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Quartz watches with Light Emitting Diode display [LED]
Two types of quartz watches without moving parts will be described. In this paragraph:
Watches with a light emitting diode or LED display. In the next paragraph: Watches with a
liquid crystal display or LCD. All these watches use a quartz crystal as a time-base, a
binary frequency-divider, no stepping motor and no hands but an integrated circuit (the
display driver), which composes a visible time indication on the display. In 1976, Hughes
Aircraft Co. was the world's largest producer of LED modules with 1.5 million pieces.
A light emitting diode is a semiconductor diode. The dimensions are from 0.3 to 1 mm.
The time is displayed by pushing the crown of the watch. The electrical current will start
to flow through the diode and while the electrons stream from the N-area into the P-area,
some of these electrons will "fall" into the holes of the P-area. This process
is called recombination. The energy which is released this way, will be converted into
warmth or light, depending on the composure of the diode. For instance a combination of 40
% gallium phosphide and 60 % gallium arsenide on a gallium arsenide substrate will result
in a bright red light. Normally the display will contain four digits of seven segments
each. Each segment consists of four or five light emitting diodes. Because the electrical
current consumption of these watches ranges from 10 mA, without display, to 10 mA in the
dark and 100 mA in full light, the two batteries need to be replaced twice a year. This is
the main reason the production stopped within a few years after first release. From that
time the Liquid Crystal Display watch (LCD) with an energy consumption during display a
few thousand times lower than that of a LED watch, started to dominate the market for at
least the following 15 years.
Hamilton Pulsar
1970
On May 6th, the Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster Pennsylvania USA,shows the
international press prototypes of the first fully electronic wristwatch in the world: the
Pulsar Time Computer. It becomes the first watch in the world without any moving parts. M.
Thiess was the most important instigator for the development of this watch. The electronic
module was produced by Electro Data Incorporation, Garland Texas USA and by RACES. The LED
displays originated from Litronix, the reed relays from HamlinUSA and the red crystal from
Corning Glass, New York USA. The case of the prototypes had been designed by the sculptor
Ernest Trove of St. Louis. The watch has a calendar with programmed length of the
month.This prototype of the Pulsar had 40 different integrated circuits and a battery of
4,5 V which had to be recharged every six months. Often publications can be found with an
illustration of a LED watch with the name "Hamilton" above the crystal. These
are prototypes. Only watches with the name "Pulsar" came into production. At the
moment the press conference was given, Hamilton only had three working prototypes of the
Pulsar.
1971
The production starts with a limited series in 18 carat gold at a price of US $ 1500.
The Pulsars go on sale just before Christmas.
1972
The normal production of steel and goldfilled models starts in August 1972.Moving parts
had now been eliminated and the total number of the parts was only 18, including the
batteries. The first models (movement 101, 102and 401) have a magnetic setting and one
button on the right. The magnet is stored in the clip of the bracelet. In order to set the
hours, a magnet needs to be placed on the letters "HR" at the back of the watch.
To set the minutes, the magnet needs to be placed at the spot marked "MIN".The
later models could easily be adjusted by pushing the buttons once,twice or three times.
Movements no. 401 and 4000, sold from 1974, have another special feature; the auto command
system. When you move your arm with a very brisk and swift motion, the watch will display
the time for1.25 seconds. The result of this sharp movement is that a drop of mercury in a
small sealed glass tube makes electrical contact between the two metal wire ends at
one end of the tube. The case of the Pulsar is hermetically closed. The buttons contain
magnets which can close a contact by means of a reed-relay. Three photo-electric
cells measure the light intensity and adapt the brightness of the LEDs to diminish
the expenditure of energy.Many famous personalities possessed a Pulsar: Roger Moore (James
Bond in the film "Live and Let Die"), Leonid Brezjnef, Haili Selassie, Sammie
Davisand the Shah of Iran.
1974
The first ladies' watches are sold.The first auto command Pulsar watches are marketed
in July of this year.During the first four years after its release, 50,000 Pulsars are
sold.
1975
On January 1st the Pulsar Time Computer is given a different name land from then on
only sold under the brand name "Omega Time Computer".
