Digital clocks project one level of brightness. They'd be much more useful (especially for bedside clocks) if they automaticaly dimmed the level of brightness from (say) 9:00 pm to 4:00 am. Not only would they use less energy during a time when most people don't view them, they wouldn't be the bright beacon that torments insomniacs such as myself. The amount of dimming should be set by a dial under the clock, where it won't be hit by groggy sleepers groping for the alarm or sleep button.-- Bartlebooth, Feb 09 2002 Dimming clock, you program the time http://entries.the5k.org/365/t.htmProgrammable to any brightness or totally dark during prescribed hours [oldvan, Oct 04 2004] This was baked 15 years ago with a light sensitive diode in the top of the unit. It didn't seem to catch on in any great way but you might still find a manufacturer that makes something like this.
(sp: 'dimming')-- st3f, Feb 09 2002 My digital alarm clock has a control to set the brightness of the display manually. It's an old clock.-- bristolz, Feb 09 2002 Thanks for the spelling correction. Years ago, I had one of the digital clocks with a light sensor on it, and while it sort of worked, it was still too bright. I want something that doesn't cast shadows, and won't make my sleepy pupils contract when I see that I only have 4 hours to go before I have to get up.-- Bartlebooth, Feb 09 2002 Maybe LEDs cannot be dimmed beyond a certain level (in which case we're into cross polarised rotating disks in front of the display - this may get expensive).
I don't want to prevent the quest for a bakable/baked product but as an aside I (not liking bright LED displays at night either) use a travel alarm with an LCD display to wake me and a projection clock which dimly shines the time on the wall when I touch it to tell the time at night.-- st3f, Feb 09 2002 you can dim leds as much as you like-- cuba, Feb 09 2002 I've always gone for the LCD bedside clocks myself. My current one has an electro-luminescent (their words, not mine) background so, when you press the snooze button, the back lights up in a lovely garish blue so you can see the time at night and burn your retinas at the same time.-- CoolerKing, Feb 10 2002 random, halfbakery