Definition

Noun: A thin plate or small rod of quartz that has been precisely cut and ground to vibrate at a specific, constant frequency when an electric voltage is applied. This property makes it essential for generating precise timing signals in electronic circuits, most commonly in crystal oscillators.

Usage

A quartz crystal is a component used to control and stabilize the frequency of electronic oscillators. It is the core element that provides the accurate timing reference in devices like watches, clocks, computers, radios, and communication equipment.

Examples

• The quartz crystal in this watch ensures it keeps very accurate time.
• The circuit designer selected a 16 MHz quartz crystal for the microcontroller.
• The stability of the radio transmitter's frequency depends on the quality of its quartz crystal.

Advanced Usage

• "To oscillate at its resonant frequency": This describes the fundamental operation of a quartz crystal when excited by an electrical signal.
  • When voltage is applied, the quartz crystal oscillates at its precise resonant frequency.
• "Cut" (as in AT-cut, SC-cut): Refers to the specific angle at which the crystal is sliced from the raw quartz, which determines its frequency, temperature stability, and other properties.
  • An AT-cut quartz crystal is commonly used in consumer electronics.

Variants and Related Words

• Crystal Oscillator (noun): The complete electronic circuit that uses the quartz crystal to generate a clock signal. (This is a compound term where the crystal is a component).
• Crystal (noun): In electronics, this is often used as a shortened, informal term for a quartz crystal.
  • The microcontroller needs an external crystal to run.
• Resonator (noun): A more general term for a device that exhibits resonance; a quartz crystal is a type of piezoelectric resonator.

Synonyms

• Piezoelectric crystal: A more technical term highlighting the material property (piezoelectricity) that allows the crystal to convert electrical energy to mechanical vibration and vice versa.
• Timing crystal: A descriptive synonym emphasizing its primary function.

Related Phrases/Concepts

• Frequency stability: A key performance metric for a quartz crystal, describing how little its oscillation frequency varies with temperature, aging, or other factors.
• Crystal holder: The package or enclosure that houses and protects the quartz crystal and provides electrical connections.

Noun

1. a thin plate or small rod of quartz cut along certain lines and ground so that it can produce an electric signal at a constant frequency; used in crystal oscillators