The driver is mostly based on the experimental parallel I2S code provided by Espressif. https://esp32.com/viewtopic.php?t=3188. We added graphics ("shader") and network support.
- Uses the I2S periphal
- Low cpu consumption
- Modules (shader)
- Double-buffering
- Loading/sampling .gif images from file system
- Web interface
The RGB panel has two 16 pin connector on the back. Make sure to use the one labeled "DATA_IN" or "JIN". Most panels use the following pinout:
| L | R |
|---|---|
| R1 | G1 |
| B1 | GND |
| R2 | G2 |
| B2 | GND |
| A | B |
| C | D |
| CLK | LAT |
| OE | GND |
You can simply use jumper wires to connect them to ESP32 GPIO pins. We built a small shield for that purpose, but we're eventually planning to print a custom PCB.
| Panel | ESP32 |
|---|---|
| R1 | GPIO2 |
| G1 | GPIO15 |
| B1 | GPIO4 |
| R2 | GPIO16 |
| G2 | GPIO27 |
| B2 | GPIO17 |
| A | GPIO5 |
| B | GPIO18 |
| C | GPIO19 |
| D | GPIO21 |
| LAT | GPIO26 |
| OE | GPIO25 |
| CLK | GPIO22 |
Follow the official instructions to setup the ESP32 toolchain.
Clone this repository and run make flash && make monitor to flash the firmware and monitor serial output. You might need to adjust the upload port in the toolchain settings. Run make menuconfig to do so.
In order to display custom (64x32px) .gif files you need to upload them into the SPIFFS partition of the ESP. Install mkspiffs and copy your .gif files into /data/.
mkspiff -c data -b 4096 -p 256 -s 2097152 spiffs.bin
Finally, upload the image using esptool.py. Make sure to adjust the --port option accordingly.
esptool --chip esp32 --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART --baud 115200 write_flash 0x180000 spiffs.bin
You can also run upload_spiffs.sh, which automates this upload process.