HK1210637B - Illuminated hairspring - Google Patents

Description

Luminous hairspring

Technical Field

The invention relates to a watch or timepiece regulating device comprising a balance wheel, a balance bridge, at least one light energy source and at least one balance spring attached between the balance wheel and the balance bridge, said at least one balance spring being arranged to transmit and diffuse light.

The invention also concerns a mechanical timepiece movement including at least one such regulating device.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such mechanical movement and/or at least one such regulating device.

The invention relates to the field of mechanical horology.

Background

The reputation of mechanical horological mechanisms, and more particularly watches, among customers is generally enhanced by revealing their components, and hollow movements are appreciated by customers who are able to observe the important functions of complex objects in their collection. Tourbillons in high-end timepieces exhibiting a visible "heart" forming the movement, or hairsprings in more traditional timepieces, are particularly appreciated. The best possible presentation therefore constitutes an important advantage and becomes a decisive criterion for the purchaser. It is therefore useful to make the balance spring visible as far as possible at any time of day or night, in particular by making it luminous.

Users often feel the need to confirm that their watch or their watch is functioning correctly, which can be achieved by listening to the click of the mechanism. However, in noisy environments, or for hard-to-hear situations, this approach is not possible.

Swiss patent application No.699780A2 to RICHEMONT discloses a self-compensating silicon watch hairspring having a coating covering a portion of the outer surface of the hairspring.

European patent application No.1605182A1, from the swiss electronic and micro-computer science and technology Centre (CSEM), discloses a temperature compensated sprung balance with a quartz balance spring and in particular a quartz substrate, the cut-out of which is selected to thermally compensate for the offset of the balance spring and balance.

European patent application No.2407831A1 to the laurel (ROLEX) discloses a silicon, diamond or quartz hairspring comprising perforations distributed over its entire length and alternating with bridges.

European patent application No.1791039A1 by SWATCH GROUP research and DEVELOPMENT (swach GROUP RESEARCH AND devilopment) discloses a hairspring produced from non-heated glass made of photostructured glass by ultraviolet radiation.

International patent application No.2008/080570a2 to golpffer (compact) discloses a balance spring and balance made of the same material, in particular diamond, quartz or ceramic.

French patent application No.2957688A1 to RHUL and alano discloses a hairspring made of optical fiber, which is capable of transmitting light emitted by an external source.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention proposes a compact, low-energy-consumption solution to the problem of visually displaying a balance spring of a mechanical watch, or more generally of a mechanical timepiece.

In particular, the invention shows and strengthens a balance spring into the heart of a movement and makes an analogy between the periodic contraction and expansion of a balance spring and the periodic contraction and expansion of a human heart.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch or timepiece regulating device comprising a balance, a balance bridge, at least one light energy source and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance bridge, said at least one balance spring being arranged to propagate and diffuse light, characterized in that the at least one balance spring propagates and diffuses the light emitted by said at least one light energy source of the regulating device.

According to one feature of the invention, the at least one balance spring is made of quartz, glass or ceramic, or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or is made of an at least partially amorphous material.

The invention also relates to a mechanical timepiece movement, characterized in that it comprises at least one watch or timepiece regulating device comprising a balance, a balance bridge and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance bridge, in that the at least one balance spring propagates and diffuses light emitted by at least one light energy source that is moved out of the regulating device and located inside the movement, the light energy source being connected to a light relay (light relay) located in the regulating device and adjacent to the balance spring by at least one light guide or at least one optical fiber.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a mechanical movement and/or a mechanical movement having at least one such regulating device.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic partial perspective view of a watch regulating device comprising a balance, a balance spring and a balance bridge, and a light source adjacent one end of the balance spring.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a conventional cross section of a balance spring according to a first embodiment, wherein the balance spring has a rectangular cross section and is bare.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a conventional cross section of a balance spring according to a second embodiment, wherein the balance spring has a rectangular cross section and comprises thin coatings on its four surfaces.

Figure 4 is a schematic partial perspective view of the end of the balance spring with the outer coil, the cross section of which is parallel to the other coils, the end facing the light relay.

Figure 5 shows a schematic partial perspective view of the end of the balance spring with the twisted outer coil, the cross section of which is perpendicular to the other coils, comprising a bevel for collecting light coming from a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bevel.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic partial section through the pivot axis of the balance wheel of the regulating device of fig. 1, in which a light source located inside the watch and not very close to the regulating device is connected by a light guide to a light relay located on the balance bridge and adjacent to the balance spring.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a timepiece having a movement including a regulating device of this type.

