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Why do digital watches use a quartz movement?  Rate Topic 
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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 08:36 am
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YARGH
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I mean, my PC tells time, and it doesn't have a quartz movement in it.  Why can't digital watches just use a simple computer program to do the time function?  And wouldn't this be even more accurate? 

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 10:02 am
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Foster
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I've never owned a PC with an accurate clock.

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 10:12 am
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oagaspar
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same here Foster :D....and what would you use as a power source for this computer program watch?:?

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 10:26 am
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e.avery
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The quartz movement works at such a fast rate of vibration (Hz) that a variation in manufacturing will not affect the percentage of accuracy to any great extent.  They also use very little power excluding the displays power consumption.

So I guess the answer comes down to cost, familiarization with manufacturing methods, and cost.

I know nothing about computers.

 

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 11:14 am
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Skipdawg
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I have a computer program that keeps my clock updated daily online. So a watch with a mini OS of sorts would need the same thing.

 

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 11:49 am
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Paxman
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Foster wrote: I've never owned a PC with an accurate clock.

DITTO!!

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:41 pm
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YARGH
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e.avery wrote: The quartz movement works at such a fast rate of vibration (Hz) that a variation in manufacturing will not affect the percentage of accuracy to any great extent.  They also use very little power excluding the displays power consumption.

So I guess the answer comes down to cost, familiarization with manufacturing methods, and cost.

I know nothing about computers.

 

Well, what about cell phones?  They don't have movements in them.  Mine is always accurate.  I ask this question precisely because I am not an expert on either computers or quartz movements, so I was just wondering if there is an easy explanation.  I mean, if you wrote a program that covered every second of every day in every year in a four-year sequence (to account for leap years) and timed it out to exactly how many seconds that is, then setting the watch would just be a matter of adjusting one's position on the calendar and counting down, chronograph style -- much as a DVD player counts down the seconds of a movie -- not a process of counting forward indeterminably. When you play a DVD, the DVD player can't ever be "wrong" in its countdown, so I'm just wondering why digital timepieces can't/don't work by this same principle. (obviously, I'm not doing anything particularly important at work today).    


 

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:51 pm
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Skipdawg
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Your cell phone time in all modern phones updates with each incoming call.

A computer watch with have to sync with a service to stay accurate just like the atomic watches such as a G-Shock.

It is possible I just can't see it being cost effective. Some day maybe. With such technology never say never. Could already be in the works.  :cool:

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:55 pm
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e.avery
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I only know that my cell phones update the time no matter were I am.

Quartz watches are based on a tech that predates any of the devices you spoke of.  All I know is if the Seiko's of the world could figure out a better and cheaper way to do it they would.

My next quartz is going to be a Citizen.

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:58 pm
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Skipdawg
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Looks like the concept is in the works out there.

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5878002.html

http://jonaslandgren.blogspot.com/2008/01/wristwatch-computer.html

http://www.gadgetizer.com/2007/07/10/suunto-launches-core-computer-wristwatch/

http://www.embedded.com/story/OEG20011011S0074

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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 02:26 pm
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Foster
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Honestly though, if I am not mistaken, computers are controlled by quartz crystals already.

Digital chips and components depend on oscillators to synchronize their clock speed.

These oscillators function on the same principals as a quartz watch.


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 Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 02:30 pm
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YARGH
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Foster wrote: Honestly though, if I am not mistaken, computers are controlled by quartz crystals already.

Digital chips and components depend on oscillators to synchronize their clock speed.

These oscillators function on the same principals as a quartz watch.



If this is true, then it definitely answers my question.  I had no idea that computers (the current technology, anyway) needed to use oscillators.   

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