Build a Digital Clock with an RTC Clock Module and Ameba

(The original Chinese version of this article is written by Yung-Chung Tsao and published on MakerPRO) 

Human being is always at the center of smart home, and time is one of the things that we care about the most. If you are a maker, have you ever wondered how to let Ameba display time continuously? Even though Ameba has a time calculation function, it will reset its time when you turn it off and turn it back on. While makers can use EEPROM or SD card to solve this problem, it is still not the perfect solution. In order to completely solve this problem, makers can follow the instruction below.

What is the RTC clock module? 

The RTC clock module possesses the function to calculate time even when it is not powered on. This mechanism ensures that the time will always be accurate whenever you power it on. This function makes up for Ameba’s lack of internal clocks. But how do you connect Ameba to an RTC clock module?

As you can see below, users first need to complete the wiring between Ameba and the RTC module, then they can start writing and testing the code for the RTC module.

Through proper coding and testing, Ameba will be able to accurately read and display time, and the module can help the development board to save the current time. Even when Ameba is turned off and charging, the module will continue to help it calculate the time. While this design may seem to be simple, it actually broadens Ameba’s function. Companies no longer have to reset their Ameba devices whenever they restart it.

In case you wonder how the module works with the code, you can check out the two examples that are embedded in the original post. It will give you some idea about how to write your own code for your RTC clock.