Nixie Watch:
Nixie watch in wood casing...
It was long time I was thinking to make a watch with Nixie tubes. I spent 6 months to think and look around how to make it, 3 months of a mockup on the table and first SW version to confirm the feasability of the power supply and the SW, then 3 months to make a first mockup with can be wear on the wirst then 2 months on PCB version...
The mockup version is still working well. I use it on regular basis, all was make by hand, with thin wires and no PCB.
I design the power supply, 180V, around the LT1935 and voltage multiplier.
The tubes are manage with FET transistors, multiplexed. I start to use B5870 but they are rare and expensive. I made another PCB for Z590M.
The CPU is as usual for me an PIC18LF2420, in SO package, working in 3.3V with low IQ regulator from TI.
Today, to see the time, I use an LDR and just passing the hand above the watch , or press the unique button, will display hour then minutes. a press on the button will display date and after, the battery level.
The time control, to save the maximum of energy was very complex as the sleep time is not accurate. Now, the accuracy is correct but not yet very good. The autonomy in standby is very good. Can stay weeks without recharge. with daily normal usage, it can stand more than 1 week.
The battery is a small LiPo battery, 180mA, the recharge through an USB plug and a Max1555.
The current testing version with with 3 PCB, one in the bottom for the power supply, one vertical for the CPU, the last one for the tubes.
The thickness is today 15mm, the casing is 45mm. I found a supplier to make wood casing which is nice, dark or light color. Some pictures of these casing on the shop:
https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/shop/Labbetech?ref=search_shop_redirect
The CPU PCB has some options not yet tested and need develop the SW:
- Add a real time clock PCF2129T
- Add a small backup battery
- Add a movement sensor to try to have the time by turning the wrist
This project is interesting but quite complex. all in SMT component but still manageable with the iron.
Several pictures about the progress of this project.
Laurent
The mockup version is still working well. I use it on regular basis, all was make by hand, with thin wires and no PCB.
I design the power supply, 180V, around the LT1935 and voltage multiplier.
The tubes are manage with FET transistors, multiplexed. I start to use B5870 but they are rare and expensive. I made another PCB for Z590M.
The CPU is as usual for me an PIC18LF2420, in SO package, working in 3.3V with low IQ regulator from TI.
Today, to see the time, I use an LDR and just passing the hand above the watch , or press the unique button, will display hour then minutes. a press on the button will display date and after, the battery level.
The time control, to save the maximum of energy was very complex as the sleep time is not accurate. Now, the accuracy is correct but not yet very good. The autonomy in standby is very good. Can stay weeks without recharge. with daily normal usage, it can stand more than 1 week.
The battery is a small LiPo battery, 180mA, the recharge through an USB plug and a Max1555.
The current testing version with with 3 PCB, one in the bottom for the power supply, one vertical for the CPU, the last one for the tubes.
The thickness is today 15mm, the casing is 45mm. I found a supplier to make wood casing which is nice, dark or light color. Some pictures of these casing on the shop:
https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/shop/Labbetech?ref=search_shop_redirect
The CPU PCB has some options not yet tested and need develop the SW:
- Add a real time clock PCF2129T
- Add a small backup battery
- Add a movement sensor to try to have the time by turning the wrist
This project is interesting but quite complex. all in SMT component but still manageable with the iron.
Several pictures about the progress of this project.
Laurent
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Content Director, Elektor 4 jaar geleden
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Updates van de auteur
gfaman 6 jaar geleden
- New PCB version, compatible with the current software version:
* To reduce little bit the thickness of the PCBA, the CPU changed from SO package to QFN version, which is a challenge to solder (but succeed)...
* Add the blue LED backlight on the PCB (before it was hand and wire soldering)
* correct one mistake on the connection between the main PCBA and the tubes
* Change the color of the PCB from green to black. So now, the background is completely dark...
I'm thinking to add a NTC to measure the temperature on place of the moving sensor IC (for tild detection), but not sure it will be very useful
gfaman 7 jaar geleden
All the CPU board, the RTC are now on the main round PCB. I still keep the same CPU, hesitating to move to the QFP version but more difficult to solder.
The tube PCB is using now a small 14 pins connector to connect to the main round PCB. So, it can be easily put and remove.
Now, there are 2 batteries which is double the autonomy. It was around 1 week already and will be double.
SW has been improve with a new feature about the shaddow detection. Now, we can choose no shaddow, or instant shaddow or average of the last 4 sec for trigger the display.
For fun, I made a blue backlight version. the PCB is not yet plan for it but the rendering is nice...
More pictures hereafter and on the shop:
https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/shop/Labbetech?ref=search_shop_redirect
Laurent
img-20170722-1259277.jpg (146kb)
img-20170722-2117283.jpg (95kb)
gfaman 8 jaar geleden
So, now, time, date, month nd year are saved in the PCT and will be read at each request from the user, button press or light sensor detection.
It will be ok from now on on this version. Many issues on the CPU PCB which cause many wires correction. Need make a PCB update.
The final integration in the wood casing is on going. Now, many other casing from big (and cheap) watch is ok as long as it is 45mm diameter and internal thickness 15mm.
Some photos of the current PCB level
Laurent
View of the PCT2129T (82kb)
PCB for the Z590 (55kb)
gfaman 8 jaar geleden
I've been using it for months already without issue. Only the time accuracy need to be adjust every week but it will be improved with the PCF2129T, PCB version.
img-20161018-wa0002.jpeg (57kb)
screenshot-20161011-010714-20161201173057.png (740kb)