Seiko Epson Corporation

Joji Kitahara

Hiroyuki Kojima

Makoto Okeya

Noriaki Shimura

Hiroshi Yabe

Tatsuo Hara

Osamu Miyazawa

Takashi Kawaguchi

Yasuhiro Ohshima

Teruhiko Fujisawa

Yasuhiro Oshima

Jun Matsuzaki

Akihiko Maruyama

Nobuhiro Koike

Akihiro Sawada

Shuichi Tamura

Shigeaki Seki

Shoichi Nagao

Tsuneaki Furukawa

Shigeyuki Fujimori

Hidenori Makiba

Tomoo Ueda

Kohei Ohara

A piezoelectric drive device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a rotation transfer device. The piezoelectric actuator includes a vibrator and a rotor that is rotated in one specific direction by the vibrator. The rotation transfer device transmits rotational energy from the rotor to a driven rotating body, and includes an elastic device that stores rotational energy and a rotation limiting device having a drive wheel and a driven wheel. The rotation transfer device allows the driven wheel to rotate a specific angle, and restricts driving the drive wheel. The elastic device and the rotation limiting device are disposed so that rotational energy transmitted from the rotor is transmitted through one to the other of the elastic device and the rotation limiting device. The rotor, the elastic device, and the rotation limiting device render a serial path for transmitting rotational energy.

Piezoelectric drive device and electronic device

An electronic timepiece with a generator function according to a first aspect of the invention has a generator, a storage unit that stores electrical energy produced by the generator, a timekeeping controller that is driven by the electrical energy stored in the storage unit, a time display that is controlled by the timekeeping controller and displays time, a voltage detector that detects the voltage of the storage unit, and a discharge unit that discharges the charge stored in the storage unit when the voltage of the storage unit detected by the voltage detector reaches a preset first setting.

Electronic timepiece with generator function

A timepiece includes a dial having a tens date display window for displaying the tens digit of the date, and a ones date display window for displaying the ones digit of the date; and a calendar mechanism having a tens indicator wheel to which a plurality of tens digit markers are disposed and a ones indicator wheel to which a plurality of ones digit markers are disposed, and which displays one of the plural tens digit markers disposed to the tens indicator wheel from the tens date display window, and displays one of the plural ones digit markers disposed to the ones indicator wheel from the ones date display window. The ones indicator wheel has a ones indicator plate on which the ones digit markers are disposed, and a ones indicator pinion affixed to the ones indicator plate. The tens indicator wheel has a tens indicator plate on which the tens digit markers are disposed, and a tens indicator pinion affixed to the tens indicator plate. The ones indicator pinion is a ring-shaped external tooth wheel having external teeth formed on the outside circumference surface. The tens indicator pinion and a tens intermediate wheel that meshes with and transfers drive power to the tens indicator pinion are disposed in the space on the inside circumference side of the ones indicator pinion.

Timepiece

In an electronic devicecomprising a batteryand a piezoelectric actuator A, a power source voltage before drive control is started is maintained by a sample holding circuita reference voltage is set by a reference voltage generating circuiton the basis of the power source voltage, and a control circuitstops driving when the power source voltage falls below a drive stop voltage as compared by a second comparison circuitand begins driving the piezoelectric actuator A again when the power source voltage exceeds the reference voltage as compared by a first comparison circuitTherefore, the device can be more easily reduced in size by using a small power source, and the driving time can be markedly reduced using an intermittent driving procedure that corresponds to the conditions of the battery voltage.

Drive control apparatus, electronic apparatus, method of controlling drive of electronic apparatus, drive control program, and recording medium

An electronic timepiece with a calendar display function that drives a piezo-electric actuator to drive a rotation of a piezo-electric rotor, and stops the drive of the piezo-electric actuator when the amount of the piezo-electric rotor advances is detected by a spring switch. Photoreflectors are used for day detection accomplished using gears having a small speed reduction ratio relative to the piezo-electric rotor, and spring switches are used in month detection and year detection.

Electronic timepiece with calendar function and control method for same

To provide a piezoelectric actuator whereby impact resistance can be greatly improved without complicating the design or causing a reduction in drive efficiency. When a piezoelectric actuatoris incorporated into a main plate, an arm partof a vibratoris disposed across from a protrusionvia spaces SP, SPhaving specific dimensions. With the presence of these spaces SP, SP, a free end FR moves freely within the spaces SP, SPduring driving, but a vibrating partis captured at the free end FR by the protrusionwhen external impact is applied, and the vibrating partcan therefore be prevented from moving beyond the dimensions of the spaces. Resistance against impact from falling can thereby be easily and greatly improved without reducing the drive efficiency, and the usual difficulty of reconciling both drive efficiency and impact resistance can be resolved.

Piezoelectric actuator and electronic equipment with piezoelectric actuator

An electronic timepiece includes a radio wave receiving antenna () for receiving radio waves, electromagnetic motors () for driving a time display part, a battery (), and a body case for receiving the antenna (), electromagnetic motors (), and the battery (). The antenna (), electromagnetic motors (), and the battery () do not overlap as viewed in the viewing direction of a time display part, that is, they do not overlap two-dimensionally. By such a structure, the electronic timepiece can be thin and flat.

