e-Paper Driver HAT

Introduction

Universal e-Paper Driver HAT, supports various Waveshare SPI interface e-Paper raw panels

Interfaces

VCC	3.3V
GND	GND
DIN	SPI MOSI pin
CLK	SPI SCK pin
CS	SPI chip select (low active)
DC	Data/Command control pin (high for data, and low for command)
RST	External reset pin (low active)
BUSY	Busy state output pin (low active)

Switch settings

There are two switches on the front panel of Drive HAT: Display Config and Interface Config.

Display Config Switch

The Display Config switch on e-Paper Driver HAT is made for being compatible with various SPI interface e-Ink raw panels from Waveshare. This switch has A and B sides. For connecting to different e-Paper raw panels, you can set the Display Config switch refer to the table below:

Switch to B	Switch to A
1.54inch e-Paper (B)	1.54inch e-Paper
2.13inch e-Paper (B)	2.13inch e-Paper
2.7inch e-Paper	2.9inch e-Paper
2.7inch e-Paper (B)
2.9inch e-Paper (B)
4.2inch e-Paper
4.2inch e-Paper (B)
7.5inch e-Paper

Interface Config Switch

With Interface Config, you can change the SPI interface of e-Paper to 3-lin SPI or 4-line SPI

Switch to 0	Switch to 1
4-line SPI	3-line SPI

Note: Examples we provide use 4-line SPI by default

Example for 7.5inch e-Paper Switch Settings

Connecting the e-Paper Driver HAT to 7.5inch e-Paper, we must switch the Display Config to B according to the Display Config table above, and set the Interface Config to 0 to make the e-Paper work on 4-line SPI mode.

How to use

Working with Raspberry Pi

Installing libraries required

If you want to connect your E-paper screen to Raspberry Pi, you should install some necessary libraries, or else the Demo below may work improperly. For more information about how to install the Raspberry Pi libraries, please visit the website: Libraries Installation for RPi, where you can find the detailed presentation about the installations of libraries wiringPi, bcm2835 and python.

Hardware connection

Here is the connection between Raspberry Pi 3B and E-paper (BCM).

e-Paper	Raspberry Pi 3B
3.3V	3.3V
GND	GND
DIN	MOSI
CLK	SCLK
CS	CE0
DC	25 (BCM)
RST	17 (BCM)
BUSY	24 (BCM)

Expected result

1) After the corresponding libraries installed, you can copy the relative programs into your Raspberry Pi, and then enter the corresponding file.

BCM2835: Execute the command: make, to compile the code and generate a file epd. Execute the command: sudo ./epd, the program will run.
WringPi: Execute the command: make, to compile the code and generate a file epd. Execute the command: sudo ./epd, the program will run.
Python: Execute the command: sudo python main.py

2) Image will be displayed on the screen.

Note：The refresh rate of this module is slow, and it will flicker for several times during refreshing. Please be patient.

Working with Arduino

Hardware connection

e-Paper	Arduino UNO
3.3V	3V3
GND	GND
DIN	D11
CLK	D13
CS	D10
DC	D9
RST	D8
BUSY	D7

Expected result

Copy the libraries file of Arduino demo code to the libraries folder which is under the installation directory of Arduino IDE, it usually is C:\users\username\documents\arduino\libraries. You can also designate the location on Arduino IDE--> File -->Preferences -->Sketchbook location
Upload the project.
E-paper will display the image.

Note:

The refresh rate of this module is slow, and it will flicker for several times during refreshing. Please be patient.

Working with the STM32 development board

Here we use STM32F103ZE development board or NUCLEO-F103RB. (The demo code of 1.54inch/2.13inch/2.9inch e-Paper are based on NUCLEO-F103RB,

Others are based on STM32F103ZE)

The demo code is based on HAL, so you can port the demo code to other STM boards with STM32CubeMX.
The demo code can be compiled successfully in Keil v5

Hardware connection

Connecting to the STM32F103ZE:

e-Paper	STM32F103ZE
3.3V	3V3
GND	GND
DIN	PA7 (MOSI)
CLK	PA5 (SCK)
CS	PA4
DC	PA2
RST	PA1
BUSY	PA3

Connecting to the NUCLEO-F103RB:

e-Paper	NUCLEO-F103RB
3.3V	3V3
GND	GND
DIN	PA7
CLK	PA5
CS	PB6
DC	PC7
RST	PA9
BUSY	PA8

Expected result

Open the project (epd-demo.uvprojx), which is under the MDK-ARM directory.
Click Build to compile the project.
Click Download to load the code to your board.

