Now You See It
Concept: A light show hides the clock until the smart film is cleared. In this example the clock provides the light show. But the functions could be separated so that the light show turns off the moment the film is cleared and simultaneously the clock lights up. An artifact of the video is that the lights appear to be pulsing. I would prefer a more subtle light show and it may be monochromatic
A round LED matrix is placed in proximity to the smart film so that the image of the LEDs looks soft/blurred when the film is opaque. I can also envision hiding a version of Kinetic Wall Art (G. Marsden) behind the smart film. When the clock time is desired the smart film is cleared revealing the LED matrix (now displaying the time in some "obtuse" fashion) and all the electronics.
Alternative Designs
The goal is to design a battery powered Cuckoo clock by using as little power as possible.
A white clock face has a circular opening at 12 O'clock through which a cuckoo NeoPixel ring can extend. The opening is blocked by a black "shutter". When clock is activated the shutter rotates out of the way to expose the hidden cuckoo NeoPixel ring- the ring extends, lights up, retracts, dims and the shutter closes.
The cuckoo NeoPixel Ring could be controlled by a small push solenoid rather than a stepper motor system. Maybe it would even be possible to use a cuckoo mechanism scavenged from an off the shelf product, e.g.https://www.ebay.com/itm/331809447669 . The shutter is moved by a low power servomotor. And the NeoPixel LEDs light very infrequently and for only brief periods.
The clock remains complex, i.e., "choreographed motion control", because passively moving hinged doors hiding the NeoPixel ring have been replaced with a motorized shutter- but I think that's cooler and not at all traditional. I thought about using the leaf aperture shutter from a large format camera but couldn't find one that wasn't built into a lens. So maybe this is still too much? Can I enjoy a cuckoo with passive hinged doors? I don't know. Perhaps if the NeoPixel is hidden by a single spring loaded circular door that is hinged at the bottom and opens outwards.
Alternative to push solenoid- hack an off the shelf system
A disc with a circular opening rotates 180 degrees clockwise to reveal the NeoPixel Ring Cuckoo . Cuckoo extends, retracts and disc returns to default position. Also shown is how the disc can periodically mimic the motion of a pendulum. In the animation the pendulum's period is 180 degrees because I can't animate for less than that. In reality it would move through a smaller arc.
"DABs Clocks is a unique business that focuses on finding ways to display time in unconventional ways. The goal is to create time pieces that are both functionally and aesthetically pleasing. Please explore the gallery and contact me if you have any questions.