'Omnixie' Smart Wifi Nixie Clock released

[严泽远]

Dear all,

Six years have past since my last Nixie Clock released, today I finished my new Nixie project 'Omnixie', a smart Wifi Nixie Clock.

Omnixie powered by USB power supply, compatible with 6 types of 19mm-diameter Nixie tubes at the moment, the wooden frame thickness is only 6mm, will compatible with dozens of different types of Nixie tubes in the future, all fly pins Nixie tubes installed adapters with gold plated connectors ensure stable and reliable connection with easy tube replacement. This time I designed the aluminum alloy panel with carbon gray anodizing, 600 mesh drawing process and high light edge processing, and the middle frame is made of nature wood, there're three types of wood: Bamboo, beech and Ebony.

Wifi synchronization and web configuration are the innovaton of this design, users can access the Omnixie dashboard to configuration of all the Omnixie features through any we browser, including iPhone, Android, Mac or PC, the setting interface is clearly even don't need the user manual, just like use an APP on the phone to configure it, including WIFI parameter settings, NTP settings, system status, general settings, display settings, alarm settings and firmware upgrade.

Support talking clock with four languages in English, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese and German, can trigger talking clock in any time by press the button on IR remote, also can be set to talking clock automatically at regular intervals.

8 brightness levels for the Nixie tubes and back lights, which can also be automatically adjusted according to ambient light conditions to allow sleep at night.

More details and pictures please visit our website:

China (Chinese and English): http://www.nixieclock.org/?p=1490

U.S.A. (English): http://www.nixie.ai/2017/02/26/2018-new-release-omnixie-nixie-clock/

Any comments are welcome, thanks!

Yan.

Features:

• Swappable Nixie tubes. Compatible with dozens of different types of Nixie tubes, gold-plated connectors ensure stable and reliable connection with easy tube replacement.
  
• WIFI synchronization. Built-in WIFI module, connect to router automatically and sync date and time from NTP server (NTP time accuracy can reach 1-50ms) after initial setup, never worry about the accuracy, leap year, leap seconds. Daylight saving time can be automatically adjusted. High-precision network time please refer to https://time.is
• Web configuration (Support iOS, Android，Mac OS, Windows).Built-in web server, open any web browser to access the interface page (Dashboard) to configuration of all Omnixie features including WIFI parameter settings, NTP settings, system status, general settings, display settings, alarm settings and firmware upgrade.
• DHCP、mDNS、SSDP support. Support DHCP settings for external network access, supports mDNS for browser domain name access (no need to remember device IP address), supports SSDP for fast network discovery.
• OTA firmware upgrade. The system firmware can be upgraded directly through the Web interface without any special equipment.
• Support GMT setting. Supports GMT time zone setting. The system will automatically convert the local date and time according to the GMT time zone settings.
• Support DST setting. Supports DST settings. Customize the start and end dates for daylight saving time to adapt to different countries daylight saving time rules.
• Brightness adjustable. 8 brightness levels for Nixie tubes and backlights, which can also be automatically adjusted according to ambient light conditions (to allow sleep at night).
• Talking clock. Intelligent speech system in English, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese and German. The interval and alarm music are user customizable.
• Alarm. Four individually configurable alarm clocks, supports snooze function. (weekend activation optional) 
• Music key tone and alarm. Variety of key tone sound effects for easy setting confirmation. 12 kinds of alarm music, the alarm volume can be set independently.
• Switch On/Off automatically. On and Off time can be set for longer tube lifetime.
• IR remote. IR remote controller operation.
• Volume adjustable. 8 volume levels. Independent Alarm volume, mute does not affect the alarm sound.
• Digits transition effects. 1. Normal 2. Fade in-out 3. Crossfading 4. Slot machine. 
• Transition speed adjustable. Ten speeds available for the transition.
• Colons effects. 1. Fade in-out 2. Blinking 3. Always on 4. Always off
• Background light effects. 1. Always on 2. Fade in-out 3. Always off 
• Background light color scheme. 14 types of background light color scheme can be configured.

