Building IllyClock - Arduino-based alarm clock in a coffee can

Updated Aug 4, 2011
A streamlined version is now described here.

The purpose of this project is to build an alarm clock similar to the one presented in the video below.



Beside the enclosure, the original feature of IllyClock is showing the time in colors: 3 hours before wake-up time, color changes from green to orange; 1 hour before wake-up, the time is shown in red. One can estimate how much sleep is left just by squinting at the clock.

Parts you will need:
- Illy coffee can (250g); chosen because it is easy to find, has a screw-in lid (for ease of access to internals) and it can nicely accommodate two medium size LED matrices on top of each other;
- Wiseduino kit (buy here): this is an Arduino clone with a real time clock chip (DS1307) and an EEPROM (24LC256) on board;
- dual bi-color LED matrix shield kit (buy here).

These are the five major steps in building this project:
1. assembling Wiseduino;
2. assembling the LED matrix shield;
3. programming Wiseduino with the provided software (open source, downloadable);
4. preparing the coffee can as an enclosure (cutting the display opening in the coffee can, drilling the lid for the rotary encoder);
5. install the electronics.

Step 1 Assembling Wiseduino

Wiseduino is an Arduino clone which has real time clock (DS1307) and EEPROM (24LC256) on board.

Wiseduino can be purchased as kit here. The kit contains the following components:
- PCB (in black);
- ATmega328P micro controller with the Arduino bootloader;
- 28-pin socket for ATmega328P;
- resonator 16MHz;
- DS1307 real time clock chip;
- 24LC256 EEPROM chip;
- crystal 32768Hz;
- CR1220 coin battery;
- coin battery holder;
- 2N2222 transistor;
- 10K resistor (4 pieces);
- 100nF capacitor (4 pieces);
- 40-pin female header;
- 10-pin female header;
- 6-pin male angled header;
- SPDT micro switch;
- 2-pin JST angled power connector;
- power cables: one with 9V battery snap connector, the other with 2-pin JST jack.


To assemble Wiseduino follow these sub-steps.

a. Start with soldering the IC sockets. Make sure their notches match those on the silkscreen, so the correct orientation of the chips will be easy to identify later, when the chips are inserted.
b. Solder the battery holder. (photo 2)
c. Solder the power connector, then the 6-pin angled male header (used as FTDI connector).
d. Place the micro switch on the pads and solder the middle terminal, so that the switch's lever sticks 1mm out of the board. After the micro switch is positioned properly, solder the other 2 terminals. (photo 3)
e. Solder the 4 resistors, placed vertically. They all have the same value (10K), so there is no possibility for error.
f. Solder the 4 capacitors. As well, they all have the same value (100nF).
g. Next solder the 16MHz resonator. Its orientation is not important.
h. Insert the small cylindrical crystal (32768Hz, used by real time clock chip). Bend its terminals so that the crystal is parallel and close to the board, then solder it. (photo 4)
i. Break the 40-pin female header into four pieces: two 8-pin headers and two 6-pin headers. This should be done by removing one pin between each two pieces, then cut (more like crush) with a wire cutter along the empty space.
j. Position the headers into their right places along the sides of the board. Turn the board over and let it sit on the headers, making sure they are perpendicular to the board. Now solder all four headers. (photo 5)
k. Solder the transistor, placing it to match its shape on the silkscreen.
l. Insert the 3 chips into their respective sockets, paying attention to their orientation. Their notches must match those in the sockets (whose notches should match those on the silkscreen).
m. Insert the coin battery in its holder.

At this point Wiseduino is assembled and ready to be used/tested. It should look like in photo 1.

Comments

[rko167%]

that's a real nice thing u got there i feel like drinking coffee my own self!

[lmb71]

Very nice project. I drink Illy coffee and already use the cans for sundry purposes when they're empty, so this is a nice idea that I might try out myself. Well done!

[rustygray]

 This is really cool.     I like the idea of the different color LEDS as visual cues.

I have been trying to figure out how to build a countdown timer using RGY LEDS for visual countdown timers.
The increments would be in 10 second intervals, minute intervals and 5 and 10 minute intervals with the ability to add individual minutes or 5 or 10.

The idea is to have a timer that no matter how much time is started with will put up all 3 colors. So that the green ones go out first, then yellow then red and then flashes at 1 minute remaining.

How difficult is that to build?  It is for a psychology project. 

Your clock rocks!  Have you considered putting a rheostat control to increse brightness of the LED so at a predetermined time the LEDS get brighter, like the sun coming up?   I'd buy one!

[Pagan Wizard]

Awesome project. I also loved the "Worlds Loudest Alarm Clock" Please post the instructable on that one as well.

[johnboxall]

 Brilliant!

[buteomont]

Excellent job!  Just one suggestion - get rid of the timeout!  It's a pet peeve of mine - things shouldn't change state just because you were interrupted whilst fiddling with it.

[golddigger1559]

 how much do you want for one 


seriously

[AndyGadget]

I really like this project.
State diagrams are a brilliant way of showing the clock controls.  So many instruction manuals could be halved in size if the manufacturers used them.
Are the displays really that pastel shade or is that just the video?

[erosser]

 Dude, Hella-Awesome!
I might undertake one with a crazy loud buzzer, since my current alarm (regular clock radio + cell phone) is proving not loud enough on those especially sleepy mornings.  And I like the DIY look of this--very sleek in th coffee can!
Nice work, and well-engineered!

[XOIIO]

Very cool. I like the color changing aspect.