BlokClok – Abstract Time Display

blokclok_abstract_time_display

Clocks made from blinking LEDs always make for fun projects. [Earthshine] built a clock that displays time abstractly using an 8×8 RGB LED matrix. The video embedded after the break illustrates how to read the time but here’s the gist of it: One LED is illuminated in the outside box of LEDs and moved in a clockwise motion to approximate seconds. Inside of this, there are four quadrants; upper left indicates hour-tens digit, upper right hour-ones, lower left minute-tens, and lower right minute-ones. This certainly makes for an interesting conversation piece!

There is no schematic and no code available but it’s really the concept that we’re interested in. If you must know, [Earthshine] bases this build around an Arduino. A DS1307 real time clock keeps the time, while four 74HC595 shift registers are utilized to control the three LED colors and the multiplexing.

[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/6668031]

13 thoughts on “BlokClok – Abstract Time Display

  1. Hi,
    I like the idea of abstract clocks using colours, and using an 8×8 is pretty cool, I look forward to the schematics.
    If you have a large one abstract clocks are less intrusive than numeric clocks in a room, and less brain teasing than binary clocks.
    FYI I did something similar using charlieplexing here:
    http://www.instructables.com/id/Minidot-2—The-holoclock/
    and it’s tiny brother:
    http://www.instructables.com/id/Microdot—wrist-watch-LED-pattern-timepiece/
    I’ve got a couple of 8×8 RGB modules….and have been looking for an application for them. I wonder if charlieplexing can be done using them to reduce part count.

Leave a Reply to JustinCancel reply

Please be kind and respectful to help make the comments section excellent. (Comment Policy)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.