Published October 6, 2022 © CC BY-NC-SA

Analumi Clock

An analogue clock without physical hands which uses UVA LED's and Photo Luminescent film.

IntermediateFull instructions provided24 hours1

Things used in this project

Hardware components

BBC micro:bit board

Adafruit DS3231 RTC

Kitronik Compact Motor Driver Board

Stepper motor and driver

Texas Instruments DRV5032FBLPG

Buffer / Line Driver / Line Receiver, 74HC541

UVA LED

Switch SPST

Push Button Momentary Switch

Resistor 10k ohm

Resistor 220 ohm

Luminous film

Neodymium ball magnet 3mm

Software apps and online services

Microsoft MakeCode

Story

An analog clock with no hands (well not in the standard sense), rather the hands are virtual and created by the effect of UV light on photo luminescent material. Hence called an Analumi-Clock. (Analogue Luminescent Clock).

UV LED's are used to illuminate the luminous film but require some means of moving the film under the LED's to create the hands.

This is achieved by using a single stepper motor which can rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise. Fitted to the stepper motor is a CD or similar disc and to this is fixed the luminous film.

A fixed arm is at the 6 o'clock position and to this 8 LED's are attached to form one column.

As the motor rotates the luminous film moves under the arm pausing momentarily whilst the required number of LED's for the appropriate hand are switched on.

Each hand is created in turn with the appropriate angluar offset resulting in both hands coming to rest at the required positions for the analogue time being displayed.

Control is provided by a Microbit in conjunction with a RTC, servo board and bespoke logic.

The LED arm, dial and motor support are 3D printed.

Full details are available on Instructables

Code

Analumi Clock Code

def tick():
    led.plot(4, 0)
    basic.pause(100)
    led.unplot(4, 0)
    led.toggle(4, 1)
    basic.pause(100)
    led.unplot(4, 1)
def anticlk():
    for index in range(8):
        set_bit(index)
def homing():
    global home, timer, index7
    home = False
    timer = control.millis()
    index7 = 0
    while pins.digital_read_pin(DigitalPin.P0) == 1 and control.millis() - timer < 60000:
        clkwise()
        index7 += 1
        if index7 > 512:
            index7 = 0
    basic.pause(100)
    if pins.digital_read_pin(DigitalPin.P0) == 0:
        home = True
    motor_off()
def motor_off():
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P13, 0)
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P14, 0)
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P15, 0)
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P16, 0)
# read set mode switch
def set_mode():
    global set_enable
    set_enable = pins.digital_read_pin(DigitalPin.P1)
    if set_enable == 0:
        pass
    else:
        basic.show_string("+")
def auto_hrs(num: number):
    home_hrs()
    if home == True:
        pos_hrs(num)
        flash(0)
        home_hrs()

def on_button_pressed_a():
    global set_hr
    if set_enable == 1:
        set_hr += 1
        if set_hr > 23:
            set_hr = 0
        basic.show_number(set_hr)
input.on_button_pressed(Button.A, on_button_pressed_a)

def set_bit(num2: number):
    global motorbits
    motorbits = beat_list[num2]
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P13, parse_float(motorbits.substr(0, 1)))
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P14, parse_float(motorbits.substr(1, 1)))
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P15, parse_float(motorbits.substr(2, 1)))
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P16, parse_float(motorbits.substr(3, 1)))
    basic.pause(1.2)
def pos_min(num3: number):
    global min2
    basic.show_number(num3)
    # steps = ((min*6)*1.42222)-256
    # 512/360 = 1.422222 step/deg
    min2 = int(num3 * 6 * 1.422222 - 256)
    if min2 >= 0:
        index2 = 0
        while index2 <= abs(min2):
            anticlk()
            index2 += 1
    else:
        index3 = 0
        while index3 <= abs(min2):
            clkwise()
            index3 += 1
def settime():
    DS3231.set_time(set_hr, set_min, 0)
    basic.show_number(set_hr)
    basic.pause(100)
    basic.show_number(set_min)
    basic.pause(100)
def flash(num4: number):
    global strmid
    # buffer enable
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P8, 0)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(0))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO1, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO1)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(1))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO2, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO2)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(2))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO3, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO3)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(3))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO4, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO4)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(4))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO5, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO5)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(5))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO6, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO6)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(6))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO7, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO7)
    strmid = parse_float(hand_list[num4].char_at(7))
    if strmid == 1:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_write(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO8, 180)
    else:
        Kitronik_Robotics_Board.servo_stop(Kitronik_Robotics_Board.Servos.SERVO8)
    basic.pause(1000)
    # buffer disable
    pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P8, 1)
    Kitronik_Robotics_Board.all_off()
def auto_min(num5: number):
    home_min()
    if home == True:
        pos_min(num5)
        flash(1)
        home_min()
        if num5 == 0:
            music.play_sound_effect(music.builtin_sound_effect(soundExpression.spring),
                SoundExpressionPlayMode.UNTIL_DONE)
def long_dly():
    global timer
    timer = control.millis()
    while control.millis() - timer < 60000:
        tick()
        set_mode()
        if set_enable == 1:
            break

