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Getting Started with XIAO ePaper Display EN05

XIAO ePaper Display Board EN05
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Introduction​

Powered by XIAO nRF52840 Plus, the display board EN05 is an ultra-low-power ePaper driver board specifically designed for 24-Pin ePaper displays. With a hardware power switch, it is ideal for battery-powered projects like electronic shelf labels, smart badges, and portable IoT information boards.

Features​

  • XIAO nRF52840 Plus Powered: Built-in Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities for wireless communication.
  • User-Friendly Buttons: Includes 1 side-mounted Reset button and 3 user buttons (Button 3 mapped to D9) for custom interactions (e.g., wake up / previous page / next page).
  • Low Power Design: Integrated JST 2.0mm battery connector with a hardware slide switch and automatic peripheral power-down during MCU sleep.
  • Flat Back Design: Matte black PCB with a flat back (no long pins) for easy mounting.

Specifications​

ParameterDescription
ProcessorXIAO nRF52840 Plus
WirelessBluetooth 5.0
ePaper ConnectorSPI FPC 24-Pin 0.5mm
Battery ConnectorJST 2.0mm (3.7V Li-Battery)
SwitchHardware power slide switch
Buttons1x Reset button (side-mounted)
3x User button (side-mounted)
PCB Thickness1.2mm

Hardware Overview​

Supported ePaper Displays​

The EN05 supports a variety of 24-Pin SPI ePaper displays, including but not limited to:

Software Overview​

Install Seeed GFX Library​

tip

This library has the same function as the TFT library and is not compatible with it. If you have installed the TFT library or other similar display libraries, please uninstall them first.

Download and install the Seeed GFX library from GitHub.

Scroll down and open this link.

Select your device type and it will generate some code. Copy those code and we will use them later.

tip

If you make the wrong choice, the screen will display nothing.

So please make sure you select the correct device or component type.

After downloading the library, go to Sketch -> Include Library -> Add .ZIP Library and select the downloaded library.

Getting Started​

Here, we use a 7.5-inch monochrome display as an example. The steps are identical for other supported screens; you simply need to select the appropriate screen size identifier in the driver.

Configure and burn the program​

Select the example shown in the figure

Create a new "driver.h" file and paste those code into it. The code should be like:

#define BOARD_SCREEN_COMBO 502 // 7.5 inch monochrome ePaper Screen (UC8179)
#define USE_XIAO_EPAPER_DISPLAY_BOARD_EN05

After that, go to Tools -> Board -> Seeed nRF52 Boards -> Seeed XIAO nRF52840 Sense and Tools -> Port -> Select the port your board is connected to.

Then click Upload to upload the code. Now you will see the feedback on your ePaper screen!

Resources​

Troubleshooting​

Q1: The screen does not display anything after uploading the code.

  • Check the FPC Cable: Ensure the ePaper FPC cable is inserted in the correct orientation and is securely locked in the connector.
  • Verify the Driver Configuration: Double-check driver.h to make sure the correct BOARD_SCREEN_COMBO is selected for your specific screen size.

Q2: The board doesn't power on when connected to a battery.

  • Hardware Switch: Verify that the hardware slide switch on the board is toggled to the ON position.
  • Battery Connection: Check the JST 2.0mm connector polarity.

Tech Support & Product Discussion​

Thank you for choosing our products! We are here to provide you with support to ensure that your experience with our products is as smooth as possible. We offer several communication channels to cater to different preferences and needs.

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