The hourglass dramatically depicts the flow of time; gravity pulling grains of sand inevitably downward. So it is with the Bits of Time project by [Frank Andre]. The pixels drop, stopping only when the battery dies. Or, when your eggs are ready. (Pssst, it’s also on Hackaday.io.)
The project starts with a couple of [Frank’s] PixBlocks. A processor is added to one PixBlock to serve as the controller for both after they are connected via the serial bus. A tilt switch, with a debouncing circuit, is connected to an IO pin. This tells the processor the orientation of the box and therefore which way the pixels should flow.
Two switches set the duration of the timer in 15 second increments. A third starts the timer. When the box is rotated the pixels start flowing in the opposite direction. With code available on GitHub the system can be programmed for other effects such as changing colors, flickering, or even text display.
You’ll agree this is a bit less intimidating than the MacGyver-ish kitchen timer we covered last year.
Very cool! Nice job.
Well that’s thinking outside of the orthogonal box!
I like this, I might make one with an ATmega and some of those display drivers MAX7221 and perhaps 8 blocks. Nice project for a simple single sided PCB.
I bet lots of people would buy this.
This is the best hack I have seen in ages! I love it that much I think I’m going to build me one.
Very clever!
Super clever arrangement! Bravo
I like that you can change the time the hour glass represents, this has to be the only improvement on a real hour glass since they were invented!
“Like pixels though the virtual hourglass, so are The Days of Our Lives.”
And then add a Qi-charged battery in the box and the qi-transmitter hidden inside the desk and the display can show pretty patterns while not in use….
just great!
Amazing! How an idea so simple (turn the LED matrixes 45deg, and turn two of them into a sandglass) turns into something that looks absolutely gorgeous is totally genious. Want one!
Awesome! Please, someone code it for arduino one and Max7219 led matrix¡ ;-)
Agreed, nicely done, simple non-hacked displays but tilted and with a nice animation made to be something special.
Yeah, did anyone check the license?
1) This software, as a whole or in parts, as well as any work derived from this software must only be executed on original fab4U hardware or used to control original fab4U hardware which has the fab4U logo on it.