1977
The prices of LED watches are reduced due to overproduction in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Production stops when Hamilton loses approximately six million dollars on the entire
operation, goes into bankruptcy and splits up.
There is a rare ladies' watch of which the LED display will light up at the slightest
touch of a fingertip. No button to push. Unknown date of release. Eventually the LED
modules by Pulsar were used by only three companies: Omega (Time Computer), Hamilton (QCT)
and Wittnauer (Polara Quartz Digital).
The numbers of the movements for men's watches are: 102, 104, 401, 402, 403, 406, 4000
and 4302. The ladies' movements are identified by the following reference numbers: 101 and
4300. The Pulsar Time Computer Calculator and the Pulsar Pulse Time Computer will be dealt
with in the section "Multifunctional Watches". The history of these watches has
been covered extensively in Don Saunders" book ̉Time for Americả.
Fairchild
Huges Aircraft and Uranus, both used the same modules with a LED display produced by
Fairchild. The patents of HMW (Hamilton Pulsar) created numerous problems, therefore a
special agreement needed to be made for further continuation of production.
These modules were used by:
- 1973
Elgin USA starts selling the "American Minicom", the "American" and
the"Helbros Minicom" in January. The first watches, made of solid gold, were
exclusively produced for Tiffany Co. (Basle Fair 1973). The module was manufactured by
Uranus.
- 1973
Croton Time Corporation USA releases the "Terrestrial Quartz".
- 1973
The company "Micro Electronics Products" of Hughes Aircraft sells a LED watch
called "Digitime".
- 1973
The "Solitron" of Solitron Devices, New York, with a watchcase of solid
gold,is released and immediately taken off the market again.
- 1973
The "Synchronar" produced by the electronic firm Ness Time, Mountain View
California, will be dealt with in the paragraph about solar watches.
Different manufacturers
- 1973
The "Time Computer" of Omega, caliber 1600, is marketed in 1973 and presented
for the first time by Omega at the Basle Fair of 1972. It is the same module as the Pulsar
Time Computer caliber 102 with a magnetic setting. The 1601 (1972), 1602 (1974) and 1603
(1975) were soon to follow Omega's "Time Computer".
- 1974
Texas Instruments introduces its own line of LED watches at the CES in Chicago. These
were the first cheaper LED watches to be sold for less than US $ 100,-.
- 1975
The Bulova Accuquartz Digital LED caliber 228 is presented at the Basle Fair of 1975.
This movement has been applied in the the "Swissonic 2000" line.
- 1974
Caliber ESA 9290 with lateral time display is introduced at the 1974 Basle Fair. The
movement was sold by Jaz, France and Mido, Switzerland.
- 1975
The "Quartz Crystron LED" (cal. 9002), the first LED watch to be produced by
Citizen is marketed.
- 1976
The production of a small ladies' caliber ESA 9370 LED starts. The modules are put to
use in watches produced by, amongst others,Certina and Jaz.
- 1976
The LED Touchtron produced by Orient becomes a novelty.When the watch crystal is
slightly touched by a fingertip, the LED lights up.Jaz and others followed.
Other early LED watch manufacturers are Ricoh Watch, Quantum, Computer Crown, Hudson
Harris, New-Port, Nivada (Quartzonic) and Ledo.
The first Russian LED watch to be brought on the market is the 2651.
The Russian Company Tegrov sells a peculiar LED imitation watch with a red glass, a
small light bulb and fluorescent numbers which give the impression of a LED display.
- 1976
The "Futur" of Zenith Time S.A. is introduced at the 1976 Basle Fair. A
quartz watch with caliber no. 47 or 470 to 473 equipped with hands and a small two digit
LED display that indicates the date or the seconds. It also shows time indication
"am" or "pm".
Waltham manufactures a LED watch with a display that elevates itself and becomes
visible at the touch of a button on the side of the watch.
- 1976
The Nepro Quartz XJ-S watch inspired by the Jaguar XJ-S car is produced.
Copyright © 1994-1995 Pieter Doensen.
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