Fig. 8 shows a partial top view of two light sources arranged below the balance spring, one adjacent to the collet and the other adjacent to the stud, in two positions of the balance spring, namely in the maximum contracted position in fig. 8A and in the maximum expanded position in fig. 8B.

Detailed Description

The invention relates to the field of mechanical horology.

The present invention provides a novel visual display of a balance spring of a mechanical watch, or more generally, a mechanical timepiece. The invention shows and strengthens a balance spring into the heart of a movement and makes an analogy between the periodic contraction and expansion movement of a balance spring and the periodic contraction and expansion movement of a human heart.

More specifically, the balance spring is made luminous by using a specific material that allows light diffusion. In particular, single crystal quartz and glass can be used as the light guide. The light from the active or passive light source that is injected into a portion of the balance spring is present in a distributed manner along the entire length of the balance spring or over a portion thereof, which enables the balance spring to be seen in the dark. The balance spring propagates and diffuses this light. The injection of light can be made easier at one of the ends of the balance spring, in particular at the outer end of the balance spring, by a light source, for example a light emitting diode or a component coated with a passive phosphor layer; these light sources are non-limiting examples.

If necessary, the balance spring is coated with a layer that allows only part of the light to diffuse outwards while directing the majority of the light to propagate along the spring, which surface layer may also be phosphorescent or fluorescent. Quartz, glass, photo-configured glass or similar hairspring materials can be developed to include phosphorescence or fluorescence by implantation in a solid body of material. The balance spring according to the invention acts like an optical fibre to guide and diffuse light.

The invention therefore concerns a watch or a timepiece regulating device comprising a balance 2, a balance bridge 3, at least one light energy source 5 and at least one balance spring 4 fixed between the balance 2 and the balance bridge 3. The term "balance-cock" also covers embodiments in which the bottom plate or bridge carries one of the ends of balance spring 4.

The invention is described in a non-limiting manner in the case of a balance spring that is substantially flat, i.e. the active coils of the balance spring extend between two parallel planes P1 and P2 both during the contraction and expansion of balance spring 4. Only one inner coil at inner end 7 of balance spring 4 and one outer coil at outer end 6 of balance spring 4 can extend in a known manner into the space outside the gap between these two planes, in particular in the case of Breguet double-layer balance springs (Breguet coils) or balance springs with a Grossmann curve (Grossmann curve) or other balance springs.

According to the invention, the at least one balance spring 4 transmits and diffuses the light emitted by the at least one light energy source 5. Preferably, the at least one balance spring 4 is made of quartz or glass or ceramic, or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or is made of an at least partially amorphous material.

The optical energy source 5 may be a primary source that stores energy which is then released by light propagation, or the optical energy source 5 may be a secondary source, referred to herein as an "optical relay" 50, which is connected to the primary source 5 by an optical path formed by an optical guide 51 or optical fiber or the like. The balance spring 4 is thus in contact with or in close proximity to the main light source or light relay 50, chosen according to the space available in the watch and the volume of the light source 5 or relay 50.

In one particular embodiment, shown in figures 1 and 6, balance bar 3 carries a light energy source 5 adjacent to outer end 6 of balance spring 4. It will be understood that the balance 3 may equally carry the light source 5 or the light relay 50, again selected according to the space available in the watch and the volume of the light source 5 or relay 50.

In another variant, not shown in the figures, balance 2 carries a light energy source 5 or light relay 50 in the vicinity of inner end 7 of balance spring 4. This may be the case in particular for a one-piece sprung balance assembly made of quartz or glass or an at least partially amorphous material, and the light rays can be collected and returned to a converging region, for example on a balance staff or the like.

