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Micro Word Clock

Displaying the time on 8x8 pixels.

danielDaniel
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9.4k views
19 comments
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  • Description
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  • Discussion 19
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clock LED MATRIX RTC The Square Inch Project

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This project was created on 10/06/2015 and last updated 3 months ago.

Description

A tiny replica of the famous Word Clock, using only an ATmega microcontroller, a DS1307 Real Time Clock and a few passive components to display the time on an 8x8 LED matrix. The letters have been printed onto a transparent sheet and glued over the LEDs to produce a readable time.

The LED matrix used is 20x20mm, and so is the PCB behind it! :-)

20 mm = 0.79 in
400 mm² = 0.62 in²

Details

Components

  • 1 × ATmega328P-AU Microprocessors, Microcontrollers, DSPs / ARM, RISC-Based Microcontrollers
  • 1 × DS1307Z+ Clock and Timer ICs / Real-Time Clocks
  • 1 × 220nF ceramic capacitor 0805
  • 1 × 2.2uF tantalum capacitor B-size
  • 1 × 32.768kHz crystal 3216 metric size, 1206 imperial size

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Manuel Domke wrote 03/20/2017 at 16:29 • point

It is so great. 

I *just* made a solar powered pocket word clock based on the PCB. 

Together with a ME4056 lipo charger, coin cell, 30mA solar panel, 2 buttons (on/set) in a 51x35x15mm plastic case. Maybe I can send you pictures to publish here?

Thanks for sharing this!

  Are you sure? yes | no

EngineerAllen wrote 01/31/2017 at 19:04 • point

can you make it brighter?

  Are you sure? yes | no

chmod775 wrote 01/29/2017 at 20:37 • point

Cute and very well designed! Great work man.

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lalalandrus wrote 09/03/2016 at 10:19 • point

Your project inspired me to make this.

https://hackaday.io/project/13431-iot-led-matrix-projector-clock

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel wrote 09/03/2016 at 19:19 • point

That is awesome! I like it :) I should try a projector build someday...

  Are you sure? yes | no

Pabluski wrote 12/12/2015 at 23:47 • point

I made a similar version, based on Daniel's, that can switch among English, Spanish, Dutch, and French.  http://pablo-sanchez.com/8x8-word-clock-with-rtc/ 

I can share the language layout if you are interested.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Andrew Albosta wrote 12/12/2015 at 02:03 • point

I built my own last year after I saw HaD post about it and decided to give SMD soldering a shot. My blog post about the process: http://www.andbosta.com/building-the-micro-word-clock/

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel wrote 12/12/2015 at 08:15 • point

Wow, fantastic writeup!

  Are you sure? yes | no

PinheadBE wrote 12/12/2015 at 01:08 • point

Fine project.  Would "skull" if a French version would be available on 8*8 dot.  Super mega bonus for a bi-langual version (I know: this is a cruel challenge, almost unreachable)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel wrote 12/12/2015 at 08:07 • point

Hi,

thanks for the comment! :-)

You are free to try your hands at the French version. So far, people have contributed Dutch, Hungarian and Spanish versions! (See GitHub)

  Are you sure? yes | no

PinheadBE wrote 12/12/2015 at 11:40 • point

I made one, but on a 14x9 matrix. It wasn't a watch, and I didn't have your space constraints.  On the other hand, I didn't want to have the words cut.

I will try to make a 8x8 french one.  It must be possible...

I'll keep you posted

  Are you sure? yes | no

alpha_ninja wrote 12/07/2015 at 00:28 • point

Double-checked your design: you're missing gerber files.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel wrote 12/07/2015 at 17:58 • point

Thanks! They've been added to GitHub! :-) Hope a .zip is fine

  Are you sure? yes | no

alpha_ninja wrote 12/07/2015 at 19:58 • point

Absolutely :)

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alpha_ninja wrote 12/02/2015 at 00:47 • point

This is your one-week reminder to upload design documents: https://hackaday.io/project/7813-the-square-inch-project/log/28566-design-deadline

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Arduino Enigma wrote 11/27/2015 at 05:15 • point

Cool project. Anything worth doing is worth miniaturizing.

  Are you sure? yes | no

zakqwy wrote 11/09/2015 at 15:29 • point

Think you could add a battery and a few PCB-mounted wrist strap attachment points? This would make an awesome watch!

  Are you sure? yes | no

danjovic wrote 10/06/2015 at 13:09 • point

Amazing idea, design and build! Congrats, pal!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel wrote 10/06/2015 at 14:02 • point

Thanks! :-)

  Are you sure? yes | no

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