When you glint down at yourwatch , you ’re believably not thinking about how differentquartzand liquid crystal are from one another . And you probably should n’t – by the time you ’re done ticking off their contrasts , you might be later to your next appointment . But while lechatelierite and melted crystallization are n’t even in the same state of thing , they have one important commonalty : the average digital vigil or clock wo n’t do work properly without them .
Before we contrast their functions inside of a lookout man , let ’s look at some of the place of each substance . Quartzis one of the most abundant minerals find on the surface of the earth . know by the chemical namesilicon dioxide , crystal is a crystalline upstanding used as a component in jewelry and sandpaper . Quartz crystals are also a common component in equipment like cellphone earpiece , telly receiver , and , of course , watch and clocks . One of the main reasons vitreous silica is used in so many electronic devices is because it ispiezoelectric , meaning it generates an electric charge when pressure is exert upon it . Quartz also march a rearward piezoelectric gist : When an electric charge is applied to a crystal crystallization , it start vibrate . As we ’ll see , these attributes become very crucial when it comes to keeping time .
Liquid crystals , on the other hired man , are not a singular substance . First discovered in the 19th hundred by scientist trying to set the molecular weighting of cholesterol , liquid lechatelierite are actually a categorisation of compounds that comprise a quaternary state of matter : The rod- or plate - work molecules in swimming crystals tend to flow like liquids , but keep the alignment and order seen in solid [ germ : Nobelprize.org ] . You ’ve likely noticed that LCDs – also know as liquid watch glass displays – are commonplace in computers , televisions and a boniface of other piece of technology . That ’s because fluid quartz mote have optical properties that can affect visible light when it die through them . The first watch with a liquid crystal display appeared in 1973 [ root : The New York Times ] .
Now that we roll in the hay about the different property of quartz and liquid crystal , rent ’s look at how each of them function inside of a spotter .
The Role of Quartz
Let ’s review the basic components that a sentry or clock needs to function correctly :
retrieve that we ’re talking specifically about digitalquartz watchesand clocks . These are different from the mechanically skillful watches that must be meander regularly and do not usually contain lechatelierite , and they ’re unlike from the analogue watches and clocks that utilise gears to ride the hands along a typeface , which typically do n’t comprise liquid lechatelierite .
Quartz functions as the timekeeping mechanism . First introduced into watches by Seiko in 1969 , quartz watch glass have become stock for modern watch manufacturers in the decades since [ beginning : Seiko ] . The quartz used in watches vibrates at a very high frequency . This translates to peachy accuracy : The clip displayed on a quartz watch might deviate from real time by just a few seconds in a give calendar month [ source : Lombardi ] . Additionally , because lechatelierite is piezoelectric , it require very little top executive to vibrate , enabling a single alkalinebatteryto world power a quartz watch for age on end .
quartz glass works in tandem with the watch ’s incorporate electric circuit . In short , the stamp battery sends a small electric charge to the desegregate tour , which is attached to a quartz oscillator with a span of tiny electrode . The circuit go along the electricity through to the crystal oscillator and it set about vibrating . The vitreous silica oscillator used in watch have been standardized to vibrate 32,768 time per endorsement , or at a frequency of 32.768 kHz . The structured circle is programmed to count the vibrations of the oscillator and measure the intervals – seconds , moment , hour and so on . At each interval , the circuit transmits an electric pulse .
And where does this pulse go ? The liquid crystal display . How does liquid quartz glass showing number on a digital watch face ? Read on to find out .
The Role of Liquid Crystal
While quartz measures the passage of fourth dimension in micro - moments that are imperceptible to humans , swimming crystalhelps depict the passage of meter on the presentation in ways we can easily comprehend .
We mentioned earlier that liquid crystals have optic properties that make them a favor component ofLCDscreens . Liquid vitreous silica nub are classified on a spectrum between self-colored and limpid , count on their individual characteristic . The most common character of display used for LCD screen on a digital watch is call atwisted nematic ( TN ) display . The molecules that make up the swimming crystal in this show are arranged in a twisted , spiral shape . But the chemical substance can be untwisted by apply an outside personnel – like an electrical pulse – which will affect the light passing through them .
An LCD on a picket essentially sandwiches liquid crystal chemical between two electrically conduct trash denture , with polarization filters impound to each plateful and orient 90 degree to one another . The fluent crystal speck naturally run parallel to the polarisation filter , allowing the illumination from ambient brightness to reflect off of a mirror come out underneath the polarizer – this is what gives the LCD its silver coming into court . However , applying an galvanic cathexis to the liquid vitreous silica changes their corpuscle ' orientation to run vertical to the polarisation filter , and the filter absorbs all of the spark , leaving black cell on the exhibit .
When the mix circuit unloose those electric pulses after every second , hour , 60 minutes and other intervals measure by the quartz oscillator , it communicates with the LCD to turn over parts of the LCD on and off . The LCD is divided into a series of seven- or 14 - segment sections , and each seven - section section conveys a numeral zero through nine . The combination of sections can expose the passage of time from 12:15 to 12:16 , for example , or 1:00 to 2:00 . ( By virtue of let more electric cell , 14 - section sections can let out letter of the alphabet as well as numbers . )
As you may see , quartz and liquid vitreous silica are very unlike substances serving very different design when it add up to keeping time . But without both of them working together , we ’d credibly be running late .
The great surprisal during my inquiry for this account was the paradox : Liquid crystals and quartz have almost nothing in uncouth , but within the guts of a wristwatch , they depend on one another . I hazard I never consider this , because I have n’t worn a watch in years ( as long as I have my iPhone , I in all probability never will again ) . But it ’s striking to know now that , whenever I encounter someone sporting a quartz sentinel , time is dictated by thousands of micro - vibrations a second ; that we recognize the forward-moving break because brightness decease through filters ; and that this is all going on completely out - of - sight , yet so close to us in a simple piece of engineering that we take for cede . It create me wonder what ’s inside my service department doorway opener .
