece comprising the following steps:
5. e) joining a first photostructurable glass plate to at least a second wafer in at least a second material to make a substrate;
6. f) etching a pattern in each of the wafers of the substrate and, by superposition of said patterns, forming a one-piece cladding piece having a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness of said at least one second material;
7. g) releasing the one-piece cladding piece from the substrate.

Finally, whatever the embodiment, several trim parts are made on the same substrate in order to manufacture them in series.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une représentation en perspective de pièces d'habillage selon la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'une pièce d'habillage selon l'invention ;
• les figures 3 à 5 sont des vues d'étapes d'un procédé de fabrication d'une pièce d'habillage selon l'invention.

Other particularities and advantages will emerge clearly from the description which is given hereinafter, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective representation of trim parts according to the present invention;
• the figure 2 is a sectional view of a dressing part according to the invention;
• the Figures 3 to 5 are views of steps of a method of manufacturing a trim piece according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As explained above, the invention relates to a trim piece for a timepiece formed using a first part based on photostructurable glass with a second part comprising the same type of material or a another type of material, that is to say, for example, based on silicon, metal or ceramic.

This piece of clothing has been devised for applications in the field of watchmaking and is made necessary by the structuring limitation of fragile materials such as those based on silicon or ceramic. It is possible, for example, to form a case, a dial, a flange, an ice, a bezel, a pusher, a crown, a case back, a needle or a bracelet wholly or partially based on materials. fragile.

However, the fact of always being able to use usual parts such as, for example, corundum mirrors whose production is controlled, is a constraint which is difficult to reconcile with the use of parts that do not comprise a plastic field.

This is why the invention relates to a covering part comprising a first portion made of photostructurable glass, at minus a second part based on at least one second material, characterized in that a surface of the first part is secured to a surface of the second part so as to form a one-piece covering part.

Advantageously according to the invention, it is understood that the first part may have a greater possibility of shape while keeping a second part using the advantages of its material. In addition, there is a wide variety of possible processes of joining a photostructurable glass. In fact, it is not mandatory to bring material to secure the two parts as for gluing or the use of an intermediate part. Thus, for example, two surfaces of corresponding shapes are sufficient to secure the first part with the second part.

As explained above, the one-piece cladding piece can be formed wholly or partially based on photostructurable glass. Thus, said at least one second material may be based on silicon, metal or ceramic. In addition, said at least one second material may also optionally comprise an intermediate material intended to promote bonding between two difficult to attach materials. Thus, according to the chosen joining technique, this intermediate material can be likened to a solder intended to attach two materials by joint adhesion to the intermediate material, or to form a layer intended to induce a sufficiently intense heating to generate the melting of the two materials.

When said at least one second material is silicon-based, it may comprise monocrystalline silicon, doped monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, doped polycrystalline silicon, porous silicon, silicon oxide, quartz, silica, silicon nitride or silicon carbide.

When said at least one second material is based on ceramics, it may comprise photostructurable glass, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, quartz glass, zerodur, monocrystalline corundum, polycrystalline corundum, alumina, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, monocrystalline ruby, polycrystalline ruby, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, tungsten nitride, tungsten carbide, boron nitride or boron carbide.

When the said at least one second material is based on metal, it may comprise an iron alloy such as 15P, 20AP or 316L steel, a copper alloy such as brass, a nickel alloy such as nickel silver, titanium or one of its alloys, gold or one of its alloys, silver or one of its alloys, platinum or one of its alloys, ruthenium or one of its alloys, rhodium or an alloy thereof, or palladium or one of its alloys.

In addition, said at least one second material, also based on silicon, metal or ceramic, may also comprise at least one partial coating of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide or an allotrope of the carbon.

Advantageously according to the invention, the first part and / or the second part can form a wide variety of trim parts for a timepiece. As non-limiting examples and in relation to the figure 1 the first part and / or the second part can thus form in particular a housing 1 such as the middle part 2 and the horns 3, a dial 4, a flange, a bezel 5, a pusher 6, a crown 7, a bottom 8 of the housing , a needle 9, a bracelet 10 as a link 11, a decoration 12, a wall 13, an ice 14, a clasp, a dial foot, a crown rod or a push rod.

For example, the figure 2 has a dressing part 21 forming a dial 22. The body of the dial 22 comprises several appliques 23, 24 forming for example a timehole, a decor 25 may for example represent a trademark and several feet 26, 27 of dial for fixing the dial 22 to a timepiece.

