Summary of Clock One – Digital plus Analog Clock An Arduino
This article introduces "Clock One," a hybrid digital-analog clock project using a Freetronics Dot Matrix Display. The design features an analog clock face on the left and day/date indicators on the right, driven by an Arduino and a real-time clock circuit.
Parts used in Clock One:
- Freetronics Dot Matrix Display board
- 5V 2.8A power supply (optional for full brightness)
- Arduino board (Uno or Eleven recommended)
- Maxim DS1307 real-time clock IC circuit
For some strange reason I have a fascination with various types of electronic clocks (which explains this article). Therefore this project will be the start of an irregular series of clock projects whose goal will be easy to follow and produce interesting results. Our “Clock One” will use a Freetronics Dot Matrix Display board as reviewed previously. Here is an example of an operating Clock One:
As you can see, on the left half of the board we have a representation of an analogue clock. Considering we only have sixteen rows of sixteen LEDs, it isn’t too bad at all. The seconds are illuminated by sixty pixels that circumnavigate the square clock throughout the minute. On the right we display the first two letters of the day of the week, and below this the date. In the example image above, the time is 6:08. We omitted the month – if you don’t know what month it is you have larger problems.
Software
Planning the clock was quite simple. As we can only draw lines, individual pixels, and strings of text or individual characters, some planning was required in order to control the display board. A simple method is to use some graph paper and note down where you want things and the coordinates for each pixel of interest, for example:
Hardware
To make this happen you will need:
- A Freetronics Dot Matrix Display board;
- If you want the run the display at full brightness (ouch!) you will need a 5V 2.8A power supply – however our example is running without the external supply and is pretty strong
- An Arduino board of some sort, an Uno or Eleven is a good start
- A Maxim DS1307 real-time clock IC circuit. How to build this is explained here. If you have a Freetronics board, you can add this circuit directly onto the board!
For more detail: Clock One – Digital plus Analog Clock An Arduino
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What components are required to build Clock One?
You need a Freetronics Dot Matrix Display board, an Arduino board like an Uno or Eleven, and a Maxim DS1307 real-time clock IC circuit. -
How is the time displayed on the left side of the board?
The left half shows an analogue clock representation where seconds are illuminated by sixty pixels circumnavigating the square clock. -
What information is shown on the right side of the display?
The right side displays the first two letters of the day of the week above the current date. -
Can this clock run without an external power supply?
Yes, the example runs without the external supply, though a 5V 2.8A power supply is needed for full brightness. -
Does the clock display the month?
No, the month is omitted from the display as the author considers knowing the month essential. -
What method is suggested for planning the software layout?
It is suggested to use graph paper to note down coordinates for each pixel and text string placement. -
Where can I find instructions for building the real-time clock circuit?
Instructions for building the Maxim DS1307 circuit are explained in a referenced guide mentioned in the text.
