Raspberry Pi Pico W - Fibonacci Clock

by Guitarman9119 in Circuits > Raspberry Pi

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Raspberry Pi Pico W - Fibonacci Clock

Welcome to this tutorial on creating a Fibonacci Clock with the Raspberry Pi Pico W. The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two previous numbers. The first five numbers in the sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, and 5. Using this sequence we can create a clock to show the the time in hours and minutes in increments of 5. The screen of the clock is made up of five squares whose side lengths match the first five Fibonacci numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3 and 5. The hours are displayed using red and the minutes using green. When a square is used to display both the hours and minutes it turns blue. White squares are ignored. To tell time on the Fibonacci clock you need to do some math. To read the hour, simply add up the corresponding values of the red and blue squares. To read the minutes, do the same with the green and blue squares. The minutes are displayed in 5 minute increments (0 to 12) so you have to multiply your result by 5 to get the actual number.

Inspiration for Project:

The inspiration for the project comes from: https://www.instructables.com/The-Fibonacci-Clock/

Supplies

Here is the breakdown of components needed for the Macro Keyboard (assuming you have basic tools):

Custom PCB
Raspberry Pi Pico W
WS2810B LED strip +- 2 meter
2.54 20 pin Header x 2
Miscellaneous Depending on Design

Schematic Diagram

The schematic diagram was created using EasyEDA. All components used are through-hole types, making the soldering process easier and more accessible. The PCB allows us to easily connect the 5 different WS2812 neopixel LEDs to the Pico.

PCB Design

Features of PCB

Two Push Buttons: Two buttons are added to PCB, which could be used for brightness control, color change, or different modes
Bluetooth Connector: An integrated connector for adding Bluetooth functionality via the HC-05 module, allowing for wireless control.
Mounting Holes: The PCB is equipped with four 3mm mounting holes, making it easy to secure within an enclosure.

Order PCB

Order PCB (JLCPCB)

The PCB was ordered through JLCPCB. They offer great PCBs at a low cost and have promotions and coupons available throughout the year. You can sign up using here, or using the following link:

https://jlcpcb.com/?from=Nerd that will support me as a creator to keep making content that is accessible and open source at no charge to you.

Ordering the PCB is very simple:

Download the Gerber file here.
Click on Add Gerber file
Leave all the settings as default given. You might want change the PCB color.
Enter you shipping details, save to cart

Then after a few days depending on your location you will receive your great quality PCB.

Code

In order to use the Fibonnaci Clock, you will have to create an account on IP Geolocation in order to access the API to get the correct time over Wifi. Visit the following tutorial to learn about it: Before we dive into the code, you’ll need to set up an API key with the IP Geolocation API. Follow these steps to get your key: Tutorial

Download the full demo code here, which include the neopixel and urequest library.

main.py

This is the main file that will be booted once your power the Pico. Comments is given in the code as detailed as possible and explained below.

from machine import Pin, RTC # Import necessary classes

import utime

import json

import network

import urequests

from neopixel import Neopixel # Assuming you have the Neopixel class defined as in your previous code

import math

# Define the number of pixels for each strip (50 LEDs for each block)

numpix1 = 50 # Strip for Fibonacci number 1

numpix2 = 50 # Strip for Fibonacci number 1

numpix3 = 50 # Strip for Fibonacci number 2

numpix4 = 50 # Strip for Fibonacci number 3

numpix5 = 50 # Strip for Fibonacci number 5

# Create instances of Neopixel for each strip with fixed GPIO pins

strip1 = Neopixel(numpix1, 0, 1, "GRB") # Strip 1 connected to GPIO 28

strip2 = Neopixel(numpix2, 1, 0, "GRB") # Strip 2 connected to GPIO 29

strip3 = Neopixel(numpix3, 2, 2, "GRB") # Strip 3 connected to GPIO 30

strip4 = Neopixel(numpix4, 3, 3, "GRB") # Strip 4 connected to GPIO 31

strip5 = Neopixel(numpix5, 4, 4, "GRB") # Strip 5 connected to GPIO 32

# Define colors

red = (255, 0, 0) # Hours color

blue = (0, 0, 255) # Minutes color

green = (0, 255, 0) # Both hours and minutes color

white = (255, 255, 255) # Off color

# Set brightness for all strips

strip1.brightness(255)

strip2.brightness(255)

strip3.brightness(255)

strip4.brightness(255)

strip5.brightness(255)

# Load configuration

with open('config.json') as f:

config = json.load(f)

# Check config.json has updated credentials

if config['ssid'] == 'Enter_Wifi_SSID':

raise ValueError("config.json has not been updated with your unique keys and data")

# Your OpenWeatherMap API details

weather_api_key = config['weather_api_key']

city = config['city']

country_code = config['country_code']

date_time_api = config['date_time_api']

timezone = config['time_zone']

# Wi-Fi Configuration

def connect_wifi():

with open('config.json') as f:

config = json.load(f)

weather_api_key = config['weather_api_key']

city = config['city']

country_code = config['country_code']

date_time_api = config['date_time_api']

timezone = config['time_zone']

