projects:binary_clock
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
|
projects:binary_clock [2013/12/19 22:31] phiaseitz [Why did you do it?] |
projects:binary_clock [2013/12/19 23:38] (current) eqwang [**Code**] |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| - | **Binary Clock** | + | ==================Binary Clock================== |
| by Emily Wang ('16) and Sophia Seitz ('16) | by Emily Wang ('16) and Sophia Seitz ('16) | ||
| - | ====== What did you do? ====== | + | Computer Architecture, Fall 2013 |
| + | ====== What did we do? ====== | ||
| Line 11: | Line 13: | ||
| - | ====== Why did you do it? ====== | + | ====== Why did we do it? ====== |
| We knew that we wanted more experience with the FPGA beyond the MP3 lab option. Most of our exposure with programming in Computer Architecture has been with Verilog simulations in ModelSim or MARS Assembly, which is obviously different from uploading to and debugging code running on the FPGA (for example, frequency dividers in structural with flip flops work fine in ModelSim, but caused unexpected troubles on the FPGA). Therefore, we chose to run our Verilog code on an FPGA to help create the binary clock in real life. | We knew that we wanted more experience with the FPGA beyond the MP3 lab option. Most of our exposure with programming in Computer Architecture has been with Verilog simulations in ModelSim or MARS Assembly, which is obviously different from uploading to and debugging code running on the FPGA (for example, frequency dividers in structural with flip flops work fine in ModelSim, but caused unexpected troubles on the FPGA). Therefore, we chose to run our Verilog code on an FPGA to help create the binary clock in real life. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 19: | ||
| Also, we wanted to pursue a project that could be used to help teach others about Computer Architecture topics, such as binary numbers, multiplexers, adders, and frequency dividers, which are all essential pieces of our binary clock. | Also, we wanted to pursue a project that could be used to help teach others about Computer Architecture topics, such as binary numbers, multiplexers, adders, and frequency dividers, which are all essential pieces of our binary clock. | ||
| - | ====== How did you do it? ====== | + | ====== How did we do it? ====== |
| Line 95: | Line 97: | ||
| - | ==== **Code** ==== | + | ====Code==== |
| + | |||
| + | The current code for this project can be found at **https://github.com/greenteawarrior/BinaryClock** | ||
| - | The current code for this project can be found at https://github.com/greenteawarrior/BinaryClock. | ||
| Feel free to fork this repository and play with the binary clock! Also, let us know if you do anything interesting. :) | Feel free to fork this repository and play with the binary clock! Also, let us know if you do anything interesting. :) | ||
| Line 117: | Line 120: | ||
| For our project, we built an case for our clock. We did this by laser cutting 3/16 inch MDF, and then gluing the case together. The CAD for the casing and a rudimentary CAD of our FPGA, the Spartan 3, can be found here: | For our project, we built an case for our clock. We did this by laser cutting 3/16 inch MDF, and then gluing the case together. The CAD for the casing and a rudimentary CAD of our FPGA, the Spartan 3, can be found here: | ||
| - | We have included a .zip of the CAD files involved in creating the binary clock (tolerances work with a trotec speedy300 laser cutter - as always, prototype the LED diameter tolerances to prevent excessive filing/post-processing!). The files are also available on the github repository. | + | *The github repository (includes code and CAD) can also be very easily downloaded as a .zip file if that is preferred. Please email Emily Wang or Sophia Seitz if you have any technical difficulties with obtaining the open source files. Thanks!* |
| + | |||
| + | We have a folder of the CAD files involved in creating the binary clock on the github repository : https://github.com/greenteawarrior/BinaryClock/tree/master/CAD | ||
| + | |||
| + | (Tolerances calibrated for cutting with a Trotec Speedy300 laser cutter - as always, prototype the LED diameter tolerances to prevent excessive filing/post-processing!). | ||
| Some screenshots of the assembly in SolidWorks: | Some screenshots of the assembly in SolidWorks: | ||
| Line 125: | Line 132: | ||
| Here is a picture of the finished product! | Here is a picture of the finished product! | ||
| - | INSERT PICTURE HERE! | + | {{ :projects:binaryclockfinalpicture.jpg?500 |}} |
| ==== Gotchas ==== | ==== Gotchas ==== | ||
| Line 139: | Line 145: | ||
| ===== Possible Future Steps ===== | ===== Possible Future Steps ===== | ||
| - | * Make the LEDs actually orange | + | * Make the LEDs actually orange (This was Sophia's intended color for the display LEDs.) |
| - | * Add color changing LEDs! | + | * Add color changing LED pattern logic! (Rainbows, anyone?) |
| * The clock is fairly accurate, but does get off by a few seconds every couple hours. The frequency dividers could use some fine-tuning. | * The clock is fairly accurate, but does get off by a few seconds every couple hours. The frequency dividers could use some fine-tuning. | ||
| * Add some code to prevent the user from setting minutes or seconds to values above 60. (same concept for setting hours above 24) | * Add some code to prevent the user from setting minutes or seconds to values above 60. (same concept for setting hours above 24) | ||
| - | * Make a PCB instead of the sketchy breadboard wiring we currently have. | + | * Make a PCB instead of the breadboard wiring we currently have. |
| - | * In addition to a time, we could also have the clock display date. | + | * In addition to the time values, we could also have the clock display date (day of the week, year, etc). |
projects/binary_clock.1387510268.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/12/19 22:31 by phiaseitz
Page Tools