In another variant, light source 5 or relay 50 is adjacent to balance spring 4, above or below the coil of the balance spring. In one particular version of this variant, several such light sources are provided adjacent to balance spring 4. Thus, fig. 8 shows two light sources 5A and 5B arranged below balance spring 4, one adjacent to collet 21 of balance 2 and the other adjacent to balance spring stud 31 for attaching balance spring 4 to balance staff 3. Their arrangement is such that the first light source 5A is in close proximity to at least one outer coil 86, preferably to several consecutive outer coils 84, 85, 86, during the maximum expansion of the balance spring 4, and transmits light to all three coils 84, 85, 86 simultaneously only in this expanded configuration, while the light source 5A transmits light to only one of the coils 86 in the contracted configuration of the balance spring. Similarly, second light source 5B is immediately adjacent to at least one inner coil 87, preferably to several consecutive inner coils 87, 82, 83, during the maximum contraction of balance spring 4, and transmits light to all three coils 87, 81, 82 simultaneously only in this contracted configuration, while light source 5B transmits light to only one of coils 87 in the expanded configuration of the balance spring. The contraction or expansion of balance spring 4 can therefore be observed by using different colour filters on first light source 5A and second light source 5B, or by giving outer coil 86 (and adjacent coils 84 and 85) of balance spring 4 a different colour to inner coil 87 (and adjacent coils 81 and 82) in the entity of material forming the balance spring (or more simply, by means of surface layer 40 on at least one of the sides of balance spring 4).

Due to the particular material chosen for forming balance spring 4, it is preferably made in clusters on the same wafer. Each balance spring 4 comprises a large attachment point having a large size with respect to the cross section S of coil 8 of balance spring 4. This attachment point forms a receiving surface well suited to the light emitted from light source 5 or relay 50 and at the same time provides a good mechanical attachment of balance spring 4 to balance bridge 3.

The at least one balance spring 4 diffuses the light over at least a portion of its cross section. In addition to the two end faces, outer end face 43 and inner end face, the balance spring preferably comprises an upper side face 41 and a lower side face 42, an inner transverse side face 46 and an outer transverse side face 47, which extend along the length of balance spring 4. The light is thus diffused on at least one of the sides of the balance spring.

In the usual case in which one of the sides is not visible to the user, this invisible surface may advantageously comprise at least one thin surface metallization layer 40, due to the non-transparent component, motherboard or bridge facing the movement, to form a reflecting mirror surface and prevent light from diffusing through the relevant invisible surface. This may in particular be the case for the lower surface 42 and/or the lateral surfaces 46, 47. The partial coating of all sides with such a reflective layer 40 enables light to be directed into the balance spring over a distance without any significant loss. The orientation of the area through which light diffusion is intended to be obtained and the relevant surface, in general one and/or the other of upper surface 41 and lateral surfaces 46,47, can therefore be chosen over the length of balance spring 4.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one balance spring 4 diffuses the light over its entire length between the balance staff 3 and the balance 2.

Preferably, according to fig. 2, the at least one balance spring 4 has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a single material, which is quartz or glass or an at least partially amorphous material.

Preferably, the dimensions of this cross section of the balance spring are less than 100 microns in thickness and less than 1000 microns in height.

In a variant of the invention, the at least one balance spring 4 has a rectangular cross section and is formed from a first material, which is quartz or glass or ceramic, or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or is an at least partially amorphous material, and a phosphorescent or fluorescent dopant, which is incorporated into the solid body of the first material. The material, quartz, glass or the like, is capable of doping (e.g. by implantation) a phosphorescent or fluorescent dopant in the material entity.

In another variant of the invention, the at least one balance spring 4 has a rectangular cross section and is formed from a first material, which is quartz or glass or ceramic or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths or is at least partially amorphous, and from at least one second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in the form of a thin layer 40 to at least one of the sides of balance spring 4.

In another variant of the invention, this at least one balance spring 4 has a rectangular cross section and is formed from a first material, which is quartz or glass or ceramic, or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or is at least partially amorphous, and from at least one second material, in particular a coloured material, applied to at least one of the sides of balance spring 4 in the form of a thin layer 40.

In the variant shown in fig. 3, a second phosphorescent or fluorescent material is applied in thin layers 40 to the four sides of balance spring 4.

In an advantageous variant, the at least one balance spring 4 has, on its upper surface 41 and lower surface 42 defining two parallel planes P1, P2, a surface roughness Rt of between 10 nanometers and 20 micrometers and preferably close to 1 micrometer or slightly greater than this value. This slight roughness, which gives hairspring 4 a frosted appearance, can be obtained, for example, during the manufacture of quartz hairspring 4, wherein the control parameters of the process allow to obtain a surface finish with a certain smoothness. The presence of projections at specific angles along the lateral surfaces 46,47 may provide a similar effect. Balance spring 4 may also be reworked to include microcells providing the required local roughness.

The addition of a thin layer deposit 40 according to fig. 3, for example, makes it possible to increase or reduce the light diffusion or light guiding inside balance spring 4. The case with a phosphorescent or fluorescent layer 40 enables the transmission spectrum to be varied (for example if a uv light emitting diode is used as light source 5) or the light to be stored and transmitted in this layer (by mixing with a europium doped strontium aluminate SrAl₂O₄Analogies, one of which is known as the "Super-luminescent" type).

Such a thin layer deposit 40 can be used to colour at least one side when the light propagates again by diffusion through at least one coil of balance spring 4.

The layer deposition may also ensure the surface roughness required for good diffusion.

The thickness of this layer 40 is preferably between 10 nanometers and 1 micron, preferably close to 100 nanometers.

Layers 40 of different properties may be used: metals, oxides (e.g. TiO, TiO)₂,Tr₂O₅,SiO₂,Si₃N₄,Al₂O₃) Or aluminum and gold based intermetallics, however this list is not exhaustive. It is also possible to coat the respective sides with layers 40 of different nature.

Layer 40 may be colored with a particular wavelength. The interaction with the light obtained from the light source 5 produces special effects, especially if the light source 5 or the relay 50 comprises a monochromatic filter or is pulsed at a single wavelength.

The side of balance spring 4 may be structured, in particular, photolithographically.

The path of the light inside balance spring 4 can be changed by providing specific obstacles or by changing the light environment (for example by providing notches, perforations, cut corners or the like).

The structuring in the mask during the manufacture of balance spring 4 makes it possible to form specific transverse surfaces 46,47 for the two adjacent coils of balance spring 4, in particular for example via a notch or pairing of optical polarities (optical polarities), so that during the contraction of balance spring 4 the inner transverse surface 46 of the outermost one of the two coils fits in a specific manner when it is closest to the outer transverse surface 47 of the innermost one of the two coils, and so that the light effect produced during this closest approach is different from the light effect which the two adjacent coils jointly exhibit when they are at the furthest distance from each other during the extension of balance spring 4. In particular, the two opposite lateral surfaces may receive different monochromatic treatments, for example blue on one surface and yellow on the other, both colors being clearly visible during extension, while diffusion occurs in green in the retracted position.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of the ends 6, 7 of balance spring 4 comprises an end face 43 directly receiving light coming from light source 5 or from a light relay 50 of this light source. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment in which all the coils of balance spring 4 are parallel.

In another particular embodiment, shown in fig. 5, particularly in the case in which balance spring 4 comprises a torsion 45 adjacent to one of its ends 6, 7, this end comprises at least one ramp 44 for receiving light rays along direction D, which is substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to two parallel planes P1, P2, which planes P1, P2 are defined by upper surface 41 and lower surface 42 of balance spring 4. Direction D is advantageously parallel to pivot axis a of balance 2. This arrangement makes it possible to arrange the light source 5 or the light relay 50 above or below the balance spring 4, just above or below the balance bridge 3, which may be advantageous in terms of space.

The invention makes it possible to manufacture balance spring 4 as a light guide with a controlled loss along the entire length of the spring.

The lighting of balance spring 4 does not necessarily have to take place in the preferred direction, in fact it may take place through upper surface 41 (plane P1 in the drawings) and/or through lateral surfaces 46,47 of balance spring 4.

Depending on the design of light source 5 and hairspring 4, several illuminations can be obtained. In particular, the following illuminations will be included:

constant illumination, regardless of the movement of the balance spring;

variable illumination, varying according to the movement of the balance spring, for example to simulate the beating of a human heart: when the coils are close to each other, it is possible to illuminate the balance spring over its entire length and to minimize the illumination when the coils are far from each other (fade effect); or vice versa. Thereby controlling the loss according to the position of the coil;

coloured lighting, with different colours at the two ends of the balance spring, which can be obtained with balance spring 4 coated with a particularly thin layer 40.

The coupling between light source 5 or relay 50 and balance spring 4 may come from their neighbourhood, light source 5 or relay 50 propagating light of sufficient energy level for balance spring 4 to capture it before propagating it again by diffusion.

The coupling may also advantageously and preferably be achieved by direct face-to-face contact or by an interposed arrangement or by any known light guide and fibre optic technique.

Preferably, the light is concentrated on the balance spring upstream of its propagation (path) or when it enters balance spring 4. In a particular and advantageous embodiment, the condenser is integrated into balance spring 4 during manufacture.