Technical Specifications:

• Nixie Tubes. S series NL-5440/5440A/5441/5441A (National made in U.S.A.)  B-5440/5440A/5441/5441A (Burroughs made in U.S.A.)
•                      E series NL-840/841/842/845/846/848/900/901 (National U.S.A.)
•                      C series IN-14/IN-8-2 (Rovno made in Soviet Union)  Z570M/Z573M/Z574M (RFT made in Germany)  ZM1080 (Mullard/Philips/Telefunken)
• Power input. Micro-USB DC5V 700mA(Max)
• WIFI. IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
• Frequency range. 2.412GHz – 2.484GHz
• Antenna. Built-in PCB board antenna
• Dimension. Base 192mm(L) x 62mm(W) x 6mm(H)  Height of Nixie tubes 40mm – 55mm(Based on tube types)
• Material of housing. Aluminum panel Hardwood frame Stainless steel base plate.
• Operation temperature. 0℃ - 60℃
• Weight ~240g (Only the Omnixie clock)  ~500g (Complete packaging)

[Terry S]

Yan -- fantastic work as always!

[Dan Hollis]

On Tue, 13 Mar 2018, 严泽�¿~\ wrote:
> Six years have past since my last Nixie Clock released, today I finished my
> new Nixie project 'Omnixie', a smart Wifi Nixie Clock.

Missing IN-18 support. This makes me sad.

-Dan

[Tomasz Kowalczyk]

I love how thin this clocks base is. I'm wondering how the power supply is made - judging from dimensions of your NCH8200HV power supply, fitting that transformer isn't an option - or am I wrong? Or is it a boost converter on a flat inductor with voltage doublers?
Anyway, this is the thinnest clock base I've ever seen. In fact, none comes even close - second thinnest was 20mm thick (it was fully wooden, though). It is really impressive.
It reminds me of bonsai trees, where very low pots are chosen for aesthetic reasons - it helps exposing the tree itself. It works here, too - even the small tubes are not dwarfed by the base. 

[John Snow]

Beautiful clock - I'm kicking myself for not thinking of the name myself!

[严泽远]

Thanks Terry ;)

在 2018年3月13日星期二 UTC+8下午7:46:34，Terry S写道：

[严泽远]

Hi Dan, I'm going to make another version compatible with ZM1040, Z566M and IN-18 tubes, same functions.

Yan.

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8上午2:47:35，bani写道：

[Greg P]

When might we see the larger tube versions available?

[严泽远]

Yes you're right, same solution with NCH8200HV for power supply module, height of transformer is 5mm max, pcb board thickness is 1mm, this's the thickest part, check picture attached. Actually I have another choice for make it thinner with 4mm transformer, but it seem to be nosence compared to 5mm.

My first version is only designed for fly pins nixie tubes with tube PCB adapter, I never thought my last version will compatible with NL-5441 and NL-841 tubes, still 6mm base, the end of tube pins almost touch the bottom pcb board.

 

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8下午2:42:03，Tomasz Kowalczyk写道：

[严泽远]

I'm design the housing now, thickness of wooden frame might be 8mm, hopefully I can bring the prototype to Maker Faire 2018 at Bay Area, CA on May ;)

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8下午9:45:54，Greg P写道：

[Michail Wilson]

I am interested, but only for large tube.  IN-18

 

You think you might have this available for the Maker Fair?   J

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[严泽远]

Hopefully I can finish the housing design soon and got the prototype on April, if so I will bring several prototypes to Maker Fair ;) 

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8下午10:35:05，Michail写道：

[Dan Hollis]

How about version without the wood? I prefer sapele, maple or walnut. I
can cut my own with CNC.

-Dan

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[Nicholas Stock]

I'd go further and ask why hide those beautiful electronics at all?

