Day Counter Picture Frame
A custom-built picture frame that tracks and displays the number of days elapsed since a start date. Features a 3D-printed enclosure, dual seven-segment displays, real-time clock module, and persistent memory so it never loses count.
Nov 2025 – Feb 2026
A hardware + software project combining embedded programming, real-time clocking, and physical design. I designed the enclosure from scratch in Onshape, 3D-printed it, and programmed the Arduino to reliably track days across power cycles.
Hardware
- Arduino Nano — microcontroller brain
- Dual 4-digit seven-segment displays — shows the day count
- DS3231 Real-Time Clock module — keeps accurate time even when powered off
- Custom 3D-printed enclosure — designed in Onshape to fit all components cleanly
Software
- Arduino IDE / C++ — firmware for the Nano
- Programmed the RTC to trigger daily updates at midnight
- Implemented EEPROM data persistence so the count survives power loss and resumes immediately on boot
What I learned
This was my first embedded hardware project from end to end — designing the physical housing, wiring components, and writing firmware that had to be reliable 24/7. Getting the persistence logic right (so it didn’t reset on power loss) required carefully understanding the RTC and EEPROM together.
