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Topic: The broken clock (Read 5965 times) |
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Frost
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My fancy new digital alarm clock is broken! 
The time 'jumps' around.
When I reset it, it reads 12:00:00. Then it runs as it should, but after 12:04:15 it resets back to 12:00:00. It counts up to 12:04:15 again and then it jumps to ... 12:08:32 ! Weird stuff.
Do you know what's wrong with my alarm clock?
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| « Last Edit: Oct 23rd, 2003, 7:37pm by Icarus » |
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william wu
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Re: New Riddle: The broken clock
« Reply #1 on: Jul 26th, 2002, 4:30pm » |
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heh, at first i thought your clock really was broken and that this was some kind of lame joke. 
fascinating. i'll definitely think about it. thanks!
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[ wu ] : http://wuriddles.com / http://forums.wuriddles.com
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Mark Davis
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Re: New Riddle: The broken clock
« Reply #2 on: Jul 26th, 2002, 8:00pm » |
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Hmm, 4:15 = 255 seconds. 8:32 = 512 seconds. Sounds like there's a binary counter in there somewhere..
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Mark Davis
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Re: New Riddle: The broken clock
« Reply #3 on: Jul 26th, 2002, 8:03pm » |
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Maybe a binary clock readout with the 8'th light (2^8 = 256) burned out.
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william wu
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Re: New Riddle: The broken clock
« Reply #4 on: Jul 27th, 2002, 12:07am » |
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I have added this cool new riddle to the archive, and I would really like to credit you, but I don't know what your real name is! Currently you are just credited as [Frost]. If you're interested, you can send me your real name via e-mail: wwu@ocf.berkeley.edu.
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[ wu ] : http://wuriddles.com / http://forums.wuriddles.com
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john
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Re: New Riddle: The broken clock
« Reply #6 on: Aug 19th, 2002, 4:13pm » |
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don't know if this is the "why" but your clock seems to be counting each second alright. it would be helpful to hear what is happening after it reads 12:08:32. because, at 12:08:32 it is back on time again. count out the seconds. don't forget to count the two seconds it takes to change the readings from the first 12:04:15 to 12:00:00 and from the second 12:04:15 to 12:08:32. somehow i don't think this is the answer to the riddle though. thoughts anyone?
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Icarus
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Boldly going where even angels fear to tread.
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Re: New Riddle: The broken clock
« Reply #7 on: Oct 17th, 2002, 6:22pm » |
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Here is my answer:
The clock uses a counter to track seconds since midnight. The value of the counter is sent to a separate circuit which converts it to a standard time display. Since the clock displays seconds #256-511 the same as seconds 0-255, the 9th bit of the counter is not reaching the display circuit. The counter itself must be okay, since it resumes a correct display at second #512. Apparently, there is a short in the wire for bit 9 of the data bus from the counter to the display circuit.
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| « Last Edit: Oct 17th, 2002, 6:23pm by Icarus » |
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"Pi goes on and on and on ...
And e is just as cursed.
I wonder: Which is larger
When their digits are reversed? " - Anonymous
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