Timepiece comprising a mechanical oscillator associated with a regulation system

A timepiece, comprising:

• a mechanism,
• a mechanical resonator suitable for oscillating about a neutral position corresponding to the minimal mechanical potential energy state thereof, each oscillation of the mechanical resonator defining an oscillation period and having two successive alternations each between two extreme positions which define the oscillation amplitude of the mechanical resonator, each alternation having a passage of the mechanical resonator via the neutral position thereof at a median time and consisting of a first half-alternation between an initial time of said alternation and the median time thereof and a second half-alternation between said median time and an end time of said alternation,
• a maintenance device of the mechanical resonator forming with said mechanical oscillator a mechanical oscillator which defines the running speed of said mechanism,
• an electromechanical transducer arranged to be able to convert mechanical power from the mechanical oscillator into electrical power when the mechanical resonator oscillates with an amplitude in an effective functioning range, said electromechanical transducer being formed by an electromagnetic assembly comprising at least one coil, mounted on a mechanical assembly consisting of the mechanical resonator and a support thereof, and at least one magnet mounted on the mechanical assembly, the electromagnetic assembly being arranged so as to be able to supply an induced voltage signal between two output terminals of the electromechanical transducer when the mechanical resonator oscillates with an amplitude in said effective functioning range,
• an electric converter connected to the two output terminals of the electromechanical transducer so as to be able to receive an induced electric current from said electromechanical transducer, said electric converter comprising a power supply unit arranged to be able to store the electrical energy supplied by the electromechanical transducer, said electromechanical transducer and the electric converter forming a braking device of the mechanical resonator together,
• a load connected or suitable for being regularly connected to the electric converter so as to be able to be powered by the power supply unit,
• a regulating device for regulating the frequency of the mechanical oscillator, said regulating device comprising an auxiliary oscillator and a measuring device arranged to be able to detect a potential time drift of the mechanical oscillator relative to the auxiliary oscillator, the regulating device being arranged to be able to determine whether the time drift measured corresponds to at least one certain gain;
• wherein the power supply unit comprises a first power supply capacitor and a second power supply capacitor, both arranged to be able to power said load, and the electric converter is formed by a first electrical energy storage circuit, which comprises the first power supply capacitor and which is arranged to be able to recharge said first power supply capacitor merely with a voltage having a first polarity at the input of the electric converter, and by a second electrical energy storage circuit which comprises the second power supply capacitor and which is arranged to be able to recharge said second power supply capacitor merely with a voltage having a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, at the input of the electric converter, the braking device being arranged such that a quantity of electrical energy supplied during recharging to the first power supply capacitor, respectively to the second power supply capacitor increases as the voltage level of said first power supply capacitor, respectively of said second power supply capacitor lowers;
• wherein the braking device is arranged such that said induced voltage signal has in each oscillation period of the mechanical oscillator, when said oscillation amplitude is included in the effective functioning range, at least one first interval, situated in the two first half-alternations, wherein said induced voltage signal has said first polarity and at least one second interval, situated in the two second half-alternations, wherein said induced voltage signal has said second polarity, the braking device being further arranged such that, for each oscillation of the mechanical transducer with an amplitude in said effective functioning range, recharging of the first power supply capacitor, as applicable, takes place mostly generally in the two first half-alternations and recharging of the second power supply capacitor, as applicable, takes place mostly generally in the two second half-alternations;
• wherein the regulating device comprises a load pump arranged to be able to transfer on request electric loads from the first power supply capacitor to the second power supply capacitor;
• and
• wherein the regulating device further comprises a logic circuit for controlling the load pump which receives as an input a measurement signal supplied by the measuring device and which is arranged so as to activate the load pump so that the logic control circuit transfers a first electric load from the first power supply capacitor to second power supply capacitor when the time drift measured corresponds to said at least one certain gain.