(19)
(11) EP 0 874 292 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
03.03.1999 Bulletin 1999/09

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/44

(21) Application number: 98303226.9

(22) Date of filing: 27.04.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: G04C 3/14
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 25.04.1997 JP 109445/97
25.04.1997 JP 109446/97
29.01.1998 JP 16701/98
31.03.1998 JP 86710/98

(71) Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Nakajima, Kenichi
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Satodate, Takayuki
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Matouge, Akihiro
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Inada, Akihiko
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Ishii, Mitsuru
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Koyama, Yoshio
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Suzuki, Shigeo
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Kawata, Masayuki
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Sasaki, Yuko
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)
  • Takakuwa, Eriko
    Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261 (JP)

(74) Representative: Sturt, Clifford Mark et al
Miller Sturt Kenyon 9 John Street
London WC1N 2ES
London WC1N 2ES (GB)

   


(54) Electronic timepiece


(57) To provide an electronic timepiece enabling reliable detection of a state of rotation of an indication wheel such as a date dial.
An ultrasonic motor 1130 has an ultrasonic rotor pinion 1134b. A date dial 1120 is disposed on a main plate 1102 in such a way as to rotate relative thereto. The ultrasonic rotor pinion 1134b is meshed with an intermediate date driving gear wheel 1142a. A date driving wheel 1150 is rotatably disposed on the main plate 1102. A date driving gear wheel 1150b is meshed with an intermediate date driving pinion 1142b. A date driving gear portion 1150b is meshed with a dial gear portion 1120a. A contact point spring 1160 is disposed on a spring guiding portion 1150d. The contact point spring 1160 rotates integrally with the date driving wheel 1150 through the rotation of the date driving wheel 1150. The state of rotation of the date driving wheel 1150 can be detected by contact of the contact point spring 1160 with the contact point pattern 1174.






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