Самые распространённые в последние годы часы - electromechanical products on the wall or on the hand, in which electronics and mechanics are combined. A mechanism with arrows has been preserved from ordinary mechanical watches, but the impulse of rotation is given to the arrow by a non-compressed spring with a pendulum wheel, and a quartz crystal through which an electric current is passed.
The invention of quartz watches
The first clock based on the oscillation mechanismquartz crystal were created in the late 20-ies of the last century by the Canadian engineer VA Morrison. But mass production began only at the beginning of the second half of the XX century. The basis is the ability of the quartz crystal to change its geometry under the influence of an electric current, to oscillate. In this case, the oscillations occur with a constant amplitude, which is required to ensure the accuracy and stability of the clock.
Quartz watches can be wall, wrist and desktop. The latter are usually alarms. According to the way information is submitted, the clock can be:
- electromechanical;
- electronic;
- mixed.
Electromechanical look like ordinarymechanical, with arrows. In the electronic clock, instead of the arrows on the front surface, an electronic display is placed on which the information provided by the device is displayed. This can be the current time, calendar or anything else, depending on the complexity of the model. In the mixed clock, a small window with an electronic scoreboard is placed within the dial, on which the time is duplicated by default. Switching using the buttons modes, you can display the temperature of the ambient air, turn on the stopwatch, set the alarm ... In principle, any imagination can realize the Quartz watch. A photo of one of the many is placed below.
In some models, the arrows also perform the compass function.
Experiments
In 1982, the Japanese company Seiko releasedQuartz wristwatch with built-in TV. In 1985, too, the Japanese Casio began selling watches with a calculator, and two years later - powered by solar cells. Then came the watch from several manufacturers with alarm clocks that played various tunes. The next step was to create a clock with a notebook, MP3 player and even a TV remote control. For travelers there were watches with GPS-navigation and a conclusion to the map of the terrain, there were models with a mini-radio. For athletes - a clock with a heart rate gauge, for fishermen - with an echosounder to determine where the fish is located. Even watches were issued - mobile phones and watches with a video camera.
Mass production
Simple, cheap enough, but at the same timeThe exact mechanism allowed to produce Quartz watches of a very different purpose. At the same time, any company can arrange the release of this accessory even without the presence of a watchmaker in the state of watchmaking. The main thing is to buy in bulk ready-made quartz mechanisms and insert them into any suitable case with a dial. I remember an old Soviet anecdote about my grandmother, who came to the store to buy a cuckoo clock on the wall, and asked to "surrender those little ones that are under the glass". Only now you can buy any favorite wall clock Quartz with a dial, decorated in the form of berries or vegetables - for a dacha, or as a plate with arrow-knives - for the kitchen ...
The market of wrist watches also allows you to purchase cheap options from unknown producers, and expensive from world-famous Swiss or Japanese firms.
Quartz watch movement
For wall clocks a mass standard scheme is used with battery powered type AA. The difference can only be caused by the way information is delivered, through arrows or an electronic scoreboard.
They are usually used for interior decorationkitchen in the house, at the dacha or office, so that you can find out the current time, just glancing briefly. Therefore, watch manufacturers do not usually overload products with unnecessary functions in such cases. Although there are exceptions, when a thermometer and a barometer are built in the clock.
The mechanism of wristwatches from different manufacturers can differ more strongly. It depends on the size of the body, and on the option - with arrows or a scoreboard.
It can be a clock with a simple time display mechanism, and can be with a thermometer, with a compass, with a barometer, a stopwatch. There are options where there is "all in one".
