|
Term |
Definition |
| Ascending alarm |
This type of alarm is a beeping
sound. It starts off soft and gradually gets louder. |
| Atomic Clock |
The time on these clocks are
corrected on a regular basis by a signal from a regional
station. In the United States, the signal is transmitted
from Fort Collins, Colorado. Clocks with this
feature contain a chip that is specific to the region.
Clocks made for the US market will not function correctly in
Europe. |
| Battery Back-up |
This is a feature of many
electric clocks. When a charged battery is installed,
the time and alarm settings will be saved during a power
outage. Because of the low battery voltage, not all
clock functions will be maintained. You should read the
clock description to see if this is clarified. Battery
back-up is not intended for long-term use of an electric
clock. |
| Battery-Operated alarm clock |
This term is the same as
"quartz clock". The clock has a
battery-operated quartz movement. Battery clocks will make a
ticking sound that will vary from clock to clock. |
| Beeping Alarm or Beep Alarm |
This has an electronic beeping
sound. |
| Dual Alarms |
This means that two alarms can be
set for one day. For example, if one spouse must get up
at 7:00 and the other at 7:30, each alarm time can be
set. |
| Insta-Set |
This technology was designed by
Equity Time USA. Insta-Set clocks have a miniature
battery installed in the circuitry of the clock. When
the clock is plugged in, the clock refers to the time that was
preset at the factory. It never has to be set by the
consumer. The battery installed at the factory has an
approximate life of three years. After that time, the
battery must be replaced. |
| L.C.D. |
Short
for Liquid Crystal Display, a type of display used in digital
watches, clocks and many portable computers. LCD displays utilize two
sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution
between them. An electric current passed through the liquid
causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through
them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either
allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.
This type of a display usually requires a dial light to read
in the dark. |
| L.E.D. |
Abbreviation
of Light Emitting Diode, an electronic device that lights up
when electricity is passed through it. LEDs are usually red.
They are good for displaying numerical images because they can
be relatively small, and they do not burn out. Used on digital
display clocks. |
| Lighted dial |
This description means that the
clock has a light bulb behind or to the side of the dial to
light it up at night. The light can be
"continuous" (on all the time), or "on
demand" (push a button for the light). |
| Luminous, or luminous material |
The clock description may say it
has "luminous" hands, numbers and/or hour
dots. This means that a luminous material has been
applied that will glow for a limited time in the dark.
The amount of time it glows depends on the intensity of the
light the material is exposed to during the day.
Luminous material does not "produce" light and
should not be confused with the term "lighted dial". |
| Mechanical Clock or movement |
The clock winds up. The
spring, when fully would, will run for 24-36 hours. Wind up
clocks will make a ticking sound. The loudness will vary
from model to model. |
| Nightvision |
This is a patented technology
developed by Equity Time USA. It is a low-light
"glow" of the dial for night viewing. This
technology does not use a light bulb. |
| Nite-Glo |
This is a patented technology
developed by Wehrle, which is similar to the Equity
Nightvision. It is a low-light "glow" of the
dial for night viewing. This technology does not use a
light bulb. |
| Repeating alarm |
This feature is found on some
wind-up alarm clocks. It simply means that the alarm
will sound for a time, then stop, then sound again, and repeat
the process until the spring winds completely down. |
| Quartz clock or Quartz movement |
This term is the same as
"battery clock". The clock has a
battery-operated quartz movement. Battery clocks will
make a ticking sound that will vary from clock to clock. |
| Snooze Alarm or Snooze Function |
The snooze button may be pushed
to silence and alarm for a pre-determined length of time,
usually between 5 to 10 minutes. The time varies
from clock to clock and may be customized on some
models. Once the time passes, the alarm will sound
again. Some clocks will limit the number of times the
snooze may be activated on one setting. This helps
prevent you from over-sleeping. |
| Strobe Light |
High-intensity flashing light. |
about
windup clocks.
