2025 One Hertz Challenge: Customizing Your Desired Square Waves
Rupin Chheda has designed a square wave generator that might find a place on many electronics benches. This project, part of the 2025 One Hertz Challenge, offers a handy solution for less demanding needs for a clock signal.
At its heart, the square wave generator features a crystal oscillator running at 32.768 kHz, a frequency commonly used in commercial microcontrollers and radios. The digital clock frequency is then divided down through a CMOS divider chain, providing frequencies ranging from 2048 Hz to as low as 0.5 Hz.
The CMOS divider chain is not a new concept. Similar projects, such as the discrete component divider chain built by Bobricius, have been around for some time. This particular chain uses 15 stages of transistor dividers in a surface-mount PCB layout to replicate the 1 Hz output from a 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator.
The 2025 One Hertz Challenge, in general, celebrates designs that use 32.768 kHz crystals and CMOS or transistor divider chains to generate exact 1 Hz or other low-frequency square wave signals suitable for clocks and timers. Rupin Chheda’s project is one such entry, showcasing the versatility of this classic approach.
The square wave generator is a small PCB designed to sit at the end of a breadboard, making it a practical choice for hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts. Its simplicity and utility make it an attractive addition to many projects that operate once a second.
As we approach the deadline for the 2025 One Hertz Challenge, there is still time to enter with a similar project. Whether you're a seasoned electronics enthusiast or a beginner just starting out, this challenge offers an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and contribute to the world of low-frequency timing signals.
This square wave generator, designed by Rupin Chheda, utilizes CMOS technology with a surface-mount PCB layout, falling under the 2025 One Hertz Challenge that celebrates designs using this technology. The project offers a practical solution for hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts looking to work with low-frequency timing signals.
