|
The 'Variclock' was created for a 3D movie production produced in India - the first project of its type originated in the country. The script called for a clock that behaved in various different ways - sometimes acting like a normal clock, sometimes running at different speeds, and even counting backwards at high speed in one specific scene.
Rather than creating a new case design from scratch, which would have been more expensive, a commercial clock was chosen and modified. This required that all original electronics were removed from the clock and replaced with larger, brighter digits than the originals.
Because the needs of the movie had not been finalised at the time I was handed the project and onluy a general outline specification was provided, the device was designed such that it could be programmed to act in any manner required. In addition to this, the clock may be supplied either from a plug top power supply or internal battery power, and is resettable / triggerable either by using a remote cable or by the original switches on the top of the case. In this way virtually any situation may be catered for.
Technical specifications:
- Internal processor: Parallax Propeller (three cores used, five remain free)
- Processor clock speed: 80MHz
- Display: 4 x 0.8" 7-segment displays and two colon leds, all segments individually adressable
- Display control: MM5450 35-segment driver
- User programming (via serial cable): Three selectable programs of 32 steps each
- Program commands: FWD, REV, PAUSE, FIX, RAND
- Power supply: Mains (plug-top) or battery (PP3)
The project, including the build of two identical units, was completed in eight days.
|
