HowTo: pxlBlck - Configure watch faces and screensavers - Nerdiy.de - Nerdy DIY HowTo's about electronic, 3D-printing and more.

The adjustable dials differ from the type of LED matrix used. Unfortunately, this is the case because different LED matrix sizes allow or do not allow different dials and screensavers.

In order to give you a small overview of which dials are possible with which matrix, here is an idea of the adjustable dials and the information under which LED matrix types they are available.

Blank

All LEDs of the LED matrix light up in the set color. Animations, icons and scrolling texts are displayed on request. The display can also be deactivated by setting the color to black. You can also find information in the following articles.

Type: screen saver

Options

Maximum brightness adjustable
Color adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

any platforms

Example

runningClock

The time is displayed as scrolling text every time the minute changes.

Type: clock face

Options

Text and background color adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_8x8
pxlBlck_10x10
pxlBlck_Carousel (16×8)
pxlBlck_16x16
pxlBlck_32x8
pxlBlckCassette (uses a 12×8 matrix)

Example

HrNum&MntPoints

The hour is shown as a number. Minute as a proportional number of activated background pixels. The colors for hours, minutes and background are adjustable.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and background colors can be set
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_8x8
pxlBlck_10x10
pxlBlck_wordClock
pxlBlck_Cassette
pxlBlck_16x8
pxlBlck_16x16
pxlBlck_24x8
pxlBlck_32x8
pxlBlck_pipeLamp

Example

borderPxls

This screen saver lets a random pixel on the LED matrix shine with a random color. Each pixel is slowly faded in.

Type: screen saver

Options

Maximum brightness adjustable
Background color adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

any platforms

Example

WndrngPxl

This screen saver shows a pixel that moves along the outer frame of the set LED matrix. The pixel and background color is adjustable.

Type: screen saver

Options

Maximum brightness adjustable
Adjustable pixel color
Background color adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_8x8
pxlBlck_10x10
pxlBlck_Cassette
pxlBlck_16x8
pxlBlck_16x16
pxlBlck_24x8
pxlBlck_32x8
pxlBlck_pipeLamp
pxlBlck_miniFloorLamp
pxlBlck_CassetteLamp

Example

TvSmltr

This screen saver fills the entire LED matrix with the usual color sequence of a running television. This mode can be used to simulate the presence of an apparently running television.

Type: screen saver

Options

No setting options available

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

Each platform but works best on "compact" LED matrices

fiboClock

Displays the time using the Fibonacci sequence on a special LED matrix. You can find information about this in the following article Fibonacci Clock – An Unusual Time Indicator

Type: clock face

Options

The colors of the hours, minutes, shared and hidden areas can be set
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_FiboClock

Example

horizNmbrs

Displays the time in the familiar format using digits side by side. The colors of the hour digits, minute digits and the background are adjustable. The digits on this dial are seven pixels high and thus slightly larger than on the "horizMiniNmbrs" dial.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and background colors can be set.
Maximum brightness adjustable
The colons between the minutes and hours are only displayed if the display width is> 24 pixels

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_24x8
pxlBlck_32x8

Example

horizMiniNmbrs

Displays the time in the familiar format using digits side by side. The colors of the hour digits, minute digits and the background can be set.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and background colors can be set.
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_wordClock
pxlBlck_16x8
pxlBlck_16x16
pxlBlck_24x8
pxlBlck_32x8
pxlBlck_pipeLamp

Example

vertMiniNmbrs

The time is displayed with the same digits as in "horizMiniNmbrs" mode. The only difference is that the digits are stacked and not next to each other. The display is centered on the LED matrix.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and background colors can be set
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_10x10
pxlBlck_wordClock
pxlBlck_16x8
pxlBlck_16x16
pxlBlck_pipeLamp

Example

wordClock

With this dial, the time is displayed according to the usual word clock principle with illuminated or non-illuminated letters. A special 11×11 LED matrix is required for this. the first four physical pixels are used as minute dots.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and background colors can be set
"It is" can be activated / deactivated
"Clock" can be activated / deactivated
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_Wordclock (uses a special 11×11 LED matrix)

ring

The time is displayed like a pointer watch. The pointers are pixels of an LED strip that are illuminated in different colors.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and seconds color adjustable
Color of the hour markers adjustable
Direction of rotation of the pointer reversible
Offset adjustable to be able to shift the zero point on the 1×60 LED matrix
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_RingClock
pxlBlck_SlotClock

Example

digitClock

This dial can display the time on a special matrix in seven-segment form. Information will follow soon.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes, minute dots and background colors can be set
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_digitClock

Example

diagMiniNmbrs

This dial shows the time with the "vertMiniNmbrs" and "horizMiniNmbrs" dials. However, the hour digit is shown in the upper left corner and the minute digit in the lower right corner.

Type: clock face

Options

Hours, minutes and background colors can be set
Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

pxlBlck_10x10
pxlBlck_16x8
pxlBlck_16x16
pxlBlck_24x8
pxlBlck_32x8

Example

cmpFire

This screen simulates the flickering of a flame on the LED matrix of the pxlBlck.

Type: screen saver

Options

Maximum brightness adjustable

Available for the following pxlBlck platforms

however, any platform works best on LED matrices with a height and width of eight or more

Have fun with the project

I hope everything worked as described. If not or you have any other questions or suggestions, please let me know in the comments. Also, ideas for new projects are always welcome. 🙂

P.S. Many of these projects - especially the hardware projects - cost a lot of time and money. Of course I do this because I enjoy it, but if you appreciate that I share this information with you, I would be happy about a small donation to the coffee box. 🙂