Electronic watch

An electronic timepiece, comprising:

• an oscillator circuit for generating an oscillatory time standard signal;
• a divider circuit receptive of the oscillatory time standard signal for generating a plurality of repetitive pulse output signals having different respective frequencies;
• pulse generating means receptive of the pulse output signals from said divider circuit for generating a detecting pulse signal, a reversing pulse signal and a reference pulse signal having predetermined relative timings determined by the pulse output signals from said divider circuit;
• a stepping motor having a rotor and a coil for receiving electrical driving pulses;
• a drive circuit responsive to a control signal for applying electrical driving pulses having polarities determined by the control signal for rotating said stepping motor rotor;
• control circuit means responsive to output pulses from said pulse generating means and having a normal operating mode for applying to said drive circuit the control signal effective to control said drive circuit to apply alternate polarity electrical drive pulse to said stepping motor coil to rotate said stepping motor rotor in a normal direction;
• mechanical display means driven by said stepping motor for displaying time, said mechanical display means including a time-indicating hand which changes position to indicate the value of a unit of time;
• reset circuit means including a manually operable switch for resetting said divider circuit to correct the time kept by the timepiece;
• means actuated by said manually operable switch for stopping said time-indicating hand at one of a plurality of spaced predetermined positions when said divider circuit is reset by said reset circuit means;
• and rotor position detecting means for detecting whether said stepping motor is in a position to rotate in response to a forthcoming electrical drive pulse after said divider circuit has been reset by said reset circuit means and for generating and applying an electrical signal to said control circuit means which indicates whether or not said stepping motor rotor is in a position to rotate, and said control circuit means being responsive to the electrical signal generated by said rotor position detecting means for applying a driving pulse having a polarity effective to rotate said stepping motor rotor after said divider circuit has been reset.