Electronic timepiece and electronic apparatus

A piezoelectric actuator A has an oscillatorthat has a flat base layerand piezoelectric elementslayered on the base layerand oscillates as a result of a drive signal applied to the piezoelectric elements, and a rotordriven by vibrations from the oscillator. The piezoelectric actuator A includes a fastening partfor securing the oscillator, and lead substratesA,B that are secured to the fastening partfor applying a drive signal to the piezoelectric elements from a drive circuitfor driving the piezoelectric elements. The lead substratesA,B have connecting partsA&#x2013;C extending to the power supply electrodesA,C and a detection electrode

Piezoelectric actuator, timepiece, and electronic device

An electronic timepiece with date display function reduces power consumption in conjunction with the user adjusting the date, and makes it easier for the user to set the date. A displayed date detection unit H has a day detector Hfor detecting the displayed day, a month detector Hfor detecting the displayed month, and a year detector Hfor detecting the displayed year. A control unit A controls a calendar mechanism drive unit F according to the date detected by detectors Hto H

Electronic timepiece with a date display function

To provide a portable electronic device which is easily shifted into a power save mode at the discretion of an operator, such as a user, and optimally reduces power consumption in accordance with the current use of the device. An operator can force an electronic device into a power save mode at the operator's discretion by manipulating a control. Electrical energy stored is thus reliably saved in accordance with the usage by the operator, and unnecessary power consumption is efficiently reduced, even more than in a method in which a device automatically stops the time display and is shifted into a power save mode in accordance with the presence or absence of power generation. Setting a time limit within which the operational state of the control needs to be complete, the operator is prevented from erroneously shifting into the power save mode, and the ease of use of the time measurement device is still assured.

Portable electronic device and control method for controlling the portable electronic device

To reduce electric power consumed during the operation of adjusting the indication of time and reduce the time required for the time adjusting operation. Using a second hand driving motor and a hour/minute hand driving motor both capable of rotating in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the indication of time is adjusted by driving the second hand driving motor and the hour/minute hand driving motor at times different from each other. The hand driving method (hand driving direction) is determined on the basis of the time elapsed during the power saving mode measured by a time information adjusting part such that the hands are driven in a direction which results in a reduction in the power consumption or the adjusting time.

Time-measurement device and method of controlling the same

In an electronic unit having a plurality of motors, a reduction in power-supply voltage is suppressed even if the plurality of motors are driven, and a difference in hand moving timing is allowed to be made inconspicuous. An electronic timepiece having a seconds motor for driving a seconds hand and an hour-and-minute motor for driving hour and minute hands, which serves as an electronic unit, moves the seconds hand and the hour and minute hands such that, when a seconds auxiliary pulse signal is output to the seconds motor at the hand moving timing of the seconds hand, control is applied in a way in which neither magnetic-field detection around the hour-and-minute motor nor the rotation detection of the hour-and-minute motor is performed at the hand moving timing of the hour and minute hands, and an hour-and-minute auxiliary pulse signal is output to the hour-and-minute motor.

Electronic unit, and control method for electronic unit

Portable electronic equipment includes a carried-by-user detector for detecting whether the electronic equipment is in a state carried by a user or not. When the electronic equipment is in a state not carried by the user, i.e., when the user is not employing the electronic equipment, an operating mode is shifted from a normal operating mode to a power saving mode to reduce power consumption of the electronic equipment. Useless consumption of power during non-use of the electronic equipment can be thus reduced. Further, in electronic equipment (timepiece) incorporating a power generator for generating power by converting first energy (motion, pressure or heat) into electric energy as second energy, whether the power generator is generating power, i.e., whether the electronic equipment is carried by the user, is detected by a power generation detecting circuit, and when a non-power-generation time exceeds a predetermined time, the operating mode is shifted to the power saving mode, thereby reducing power consumption. Accordingly, the electronic equipment (timepiece) can be provided with which when the electronic equipment is in the state not carried by the user or when the electronic equipment is in the state not carried by the user and in a state of not generating power, the operating mode of the electronic equipment is shifted to the power saving mode and energy can be saved without inconveniencing the user.

Electronic equipment and control method for electronic equipment

In an electronic device having a stepping motor which can be driven more quickly than in a normal driving operation without causing a significant increase in power consumption, a detecting coil control circuit is provided which controls a connection circuit serving to open and close a detecting coil that is wound coaxially with a driving coil, in such a manner that the detecting coil is opened during the period in which a quick driving pulse is supplied to the driving coil. After supplying the quick driving pulse, a driving controller controls a driving circuit so as to open the driving coil, while the driving controller closes the detecting coil so that a voltage induced in the detecting coil by an electromotive force is detected by a position detecting circuit thereby determining the position of a rotor. The chance that the driving coil and the detecting coil act as electromagnetic brakes is minimized thereby ensuring that the quick driving operation is performed with low power consumption. During the quick driving operation in which the rotor rotates at a high speed, the position of the rotor is monitored thereby ensuring that the quick driving operation is performed in a stable fashion. Additionally, the timing of the delivery of the driving pulses may be varied in response to a measured voltage.

Electronic device and method of controlling the same

In an electronic watch including a so-called automatic winding dynamo, structures of parts themselves and layout of the parts are improved to achieve a reduction in thickness of the electronic watch. Bearing portions for a rotational shaft (,) of a dynamo rotor (,) are made up of hole jewels (,) and ring-shaped caps (,). The cap (,) covers, from the outer side, one end surface (,) of the hole jewel (,) which locates on the side facing a dynamo rotor (,), and defines a lubricant holding annular slot (G,) between the cap and an outer circumferential surface of the rotational shaft (,). Accordingly, even with the dynamo rotor (,) rotating at a high speed, a lubricant is prevented from scattering to the surroundings from the annular slot (G,). Spacings between adjacent parts can be narrowed and the thickness of the electronic watch can be reduced.

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Shiojiri, Japan

Joji Kitahara