E-Ink Display Module Tutorial Part 1 - Text

18/08/2017

E-Ink Display Module Tutorial Part 1 - Diplay Text with Arduino

 

This module was designed to be used without adding any additional circuits or components. Even though this tutorial doesn’t use breadboards, feel free to use two of them to connect the Arduino Uno to the E-Ink Display module.

 

To get started you’ll need:

 

Hardware: 
x1 Arduino Uno
x1 E-Ink Display Module
x1 A-B USB Cable
x1 Dupont (10 wire version) (for breadboard use x1 male-male Dupont)

 

 

Software: 
Arduino IDE 
E-Ink Library 

 

 

Step 1: Connect the Arduino Uno board and E-Ink Display module

 

• Make the following connections:
E-Ink DisplayArduino Uno
3.3V 3.3V
GND (next to 3.3V)GND (next to 5V)
BS1D8
BUD7
RESRESET
SDAD11
SCLD13
CS1D6
D/CD5

 

Step 2: Install the E-Ink Library
• After installing the Arduino IDE, open the program.
• Import the E-Ink Library by going to Sketch>Include Library>Add .zip Library
• Select the SmartEink_Arduino_Library.zip file, a message will show at the bottom reading library was successfully added
 

 
 
Step 3: Upload and run the code
• Plug in the USB-B cable into the Arduino Uno and the computer
• In Arduino IDE, navigate to File>Examples>SmartEink>ShowStringDemo
 

 
• Scroll to the bottom, there are 4 lines of filler text in between quotation marks
• Modify the text in between the quotation marks, in the image below I’ve modified the first line
 

 
• Before uploading the code go to Tools>Board: and select board you’re using, in my case the “Arduino/Genuino Uno” 
 

 
• Go to Tools>Port: and select the correct port, mine was “COM3 (Arduino/Genuino Uno)”
• Upload and watch your message materialize on the Display
 

 
Enjoy! 
Leave behind pictures of the graphics or text you programmed in the comments below (no spoilers!). If you're ready to tackle images, check out our step-by-step tutorial on image display!

5 Comment(s)

Dante:
03/09/2017, 06:53:24 PM
Reply

Hi!Any chance to get this working with ESP8266's? Libs doesnt seem to work with these boards.SmartEink_Arduino_Library\SmartEink.cpp: In member function 'void E_ink::WriteComm(unsigned char)': SmartEink_Arduino_Library\SmartEink.h:52:24: error: 'DDRD' was not declared in this scope#define Eink_CS1_HIGH {DDRD |= 0x40;PORTD |= 0x40;}etc

Alex Chu:
04/09/2017, 01:30:34 AM
Reply

Hi Dante, Yes, it can work with ESP8266. You need to do some changes there. We will release another tutorial for ESP8266 work with E-ink display. Alex

Dante:
16/12/2017, 10:35:51 PM

Hi Again!Are you working on that tutorial? :)-Dante

Thi Han:
24/10/2017, 08:39:15 AM
Reply

Hi. Thank for your great tutorial. Can i use this library for another e ink display monitor greater size, like 13,3 inch. If it is not, do you have any idea or source code to do this. Thank you so much :).

Alex:
26/10/2017, 02:33:34 AM

Hi, Thanks for your comment. Feel free to use the library for your other project. I think the 13.3 inch E-ink display can not use this library directly. As the pins and IC is too much different.

Dolan Miu:
07/11/2017, 01:56:27 AM
Reply

How much power does this use? I am using it on a solar/battery project.Is it possible to make this display go to sleep so it uses ZERO power?

alex:
07/11/2017, 02:37:20 AM

It only uses power when it is flashing, after that, the display itself does not need any(zero) power, you can even uninstall that blue LED to save "more" power :)

Dolan Miu:
07/11/2017, 10:48:31 AM
Reply

Thanks for clarifying :)How much power does it use?Is it the same for this product as well?https://www.smart-prototyping.com/Prototyping-Modules/Display/E-ink-E-paper-new-version-display-module-3.3V-2.04-inch-177x72.html

Alex:
30/01/2018, 05:53:24 AM

Hi Dolan,So sorry for my late reply. It uses 5V power. The product link is a similar e-ink which is in the tutorial, but unfortunately, both of the e-ink module is sold out, and will never come back again. We are developing a new model e-ink module, it will come to meet you soon. Thank you! Alex

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