Analog Nixie Tube Clock (1) - Main Control Board

Introduction: This module is the main control board of the analog Nixie tube clock and is used to drive the analog Nixie tube display module.
1. Project Introduction

This module is a main control chip board that simulates a Nixie tube clock. It can store picture information and drive the display module. The main control board cannot be used alone and needs to be used with the display module to achieve the display effect of a Nixie tube clock.


2. Application scenarios

can be applied to the development projects of consumer-grade analog Nixie tube clocks such as desktop ornaments and decorations.


3. Product Overview

The main control chip board uses STM32F103C6T6A, the cheapest chip of the STM32F1 series, as the main control chip. It is equipped with a CH340 USB to serial port circuit, an RTC power supply, an 8M SPI Flash (W25Q64), and uses common MicroUSB for power supply. The SWD interface is left for firmware burning, and three independent button interfaces are provided. Users can define button functions by themselves. It is connected to the display module through a 2*10PIN 1.27mm pin header to drive the display module and achieve the effect of simulating a Nixie tube clock. At the same time, the time information is not lost when the power is turned off.


4. Product parameters

Working voltage: USB 5V power supply, can directly use the computer USB port

Output current: <200mA

Output voltage: 3.3V

Estimated power consumption: 0.1W

PCB size: 62mm*27mm Double-layer board design single-sided layout

master control Chip: STM32F103C6T6A

External Flash: W25Q64

Serial port related: Baud rate 115200, no parity bit, 1 stop bit


5. Instructions for use

This module needs to be used with an analog Nixie tube display module (see my personal homepage for details on the display module)

1 . After getting the module for the first time, connect the main control board and the display module. The interface is as shown in the diagram below.

2. To burn the firmware, the burning tools and burning documents are in the attachment. You need to prepare ST-LINK or JLINK by yourself. Serial port burning is not supported at the moment.

2. After the firmware burning is completed, you need to download the display image. Before connecting, you need to prepare the CH340 driver. The driver file is in the appendix. After the driver is installed, use a micro USB data cable to connect the device to the computer.

3. Open the "Analog Nixie Tube Clock Image Download Tool.exe" software in the "Analog Nixie Tube Clock_Supporting PC.zip" in the attachment, and download the image according to the "Image Download Tool User Manual.pdf" file operate.

4. After the download is completed, disconnect the USB and power on again to display the simulated Nixie tube clock effect.


6. Remarks

1. The project is divided into three parts: main control board, display module base board, and screen plug-in. The screen plug-in is in the attachment of the display module section.

2. This module needs to download the firmware before it can be used. The firmware can be found in the attachment. The provided firmware can be downloaded directly.

3. This module provides source code for secondary development. The provided source code can be opened and compiled through KEIL5 MDK, and can be debugged online through Jlink and STlink.

4. This module is only the main control chip board and needs to be matched with the display module to achieve the display effect of the Nixie tube clock. For details on the display module, please see my homepage (Simulating Nixie Tube Clock (2) - Display Module).

5. The image download tool ("Analog Nixie Tube Clock Image Download Tool.exe" in the "Analog Nixie Tube Clock_Supporting PC.zip" in the attachment) is independently developed by myself and does not support open source software.

6. The required picture materials for downloading can be found in the attachment "Analog Nixie Tube Clock_Picture Download Material.zip".

7. For the sake of PCB beauty and convenient layout, the PCB printing of this module does not indicate the position of silk screen printing. In order to facilitate everyone's welding, it is placed in the attachment "Analog Nixie Tube Clock_Silk Screen Component Position Map.zip".


7. Demonstration video

The demonstration video takes the analog Nixie tube display module as an example to demonstrate the analog Nixie tube clock.