Clock Timer : School Project

[Canyouknott]

Hi, I'm a student in year 11 at the moment and are studying Electrons...

I have started to construct a circuit diagram of a chess clock. That are two main functions on my design which are 'Selecting the time' and 'Starting the timer'...
It's pretty start forward by looking at the labbled switches in the diagram but if there are any questions about it, please do ask...
But the reason I am here on this forum is to ask if it is possible to add more digits to each opponents clocks???

Thanks in advanced **Keep in mind that I have just started Electronics and not a professional yet Cheers **

 

[Canyouknott]

Wait, isn't it possible to add a nand gate which will connect to output 1 and output 8 of 4511IC, then the output of the nand gate is connect to a input on another 4511IC connect to another 7 segment display

 

[JimB]

Yes it should be easy to add more digits to the clocks, but I will leave that for others to discuss with you.

What I will comment on is the drawing of the schematic.
As is often the case with beginners, there are wires crossing all over the place and badly routed.
This makes it difficult to see what is happening in the circuit.
Example, you have three push buttons with pull-up and debounce, electrically they are identical*, but they are all drawn differently.
(* well almost, one has a voltage limiter with a couple of diodes, I am sure that you don't need that in this application).

I have redrawn the schematic to try and show how it can be simplified to make it easier to read and understand.

Welcome to the forum.

JimB

 

[Canyouknott]

 

[Canyouknott]

The schmatic you just saw before was just like a draft to see if this circuit works but then I improved a bit (i think) by making it neater and adding a extra didgit

 

[Canyouknott]

Just to clarifly the buttons and switchs...
Reset (bottom Left) - Resets both timers to 00-00
Input Allower (Above Reset) - Allowers pulses into the circuit
Pulse (About Input Allower) - Pulses the timer which changes the amount of seconds you want to play with
Switch above Pulse should be active when selecting the time but off when not selecting
Switch above that swaps between players so you can select a differnet amount of time on each side.
Timer ON - Starts the 555 timer pulses onto the 7 segment displays
Swap Players - Once a player finishs there turn they switch the switch which starts the oppenents timer and stops there, so on and so forth.
Up/Down. - When selecting or playing you are able to change the direction on the number e.g. 1,2,3,4 (Switch) 3,2,1,0

Thanks

 

[Canyouknott]

I made a quick improvement which is replacing the switches with dpdt switches.... The first dpdt swich swaps players will selecting the timer and playing.. The other dpdt swaps the circuit mode from selecting a time to starting the timing period..

 

[USER REDACTED]

The same problem appears as before - too many cross lines, not quite readable. Move the 7-seg. displays as shown and correct lines.

You can actually do two things to simplify: to use bus line or hide it completely (wire name pointers remains only).

 

[Canyouknott]

What do you mean by 'to use bus line or hide it completely'? Thanks

 

[USER REDACTED]

For instance, look figure 2:
**broken link removed**

 

[Canyouknott]

Hmm, I'm not to sure what it means... Sorry :/

 

[Canyouknott]

What did you mean you mean by using bus lines and hiding it completely? Hiding what .. Thanks so much

 

[USER REDACTED]

What did you mean you mean by using bus lines and hiding it completely? Hiding what .. Thanks so much

Hiding the bus line...

At the link (look Figure 2) is the sample of both techniques to simplify schematics...

Here is the URL of the schematic:
**broken link removed**

 

[Canyouknott]

Are you meaning like this kinda?

 

[ericgibbs]

hi Can,
It is much better if you arrange the LED's along the top of your circuit, below them the LED drivers, below them the counters.
Place the LSD on the Rightside of your diagram.

Do you follow OK.
E

EDIT:
As per this example.

 

[Canyouknott]

The Diodes you mean? Was it also correct to use the earth symbol things ? Thanks

 

[Canyouknott]

Oh you where meaning the Display. got it thanks

 

[ericgibbs]

hi,
To avoid having all the power lines and the Ground lines routed thru your drawing, its usual to use a small downward pointing triangle for 0v.

Likewise the Power rails could be a small circle or square,,, providing you also label the actual power supply with these symbols, others can follow your diagram.

EDIT:
As per this image.

 

[Canyouknott]

Oh okay thanks for the help bro

 

[USER REDACTED]

Are you meaning like this kinda?

Well, yes. However this is just a simple tweak. Make it more compact and keep the logical parts together.

The golden rule is to keep the schematic as clear as it can be. It purpose is to clearly show the logic of the circuit or its parts (keep it in group). These who looking at it shouldn't get lost in bunch of unnecessary wire mess...

As suggested, use the bus lines or hide it completely in such cases with many wires.