Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- ramos_alarm_clock [2019/02/02 22:54]
paul [Ramos Alarm Clock]
+++ ramos_alarm_clock [2020/10/20 18:33] (current)
paul [Links]
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
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-It accomplished this by the use of a "defuse panel" which was a wireless keypad that the user would place somewhere far away from their bedroom. Most users put it in the bathroom; more extreme users put in their car. When the alarm went off, the user had to get out of bed, and walk to the defuse panel and punch in a defuse code to turn off the alarm. This gave well intentioned users that really wanted to get up early but just had a hard time escaping the cozy gravitational field of their bed the push they needed to start their day fresh and early (kinda like how mom woke you up during high school).
+It accomplished this by the use of a "defuse panel" [[https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130208575|(see patent application)]] which was a wireless keypad that the user would place somewhere far away from their bedroom. Most users put it in the bathroom; more extreme users put in their car. When the alarm went off, the user had to get out of bed, and walk to the defuse panel and punch in a defuse code to turn off the alarm. This gave well intentioned users that really wanted to get up early but just had a hard time escaping the cozy gravitational field of their bed the push they needed to start their day fresh and early (kinda like how mom woke you up during high school).
-I made the prototype it into a nixie clock cause hey, nixie tubes are cool and used it for a while. It actually worked, and worked really well! Whenever I wanted to wake up early the night before, I'd set the alarm knowing I would have to wake up at that time. I then decided to try to sell it to others.
+{{ ::img_4080.jpg?direct&600 |}}
+I created a production plan of how I would convert the prototype into a production product, did cost analysis to come up with pricing and [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2074185253/ramos-alarm-clock|launch a Kickstarter campaign]]. We sold $200K of pre-orders from Kickstarter and our online store. We then got to work and set up a workshop, and bought a CNC machine and all the tools we needed. I developed the circuit boards and hired someone to help with the firmware. I got a design FCC compliant, worked on the BOMs to keep everything under our budgets and we developed production techniques to be able to manufacture them with minimal labor.
 {{ ::nixie_board.gif?direct&600 |}}
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 The clock had lots of features, including a courtesy mode, where the alarm would only go off for 20 seconds to wake you up. After that it would give you a minute to get up and defuse the alarm. If you didn't defuse the alarm by that time, the alarm would go off again.
-{{ ::img_4080.jpg?direct&600 |}}
-I created a production plan of how I would convert the prototype into a production product, did cost analysis to come up with pricing and launch a kickstarter campaign. The campaign was successful and generated 150K. I partnered with a college buddy and we launched a webstore and sold another 60K of pre-orders. We then got to work figuring out how were going to make them. We set up a workshop, and bought a CNC machine and all the tools we needed. I developed the circuit boards and hired someone to help with the firmware. I got a design FCC compliant, worked on the BOMs to keep everything under our budgets and we developed production techniques to be able to manufacture them with minimal labor.
 {{ ::panelized_nixie.png?direct&600 |}}
-I created panelized circuit boards with optimized BOMs for mass production.
+I created panelized circuit boards with optimized BOMs for mass production. The PCB's were manufactured in Asia and assembled in the US at a contract PCB assembly house.
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+The housings were manufactured in our workshop along with all assembly. A CNC router was used to produce many of the parts, along with standard woodworking techniques. The housings where spray finished in-house. Tests and QA operations were established along the way which allowed for errors to be caught at low-value stages.
+{{ ::ramos_alarm_clock_production_process_chart.png?direct&600 |}}
+==== Ramos Production ====
+We ran a factory building these clocks for 4 years.
+{{::img_1986.jpg?400|}}
+{{:img_1833.jpg?400|}}
+{{::fr_778.jpg?400|}}
+{{::img_1932.jpg?400|}}
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 After we sold the first Ramos for a couple of years we developed a second mass produced version. It would work with an app and be controlled by the phone. The user would place a wireless "puck" and in the morning they would have to tap their phone to the puck for it to to turn off the alarm.
+We launched a kickstarter and got a good amount of press, but unfurtunately were only able to raise $40k in pre-sales, which was not enough to produce. NPR ran a story on it and it was selected as an [[https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/01/08/375662063/innovation-an-alarm-clock-that-wont-take-snooze-for-an-answer|innovation of a the week]].
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 For more pictures check out the original [[https://www.instagram.com/ramosalarmclock/|instagram page]].
-[[https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130208575A1/en?oq=US20130208575A1|Utility patent application]] - we applied for a utility patent with a main claim for a code based remotely deactivated alarm system but it was costing us thousands to go back and forth with the USPTO and in the end the claim we were going to get was going to be worthless, so we left the patent to go to abandon. This patent application has been cited 4 times including once by Samsung.
+[[https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130208575A1/en?oq=US20130208575A1|Utility patent application]] - we applied for a utility patent with a main claim for a code based remotely deactivated alarm system but it was costing us thousands to go back and forth with the USPTO and in the end the claim we were going to get was going to be worthless, so we left the patent to go to abandon. This patent application has been cited 5 times including once by Samsung.
 ===== Nice Things People Said =====
+<blockquote>
+This is truly my favorite thing that I own. I hope it lasts forever. When the electronics eventually give out, I’ll make my own and keep it alive. Thank you for making this.
+</blockquote>
 <blockquote>
@@ Line 90: / Line 103: @@
 So, from the bottom of my heart;
 Thank you Paul.
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote>
+This clock was such an amazing concept and genuinely changed my quality of life. Keep making cool stuff and I hope you strike gold soon.
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote>
+ I want you to know that you changed my life in every meaningful way, and that I sent dozens of friends to buy a Ramos Clock. "Worth it at 10x the price," I said. I wish you the best in your current and future endeavors. And I thank you.
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote>
+Dude thanks so much! Our clock is priceless, excellent craftsmanship.
 </blockquote>