Infinity Clock

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Creator:
dboyer
Status:
In Progress
Born On:
12:32, 21 July 2011 (CDT)
Last Updated:
15:53, 18 August 2011 (CDT)

Overview

This project utilizes an infinity mirror as an analog clock face. Each LED around the rim is used as a "hand"; the reflection is used to take the single point light source and turn it into a line (visually speaking).

Materials

I've selected a analog clock from Walmart ($4) to use as an enclosure. I have procured some one-way mirror film, and a bunch of RGB LEDs with the plan of using a different color for each of the different hands. I have designed a circuit board around an MSP430F1611 microcontroller and 595 shift registers to control the (24*3=72) LEDs. A 32KHz crystal is used as a time source.

Features

24 hand positions, which means each minute and second can be seen +/- 2.5 units, and hours can be seen +/- .5 hour. The 595 shift registers are used as digital output expanders. The shift registers enable lines are connected to the MSP430's timer outputs (PWM) and this should allow for individual channel dimming, although this feature hasn't been tested yet.

Todo

  • Add mirror film
  • Mount LEDs (holes drilled, just need to push them in)
  • Wire LEDs (4 * 24 = 96 leads :( )
  • Finish software
    • time keeping code (done)
    • 595 shift reg interface (done)
    • visual effects (waiting on contraption)