The stress distribution in balance spring 4 varies for a given setting during contraction or extension of the balance spring. It also varies when the parameters of the regulating device change, and in particular varies as a function of the amplitude of oscillation of balance 2. Thus, a change in the illumination of balance spring 4 can reveal a change in amplitude.

Balance spring 4 according to the invention may be non-uniform, which therefore may produce a specific technical function and different light diffusion areas.

By made amorphous is meant herein that the structure is changed to change the refractive index. The coil can be made locally amorphous, in particular by laser processing. Balance spring 4 can also be made in an entirely amorphous state.

Balance spring 4 may be at least partially polished. The specific machining process makes it possible to produce light leakage surfaces (light leakage surfaces) which are selected to have a specific orientation on certain surfaces and at specific locations.

The difficulty of guiding and diffusing the light over the entire length of balance spring 4, which may have a large extension, may lead to neutralization of some coils or portions of coils, preventing light from escaping therefrom, for example by means of a reflective layer or similar functional mask. This therefore preserves and directs the light to ends 6 and 7 of balance spring 4.

The light source 5 may take various forms. Preferably, the light source 5 is a light emitting diode or a phosphorescent or fluorescent component.

Advantageously, the light source 5 is phosphorescent and/or fluorescent, preferably phosphorescent, since it has a longer duration of light left, which may be as long as several hours, and phosphorescent may coincide with the possibility of illuminating the balance spring at any time throughout the night.

For simplicity, in the following description, the light source will be referred to as "phosphorescent". Such phosphorescent light sources advantageously comprise rare earth aluminates (e.g. europium doped strontium aluminate SrAl) well known to physicists₂O₄One of the typesOther commercially available materials such as "Super-luminescent noctilucent (Super-Lumibrite)", or rare earth silicates, or mixtures of rare earth aluminates and silicates are also suitable, materials such as tritium (3H), promethium-147 or radium-226 have very good phosphorescent properties, but their high β and/or gamma radioactivity greatly limit their use, and they can only be used in trace/trace amounts, preferably in combination with rare earth aluminates (for some very specific military or aerospace applications or similar applications used at great depths), and they are also used with protections that significantly increase the volume of the timepiece, when these materials are used, the terms "radiant glow" or "glow" are also known to be used, borosilicate glass capsules containing gases, known as "GTLS" (source of gaseous tritium) produced by MB Microtech, which contain tritium (3H) and do not require any external excitation to emit light, as is the case for military applications, especially for illuminating watches or for self-illuminating hands.

The excitation light is from the user's environment, sunlight, ambient light. The light source is accommodated in an inner space of a case of the timepiece or watch. The surrounding energy can be collected in the intermediate part of the partially or completely transparent or translucent casing and/or in the partially or completely transparent or translucent dial and/or in the display aperture, in particular for the date or the like. The ambient energy may also be collected by accessories adjacent to the timepiece (e.g. watch bracelet or wristband) and propagated by waveguides or optical fibers or the like. Similarly, ambient energy may be captured in other external components, such as a back cover, bezel, flange, or other components.

The invention also comprises a mechanical timepiece movement 10 having at least one setting device 1, in which the light source 5 is located in the setting device 1 as described above, or is moved out of the setting device 1 and inside the movement 10, in which case it is connected to the light relay 50, which is located inside the setting device 1 in the vicinity of the balance spring 4, by at least one light guide 51 or optical fiber.

More specifically, this mechanical timepiece movement 10 comprises at least one watch or timepiece regulating device 1 comprising a balance 2, a balance bridge 3 and at least one balance spring 4 attached between balance 2 and balance bridge 3. The at least one balance spring 4 transmits and diffuses the light emitted by at least one light energy source 5, the light energy source 5 being moved out of the governor device 1 and located in the movement 10, the light source being connected to a light relay 50, located in the governor device 1 in the vicinity of the balance spring 4, by means of at least one light guide 51 or optical fiber.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 100 including such a mechanical movement and/or at least one regulating device 1 with an integrated optical energy source. The light source 5 is either located in the governor device 1 or is moved out of the governor device 1 and located in the movement 10, in which case it is connected by at least one light guide 51 or optical fibre to a light relay 50 located in the governor device 1 in the vicinity of the balance spring 4; alternatively, the light source is moved out of movement 10 and is located in timepiece 100, in which case it is connected by at least one light guide 51 or optical fibre to a light relay 50 located in governor device 1 in the vicinity of balance spring 4.

