An electronic watch includes: a step motor; a driving pulse generator circuit configured to output a driving pulse for driving the step motor; a detection pulse generator circuit configured to output a detection pulse for detecting rotation of the step motor; a correction pulse generator circuit configured to output a correction pulse; a pulse selection circuit configured to select and output the driving pulse, the detection pulse, and the correction pulse; a driver circuit configured to supply to the step motor the outputs from the pulse selection circuit; and a rotation detection circuit configured to receive a detection signal generated by the detection pulse to judge rotation of the step motor. The electronic watch further includes a driving interval switch circuit configured to switch a driving interval of the driving pulse between a normal driving interval and a high-speed driving interval. The rotation detection circuit is capable of changing a detection condition by the driving interval switch circuit.

An electronic watch includes: a step motor; a driving pulse generator circuit configured to output a driving pulse for driving the step motor; a detection pulse generator circuit configured to output a detection pulse for detecting rotation of the step motor; a correction pulse generator circuit configured to output a correction pulse; a pulse selection circuit configured to select and output the driving pulse, the detection pulse, and the correction pulse; a driver circuit configured to supply to the step motor the outputs from the pulse selection circuit; and a rotation detection circuit configured to receive a detection signal generated by the detection pulse to judge rotation of the step motor. The electronic watch further includes a driving interval switch circuit configured to switch a driving interval of the driving pulse between a normal driving interval and a high-speed driving interval. The rotation detection circuit is capable of changing a detection condition by the driving interval switch circuit.

A stepping motor control circuit includes a drive pulse generation section that generates forward-rotation drive pulses that drive a stepping motor stepwise in a forward rotation direction and reverse-rotation drive pulses that drive the stepping motor stepwise in a reverse rotation direction and a forward/reverse rotation switching control section that switches the drive pulses outputted to the stepping motor from one of the forward-rotation drive pulses and the reverse-rotation drive pulses to the other, and the forward/reverse rotation switching control section switches the drive pulses outputted to the stepping motor from one of the forward-rotation drive pulses and the reverse-rotation drive pulses to the other and then provide a predetermined period before the other drive pulses are outputted to the stepping motor.

A stepping motor control circuit includes a drive pulse generation section that generates forward-rotation drive pulses that drive a stepping motor stepwise in a forward rotation direction and reverse-rotation drive pulses that drive the stepping motor stepwise in a reverse rotation direction and a forward/reverse rotation switching control section that switches the drive pulses outputted to the stepping motor from one of the forward-rotation drive pulses and the reverse-rotation drive pulses to the other, and the forward/reverse rotation switching control section switches the drive pulses outputted to the stepping motor from one of the forward-rotation drive pulses and the reverse-rotation drive pulses to the other and then provide a predetermined period before the other drive pulses are outputted to the stepping motor.

A driving processor for driving a motor having a rotor and one or more coils for rotating the rotor is configured to generate a detection pulse for detecting whether or not the rotor has rotated; cause the generated detection pulse to be applied to at least one of the one or more coils; receive a signal indicating a detected value of current flowing in the at least one of the one or more coils after the detection pulse has been outputted to the at least one of the one or more coils; and determine whether or not the rotor has rotated to one or more prescribed positions on the basis of the detected value of current.

A driving device includes a stepping motor having a rotor, a coil for rotating the rotor, and a processor that drives the stepping motor. The processor generates a driving pulse for rotating the rotor of the stepping motor to a prescribed position, and outputs the driving pulse to the coil; and generates a rotation assistance pulse for rotating the rotor of the stepping motor at a prescribed speed, and outputs the rotation assistance pulse to the coil, after outputting the driving pulse but before EMF is produced by the rotation of the rotor of the stepping motor caused by the driving pulse.

A driving device includes a stepping motor having a rotor, a coil for rotating the rotor, and a processor that drives the stepping motor. The processor generates a driving pulse for rotating the rotor of the stepping motor to a prescribed position, and outputs the driving pulse to the coil; and generates a rotation assistance pulse for rotating the rotor of the stepping motor at a prescribed speed, and outputs the rotation assistance pulse to the coil, after outputting the driving pulse but before EMF is produced by the rotation of the rotor of the stepping motor caused by the driving pulse.

A linear drive for pigmentation devices, comprising a stator, an air gap which is provided in the stator and is formed so as to be offset in a defined manner, an electric coil within the stator, said coil being designed to produce a concentration of the magnetic flux in the air gap as a result of the coil being energized, an armature which is designed to carry out sliding axial movements in the stator, and a permanent magnet which is captively connected to the armature.

There is provided a timepiece including a high-load rotation position detection unit that detects a high-load rotation position that is a rotation position of a wheel when a rotational load of a rotor that transmits rotor's rotation to the wheel and rotates a pointer clockwise is greater than that during normal hand movement and a drive signal output unit that outputs a sub-drive signal having energy greater than that of a main drive signal that is output during the normal hand movement and less than that of an auxiliary drive signal that is output when the rotor does not rotate by the main drive signal in a case where the rotation position of the wheel is the high-load rotation position.

There is provided a timepiece including a high-load rotation position detection unit that detects a high-load rotation position that is a rotation position of a wheel when a rotational load of a rotor that transmits rotor's rotation to the wheel and rotates a pointer clockwise is greater than that during normal hand movement and a drive signal output unit that outputs a sub-drive signal having energy greater than that of a main drive signal that is output during the normal hand movement and less than that of an auxiliary drive signal that is output when the rotor does not rotate by the main drive signal in a case where the rotation position of the wheel is the high-load rotation position.