PIC16F628A based PC controlled digital clock

Project site:
http://sites.google.com/site/alphap8/home/electrotime-project

This is my first electronics project, designed and made by myself.

The idea is to present a digital clock which displays the Desktop PC time.

The time data is sent to the digital display through COM port.

The pic16f628A microcontroller recieve the data and using multiplexing technique controls the 7-segment leds by activating each one with the proper value using a transistor per each. Only one 7-segment is switched on in a single time (for 100ms), than it turns off, and the next one is activated and so it goes on in an endless loop.

The display value is sent to a 4511 bcd-to-7-segment driver which converts the binary value sent from the microcontroller to the 7-segment leds.

The microcontroller program was developed in assembly language using
the free microchip's MPLAB IDE.

The chip was programmed by using a controller which allows low-voltage programming (LVP) through Parallel port and using WinPic800 software.

The PC driving software is a simple Win32 console application which samples the local time, constructs the data using a simple protocol I made, and sends the data through serial COM port.

A drawing design of the whole circuit was made in Visio software and the project was built on a project board according to the drawing.

The project board is actually divided into 3 sections:
1. Power supply circuit.
2. Microcontroller and accessories.
3. Display leds and their driver.

The circuits are inter-connected using cables so although all is on the same board, one can easily build the project as 3 separated circuits to save space.

It took a fare amount of time to design and build this project - it involves many fields of technologies and knowledge, some I have solid background and some that were lernt during the process. It was quite ambitious to start my first electronics project with this idea.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• pic
• led
• microchip
• 16f628
• 16f628a
• pic16f628
• rs-232
• usart
• micro
• microcontroller
• max232
• 4511
• 7-segment
• digital
• clock

[PirateOfLoserville]

I guess you did this as a hobbyist, like a side project to see if you could make it work. I cant see where it is applicable anywhere else when you are able to update you pc with NIST. However Lord Kelvin would most certain be interested if he new about digital watches.

-Ambitious build indeed.

[alphap8]

I think you got it all wrong - The PC sends its data to the display device I built. No data is sent to the PC!

My device can accept any numerical value that fits in 6 digits - it doesn't have to be the PC time, it can be any information sent from the PC (it can be score of a game or whatever).

You're right about the fact that I did this as a hobbist, and yes, I tried to get practical after learning - I admit it was quite an ambitious project to be my first ever electronics project.

[bloodyrole]

I'm so amazed with this design. Nice job.....

Can you upload the schematic and the circuit diagram of that design plz including the materials that you have used and also the program that you have made to the IC. thanks.

[alphap8]

Hi,

I working on it, it takes time but I will soon put it all on a web site.

Cheers!

[halomaster1177]

you did this at 2 in the morning!?

[alphap8]

:)

Yes, this is the actual time displayed there.

I was soooo exicted when all of this worked properly and I wanted to take some shots before it explodes or something :) Later on I just edited the shots and prepared this video.

[Falling100]

Very cool. I recently built my own GPS disciplined NTP server, and I'm looking for a cool way to display my accurate time. I'm thinking of using this design, but modifying it to use nixie tubes.

[sixstringmania]

this musik makes me wanna throw up!

but its a nice project

[matholton]



Love this project - beats my attempt at first bit of electronics!

Any tips on where to start with something like this? tools needed etc?

[renekenshin6573]

Dude that's awesome, do you have a complete schematic along with a pcb design including the hex code for it? That would be an interesting project :)

[caracas00]

The song is daftpunk.

[caracas00]

you mind sharing the code. i currently got a MAX232 conection set and the PIC 16F628A conected to the max232 i need to turn a led on and off but i dont know how to program the PIC that well. you mind helping me out ? thanks in advance. i hope to hear from you soon.

[teamorr96]

that song is WACK!

[mmizz0010]

hi alphap8. wow thats a great project. i am working on a similar project and i could not find the way of interfacing the circuit to the PC . Have you uploaded the circuit diagram somewhere pls, or can you give me some tips. thank you very much

[zephyur1990]

I am also doing a project that is quite similar to yours so can you give me your code??? i have no idea how to write programming code so can you help me?