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Electronics => Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff => Topic started by: Rolo on November 18, 2018, 03:22:42 pm

Title: The IV22 VFD Clock
Post by: Rolo on November 18, 2018, 03:22:42 pm

The long road from an idea to a working unit. The IV22 VFD Clock.

The idea: Do something with old stock VFD tubes. I like VFD display's, you can get a nixie clock anywhere but VFD based models are less common.
So I designed one, the key items in the design were:

* Low power consumption as possible
* Must have power save mode
* Automatic brightness control based on environment light
* Must work on a single 5V supply
* NTP time sync trough wifi network
* Touch sensor to show date or do other things
* Automatic timezone and daylight saving time correction
* Design a case that can be made without special tools (or have it made)
* Flexible design so it could fit in ready made cases or old clock housings
* RGBW Led's behind the tubes, as status indicator or/and backlight
* Easy to use, minimum user input needed, it should just work when you plug it in.
* Must provide a working unit that can be placed in my livingroom and stay's there with approval of the other family members  :)
* Software update over the air
* Fun to build, no hurry

I have made an album with various pictures from some stages of the project , I hope the link works.
Do not want to add that many pictures in this post.
Now I'm looking for a catching name for this clock, any ideas?
If you want more details about the project please ask, I will try to answer them.

Some details, it has a Wemos D1 mini board as controller, software made in the ESP8266 arduino suite.
The clock takes about 550mA when the anodes are on the highest brightness and the leds off.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gnLn7QdxzjhkCnPB9 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/gnLn7QdxzjhkCnPB9)

My camera picks up the VFD segments way to bright, in real life they are easy to read.
(http://members.casema.nl/r.kamp/pictures/electronics/IV22Clock/img_20181118_103824.jpg)

Title: Re: The IV22 VFD Clock
Post by: Rolo on November 30, 2018, 10:01:02 am

Update on this project : I have mounted a clock module in a ready made (Ikea) bamboo box and put a "Glass Look" Arcyllic front on it. I have added three photo's of it to the album.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gnLn7QdxzjhkCnPB9 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/gnLn7QdxzjhkCnPB9)

Title: Re: The IV22 VFD Clock
Post by: RobK_NL on November 30, 2018, 11:20:40 am

That looks very good.

A neutral density filter in front of those VFD's would do wonders for the contrast, though.

Title: Re: The IV22 VFD Clock
Post by: Rolo on November 30, 2018, 11:55:35 am

Thanks, in real life the contrast is much better, my camera picks up the segments too bright.