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  • Author Author: balearicdynamics
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Tempus Fugit... Part 2: 2018 a.d.

balearicdynamics

A new Heart in an Old Box

The new pulsing heart of the old smart clock will be the BBC micro:bit .for two reasons: the first is the interior design of the box that seems created to host the micro:bit and the second is the power of the micro:bit and the incredible availability of options on this small board. There is a third reason too, I am fan of the micro:bit

imageimage

With a couple of screws I fixed a Kitronik micro:bit edge connector to the bottom of the clock box, replacing the original motherboard. As the micro:bit should remain closed inside the clock the on-board LED matrix display will not used. One of the goals of this rebuild (or smartification?) is to leave untouched the original design and style of the device.

image

Just for luck, the original 220V power cable made easy to fix the USB programming and power supply cable. To keep the board in place I had to modify the attachment of the 8 Ohm speaker removing the fixing screws and hot gluing the speaker after cutting the screw support.

imageimage

The top cover of the clock will not be screwed but only closed with an internal spring as the micro:bit should be programmed so I decided to use the clock alarm on-off switch to add the battery pack as shown in the image below.

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The 7=segments Display

imageimage

The 7=segments LED display I have used as replacement of the original clock is a bit smaller so it was possible adding a couple of LEDs for the AM/PM 12 hours display format.It is a  4-digits single component for which I plan to use a 7=segment display IC controller. The datasheet of the component is available in attach.

 

The Real Time Clock

image

For the real-time clock I have used a breakout board including the backup battery and the clock based on the IC DS1302 (datasheet in attach) This hardware is easy to control by the micro:bit but I expect to be challenging the software control.

 

Coming soon...

The next part will be testing separately the components before completing the software programming

 

The other parts

Tempus Fugit... Part 1: 1978 a.d.

Tempus Fugit... Part 3: micro:bit Interfacing 5V Logic

Tempus Fugit... Part 4: micro:bit 5V SPI

Attachments:
image F511SURWA-S530-A3.pdf
image DS1302 RTC.pdf
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  • Looking good! Your update project is coming along nicely.  You made some great choices of technology for the upgrade, while keeping the 'retro look' LED display.  Did you think about a paper white LCD, as that might have been a nice look too?

    Gene

  • in reply to genebren

    Thank you Gene!

     

    To be honest I though about an LCD or backlighted LCD display, as well as e-ink one. But - at least following the project mainline not to change the aesthetitcs that it is what probably keep the value of this pretty good vintage design, thismeans to remove or modify the front red door of the display, make some sort of hole etc. I have also though to make a square hole on top to setup the micro:bit board insertable like a sort of "activation card"' this means have also some advantage thanks to the mirco:bit dispplay visibile but the original form factor of the clock will be lost forever.

     

    Enrico

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  • in reply to genebren

    Thank you Gene!

     

    To be honest I though about an LCD or backlighted LCD display, as well as e-ink one. But - at least following the project mainline not to change the aesthetitcs that it is what probably keep the value of this pretty good vintage design, thismeans to remove or modify the front red door of the display, make some sort of hole etc. I have also though to make a square hole on top to setup the micro:bit board insertable like a sort of "activation card"' this means have also some advantage thanks to the mirco:bit dispplay visibile but the original form factor of the clock will be lost forever.

     

    Enrico

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