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(Created page with "== Quartz Crystals and other Oscillators == Many electronic devices need a fixed clock or frequency source to work properly. A quartz crystal is made for this purpose and comes ...") |
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Many electronic devices need a fixed clock or frequency source to work properly. A quartz crystal is made for this purpose and comes as 2-legged unit in a metal case. | Many electronic devices need a fixed clock or frequency source to work properly. A quartz crystal is made for this purpose and comes as 2-legged unit in a metal case. | ||
A quartz crystal works very similar to a tuning fork - generating a "tone" when hit | A quartz crystal works very similar to a tuning fork - generating a "tone" when hit and thus deliver this tone - a frequency - in a very stable manner. This tone is usually not audible, far above the perceptable frequency range of the ear. Quartzes are available from several kHz (might be audible) up to several 100 MHz. The frequency of a quartz is in fact a mechanical oscillation - directly translated into an oscillating voltage. Hitting a quartz crystal can cause disturbances or in very sensitive equipment crash it (very uncommon). | ||
Most important is the frequency of the quartz. If the frequency is too high the circuit runs too fast - the circuit is overclocked. The same happens if the frequency is too low - the circuit runs slower than expected. You can try to replace quartz crystals in toys which create sounds - they'll be pitched up or down. | Most important is the frequency of the quartz. If the frequency is too high the circuit runs too fast - the circuit is overclocked. The same happens if the frequency is too low - the circuit runs slower than expected. You can try to replace quartz crystals in toys which create sounds - they'll be pitched up or down. |
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