Getting Started with XIAO ePaper Display Board - EN05

XIAO ePaper Display Board EN05
Get One Now 🖱️

Introduction

Powered by XIAO nRF52840 Plus, the display board EN05 supports a wide range of 24-pin ePaper displays. It features extension IO port for connecting additional sensors, JST 2.0 mm battery connector with power switch, built-in charging IC, and comes with three user buttons. Well-suited for ultra-low-power ePaper projects such as smart name badges, electronic price tags, meeting room signage, and portable information boards.

Features

• Powered by XIAO nRF52840 Plus: Works immediately when connected to a compatible ePaper display, with onboard NFC interface for tap-to-configure, pairing, or triggering content updates.
• Versatile Display Support: Compatible with a wide range of 24-pin ePaper displays, supporting 24-Pin ePaper displays for various project requirements.
• Extension IO Port: Enables connection of additional sensors, such as temperature and humidity sensors, for enhanced functionality.
• BAT Connector with Switch: Provides simple battery connection and integrates a switch, enabling efficient power management and energy savings.
• Compatible with Various Software Platforms: Whether you prefer coding with Arduino, Platform IO, ESPHome and more, this driver board supports both approaches, providing maximum flexibility for your projects.

Specifications

Parameter	Description
Processor	XIAO nRF52840 Plus
Wireless	Bluetooth 5.0
ePaper Connector	SPI FPC 24-Pin 0.5mm
Battery Connector	JST 2.0mm (3.7V Li-Battery)
Switch	Hardware power slide switch
Buttons	1x Reset button (side-mounted) 3x User button (side-mounted)
PCB Thickness	1.2mm

Hardware Overview

Supported ePaper Displays

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

• 1.54-inch E-paper - Dotmatix 200x200
• 2.13-inch E-Paper -Flexible Monochrome 212x104
• 2.13-inch E-Paper - Quadruple 212x104
• 2.9 inch E-paper - Monocolor 128x296
• 4.2-inch E-Paper - Monocolor 400x300
• 4.26-inch E-Paper - Monocolor 800x480
• 5.83-inch E-paper - Monocolor 648x480
• 7.5-inch Monochrome ePaper Display with 800x480 Pixels

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

• [PDF] XIAO ePaper Display Board Ex05 Schematic
• [ZIP] Seeed Studio XIAO ePaper Display EN05 SCH&PCB

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.