It is therefore understood, for example, that the dial 22 can be integral at its contact surfaces 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 with the appliques 23, 24 and / or the decor 25 and / or the feet 26, 27 , the photostructurable glass-based part being formed by the dial 22 and / or the sconces 23, 24 and / or the decor 25 and / or the feet 26, 27. Of course, other types of contact surface may be intended as sloping surfaces or non-rectilinear surfaces.

As explained above, the first portion and / or the second portion may form a variety of trim pieces. As additional examples to the figure 2 , the housing 1 could be formed from a first part forming the middle part 2 and several second parts forming the horns 3 or the bracelet 10 could be formed from several first parts forming several links 11 each first part being secured to several second parts forming decorations.

In addition, a first portion could form a lens 14 and be integral with a second portion forming a bezel 5 or a magnifying glass, a first portion could form a pusher 6 and be integral with a second portion forming a push rod, a first part could form a ring 7 and be integral with a second portion forming a crown rod, a first portion could form a bottom 8 of the housing and be integral with a second portion forming an ice intended to show the watch movement, a first part could form a bracelet attachment link and be secured to a second part forming a clasp or a first part could form a bracelet link 11 and be secured to a second part forming a counter-link.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a manufacturing method comprising a first step a) intended to be provided with a first plate 51 based on photostructurable glass having a first pattern 53 etched as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 . Such glasses are, for example, available from Schott AG under the brand name Foturan®, at Hoya Corp. PEG3® or LifeBioScience Inc. under the brand name Apex ™.

Advantageously according to the invention, the photostructuration of a photostructurable glass allows a greater variety of shape than etching materials based on silicon or ceramic. The photostructuring process consists in a first phase in an illumination at a wavelength corresponding to the photostructurable glass through a partially opaque mask at said wavelength. Depending on the amount, orientation and distribution of the illumination, areas in the photostructurable glass plate are structured.

It is thus understood that by using a mask with variable areas of opacity and / or a source with a controllable focus, it is possible to create shapes such as the appliques 23, 24 mentioned above. The illumination source may for example be a UV lamp whose peak of spectral distribution is located at a wavelength of between 200 and 400 nm.

A second phase involves subjecting the photostructurable glass plate to heat treatment. The heating temperature varies according to the photostructurable glass and can reach the order of 600 ° C. This heat treatment makes the illuminated areas more selective for the last phase of elimination by chemical etching. This etching can be carried out, for example, in a bath of about 10% hydrofluoric acid at room temperature and under ultrasound. We then obtain a wafer 51 as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 .

A second step b) is intended to provide at least a second wafer 55 in at least a second material having at least a second pattern 57 etched as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 . By way of no limitation, mention may be made of dry etching such as deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), laser etching or plasma etching. It is also perfectly possible to use a wet etching such as a chemical etching or even a new photostructuration as explained above. Finally, a photostructuration mixing a photolithography of a resin followed by a dry or wet etching can also be carried out.

A third step c) is intended to secure the first wafer 51 to the said at least one second wafer 55 to produce a one-piece substrate and, by superposition of the said patterns 53, 55, to form a one-piece wrap piece comprising a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness of said at least one second material based on silicon, metal or ceramic.

Depending on the materials used, several fastenings are possible. By way of no limitation, mention may be made of the direct welding of surfaces by electromagnetic radiation by means of a laser, as for example explained in the document EP 1 436 830 incorporated by reference in the present description. It is also perfectly conceivable to use solidarization by an electric field (anodic bonding), fusion bonding, thermocompression bonding (thermocompression bonding), reflow bonding, and eutectic bonding (eutectic). bonding), a solidarisation by vibratory waves (ultrasonic bonding) or a bonding combining heating, vibratory waves and compression (thermosonic bonding).

Finally, the method comprises a final step d) for releasing the one-piece cladding piece from the substrate. Advantageously according to the invention, a wide variety of materials can be used to form trim parts industrially. As illustrated in figure 2 it is possible for example to obtain the dial 22 having a first thickness 22 based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness 23, 24, 26, 27 of said at least second material.

According to an alternative of the first embodiment, step b) may consist of forming a plurality of second platelets formed from the same material or from several different materials. In this alternative of the first embodiment, it is therefore understood that it is possible to obtain, during step c), a one-piece substrate with three interlocked plates that then make it possible to form a covering part comprising a first thickness based on photostructurable glass forming the body of the dial 22 and at least two second thicknesses formed from the same material or several different materials forming the appliques 23, 24 and the feet 26, 27.

