What is an atomic digital wall clock?

An atomic clock is one that uses an atomic resonance frequency standard for its timekeeping element. This is the most accurate type of clock there is. Because this clock is so accurate, it is the primary standard for international time distribution services, and it controls GPS satellite signals and the frequency of tv broadcasts.

The atomic digital clocks, like a wall clock, is automatically synchronized to the signal sent out by the U.S. Atomic Clock in Colorado.

What About Their Accuracy?

An atomic digital wall clock maintains such great accuracy that they never need adjusting. It adjusts each day back to the split second, and automatically adjusts for daylight savings time, leap year, and changes in time zones. How great of accuracy is that? How about only losing one second every 80 million years!

And Their History?

Atomic clocks were first built in 1949. But it wasn’t truly accurate – that didn’t come until later, when Louis Essen of the UK made his model in 1955. When that was developed, it was agreed that the second would be based on the atomic clock, rather than the rotation of the Earth around the Sun as it was measured previously.

There have been many versions of digital atomic clocks, both wall and smaller. Some have used hydrogen, caesium, or rubidium. The caesium type is the most revered. The caesium oscillator has become the primary standard for time and frequency measurements throughout the world. Rubidium standard clocks are inexpensive and small, but are only stable for a shorter time period. They are useful in many applications, such as aerospace, portable, and commercial types. Hydrogen type are much more stable for short term applications, but they are less accurate over the long time period.

And The Future?
In August 0f 2004, scientists showed they had made a computer chip sized atomic clock. It was one-hundredth the size of any previously made. It could be used in tiny places, like wristwatches, but would also be good in larger spaces, like a digital alarm clock radio or even a digital atomic wall clock. This new type of atomic clock is more accurate than ever before, utilizing strontium atoms trapped in a laser grid. Its inaccuracy is less than one second in 200 million years. That just might be accurate enough for any of us.

Related posts:

1. Basic Information About Digital Atomic Clocks
2. It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Clock: Atomic Wall Clock
3. See The Time On A Wall Or Ceiling With an Atomic Projection Clock

From those days – and even earlier – to the atomic digital wall clocks available now, the digital alarm clock has gone through many changes.

A Bit Of Digital Alarm Clock History

The very first alarm clock was a very personal one. It was invented by a man named Levi Hutchings in 1787, to wake himself up for work at 4 am. It wasn’t until 1847 that someone else was able to patent an adjustable alarm clock. (That was achieved by Antoine Redier, a French inventor.) Both these devices, however, were of the analog variety, as digital alarm clocks were a long time from being invented.

Analog alarm clocks feature the face and hands, and a bell on top, as you probably recall. The time and alarm time were set by turning a knob on the back.

Digital clocks didn’t come along until 1956, a relative late-comer to the party. And digital clocks with alarms came even later. But current digital alarm clocks can do much more than just tell the time and ring the alarm bell! Now, most digital alarm clocks also include a radio, and all offer other styles of alarms, like buzzing, beeping, or even music. The owner can adjust these features, setting the digital alarm clock to awaken him with music or buzzer.

Also, since many of us don’t really want to get up when the alarm goes off, most digital alarm clocks also have a “snooze” button. If the sleeper pushes the button, the alarm will go off and then back on again after a certain amount of time – like 10 minutes. Usually, that button can be pressed over and over as needed – but be careful when using that feature!

Digital alarm clocks will also help one get to sleep now, offering a “sleep” button, so that the music can play for a certain amount of time while the person is falling asleep. Usually, this can be set for up to an hour, but often allows segments of 15 minutes as well.

Alarms are getting more useful, being wherever we are – they are now found in computers and cell phones. Who knows what the future holds?

Related posts:

1. How To Choose A Digital Alarm Clock Radio
2. Choosing A Digital Travel Alarm Clock?
3. Digital Clock Radios Have Been Around For A Long Time And Are Here To Stay