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Getting Started with reTerminal E1002

Introduction​

The reTerminal E1002 is a 7.3-inch six-color ePaper display terminal designed for low-power information display applications. Unlike traditional e-readers, the reTerminal E1002 is optimized for displaying vibrant text and graphical information in various environments such as desktops, walls, and retail shelves. Its power-efficient design and wireless connectivity make it an ideal solution for smart home dashboards, information displays, digital signage, and electronic photo frames, with the added benefit of full color visualization.

Features​

  • 7.3-inch Six-Color ePaper Display: 800×480 resolution with ACeP (Advanced Color ePaper) technology
  • ESP32S3 Controller: Powerful main controller with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Ultra-Low Power Consumption: Designed for extended battery operation
  • Integrated Buzzer: For notifications and alerts
  • Battery Support: JST connector for 2000mAh lithium battery with charging circuit
  • USB-C Interface: For power and firmware updates
  • Multiple Control Buttons: Refresh button and navigation keys for user interaction
  • Temperature and Humidity Sensor: Integrated SHT40 sensor for environmental monitoring
  • Expandable Storage: MicroSD card slot for additional storage
  • SenseCraft HMI Compatibility: Seamless integration with Seeed's SenseCraft platform
  • Open Hardware & Software: Fully open source for customization and development

Hardware Overview​

The reTerminal E1002 hardware includes:

  1. 7.3-inch Six-Color ePaper Display: Full-color display with 800×480 resolution
  2. Refresh Button: Located at the top of the device for manual screen refresh
  3. Navigation Buttons: Left and right buttons for page navigation
  4. Power Switch: Located on the back for powering the device on/off
  5. USB-C Port: For charging and firmware updates
  6. Battery Connector: JST 3-pin connector for optional lithium battery
  7. Status LEDs:
    • Charge indicator (red)
    • User indicator (green)
  8. MicroSD Card Slot: For expandable storage
  9. Temperature & Humidity Sensor: Integrated SHT40 sensor located at the lower left corner on the back of the device for environmental monitoring
  10. Expansion Pins: 8-pin expansion header providing VDD, GND, I2C, and GPIO connections

Getting Started​

Preliminary​

Step 1. Unbox your reTerminal E1002 and ensure all components are included:

  • reTerminal E1002 device
  • USB-C cable
  • Quick start guide

Step 2. (Optional) Insert a microSD card if you plan to use the device as a digital photo frame or need additional storage.

note

The reTerminal E10xx only supports MicroSD cards up to 64GB in Fat32 format.

Step 3. Update the firmware to ensure your device is running the latest version:

  1. Connect your reTerminal E1002 to your computer using the USB-C cable

  2. Power on the device using the power switch on the back

  3. Visit SenseCraft HMI and sign in to your account

SenseCraft HMI 🖱️

  1. Navigate to the Workspace section

  2. Click on Device Flasher in the upper right corner

  1. Select your reTerminal E1002 device from the list. According to this tutorial, you should choose reTerminal E1002 7.3" Full Color Display.

  1. Choose the latest firmware version from the dropdown menu

  2. Click Flash and wait for the update process to complete

note

Updating the firmware ensures optimal performance and access to the latest features. It's recommended to perform this update before using your device for the first time.

Power On​

Step 1. Power on the device by sliding the power switch to the ON position. The power switch is located on the back of the unit.

Step 2. On first boot, the device will display product information and network setup instructions.


Step 3. The green user LED will light up for approximately 30 seconds, indicating the device is powered on and initializing. 30 seconds of no operation of the device, in order to ensure the power, the device will automatically enter the sleep mode, the LED light will automatically turn off.

Network Setup​

Step 1. Connect to the device's Wi-Fi access point from your smartphone or computer. The AP name will appear on the screen (no password required). The network credentials are reTerminal E1002-{MAC Adress}.


Step 2. Once connected, your phone should automatically redirect to the Wi-Fi configuration page. If not, open a browser and navigate to 192.168.4.1.


Step 3. Select your local Wi-Fi network and enter the password, then click "Connect".

note

The reTerminal E10xx series only supports 2.4GHz WiFi networks, not 5GHz or other bands.

Step 4. Upon successful connection, the device will emit a confirmation beep and display a pairing code screen.

Connecting to SenseCraft Platform​

Step 1. Visit SenseCraft HMI in your web browser and create an account or sign in.

SenseCraft HMI 🖱️

Step 2. Navigate to the Workspace section and click Add Device.

Step 3. Name your device and enter the pairing code displayed on your device's screen and click Create.

Step 4. Once paired, the device will display a message prompting you to create your first dashboard.

增加个Template的下载作为第一个示例。

Creating a Dashboard​

The reTerminal E1002 integrates seamlessly with the SenseCraft HMI platform, which provides powerful tools for creating and customizing content for your device. Instead of detailing step-by-step operations here, let's explore the platform's key features to help you understand what's possible.