Reset, the screen will display image.
Note: The refresh rate of this module is slow, and it will flicker for several times during refreshing. Please be patient.

e-Paper HAT Codes description

e-Paper HAT Hardware/software setup

Documentation

Schematic

Related Resources

e-Paper

Question:

Working requirements of e-Paper?

Answer:

Two-color B/W e-paper
- 【Working】Temperature: 0~50°C; Humidity: 35%~65%RH
- 【Storage】Temperature: ≤30°C; Humidity: ≤55%RH; Max storage time: 6 months
- 【Transport】Temperature: -25~70°C; Max transport time: 10 days
- 【Unpack】Temperature: 20°C±5°C; Humidity: 50%RH±5%RH; Max storage time: Should be assembled in 72h
Three-Color e-Paper
- 【Working】Temperature: 0~40°C; Humidity: 35%~65%RH
- 【Storage】Temperature: ≤30°C; Humidity: ≤55%RH; Max storage time: 3 months
- 【Transport】Temperature: -25~60°C; Max transport time: 10 days
- 【Unpack】Temperature: 20°C±5°C; Humidity: 50%RH±5%RH; Max storage time: Should be assembled in 72h

When store three-color e-Paper, please refresh it to white, and keep the screen upward. Note that you need to update it at least every three months.

Question:

What do you need to note about e-Paper refreshing?

Answer:

Refresh mode
- Full refresh: e-Paper flicker when full refreshing to remove ghost image for best display.
- Partial refresh: It don't flicker if you use partial refresh (only some of the two-color e-paper support partial refresh). Note that you cannot use Partial refresh all the time, you should full refresh e-paper regularly, otherwise, ghost problem will get worse even damage.
Refresh rate
- When using, you should set the update interval at least 180s.(except Partial supportable types)
- Please set the e-Paper to sleep mode or power off it directly, otherwise, the e-Paper is damaged because of working in high voltage for long time.
- You need to update the content of three-color e-Paper at least one time every 24h to avoid from burn-in problem.
Working place
We recommend you to use the e-Paper indoor. If you need to set the e-paper outdoor, Please place the e-paper in shadow and protect it from UV. When you designed you e-paper product, you should take care about the working situation like temperature, humidity, etc.

Question:

How much could the flexible e-paper be bended

Answer:

The IC part of e-Paper cannot be bended, you can bend the display area in degree larger than 60°C

Question:

Why the e-Paper cant work with Arduino?

Answer:

The I/O level of Arduino is 5V, and the e-Paper should be driven with 3V3. If your Arduino cant drive the e-Paper successfully, please try to convert the level to 3.3V

You can also try to connect the Vcc pin to the 5V of Arduino to see whether the e-Paper works, but we recommend you not to use 5V for a long time.

Question:

Why does the color of e-Paper look a little black or grey?

Answer:

You can try to change the value of Vcom on demo codes.

Question:

Three-color e-paper looks more red/yellow than the picture on website?

Answer:

Because of different batch, some of them have aberration. Store the e-Paper right side up will reduce it. And if the e-Paper didn't be refreshed for long time, it will become more and more red/yellow. Please use the demo code to refresh the e-paper for several times in this case.

Question:

Why my e-paper has ghosting problem after working for some days

Answer:

Please set the e-paper to sleep mode or disconnect it if you needn't refresh the e-paper but need to power on your development board or Raspberry Pi for long time.Otherwise, the voltage of panel keeps high and it will damage the panel

Question:

Why the FPC of the e-Paper is broken after using for some times?

Answer:

Please make sure you have used it in correct way.

To：

Dear Customers, There may be a lag of several hours before we could process your order, depending on the time difference between your location and ours. Sincerely hoping your understanding!

Email(support)

services01@spotpear.com

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Universal e Paper Raw Panel Driver HAT

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