Summary of Make A Arduino Led Alarm Clock
This project is a custom Arduino MEGA 2560 alarm clock featuring red and blue LED displays. It utilizes a DS1307 real-time clock chip for accurate timekeeping. Users can set alarms via four pushbuttons, which trigger a Samsung DVD player to play music at the specified time using optoisolators. The system includes sixteen-segment displays for date/time and eight large displays for additional visual feedback, all controlled by NPN transistors.
Parts used in the Arduino LED Alarm Clock:
- Arduino MEGA 2560
- DS1307 Real Time Clock Chip
- NPN Transistors (2N5551)
- Red 16-Segment LED Displays
- Blue Large LED Displays
- 4 Pushbuttons
- Samsung DVD Player Front Panel
- Optoisolators
- Small Perfboard
This is a project that I have been working on a few months now and I have completed its build very lately. The main processor used in this project is an Arduino MEGA 2560 which is interfaced with a real time clock called the DS 1307 chip (which gives you the time and date).
Both Red and Blue LED Displays are driven using NPN transistors ( I used 2N5551 NPN transistors). The bases of these transistors are connected to the Arduino mega 2560 ‘s digital pins.
The Arduino is also connected to 4 pushbuttons located separately on a small perfboard. These pushbuttons allow the user to set the alarm time. The Arduino is also connected to a SAMSUNG DVD player front panel via optoisolators hence allowing the Arduino to start the DVD player once alarm time is reached. That basically means that once you have set the alarm time, lets say 6 a.m, the DVD player will play your favourite CD at 6 am and you can stop it by using your DVD remote control or pressing Power button on your DVD player.
I have below some images of the build process which I would like to share with you.
Above is a picture of the displays I used. The upper 4 displays are 16 segment LED Displays used to display DATE and TIME alternately and light up red… they are also used to show ALARM function. The large displays are 8 in number and light up blue. Whole board measures 40 CM wide.
For more detail: Make A Arduino Led Alarm Clock
- What processor is used in this project?
The main processor used is an Arduino MEGA 2560. - How does the system get the time and date?
It uses a DS1307 chip interfaced with the Arduino to provide the time and date. - Which transistors drive the LED displays?
Both Red and Blue LED Displays are driven using 2N5551 NPN transistors. - Can users set the alarm time manually?
Yes, the user can set the alarm time using 4 pushbuttons connected to the Arduino. - How does the alarm activate the DVD player?
The Arduino connects to the Samsung DVD player front panel via optoisolators to start it when the alarm time is reached. - Can the DVD player be stopped remotely?
Yes, the user can stop the playback using the DVD remote control or the Power button on the DVD player. - What do the upper 4 displays show?
The upper 4 red 16-segment displays alternate between showing DATE and TIME and also indicate the ALARM function. - How many large blue displays are included?
There are 8 large blue displays used in the build.
