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| Joined: | Thu Jun 18th, 2009 |
| Location: | Rochester, New York USA |
| Posts: | 73 |
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I wonder if Seiko is using a Phase Locked Loop or Phase Locked oscialltor with the mechanical movement as the oscillator (the way you would build a crystal oscillator?).
Most electronics, especially timers and clocks require a reference of some kind. A PLL that uses a mechanical oscillator feeding a piezoeelctric element might do the trick. They could then take the piezoelectric element to convert the electrical regulated impulse back to a mechanical vibration which would be very tricky, but could be highly accurate. But it would be typical quartz unless the piezoelectric elements were thermocompensated.
The thing that makes me scratch my head, I cannot see a way to have an electric circuit without a reference of some kind, or at least a piezoelectric electrical/mechanical converter?
Oh, and I am not a big fan of the quartz tick-tick-tick, but my favorite watch in my collection (gold/stainless Cyma quartz c 2000 as I got as a gift) has it.
KenC wrote:
JKang wrote:Seiko Spring Drive?
There is a lot of confusion about the Seiko Spring Drive...It is NOT a quartz movement. It is a completely mechanical movement that has a micro-chip in it to regulate (on a "real time" basis) the release of the mainspring to produce "quartz-like" accuracy. It is much like the engine of a car that uses micro-chips/computers to regulate functions of the engine like timing, fuel consumption, cylinder usage, etc. The car is still powered by an engine and not by the computer.
Last edited on Wed Aug 5th, 2009 10:05 am by Bromo33333