OK, I'm a little biased there....

On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 10:51 AM, Dan Hollis <parkxz...@anime.net> wrote:

How about version without the wood? I prefer sapele, maple or walnut. I can cut my own with CNC.

-Dan

On Thu, 15 Mar 2018, 严泽�¿~\ wrote:

I'm design the housing now, thickness of wooden frame might be 8mm,
hopefully I can bring the prototype to Maker Faire 2018 at Bay Area, CA on
May ;)

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8下午9:45:54，Greg P写道：

When might we see the larger tube versions available?




On Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 9:19:28 AM UTC-4, 严泽远 wrote:

Hi Dan, I'm going to make another version compatible with ZM1040, Z566M
and IN-18 tubes, same functions.

Yan.

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8上午2:47:35，bani写道：

On Tue, 13 Mar 2018, 严泽�¿~\ wrote:

Six years have past since my last Nixie Clock released, today I

finished my

new Nixie project 'Omnixie', a smart Wifi Nixie Clock.

Missing IN-18 support. This makes me sad.

-Dan

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[Tomasz Kowalczyk]

Thanks for confirmation.

I was recently researching possiblities of making an ultra small PSU with <1W output (nixie watch project) and I'm currently stuck with CEEH54 and CJ5143 and I'm toying around with them.

However, I've found another little gem to order and play with:

https://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TDK/ATB322515-0110?qs=ivTIEzcXi41rlQuCra1Ohg%3D%3D
So it is possible to get much smaller transformers designed for step-up applications. I wonder how much power can be drawn from PSU built around so small transformer. This will probably require designing a LLC converter just to decrease losses in the transformer. With it I could lay two Z5900Ms side by side and hide the converter between the tubes!

I think that for a full scale clock with 6 small tubes there would be a need of building two of PSUs working for three tubes each, but that would allow to go even thinner.

There is also (mentioned in the datasheet) a 2,4mm height version, still significantly thinner than most transformers I've seen.

[alb.001 alb.001]

Mouser page shows  0 in stock  expected delivery of first batch is middle of June

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Tomasz Kowalczyk <ten....@gmail.com>
Date: March 17, 2018 at 3:31 AM

Thanks for confirmation.

I was recently researching possiblities of making an ultra small PSU with <1W output (nixie watch project) and I'm currently stuck with CEEH54 and CJ5143 and I'm toying around with them.

However, I've found another little gem to order and play with:

https://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TDK/ATB322515-0110?qs=ivTIEzcXi41rlQuCra1Ohg%3D%3D
So it is possible to get much smaller transformers designed for step-up applications. I wonder how much power can be drawn from PSU built around so small transformer. This will probably require designing a LLC converter just to decrease losses in the transformer. With it I could lay two Z5900Ms side by side and hide the converter between the tubes!

I think that for a full scale clock with 6 small tubes there would be a need of building two of PSUs working for three tubes each, but that would allow to go even thinner.

There is also (mentioned in the datasheet) a 2,4mm height version, still significantly thinner than most transformers I've seen.

W dniu czwartek, 15 marca 2018 14:48:12 UTC+1 użytkownik 严泽远 napisał:

Yes you're right, same solution with NCH8200HV for power supply module, height of transformer is 5mm max, pcb board thickness is 1mm, this's the thickest part, check picture attached. Actually I have another choice for make it thinner with 4mm transformer, but it seem to be nosence compared to 5mm.

My first version is only designed for fly pins nixie tubes with tube PCB adapter, I never thought my last version will compatible with NL-5441 and NL-841 tubes, still 6mm base, the end of tube pins almost touch the bottom pcb board.