def on_button_pressed_ab():
    if set_enable == 1:
        settime()
        basic.clear_screen()
input.on_button_pressed(Button.AB, on_button_pressed_ab)

def on_button_pressed_b():
    global set_min
    if set_enable == 1:
        set_min += 1
        if set_min > 59:
            set_min = 0
        basic.show_number(set_min)
input.on_button_pressed(Button.B, on_button_pressed_b)

def home_hrs():
    basic.clear_screen()
    basic.show_leds("""
        . # # # .
                # . # . #
                # . # . #
                # . . . #
                . # # # .
    """)
    homing()
    basic.clear_screen()
def pos_hrs(num6: number):
    global arc, arc_plus, hr
    basic.show_number(num6)
    if num6 > 12:
        arc = num6 - 12
    else:
        arc = num6
    arc_plus = arc + DS3231.minutes() / 60
    # steps=(((hr*30)*1.4222)-256)
    # 512/360 =1.422222 steps/deg
    hr = int(arc_plus * 30 * 1.422222 - 256)
    if hr >= 0:
        index4 = 0
        while index4 <= abs(hr):
            anticlk()
            index4 += 1
    else:
        index5 = 0
        while index5 <= abs(hr):
            clkwise()
            index5 += 1
def home_min():
    basic.clear_screen()
    basic.show_leds("""
        . # # # .
                # . . . #
                # . # # #
                # . . . #
                . # # # .
    """)
    homing()
    basic.clear_screen()
def clkwise():
    global inc
    inc = 8
    for index6 in range(8):
        inc += -1
        set_bit(inc)
inc = 0
hr = 0
arc_plus = 0
arc = 0
strmid = 0
min2 = 0
index7 = 0
timer = 0
motorbits = ""
beat_list: List[str] = []
hand_list: List[str] = []
home = False
set_min = 0
set_hr = 0
set_enable = 0
music.set_built_in_speaker_enabled(True)
ServoBit.centre_servos()
# disable LED buffer
pins.digital_write_pin(DigitalPin.P8, 1)
motor_off()
basic.show_string("clk")
basic.pause(1000)
set_enable = 1
set_hr = 0
set_min = 0
home = False
# hour & minute hand lengths
hand_list = ["11111010", "11111111"]
# stepper motor beat list
beat_list = ["1000",
    "1100",
    "0100",
    "0110",
    "0010",
    "0011",
    "0001",
    "1001",
    "0000"]
motorbits = ""
home_hrs()

def on_forever():
    set_mode()
    if set_enable == 0:
        if home == True:
            tick()
            auto_hrs(DS3231.hours())
            auto_min(DS3231.minutes())
            basic.clear_screen()
            long_dly()
        else:
            basic.show_icon(IconNames.NO)
basic.forever(on_forever)

Credits

C Forde

4 projects • 1 follower

Analumi Clock

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Schematics

Analumi Clock Schematic

Code

Analumi Clock Code

Credits

C Forde

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Analumi Clock

Analumi Clock

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Schematics

Analumi Clock Schematic

Code

Analumi Clock Code

Credits

C Forde

Comments

Related tags