Summary of DIY TiX Clock using ATMEGA16 AVR microcontroller
This DIY TiX clock project utilizes an ATMEGA16 AVR microcontroller to drive a custom display constructed from LED arrays, a reflector grid, smoked perspex, and a diffuser. The design evolved from a Vero strip board prototype to a single-sided etched PCB that integrates the controller and display. The enclosure features a wooden case with recessed tracks for the internal "sandwich" assembly, ensuring a sleek finish while allowing easy access via a bottom slide-in mechanism.
Parts used in the DIY TiX Clock:
- ATMEGA16 AVR microcontroller
- Reflector grid (from office lights)
- Smoked perspex window
- Diffuser sheet
- LEDs
- Vero strip board or etched single-sided PCB
- Transistors and transistor array ICs
- Tinfoil
- Rimu timber (case material)
- Thin plastic sheet
Here’s my instructable for a DIY TiX clock. It is powered by an AVR microcontroller. The display is made up using a piece of reflector grid you find covering office lights, some smoked perspex, a diffuser and a bunch of LED’s. The Idea came from the Tix clocks you can buy at various places on the web, but nothing beats making it yourself. It is a talking point in the lounge and once you are used to reading it, you can tell the time in a jiffy.
The first prototype was made using Vero strip board. The layout on strip board is fairly straight forward. The Transistors in the top left are row drivers and the IC’s on the right are transistor arrays that are the column drivers (see circuit diagram at the end of instructable for more info). This allows me to get a bit more current to the LEDs to make them brighter. The Transistor array IC’s can be replaced with transistors if you like. You will find circuit diagrams and software at the end of this instructable with which I have included an Eagle PCB layout design as well for a single sided board that combines the controller and display board into one.
Note that if you etch your own PCB the LED’s are mounted as normal thru hole components but the IC’s, links and other components are placed on the copper side of the board. The LED’s and links will need to be mounted first as the AVR covers some of the LED solder points. Details in the pictures.
The display is made up of a sandwich of the display Board, The square reflector, a diffuser and a smoked perspex window. You can place a sheet of tinfoil under the LED’s to give more reflection, just make sure you cut a hole in tinfoil around a legs of each LED so it doesn’t short things out. I also sanded the lens of each led to distribute the light more.
The first three photos show the strip board version, the remainder the etched PCB version.
For the case, you can use pretty much anything. I used Rimu, a native timber to New Zealand. I used a mill to cut out tracks and recesses for the “Sandwich” of the board, reflector, diffuser and window to sit in and the whole assembly slides in from the bottom. There is also a thin recess for the rear of the clock to sit in, this is made from a thin sheet of plastic. Buttons to press the switches were turned up on a lathe.
For more Detail: DIY TiX Clock using ATMEGA16 AVR microcontroller
- What microcontroller powers this clock?
The clock is powered by an ATMEGA16 AVR microcontroller. - How is the display constructed?
The display uses a sandwich of a display board, a square reflector, a diffuser, and a smoked perspex window. - Can I replace the transistor array ICs?
Yes, the transistor array ICs can be replaced with transistors if you prefer. - Where are the ICs placed when etching your own PCB?
The ICs, links, and other components are placed on the copper side of the board, opposite the LEDs. - Why should I sand the lens of each LED?
Sanding the lens helps distribute the light more evenly across the display. - What material was used for the clock case?
The case was made from Rimu, a native timber to New Zealand. - How do you improve reflection under the LEDs?
You can place a sheet of tinfoil under the LEDs, cutting holes around the legs to prevent shorting. - How does the display assembly fit into the case?
The whole assembly slides in from the bottom into tracks and recesses cut into the timber case.
