[CuriousMarc] is nothing if not curious. discovering some old TI timekeeping chips to reverse engineer, he set out to make a clock utilizing old-fashioned “bubble LEDs.” You can see the result of his tinkering in the video below. For the uninitiated, bubble LEDs are 7-segment LEDs with magnifying bubbles over each digit. These were prominent in calculators, watches, as well as other locations that utilized LEDs before LCDs largely displaced them.

The history of these has to make with the power needed to light an LED. You don’t technically requirement a magnifying lens, however larger LEDs take more power. These displays were fairly low power as well as utilized small LEDs with light pipes to make each dot a full segment. The lens made the segments larger as well as easier to see.

Beyond the TI chip as well as HP displays, there isn’t as well much else needed. [Marc] just wired the whole thing utilizing the IC as a substrate. kind of dead bug building utilizing enameled wire. At first, it didn’t work however it [turned out to be] a battery issue. The gadget truly wanted 2.5 V as well as not the 3 V provided by the battery. The solution needed a bit detective work.

We understand this isn’t a extremely practical project, however we like seeing this old tech once again as well as while the dead bug building isn’t beautiful, there is something appealing about the look of it. perhaps one day people will develop steampunk things as well as discopunk will be for the 1970s?

We’ve seen bubble LED projects before. If you want something more in a watch type factor, that exists, too.