在 2018年3月15日星期四 UTC+8下午2:42:03,Tomasz Kowalczyk写道:

I love how thin this clocks base is. I'm wondering how the power supply is made - judging from dimensions of your NCH8200HV power supply, fitting that transformer isn't an option - or am I wrong? Or is it a boost converter on a flat inductor with voltage doublers?
Anyway, this is the thinnest clock base I've ever seen. In fact, none comes even close - second thinnest was 20mm thick (it was fully wooden, though). It is really impressive.
It reminds me of bonsai trees, where very low pots are chosen for aesthetic reasons - it helps exposing the tree itself. It works here, too - even the small tubes are not dwarfed by the base.

 

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[Robert L]

On Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 10:32:44 AM UTC-7, philthepill wrote:

Mouser page shows  0 in stock  expected delivery of first batch is middle of June

Transformer in stock at Digikey for $2.21/ea...  

ATB322515-0110

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/tdk-corporation/ATB322515-0110/445-8635-1-ND/3008149

[Paul Andrews]

Hi Tomasz,

I used this transformer from Wurth in one version of my power supply: http://katalog.we-online.com/pbs/datasheet/74488540250.pdf. It is 4mm high. That version of the power supply will easily drive two tubes from a LiPo battery. It will manage up to four IN-12.

The whole project is documented here: https://hackaday.io/project/27899-nixie-tube-power-supply

The transformer I have settled on for my own purposes is this one: http://katalog.we-online.com/pbs/datasheet/749196141.pdf because it has more headroom than the other one. Of course, it is also physically bigger.

[Paul Andrews]

BTW, Wurth have happily be provided me with samples for many of their products. As a result, they have a loyal customer.

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[Tomasz Kowalczyk]

Thanks for suggestions. The smaller one looks like like it should do the job with correctly designed converter - the one I found doesn't look like it can dissipate more than 100mW without damage. 

Same story for me and CJ5143 - I've received two of those as free samples.

My converter with CJ5143 wasn't a success and I don't know why yet. PCB came out really small (22mm x 15,5mm), the transformer is used as a coupled inductor, the driver is MCP1632. After loading it with 2mA, the output dropped by 10V and efficiency was under 40%. I guess I need to learn more. Now I can only suspect that 300kHz is probably too high for a transformer with probably significant parasitic capacitances in it. I'm stil more a "trial and error" engineer.

Meanwhile, I came to realisation that LLC converter would be a good choice only if I made a custom transformer - it is much more winding ratio dependent than regular flyback/coupled inductor converter. 

[gregebert]

Is your transformer (inductor) getting too warm ? It's possible that the peak current is larger than Isat; at saturation the magnetic efficiency drops way off.

It's not easy to measure the inductor current, because parasitics are introduced by the scope-probe. Most often, the ground lead picks-up noise and makes your signal look far worse than it really is. I remove the ground clip and the plastic shroud around the probe tip. Then, I wrap a few turns of bare wire around the exposed ground of the probe (approx 1-2 mm from the probe tip) and solder that to the closest GND connection. This minimizes the coupling of noise to the scope's ground; I've actually removed several volts worth of noise using this technique. This will allow you to view clean voltage waveforms.

If you dont have an expensive current probe (I certainly dont), you will need to insert a small resistance (100 milliohms) and measure the voltage across it to infer current. Make sure it is NOT a wirewound resistor, which is inductive.

The current waveform should look triangular (increase linearly from 0 to peak when the switch is on, then decrease to 0 rapidly when the switch turns off). Once you have that you can start debugging where things are going wrong.

Converters always seem to run beautifully with no-load; when you start loading them down, all kinds of things happen.

[Paul Andrews]

With mine, I found that I got better performance with lower frequencies. For the small transformer, it could only properly regulate at a lower output voltage than the bigger transformer. Essentially, if the output voltage on your converter drops when you load it, just try running it at that lower voltage (assuming it is still high enough) and see how much you can load it.

Another thing that got me was losses in the connections to the board. I had one lead that dropped a full 1V in the input voltage. Also, if I use my power supply on a discrete board (rather than built into a full clock PCB), I get significantly worse performance because of all the leads flying around everywhere.

My logs go in to all of this.