Preferably, timepiece 100 is a wristwatch and balance spring 4 is of the "flat" type described above.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, the invention can be coupled with a stroboscope device inserted on the optical track between the light source and the balance spring, in order to obtain a specific luminous effect.

Depending on the frequency and wavelength of the light diffused by the light source 5 or the relay 50, the stroboscope is constructed so that a forgery-proof mark or a secret signature can be produced by a structuring or masking process, and the mark or signature can be revealed only under specific lighting conditions.

The slowing down of the light due to the change in refractive index associated with the change in internal stress during the contraction or extension of the balance spring also makes possible a specific authentication/identification.

The diffusion of the pulsating monochromatic light of another wavelength by hairspring 4 treated and coloured for the first wavelength provides a particular visual display.

A variant of the invention, which is more suitable for clocks and stationary timepieces, relates to a spring applied to the regulating device, which is not the substantially flat balance spring described above, but a helical spring.

In short, the device for visual display of a balance spring provided by the invention is compact and low energy consuming. It attracts the attention of the user to the visual "heart" of his watch or watch and highlights the particularly delicate nature of a mechanical watch.

The various solutions described above can also be applied to the following balance springs made of the same material: that is, the balance spring has other functions than the function of the governor device.

Claims (17)

1. A watch or timepiece regulating device (1) comprising a balance (2), a balance bridge (3), at least one light energy source (5) and at least one balance spring (4) attached between the balance (2) and the balance bridge (3), said at least one balance spring (4) being arranged to propagate and diffuse light, characterized in that said at least one balance spring (4) propagates and diffuses light emitted by said at least one light energy source (5).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one balance spring (4) is made of quartz, glass or ceramic, or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or is made of an at least partially amorphous material.

3. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pendulum plate (3) carries the light energy source (5) near the outer end (6) of the balance spring (4).

4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said balance (2) carries said light energy source (5) in the vicinity of an inner end (7) of said balance spring (4).

5. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one balance spring (4) diffuses light over at least a part of its cross section.

6. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one balance spring (4) diffuses the light over the entire length of said at least one balance spring between said balance-cock (3) and said balance (2).

7. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one balance spring (4) has a rectangular cross section and is made of a single material.

8. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one balance spring (4) has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a first material, which is quartz or glass or ceramic, or a material that is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or an at least partially amorphous material, and at least one phosphorescent or fluorescent dopant, which is incorporated into the solid body of the first material.

9. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one balance spring (4) has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a first material, which is quartz or glass or ceramic, or a material which is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or is at least partially amorphous, and at least one second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in the form of a thin layer (40) to at least one of the sides of said balance spring (4).

10. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the second phosphorescent or fluorescent material is applied in the form of a thin layer (40) on four sides of the balance spring (4).

11. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one balance spring (4) has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a first material, quartz or glass or ceramic, or a material partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths, or an at least partially amorphous material, and of at least one second coloured material applied in the form of a thin layer (40) to at least one of the sides of said balance spring (4).

12. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one balance spring (4) has a surface roughness Rt on its upper (41) and lower (42) surfaces defining two parallel planes (P1; P2), said surface roughness Rt being comprised between 10 nanometres and 20 micrometres.

13. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the ends (6; 7) of the balance spring (4) comprises an end face (43) directly receiving light coming from the light energy source (5) or from a light relay (50) of the light energy source (5).

14. Speed regulation device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the end (6; 7) comprises at least one chamfer (44) for receiving light rays in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to two parallel planes (P1; P2) defined by the upper (41) and lower (42) surfaces of the balance spring (4).

15. Speed regulating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light energy source (5) is a light emitting diode or a phosphorescent or fluorescent component.

16. A mechanical timepiece movement (10), characterized in that it comprises at least one watch or timepiece regulating device (1) comprising a balance (2), a balance bridge (3) and at least one balance spring (4) attached between the balance (2) and the balance bridge (3); said at least one balance spring (4) transmits and diffuses light emitted by at least one light energy source (5) moved out of said governor device (1) and located inside said movement (10), said light energy source being connected to a light relay (50) located in said governor device (1) adjacent to said balance spring (4) through at least one light guide (51) or optical fiber.

17. Timepiece (100) comprising a mechanical timepiece movement (10) according to claim 16 and/or a mechanical movement (10) having at least one regulating device (1) according to claim 1.