Desk clock idea

This idea was in my head for quite a while. It actually started from an idea to make a product that i can sell, or at least try to sell. The market does not need any more clocks, however i didn't see much of this kind of clocks. There are a lot of led matrix clocks, and stock or crypto real time trackers that serve as a desk accessory. But this one will have the ability to display images alongside the numbers/text on the e-paper display. I'm not saying it's something revolutionary, in fact it's incredibly simple or might say dumb. But there is not much of those out there.

The concept for how it will look is something like: A small 2.6 or 2.14 inch epaper display, that draws power from two AA batteries. And all of that is packaged in a case that is as small as all those components allow.

Don't mind the bad drawings, but on image above there are two of those long epaper displays, and one small square one. The problem with small is that i don't know where to place the battery, and what battery to use. Maybe two coin batteries, but that won't last long. They don't deliver nearly close to 2xAA batteries. So that one will have to be scraped for the time being.

And again in the image above is the backside of the clock showing two AA batteries. Additionally, there are 3 buttons at the top of the back panel, but still underneath the lid. Those buttons will be used for setting up the time at the beginning, and later for changing the style of the screen, for example image or font.

Well in order to do it there needs to be some kind of schematic. Good thing is there are not many components that need to be implemented. It pretty much all can be done with one microcontroller, 3 buttons and a voltage regulator. At first i tried making it with ESP32 microcontroller, but that's an overkill. And it does not have RTC built in, so it needs one extra component from the outside, So i decided using STM32F103, aka Bluepill. A great and cheap microcontroller that will draw low power so batteries won't drain fast.

In KiCad, it is all straight forward, but that epaper display connector is a bit tricky. I don't understand it a single bit, but great thing is there are schematics from the display dealer. GoodDisplay is a company that sells those, maybe even manufactures, I'm not sure. However, they got the best prices out there and on their website there are all the documents and schematic i need.

I have not yet made any PCB designs, actually i did once but scraped the whole PCB, it was really bad. But it will be exact dimensions as display so it can be glued to the back of it. And for casing i don't know how to make it before i get the PCB in my hands. I might export 3D object of a PCB from KiCad and try to make something in FreeCAD, but i don't have enough knowledge in there to utilize that workflow. I know how to make simple designs, and if there needs to be something complex i suppose i can make two separate pieces and then glue them xD. It's so bad to say it that way, but it is what it is.

Additionally, I made some display mockups:

The problem is it might not look that good. Those palm trees won't actually look gray, the screen works only in black and white, so they will be completely black. But i just wanted to show how cool it might look. Right now Peanuts and Scrooge McDuck are copyright problems, so they won't be there in production. But palm trees can look cool too. Or i might draw something myself xD.

So how much all this can cost?
-STM32F103 - 2.4854$
-XC9140A331MR-G - 0.62$
-2.66 Inch E Ink Display - 5.27$
-Other passive components - 1$
-3D printer filament - 0.75$

Total - 10.125$

As with everything in electronics if components are bought in bulk the price goes down. That's the whole deal, in the near future if i think the idea might have a chance then a couple of PCB boards will be assembled. But i have a dilemma. It's only one of the ideas, and the clock is not particularly useful. I mean it shows time, but everything else shows time. It does not solve any serious problem It might look cool if assembled right, maybe there was a problem that clocks don't look cool, but i doubt it. Maybe i can get some feedback from this post. I guess that's why i wrote this.

Thanks for reading.