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)

wlan.active(True)

wlan.connect(config['ssid'], config['ssid_password'])

print("Connecting to WiFi...")

while not wlan.isconnected():

utime.sleep(1)

print("Connected to Wi-Fi:", wlan.ifconfig())

# Function to sync time with IP Geolocation API

def sync_time_with_ip_geolocation_api(rtc):

url = f'http://api.ipgeolocation.io/timezone?apiKey={date_time_api}&tz={timezone}'

response = urequests.get(url)

data = response.json()

# Print the full response to debug

print("API Response:", data)

if 'date_time' in data and 'timezone' in data:

current_time = data["date_time"]

print("Current Time String:", current_time) # Debug print

# Split the date and time directly from the returned format

if " " in current_time:

the_date, the_time = current_time.split(" ")

year, month, mday = map(int, the_date.split("-"))

hours, minutes, seconds = map(int, the_time.split(":"))

week_day = data.get("day_of_week", 0) # Default to 0 if not available

rtc.datetime((year, month, mday, week_day, hours, minutes, seconds, 0))

print("RTC Time After Setting:", rtc.datetime())

else:

print("Error: Unexpected time format:", current_time)

else:

print("Error: The expected data is not present in the response.")

# Initialize RTC (Real-Time Clock)

rtc = RTC()

connect_wifi() # Connect to Wi-Fi

sync_time_with_ip_geolocation_api(rtc) # Sync time from the API

# Fibonacci time function

def fib_time(hours, minutes):

vals = [1, 1, 2, 3, 5]

state = [0, 0, 0, 0, 0]

# Calculate Fibonacci representation for hours

remaining_hours = hours

idx = len(vals) - 1

for v in vals[::-1]:

if remaining_hours == 0 or idx < 0: break

if remaining_hours >= v:

state[idx] += 1

remaining_hours -= v

idx -= 1

# Calculate Fibonacci representation for minutes (in increments of 5)

remaining_minutes = math.floor(minutes / 5)

idx = len(vals) - 1

for v in vals[::-1]:

if remaining_minutes == 0 or idx < 0: break

if remaining_minutes >= v:

state[idx] += 2

remaining_minutes -= v

idx -= 1

return state

# Main loop to update the NeoPixel LEDs based on the current time

while True:

current_time = rtc.datetime()

hours = current_time[4]%12 # Get hours

minutes = current_time[5] # Get minutes

print(hours,minutes)

state = fib_time(hours, minutes)

print(state)

# Update NeoPixel strips based on the state

for i in range(5):

if state[i] == 1: # Hour representation

# Light up the strip corresponding to the Fibonacci value for hours

if i == 0: # 1 hour

strip1.fill(red)

elif i == 1: # 1 hour

strip2.fill(red)

elif i == 2: # 2 hours (not applicable for 9:23)

strip3.fill(red)

elif i == 3: # 3 hours (not applicable for 9:23)

strip4.fill(red)

elif i == 4: # 5 hours (not applicable for 9:23)

strip5.fill(red)

elif state[i] == 2: # Minute representation

# Light up the strip corresponding to the Fibonacci value for minutes

if i == 0: # 1 minute

strip1.fill(blue)

elif i == 1: # 1 minute

strip2.fill(blue)

elif i == 2: # 2 minutes

strip3.fill(blue)

elif i == 3: # 3 minutes

strip4.fill(blue)

elif i == 4: # 5 minutes

strip5.fill(blue)

elif state[i] == 3: # Both hour and minute representation

# Light up the strip corresponding to the Fibonacci value for both

if i == 0: # 1 hour and 1 minute

strip1.fill(green)

elif i == 1: # 1 hour and 1 minute

strip2.fill(green)

elif i == 2: # 2 hour and 2 minute

strip3.fill(green)

elif i == 3: # 3 hour and 3 minute

strip4.fill(green)

elif i == 4: # 5 hour and 5 minute

strip5.fill(green)

else: # Not used

if i == 0:

strip1.fill(white)

elif i == 1:

strip2.fill(white)

elif i == 2:

strip3.fill(white)

elif i == 3:

strip4.fill(white)

elif i == 4:

strip5.fill(white)

# Show the updates

strip1.show()

strip2.show()

strip3.show()

strip4.show()

strip5.show()

utime.sleep(1)

config.json

You will need to update the following config.json file with your Wifi ssid and password, change the date_time_api to your key given by IP Geolocation, and update the time_zone

{

"ssid": "Your Wifi Name",

"ssid_password": "Your Wifi password",

"query_interval_sec": 120,

"date_time_api": "Your custom API",

"time_zone": "Asia/Shanghai",

}

Enclosure Design

The enclosure was designed in Fusion360. The enclosure consist of three main parts. The main body which the LED bracket will be inserted which you need to solder all the LED rows and then the insert squares which will diffuse the light from the LEDs. The STL files are available here.

The parts does not require any supports when printing.

If anyone decides to recreate this project and comes up with an improved design for the case, please feel free to share it with me. I would love to see what you create!

Conclusion

The enclosure still needs to be updated as it does not have a back cover yet lol. So future plans is to make a version which will look more like golden ratio, and use LEDs connected on PCB.