SenseCraft HMI Features​

AI Generator

Let artificial intelligence design your dashboard! Simply describe what information you want displayed, and the AI Generator will automatically create an attractive, functional layout. This is perfect for quickly generating weather displays, calendars, to-do lists, or informational panels without manual design work.

Gallery

Transform your reTerminal E1002 into a digital photo frame with the Gallery feature. Upload your favorite images, and the platform will optimize them for the ePaper display. Create slideshows with custom transition times.

Canvas

Design your dashboard from scratch with Canvas, a drag-and-drop interface offering various elements:

  • Text blocks with customizable fonts and sizes
  • Image placeholders
  • Widgets for time, date, and weather
  • Data visualization tools
  • Shapes and dividers for layout organization

RSS Feed Integration

Stay updated with your favorite news sources, blogs, or websites by adding RSS feeds to your dashboard. The RSS feature allows you to display headlines, summaries, or full articles from multiple sources.

Web Content Display

Capture and display specific web content on your device. The Web feature can render selected portions of websites, allowing you to display information like transit schedules, stock tickers, or other online data sources.

Getting Started with SenseCraft HMI​

After pairing your device with the SenseCraft platform as described in the previous section, you'll be ready to create your first dashboard. For detailed instructions on using each feature, please refer to the corresponding Wiki pages:

Once you've created and saved your dashboard in the SenseCraft platform, simply click "Deploy to Device," select your paired reTerminal E1002, and your custom content will be wirelessly transmitted to the device. The ePaper display will update to show your dashboard, and you can use the navigation buttons to switch between multiple pages if you've created them.

Operating the Device​

Refresh Button​

The refresh button at the top of the device serves several functions:

  • Single Press: Manually refreshes the display and checks for new content from the SenseCraft platform. The buzzer will beep once to confirm the action. This button is also commonly used to wake up the device. You can use this button to wake up a device when it has gone to sleep and a dashboard refresh command is usually not immediately available to the device.

  • Long Press (future functionality): Will activate voice input mode.

The left and right buttons allow you to navigate between multiple pages if your dashboard contains more than one page:

  • Left Button: Navigate to the previous page

  • Right Button: Navigate to the next page

Network Reset​

If you need to connect to a different Wi-Fi network:

Step 1. Press and hold both navigation buttons (left and right) simultaneously for 2 seconds.

Step 2. The device will enter Wi-Fi configuration mode, and you can follow the "Network Setup" steps again to connect to a new network.

LED Indicators​

  • Red LED:

    • Off: Fully charged or not charging
    • Always on: charging

  • Green LED:

    • On for 30 seconds at boot: Device is powering on

Battery Operation​

When operating on battery power:

  • The device will automatically enter low-power mode between refreshes

  • Battery life depends on refresh frequency (typically several weeks on a full charge with default settings)

  • The device will display a low battery icon in the top-right corner when the battery level is below 20%

Expansion Pins​

The reTerminal E1002 features an 8-pin expansion header that provides:

  • Power (VDD)
  • Ground (GND)
  • I2C interface
  • GPIO pins

These expansion pins allow you to connect additional sensors, actuators, or other hardware to extend the functionality of your device. They can be accessed for custom development projects when you need to add hardware capabilities beyond those built into the reTerminal E1002.

Device Placement​

The reTerminal E1002 comes with a support stand accessory that allows you to position the device upright for optimal viewing:

Step 1. Locate the support stand included in the package.

Step 2. Insert the stand into the designated slot at the bottom back of the reTerminal E1002.

Step 3. Adjust the angle of the stand to achieve your preferred viewing position.

The stand allows the device to be placed on desks, countertops, or shelves, making it ideal for use as an information display or digital photo frame in various environments.

Troubleshooting​

Q1: Device Won't Power On​

  • Ensure the power switch is in the ON position
  • Connect the USB-C cable to charge the device
  • Check if the red LED is always on (indicating charging)
  • If using battery power, ensure the battery is properly connected and charged

Q2: Can't Connect to Wi-Fi​

  • Verify you're entering the correct Wi-Fi password
  • Ensure your Wi-Fi network is operational
  • Check if your Wi-Fi router supports 2.4GHz networks (5GHz is not supported)
  • Try positioning the device closer to your Wi-Fi router

Q3: Display Not Updating​

  • Press the refresh button to manually trigger an update
  • Verify the device is connected to Wi-Fi (no disconnection icon in the corner)
  • Check your SenseCraft account to ensure the dashboard is properly deployed
  • If the problem persists, try restarting the device

Q4: Network Connection Lost​

  • The device will automatically attempt to reconnect to known networks
  • When reconnected, the Wi-Fi disconnection icon will disappear
  • If unable to reconnect, follow the Network Reset procedure above

Resources​

Tech Support & Product Discussion​

Thank you for choosing our products! We are here to provide you with different 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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