The four letter word clock in action, flanked by two smaller clocks with more normal sized nixies for comparison.
Clock-It Smartsocket driver
This page features a simple driver for Smartsockets. The driver is 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
Smartsockets can be daisy-chained into very long strings of individually addressable characters. This driver concentrates on displaying letters as a clock and a four letter display.
For more information on Smartsockets, visit the Yahoo group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smartsockets/
What is this Smartsocket driver?
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 for accuracy or a cheap watch crystal.
The PIC runs using its own internal 4 meg oscillator. Clock timing is derived from a 32k timing reference on the PIC’s timer1 oscillator pins. A half second pulse is output on pin 18. This may be used to indicate that the clock is running, without any tubes needing to be connected and can be used with a transistor to drive a neon colon separator.
Features
The software contains four main operating styles. Some of these have alternatives, giving a total of nine selectable styles. All except one display both the time and words.
Edits are accessed through the two switches.
There is software adjustment of the clock should it run slightly slow or fast.
I have provided a ‘profanity’ setting which, if selected, will avoid those words likely to offend.
In addition there is a night setting which affects all styles, where the tubes will blank between 10pm at night and 8am in the morning. Or the tubes can be left on continuously.
Styles
The default style is called TMWD, for time/word. It works on a 5 second cycle, displaying the time for the first two five second cycles of each minute. The rest of the minute will display a different random word every five seconds. The transitions used will change each minute. The smartsockets contain nine different transition effects.
A similar setting is available that shows only the time, or only four letter words.
Above: a scrolling style where the time scrolls across in the form of HH MM SS, followed by three static random words with decomposition and recomposition fades.
Above: a scrolling style where the time scrolls across in the form of HH MM alternating with random four letter words.
Above: a style I call slide. Characters slide into view a character at a time until the word is complete. The display then pauses before the letters slide out of view again.
Above: sequence. Words alternate with the time on a 5 second cycle. There is a delay between each letter appearing which, with the slow transitions, adds to the morphing effect between words. There are three selectable delay times.
Loves the videos.
Did you ever find the code / upload it? I don’t see it in the yahoo groups file section.
What code are you looking for? My 4 letter word code?
Maybe this? https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/smartsockets/files/John%27s%20clock/
Hi
I have been after 4 letter word clock word & library code for years!
I was one of the 4 letter word clock kit victims 🙁
Please can you send me the files?
All the code is available from the Smartsocket group on Yahoo at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/smartsockets/info. New code is being written by me as I write.
Please keep me in the loop. Would like to purchase a set pf chips or the program if possible Tried to get into the Smartsocket group. It is locked and will not take new members I guess. Also tried to contact Taylor for info but that E-mail address is not working (payPal seems to be working though).
Regards
Richard Martiin
I have downloaded the files from the Smartsocket group for you. I will send a zipped file to your gmail address. Let me know how it goes. There is code in there for a 4 letter word clock and a six letter word clock.
Dear Sir:
As I have a few B-7971 tubes packed away, I would like to make a four letter word clock. The hardware part is not a problem but have to admit I am not too smart on the program to run it all. I have purchased a few Smart Boards with PIC’s, but need to drive them. May I purchase your source code for the Word clock or would you be kind enough to stear me to a place to obtain it.
Regards
Dick Martin
There used to be a forum for Smartsockets, I’ve not heard much activity recently. I think my code was in the files section. I have the PIC code and the EEPROM words somewhere – I just need to find them and burn some chips.
Thanks for the reply. I will go to the Smartsocket site to see if I can find the files. Please keep me posted on the burning chips stuff.
Regards
Dick
I am an artist working with a range of media and currently doing a PhD at the RCA. I have some questions about this clock and possible displays and timings etc regarding a project I am working on. Please email me. Many thanks.
You have new mail Steven.