Dot matrix clock project *COMPLETED*

[Arp]

Always wanted a dot matrix clock. Will post some progress here

Right now it's going to be four 8x8 dot matrix modules daisy chained with MAX7221, PIC32MX controller, and a RTC IC. Will see what else might be interesting as the project evolves.

Today I finished the dot matrix module PCBs, and they seem to work pretty good. Clock will be modular in case I change my mind and want to reuse some of the parts in the future  O0

Thought I'd test 1 mil to 10 mil tracks. They all made it out alright oddly enough. Getting things right at last 

[Arp]

Added a DS3232 RTC to the project board. Got it to interface properly after fumbling around with the probes in the wrong places for a few hours

Ordered some tinted dark plastic sheets, used for cars, on ebay. Hopefully if it'll work disguising the dark leds behind the soon-to-be front case window

Now to the the user control for setting time/date etc

*edit Perhaps I should look into GPS module or something automatic *

[Relaxed]

Nice looking project!

Which method do you use for etching your pcbs?

[Arp]

Which method do you use for etching your pcbs?

Tracing paper, UV-leds, NaOH for development and HCl + H2O2 for etching.

I use a HP LaserJet that I found in the garbage at work. It improved the blacks so one paper layer/PCB side, is enough. My older Brother printer was pretty awful. Had to stack 2 layers each side to get a proper density, and doing thin tracks didn't work very well.

[8086]

*edit Perhaps I should look into GPS module or something automatic *

I'm using a Maestro Wireless A2235-H for this exact purpose.

http://uk.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Maestro-Wireless-Solutions/A2235-H/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvmogu7fABzFnpYRkS6GG2x

http://simonjrichards.co.uk/word-clock-log/

[Arp]

I'm using a Maestro Wireless A2235-H for this exact purpose.

Got a NEO6MV2 module coming in from China. Not sure about the longevity of those, but the price is pretty much the same as in your link minus the €20 shipping

[Arp]

http://youtu.be/MUgRUxCJ8O8

Testing some sliding numbers

[Mr Smiley]

How about the last second digit being non sliding and the others sliding, that would get people to look twice; not quite sure what they thought they had seen 

 


 

[alank2]

Looks great.  One thing you might try as well to make more use of your pixels might be a larger font for the hours an minutes and leave the seconds at 3x5.  Maybe 4x7 foe the HHMM.

Pixels wide might be:

Hour4+Space1+Hour4+Space1+Colon1+Space1+Min4+Space1+Min4+Space1+Colon1+Space1+Sec3+Space1+Sec3

31 wide.

[Arp]

Tested alternating direction of number updates, and it looks pretty neat. Will have to rethink the "animations" and the font,  but as the layout seem to be in a changing state I reckon I should wait until it's finished

Added a second row to include date and temperature as there were some "spare" MAX7221 laying around.

Been pondering about the case. Tested an old IKEA frame and it's a perfect fit for 4x3 modules, all thou you lose the left, right column and top and bottom row.
Going to try to modify it for 4x2 instead, saving the bottom and top row.

[Dave]

Neat project.

I think the LED display would look even better if you would put a thin layer of smoked grey plexiglass in front of it.

[Arp]

Neat project.

I think the LED display would look even better if you would put a thin layer of smoked grey plexiglass in front of it.

Thanks. These maxim circuits are some pretty smooth to work with. Too expensive thou. Will use regular cheap bitshifters next time, with the RGB version

Ordered a dark and medium black plastic roll on ebay ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/111235140026?item=111235140026&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr ). Thought it might work behind the glass. Will look into colored plexiglass if it's a no-go

*edit* Found a sheet of gray plexi on ebay UK. Couldn't resist to try it out, so I will in a few days 

[Mr Smiley]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130733916831?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

$4.45 for 10 


 

[Arp]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130733916831?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

$4.45 for 10 


 

I've had bad luck with cheap Chinese components in the past. And even if they work, you never know for how long

[Arp]

Been playing around with some polarizing plastic found in a discarded LCD panel. Pretty easy to tune it into the correct shade by rotating one of the sheets. Now only the leds are visible

*edit*

http://youtu.be/L_KJ8zHUiQ4 a viddy of the clock ticking.. Gonna try to make the transitions a little more interesting 

[jeremy0203]

that looks sweet. i have a few of those dot matrix drivers i got from cheaper for super cheap with the drivers to just mess around with.

i would change the time seperators, move the top one down one and the bottom up one.

[Dave]

Wow, she's a beauty.

[alank2]

That looks fantastic!  Good job!

[KarlosVandango]

Hi,
That's a nice project! Just checked out your vid links on the clock... Very cool!

Regards,

Karl

[Arp]

Thanks guys  I moved the time separator. Looks better

Some updates:

Tested a cheap "Blox NEO-6M-001" GPS module found on eBay. Won't lock on satellite unless in the window. Ordered a Skylab MT3329 SKM53 module that is supposed to be more sensitive. Will see in a month or so. Ships from China so it's gonna take a while. Think I'll etch a button controlled PCB in the meantime, but with support sockets for the GPS module.

*edit*

Also added a photo sensor for light dimming

[Arp]

Recieved the Skylab module about a week ago. Not as sensitive as I'd want it, but will do.

Etched the "mother"board today. Had to add a budge wire. Forgot to connect one of the ICSP pins  .

Board wouldn't work at first, but after desoldering and resoldering 90% of the components it started working. Looks pretty messy as a result

[Arp]

Got the GPS working with the clock now.

GPS module is drawing ~50mA. I wonder if I should let it be on 24h or switch it on for occasional reads? Not sure about its life expectancy.

Wrote a DateTime library so I can add hours to the UTC and it'll calculate everything according to leap years and days of month.
Still need to add day of week support to switch it on/off summertime automatically. Wish the GPS data already contained that info

[Arp]

Been running the clock in the window for some time now, streaming directly from the GPS module and everything has been working according to expectation.

I will call it a quits for now and jump on to next project. Probably something involving a few WS2812 LEDs for some pixel art

[TerminalJack505]

Nice looking project.  Well done!

[shailesh3t]

I have bought the Dot matrix Too , would you mind sharing your code and a brief explanatation
thanks in advance
shailesh