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Jeff Beman edited this page Dec 1, 2023 · 19 revisions

Kinetic Display

Video of the display is located here: https://youtu.be/vFLpjOTYWNc

You can also view the link to the local version of the Kinetic Display Video

The display is a digital clock, date, indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity display. It has a white face and numbers that light when extended. The numbers are made up of segments that extend or retract to display time, date, temperature, and humidity. The display has four digits numbered 0 through 3 with a colon between digit 1 and 2. The colon is made up of two segments, an upper and a lower, which are retracted or extended for time, date, indoor or outdoor temperature and humidity.

Front Display Elements

displayelements

  • Segments. The segments are the basic units that form the numbers and the colon. They are lit hexagons that move in and out of the white face. Each segment has a letter assigned to it, from A to G. There are seven segments for each digit, and two segments for the colon.
  • Numbers. The numbers are the digits that show the time, month and day, and temperature or humidity. Digits are made up of segments that are extended and lit depending on its value. For example, the time of 12:43 from left to right: number 1 is digit 0 with segments B and C extended, number 2 is digit 1 with segments A, B, G, E, and D extended, number 4 is digit 2 with segments B, C, F, and G, extended and number 3 with segments A, B, C, D, and G extended.
  • Colon. Time is displayed when the upper and lower colon are EXTENDED. Month and day are displayed when the upper and lower colons are RETRACTED. Interior temperature and humidity have the upper colon is EXTENDED and the lower colon RETRACTED. Exterior temperature and humidity have the upper colon RETRACTED and the lower colon EXTENDED. The section on Rotating Displays details the meanings of the extended and retracted colon states.
  • Face. The face is the white area that surrounds the segments. It is a rectangular shape that has hexagonally shaped holes for the segments to move in and out.
  • Feet. The display is held up by a right and left foot that snaps into the lower corners of the display face.

Back of the Display Elements

displayback

  • Main Controller. Retrieves region, latitude and longitude based on its IP address, time, and external temperature and humidity from a local weather station. It also controlls the colons and sends and recieves messages to/from the digit controllers.
    • On/Off switch. Retracts all extended segments and sends a command to the digit controllers to hybernate.
    • 12/24 hour switch. Changes the time display from 12 hour to 24 hour time.
    • Red LED. The controller is connecting to the WIFI network.
    • Green LED. The controller is connecting to the web for region, time, latitude and longitude, or to a local weather station.
    • Colons. Controlls extending or retracting the colon segments.
  • Digit Controllers (0-3). Controls extending, retracting, and lighting segments.
  • Temperature and Humidity Sensor. DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor located under the main controller.
  • USB-C port. Port for the 5v 4A power supply.
  • Segment servo. Motor that extends and retracts the segment.

Rotating Displays

When configured and running the display rotates time, date, temperature, and humidity each minute.

Time

The first and last display each minute is time (12 or 24 hour).

illustration-time

Time is displayed for 30 seconds each minute from 0 to 15 seconds and from 45 to 60 seconds.

Time displays when the upper and lower colons are EXTENDED. The example shows the time as 12:43 pm when in 24-hour mode, 12:43 AM or PM when in 12-hour mode. The switch for 12- or 24-hour time is located on the back behind digit 3.

Month and Day

The second display each minute is the month and day. Month is displayed on the left face of the display and the day is on the right face.

illustration-date

Displays for 10 seconds each minute from 15 to 25 seconds.

Displays when the upper and lower colons are RETRACTED. The example shows the date as December 13, where the month is the left two digits (MM) and the day is the second two digits (DD). Note the clock face does not have enough digits to include the year along with the month and day.

Temperature

Indoor and outdoor temperature is the third display each minute. Indoor and outdoor temperature rotate every two minutes where the first minute is the indoor temperature and the following minute is the outdoor temperature.

illustration-temp

Displays for 10 seconds from 25 to 35 seconds.

The INTERIOR temperature displays when the UPPER colon is extended and the lower retracted. The EXTERIOR temperature displays when the LOWER colon is extended and the upper retracted. This example shows the INTERIOR temperature as 72° Fahrenheit. Note you can change from Fahrenheit to Celsius using the Admin page.

Humidity

Indoor and outdoor humidity is the fourth display each minute. Indoor and outdoor humidity rotate every two minutes where the first minute is the indoor humidity and the following minute is the outdoor humidity.

illustration-humid

Displays for 10 seconds from 35 to 45 seconds.

Like temperature, the INTERIOR humidity displays when the UPPER colon is extended and the lower retracted. The EXTERIOR humidity displays when the LOWER colon is extended and the upper retracted. This example shows the OUTDOOR humidity as 93%.