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MSP430 regulated pendulum clock

Dick Bipes
Intellectual 280 points


I've been working on this electromagnetic pendulum powered clock project.  

Unlike most pendulum clocks where the pendulum regulates the clock, this one is powered by the pendulum.  The pendulum contains a rare earth magnet, and there is a coil in the base of the clock. I started with a simple circuit that detects the passing magnet via induced current in the coil, then sends a current pulse into the coil to repulse the pendulum and keep it moving.  But I had in mind from the outset to "influence" the pendulum with a microcontroller to keep accurate time.  I have been able to do that using a LaunchPad and a few other components.

This video further describes the project:

http://youtu.be/He4cFlmeVlI

  • 0
    Guru 35595 points

    Dick Bipes said:
    this one is powered (sic) by the pendulum

    Well, it appears to be "powered" by the pendulum; the actual powered source is, of course,  the batteries in the base - with the power transferred via the microcontroller and pendulum.

    A nice illusion - great project!

     

  • 0 in reply to Andy Neil
    Intellectual 280 points

    Thanks.  I stand corrected - I should have said driven by the pendulum.

    I wish I could take credit for the illusion, but others have designed and built similar clocks before me.  I'm not aware of anyone else using a microcontroller to regulate the pendulum however.

  • 0 in reply to Dick Bipes
    Guru 58965 points

    Very nice project indeed.

    I have seen many clocks driven by electromagnetic pendulum. As a mater of fact, the clock used in your project must be one of those to begin with (the escape mechanism is different from other pendulum clocks). The illusion, if you so call it, is already in those clocks.

    Your innovation is (a) to add a micro-controller in this existing positive feed-back loop, (b) to improve the accuracy of the pendulum in doing so.

    I think you can do the same to other pendulum clocks to improve their accuracy.

    Some of the old Grandfather Clocks are more accurate than the crystal controlled clocks in MSP430. You may improve the accuracy of clock in your MSP430 by picking up the signal from an old Grandfather Clock. That may be another first too!

  • 0 in reply to old_cow_yellow
    Intellectual 280 points

    Thanks.  The clock in my project was designed and built by me, although I was certainly influenced by others.

    Here's something like your grandfather clock idea: 

    http://sound.westhost.com/clocks/free-pendulum.html

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