Clocky Autopsy The Clocky alarm clock does something other clocks don't do. If you hit the snooze bar more than once, it rolls off your nightstand and moves around your room. The same thing happens if you wait too long to turn off the alarm. Either way, you have to get out of bed and find the clock to stop the noise.

Clocky

To do this, the clock has to be able to tell time, make noise and move around. It also has to receive instructions from you, like the time of day and the time you want to wake up.

Clocky resting

A printed circuit board (PCB) inside the clock provides the necessary circuitry for all this to happen. It holds a small processor, which is under a protective layer of epoxy -- this is known as a potted chip. The PCB also holds a liquid crystal display (LCD), which displays the time on the clock's face.

Clocky's LCD

Four connectors at the bottom of the PCB let the processor communicate with the clock's other parts. One two-pin connector leads to the speaker. The speaker uses a magnet to move a small plastic diaphragm back and forth, making sound. Another two-pin connector leads to the batteries.

Inside Clocky

A four-pin connector leads to two electric motors. Each motor turns a small gear, which moves other gears. These gears eventually turn a small piece of plastic, which turns the clock's wheels. A small pair of weights sits on a shelf inside the clock and helps the clock keep its balance when it lands.

Clocky's gears

The clock's largest connector leads to something surprisingly simple. It goes to the top of the clock, where the buttons are. Under these buttons is another small PCB, which holds contact points for four buttons and the snooze bar. Each of these has its own wire and pin, and the sixth wire is the ground wire. All of these wires attach to a six-pin connector, which attaches to the PCB.

Clocky's parts