Desk Display
ESP32 Based Desk Display
- Title: Desk Display
- Author: Anshuman Tripathy
- Description: I'm building a desk display using a 5.83-inch E-Paper screen and an ESP32. It will show the current time, day, date, and a small To-Do list.
- Created_at: 2025-05-25
Day 1 - 25th May: Epaper Ciruit DONE
Today I completed the E-paper interfacing circuit. I want to use the SEEINK 5.83 inch display since it's cheap but lacks enough documentation. So, I researched and found out that Waveshare also makes the same display but it's more expensive. I compared their datasheets and found that they are almost pin-to-pin compatible. I took reference from both the docs and completed it.
Total time spent: 3–4 hrs
Day 2 - 27th May: ESP32 and UART Circuit
Today I completed the UART and ESP32 interface. This will help in programming the ESP32. I will be using a CH343P chip and Type-C for the UART communication. I had never used the CH343P chip before, so I had to read the datasheets extensively and took reference from example circuits online.
After this, I need to start with the power portion.
Time spent: 2 hr
Day 3 - 28th May: Power control
I started the power portion. I used different regulator ICs for the E-paper display and ESP32. I have added a portion to turn off the display by controlling it using the ESP32.
I had to go through many E-paper display examples to decide on the right regulator.
Time spent: 1 hr
Day 4 - 30th May: Schematic Organising and a Failed Routing attempt
Now I completed the schematic completely and labeled the sections for better readability. Also, I assigned all the footprints.
Majorly, I will be using 0603 for the resistors and capacitors.
I went through LCSC to find proper footprints.
Began with the component placing. Initially, I thought I would be making the PCB double-sided. The tracing was getting too complex, so I scrapped the idea of making the PCB double-sided. Wasted a lot of time doing so.
Time spent: 4 hr
Day 5 - 31st May: Completed the Routing
Started to redo the PCB from scratch. Took me 4 hrs to complete the routing. It's still not perfect — will have to change a few things and remove errors.
I have only kept the connector and some caps associated with it on the bottom layer.
Time spent: 4 hr
Day 6 - 1st June: Removed Errors from the pcb
Completed rectifying all the errors.
Here is the close-to-done PCB.
Time spent: 2 hr
Day 7 - 2nd June: Designed the Case and Completed the PCB
Started with the case. Took reference from the datasheets of the display. Wanted to make it look sleek. However its not the final version since i need to get the hardware first and then will make the necessary changes Here are the images.
Also Completed the PCB
Time spent: 3 hr