According to a second embodiment, the invention relates to a manufacturing method comprising a first step e) intended to join a first photostructurable glass-based wafer to at least a second wafer in at least a second material for producing a substrate. monoblock using the same methods described in step c) of the first embodiment.

The second embodiment continues with step f) intended to engrave a pattern in each of the wafers of the substrate and, by superposition of said patterns, to form a one-piece cladding piece having a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness of said at least one second material using the same methods described in steps a) and b) of the first embodiment.

Finally, the method comprises a final step g) for releasing the monoblock cladding piece from the substrate. Advantageously according to the invention, a wide variety of materials can be used to form trim parts industrially. As illustrated in figure 2 it is possible for example to obtain the dial 22 having a first thickness 22 based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness 23, 24, 26, 27 of said at least second material.

According to an alternative of the second embodiment similar to that of the first embodiment, step e) may also consist of producing a substrate with the aid of several second platelets formed from the same material or from several different materials. In this alternative of the second embodiment, it is therefore understood that it is possible to obtain a substrate with three integral inserts then making it possible to form a covering part comprising a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least two second thicknesses formed from the same material or several different materials as for the first embodiment.

Of course, whatever the embodiment, the method can make it possible to manufacture several trim pieces 61 on the same substrate 63 as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 .

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible of various variations and modifications that will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, if the same pattern is desired for each part, platelets can be joined together and then a single engraving can be provided.

Similarly, as for the example of the multiple appliques 13, 23, 24 of the dial 4, 22, the method using platelets is preferred, that is to say that all the appliques 13, 23, 24 are structured in the same photostructurable glass plate and joined to another plate. However, nothing prevents to detach one by one the appliques 13, 23, 24 to join them progressively on another finite part such as the dial 4, 22.

Claims (10)

Cladding piece (21, 61) having a first portion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, 43, 45) based on photostructurable glass, at least a second part (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, 43, 45) based on at least one second material characterized in that a surface (24, 28, 30, 31) of the first part is secured on a surface of the second part to form a piece of cladding (21, 61) monobloc. Cladding piece (21, 61) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one second material is based on silicon and comprises single-crystal silicon, doped single-crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon, doped polycrystalline silicon, porous silicon, silicon oxide, quartz, silica, silicon nitride or silicon carbide. Cladding piece (21, 61) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one second material is based on ceramics and comprises photostructurable glass, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, quartz glass, zerodur , monocrystalline corundum, polycrystalline corundum, alumina, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, monocrystalline ruby, polycrystalline ruby, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, tungsten nitride, tungsten carbide, boron nitride or boron carbide. Cladding piece (21, 61) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one second material is based on metal and comprises an iron alloy, a copper alloy, nickel or one of its alloys, titanium or one of its alloys, gold or one of its alloys, silver or one of its alloys, platinum or one of its alloys, ruthenium or one of its alloys, rhodium or one of its alloys or palladium or one of its alloys. Cladding piece (21, 61) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one second material further comprises at least one partial coating of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide or an allotrope of carbon. Cladding part (21, 61) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part and / or the second part form a casing (1), a middle part (2), a horn (3), a dial (4, 22), a flange, a bezel (5), a pusher (6), a crown (7), a bottom (8) of a casing, a needle (9), a bracelet (10), a link (11), a clasp, a decoration (12, 25), an applique (13, 23, 24), an ice cream (14), a dial base (26, 27), a crown rod, a push rod . Timepiece characterized in that it comprises a trim piece (21, 61) according to one of the preceding claims. A method of manufacturing a one-piece cladding piece (21, 61) comprising the following steps: a) providing a first plate (51) based on photostructurable glass having a first pattern (53) etched; b) providing at least a second wafer (55) with at least one second material having at least one second engraved pattern (57); c) securing the first plate (51) to the said at least one second plate (55) to produce a substrate (63) and, by superposition of the said units (53, 57), forming a piece of cladding (21, 61) monobloc having a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness of said at least one second material; d) releasing the trim piece (21, 61) from the substrate (63). A method of manufacturing a one-piece cladding piece (21, 61) comprising the following steps: e) attaching a first plate (51) based on photostructurable glass to at least a second wafer (55) of at least a second material for producing a substrate; f) etching a pattern (53, 57) in each of the wafers (51, 55) of the substrate (63) and, by superimposing said patterns, forming a one-piece cladding piece (21, 61) having a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least a second thickness of said at least one second material; g) releasing the one-piece cladding piece (21, 61) from the substrate (63). Manufacturing method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a plurality of trim parts (21, 61) are made on the same substrate (63).

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