Links
Nixie tube clocks
B7971 Smartsocket driver:
Panaplex clocks
LED clocks
Charlieplexed LED clocks
VFD clocks
Above: a prototype PCB
Part of the reason for these pages is because I have had a number of enquiries about selling this PIC and EEPROM set.
The cost, including shipping, for the programmed PIC and including shipping within the UK and internationally, will be £17. That is 17 GB pounds. Postage within the UK includes insurance, but overseas insurance can be provided at cost if requested.
Clock-It Smartsocket driver
This page features a simple driver for Smartsockets.
OK, so what are Smartsockets?
This page relates to a combination of PIC microcontroller and serial EEPROM which has been designed to work with the Smartsockets devised by Chris Barron to drive Burroughs B7971 jumbo nixie tubes and other segmented displays as a clock & 4 letter display.
For more information on Smartsockets, visit the Yahoo group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smartsockets/.
What is this Smartsocket driver thingy?
The driver is a combination of Microchip PIC microcontroller – an 18 pin 16F648a which contains the clock timing, clock editing and various modes of operation - and a Maxim I2C serial EEPROM, which contains a library of 5,644 English, or readable in English, words. These are from the most complete list I can find, which was complied by Pete Hand. Pete's list of four letter words are taken from the official Scrabble TWL (US) and SOWPODS (International) tournament word lists, with a few proper names (eg IPOD), abbreviations (eg DEPT) and common acronyms (eg RIAA) added. The circuit Constructing the circuit board is simple. I used “Vero” stripboard to create a compact layout. Trust me, it's simple. Fit either the Dallas DS32KHZ or a cheap watch crystal.
