Weather
Colored dot-matrix symbol, temperature, condition, and AQI
FIRST WORKING PROTOTYPE ESP32-S3 · FIVE ROUND TFTS · 2026
Five-Display
Desk Station
A sculptural programmable desk clock whose first hardware prototype is now running: four round screens form a large 24-hour display while a fifth shows weather and air quality.
- Controller
- ESP32-S3
- Displays
- 5 × 1.28-inch GC9A01
- Software
- App + firmware public
- Next milestone
- Enclosure refinement
01 / CURRENT STATUS
Prototype 01 is alive on the desk.
The five displays, clock faces, weather panel, and software link now run together as a first prototype. It is working hardware, not a finished product: the enclosure, wiring, power system, and long-term reliability still need refinement.
| Area | Current position | Next proof |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware assembly | First five-display prototype built | Refine the base, harness, and power distribution |
| Industrial design | Handmade prototype base complete | Create a measured printable enclosure |
| Desktop Studio | Windows and macOS downloads public | Polish controls and package future releases |
| Cross-platform control | Windows ZIP and macOS DMG published | Continue hardware testing on both platforms |
| ESP32 firmware | Public firmware running on hardware | Continue tuning display and network behavior |
| Online services | Weather and AQI shown on the prototype | Improve reliability and configuration |
02 / HOW IT WORKS
One controller coordinates five displays.
MOSI, clock, data/command, and reset are shared. Each TFT has its own chip-select line, allowing the ESP32-S3 to address one round panel at a time.
DESKTOP APPWindows / macOSUSB serial
→CONTROLLERESP32-S3Logic + storage
→DISPLAY BUSFive TFTsShared SPI · 5 × CS
→POWERSupply + MOSFETPWM backlight
Hour tens
First digit of 24-hour time
Hour ones
Second hour digit
Minute tens
First minute digit
Minute ones
Final minute digit
03 / VISUAL SYSTEM
True black, sculpted numerals, restrained color.
The default style uses ornate white numerals. Custom code-drawn options include an amber Nixie-inspired glow and a cyan seven-segment VFD-inspired display.
OG Sculpted Serif
Ornate white time numerals on black across the four clock screens.
Nixie Orange Glow
Layered amber strokes create a curved, wire-like digit style.
VFD Cyan 7-Segment
Cyan segments, dim inactive elements, and a small bloom.
04 / HARDWARE & POWER
Measure first. Finalize wiring second.
Marketplace GC9A01 modules can vary in voltage requirements, backlight circuitry, connector order, and dimensions, so the delivered revisions must be checked before final wiring.
ESP32-S3 board
Clock logic, USB, storage, and future Wi-Fi
5 × 1.28-inch GC9A01 TFT
Weather display plus four time digits
Regulated supply
Display and backlight power, sized after measurement
Logic-level MOSFET
Global PWM backlight control from a 3.3 V gate
Base, harness, connectors
Hide pins and distribute power and data
MOSI 11SCLK 12DC 9RST 10BL PWM 13CS 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
05 / SOFTWARE & CONTROL
Working software, published for everyone.
The Windows control app and ESP32 firmware used by the first prototype are public in the project repository.
Windows + macOS Studio
Auroraeon Clock Studio is now available for both Windows and macOS. Open the download chooser to select the correct installer.
ESP32-S3 clock firmware
The complete firmware package driving the five-screen prototype can be downloaded separately from the same chooser.
Refinement
Weather and AQI are now visible on the working prototype. The next software work focuses on reliability, configuration, interface polish, and continued cross-platform validation.
Browse repository ↗06 / GALLERY
The first prototype, running.
These photographs replace the earlier concept visuals and document the first assembled five-screen clock in both cyan seven-segment and sculpted-serif styles.
07 / ROADMAP
Prove one layer at a time.
The design only becomes finished after the assembled station survives USB, network, power, and thermal testing in real use.
- 01Concept, UI, apps, and firmware scaffold
- 02Parts inspected and assembled
- 03First five-screen prototype running
- 04Windows app and firmware published
- 05Weather, AQI, and interface refinement
- 06Printable base and final releases
Use the same Studio and firmware.
Auroraeon Clock Studio is public for Windows and macOS, and the ESP32 firmware is available as its own download. Choose the package you need from one place.