Challenge for 2025: Discrete Component Division Chain Using a Single Hertz
=================================================================================
In a groundbreaking development for the world of timekeeping, Bobricius has created a 15-stage discrete transistor divider chain that serves as the timing generator for a quartz clock. This innovative design contributes to generating a 1 Hz pulse train, a crucial component for accurate timekeeping.
The divider chain, replicated 15 times on a PCB, forms a 4x4 grid with an oscillator circuit at its heart. Each stage in the chain divides the frequency by two, working systematically to reduce the high-frequency stable oscillator's output from 32.768 kHz to the precise 1 Hz required for timekeeping.
Bobricius's approach demonstrates the systematic reduction of a quartz clock's high-frequency oscillator through discrete electronic steps, creating the precise one-second timing needed for timekeeping. The output 1 Hz pulses can then drive mechanical or digital clock displays while maintaining quartz-accurate timing.
The project is part of the "2025 One Hertz Challenge," an initiative focusing on projects working on one-second cycles. The challenge encourages entries of projects that go "tick and tock," reflecting the rhythmic nature of timekeeping.
For those interested, a video showing all the frequencies in the divider chain can be found below. The video provides a visual representation of the gradual halving of frequency, culminating in the production of an accurate 1 Hz pulse train.
This project continues the trend of using only transistors in the construction of a quartz clock, showcasing Bobricius's commitment to traditional electronics. Moreover, Bobricius measures the frequency at each point in the chain, down to the final second, ensuring the accuracy of the divider chain.
The "2025 One Hertz Challenge" is open for submissions, inviting others to join in the exploration of one-second cycle projects. If you're inspired by Bobricius's work, why not take up the challenge and submit your own project?
The 15-stage discrete transistor divider chain on the PCB, designed by Bobricius, is a component of his quartz clock project participating in the "2025 One Hertz Challenge." This technology-driven innovation systematically reduces the high-frequency oscillator's output, resulting in the accurate 1 Hz pulse train needed for timekeeping.
