Timepiece component based on photostructurable glass

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece component including a first part based on photostructurable glass and at least a second part based on at least one second material. According to the invention, one surface of the first part is made integral with a surface of the second part so as to form a one-piece timepiece component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A timepiece component including a first part based on photostructurable glass, at least a second part based on at least one second material, wherein one surface of the first part is made integral with a surface of the second part so as to form a one-piece timepiece component. 
     
     
         2 . The timepiece component according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second material is silicon-based and includes single crystal silicon, doped single crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon, doped polycrystalline silicon, porous silicon, silicon oxide, quartz, silica, silicon nitride or silicon carbide. 
     
     
         3 . The timepiece component according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second material is ceramic-based and includes photostructurable glass, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, quartz glass, zerodur, single crystal corundum, polycrystalline corundum, alumina, aluminium oxide, aluminium nitride, single crystal ruby, polycrystalline ruby, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, tungsten nitride, tungsten carbide, boron nitride or boron carbide. 
     
     
         4 . The timepiece component according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second material is metal-based and includes an iron alloy, a copper alloy, nickel or an alloy thereof, titanium or an alloy thereof, gold or an alloy thereof, silver or an alloy thereof, platinum or an alloy thereof, ruthenium or an alloy thereof, rhodium or an alloy thereof, or palladium or an alloy thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The timepiece component according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second material further includes at least a partial coating of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon carbide or an allotrope of carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The timepiece component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part and/or the second part is a balance spring, an impulse pin, a balance, a staff, a roller, a pallets, a pallet-staff, a pallet lever, a fork, a pallet stone, a guard-pin, a wheel set, a wheel, a staff, a pinion, a bridge, a plate, an oscillating weight, a winding stem, a bearing-block, a bearing, a contrate toothing or a column. 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a one-piece timepiece component comprising the following steps:
 a) taking a first wafer based on photostructurable glass including a first etched pattern;   b) taking at least a second wafer made of at least a second material including at least a second etched pattern;   c) joining the first wafer with the at least one second wafer to form a substrate and, by superposition of the patterns, forming a one-piece timepiece component including a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least one second thickness of the at least one second material;   d) releasing the one-piece timepiece component from the substrate.   
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a one-piece timepiece component comprising the following steps:
 e) joining a first wafer based on photostructurable glass with at least a second wafer made of at least a second material to form a substrate;   f) etching a pattern in each of the wafers of the substrate and, by superposition of the patterns, forming a one-piece timepiece component including a first thickness based on photostructurable glass and at least one second thickness of the at least one second material;   g) releasing the one-piece timepiece component from the substrate.