We've all seen alternative uses for oscilloscopes, but this Kickstarter project, The Oscilloscope Clock, isnít really an oscilloscope. But, it makes an interesting lab or table clock. The project is at nearly 200% of its funding goal and remains open until May 16, 2014.
The Oscilloscope Clock uses a Soviet 6Lo1i cathode-ray tube for a display. A microcontroller-based circuit lets you program the time and the controller board controls the high-voltage power supply drives the CRT. A pledge of $145 will get you the PCB and its components, but not the battery backup. That requires a $185 pledge. But, you're on your own when it comes to obtaining the CRT. At least you have options. According to designer Howard Constantine, "the design can be used with many other small, low voltage crts like DG7-32, DG7-6, 2BP1, LB-8, 50HB1, 7SJ33J, 3SP1, B7S2, LO-247, 3GP1 and many others." Constantine also provides a source for CRTs.
The CRT oscilloscope is certainly a conversation piece, but has some drawbacks. CRTs are subject to screen burning. Remember the original bank ATM machines with the letters of the first screen burned into the phosphor? Perhaps you did that to an analog CRT-based oscilloscope. So, The Oscilloscope Clock has a timer feature that turns off the CRT to keep it from burning. You can program the CRT to illuminate at specific hours of the day.
Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor