Electronic timepiece with system for synchronizing hands

An electronic timepiece, comprising:

• timekeeping circuit means comprising a timebase signal source and counter circuit means for counting said timebase signal to produce a count value representing current information and a timekeeping signal comprising a pulse train;
• control signal generating means comprising externally operable mode selecting switch means for producing a plurality of control signals including control signals for selectively establishing a normal mode and a hands position correction mode of operation, and externally operable correction switch means for producing correction signals;
• hands display means comprising time indicating hands and hands advancement means for rotating said hands;
• hands drive control circuit means responsive to said control signals and said timekeeping signal in said normal mode for periodically applying drive input signal pulses to said hands advancement means for advancing said hands to thereby indicate time information, and comprising hands position memory circuit means for storing a count value which is periodically incremented by said drive input signal pulses during said normal mode, circuit means acting upon initiation of said hands position correction mode for applying rapid advancement signal pulses simultaneously to said hands advancement means and said hands position memory circuit means, reference time value detection circuit means coupled to said hands position memory circuit means for detecting when the count therein reaches a reference time value and responsive to said detection for acting to terminate application of said rapid advancement signal pulses to said hands advancement means and hands position memory circuit means, said hands advancement means being thereafter responsive to said correction signals for enabling setting of said hands to indicate said reference time value, said hands drive control circuit means being responsive to changeover from said hands position correction mode to said normal mode for applying said rapid advancement signal pulses simultaneously to said hands advancement means and hands position memory circuit means and moreover comprising coincidence detection means operable following the latter changeover for comparing the count value in said hands position memory circuit means with said count value in said timekeeping circuit means and responsive to coincidence being reached therebetween for terminating application of said rapid advancement signal pulses to said hands advancement means and hands position memory circuit means, said hands drive control circuit means acting thereafter to apply said timekeeping signal simultaneously to said hands advancement means and hands position memory circuit means to thereby synchronously update the count value in said hands position memory circuit means and the time displayed by said hands while maintaining said count value in correspondence with said displayed time.