Radio Controlled LED Display Clock and Calendar: The Beginning
Posted Sun, 13th Jan '13 at 1:16am by Blackthorne TA
So, who's ready for a new project I've recently completed?
I have always liked the clock/calendars you can buy that automatically set themselves based on the reception of a radio signal time code. In the United States this is the WWVB signal originating near Fort Collins, Colorado.
As you can see from perusing the above link, the WWVB signal has everything you need to determine the current time and date, including whether it is a leap year, or if Daylight Savings Time is in effect or not. So, a clock/calendar based on receiving the WWVB signal needs no controls on it as long as it is configured for the correct time zone.
The only problem with the radio controlled clocks that are available for purchase is they are pretty boring visually. They're pretty much battery powered LCD affairs which are eminently practical, but lack any real visual interest.
So, I thought, how hard could it be to design and build a radio controlled clock/calendar with a face comprising different colored LEDs arranged in a visually pleasing analog-style fashion that displayed all the information one could want from a clock/calendar? This would include the time of day down to the second, the day of the week, the month of the year, and the day of the month.
I figured it couldn't be too difficult... and that was the beginning.
I have always liked the clock/calendars you can buy that automatically set themselves based on the reception of a radio signal time code. In the United States this is the WWVB signal originating near Fort Collins, Colorado.
As you can see from perusing the above link, the WWVB signal has everything you need to determine the current time and date, including whether it is a leap year, or if Daylight Savings Time is in effect or not. So, a clock/calendar based on receiving the WWVB signal needs no controls on it as long as it is configured for the correct time zone.
The only problem with the radio controlled clocks that are available for purchase is they are pretty boring visually. They're pretty much battery powered LCD affairs which are eminently practical, but lack any real visual interest.
So, I thought, how hard could it be to design and build a radio controlled clock/calendar with a face comprising different colored LEDs arranged in a visually pleasing analog-style fashion that displayed all the information one could want from a clock/calendar? This would include the time of day down to the second, the day of the week, the month of the year, and the day of the month.
I figured it couldn't be too difficult... and that was the beginning.
Total Comments 6
Comments
-
Wait, was that a cliffhanger? Come on!
Posted Sun, 13th Jan '13 at 2:19am by Taluntain 
-
Hehe. Like before I'll post about an entry a week detailing what and how I did it
Posted Sun, 13th Jan '13 at 5:05am by Blackthorne TA
-
Leaving us in suspense for a week? Sheesh!
Posted Mon, 14th Jan '13 at 12:16am by Taluntain
-
Gotta keep you coming back! I shouldn't have even told you that much; that way you'd all have to keep coming back daily to see if there was an update!
Posted Mon, 14th Jan '13 at 4:26pm by Blackthorne TA
-
You bastard!Posted Mon, 14th Jan '13 at 4:48pm by Splunge
-
SOB!
Posted Mon, 14th Jan '13 at 11:14pm by Gaear 
