E Ink Display Raspberry Pi: Interfacing e-Paper Display Using Raspberry Pi

When it comes to e-paper display Raspberry Pi projects, you can carry out so many projects. Besides, there are numerous e-paper displays compatible with Raspberry Pi, enabling you to create numerous developments. In this article, we will find out exactly how e-paper works, including different projects you can complete using an E-ink display Raspberry Pi.

What is an E-ink or E-paper Display?

E-ink or E-paper Display is an electronic paper brand (e-paper) technology that produces paper-like displays for e-readers. It is the technology that imitates ordinary ink on paper. Available in grayscale and color, you can use E-ink on mobile devices, including electronic shelf labels, smartwatches, digital signage, etc.

E-ink display reader

Why Use E-ink (or E-paper) Display for Raspberry Pi Projects?

Like the typical paper, people usually use e-ink displays for similar reasons. It contains a wide viewing angle and doesn’t consume any power when displaying the picture on the screen. Apart from their unlimited show period and electricity-efficient, the displays are moderately economical. Besides, even in sunny atmospheres, you can easily read them, which can be complex with any other LCD screen.

How Do e-ink (E-paper) Display Work?

The e-ink works with microcapsule assistance that has a very thin width. The microcapsules comprise both positively charged white atoms and negatively charged black atoms. These tiny microcapsules dangle within a fluid in a film wrapper. Therefore, the white atom rises to display once the negative current passes through. On the other hand, the black particle will rise to display once the positive atom passes through. As a result, such meticulous current passage forms a neutral energy-efficient display that is relatively calm to the eye.

Replacing the E-invoice with new technology

Projects Using an E-Ink Display

Previously, you could only find E-ink products such as the Kindle e-reader. Nevertheless, manufacturers are developing e-ink displays in various dimensions and sizes, satisfying the need for standalone E-ink components. Here are seven E-ink display project ideas you can try.

• Weather Station

You can complete a weather project in just under an hour with the right project. Use Open Weather Map for the weather data, which is a cloud service offering Weather API and a free tier plan. For the ePaper display, get the one that provides a python library for interfacing, such as an e-ink display HAT for Raspberry Pi. Lastly, get an enclosure that supports different prototyping stages, has open access when starting, and offers protection. ProtoStax for Raspberry Pi B+ fits that description with its ability to cater to prototyping needs and additional components and boards.

Weather station

Enclose the base plate by mounting the Raspberry Pi. When arranging for inclusion in Platform Structure, enhance the bottoms and other hardware, ensuring you safeguard all with rivets. Navigate to SPI, and once requested to allow the SPI interface, click the ‘allow’ button. Acquire an account with the Open Weather Map API key. Using the Meteorological conditions Static python platform, get the produced key and the specimen key. Split them into ePaper demonstration and Open Weather Map. Run it with python to test the program and install the top bracing components. You will now be able to see the current weather.

• Cryptocurrency Display

Slowly by slowly, Cryptocurrency is becoming the preferred transaction method. The CRYTOiNK integrates a 7x7 e-ink display with a configuration displaying seven cryptocurrencies and their instantaneous rank available. Taking advantage of the Trig collared E-ink display, Cryptocurrencies hit the currency in red once the price is low. Besides, it helps differentiate currencies in either red or black. Furthermore, it allows updating currency prices in real-time while displaying security information or watching traditional news. Besides, CRYPTOiNK displays the trading currencies, including their current value.

• Open-Source Fully Customizable E-Ink Smart Watch

Squarofumi (SQFMI) are the developers of an e-paper watch encompassing open-source software and hardware. They named the small PCB they developed “Watchy.” It contains a vibration motor, LiPO battery connector, ESP32-PICO, and tactile buttons. Having a 200x200-pixel resolution, it provides an E-paper display. In addition, while in luminous light, it delivers glare-free reflectiveness, low consumption, and close to a 180-degree outlook. Having ESP32-PICO-D4 is vital; it is compatible with ESP-IDF, Micro Python, and Arduino and contains built-in Bluetooth-Wi-Fi.

Smartwatches with different interfaces and colors

• Message Board

An IoT-controlled e-paper message board uses the Google Docs API, allowing users to use Google Docs when reading and writing code. Updating it is much easier. You only need to fill in the google sheet, and the message will bring up-to-date every time there is new information.  The manufacturers integrated the Raspberry Pi display into a standard monitor using Google Docs. As a result, users can update displays through a mobile app. Nevertheless, once you set it into sleep mode, you might not see updates due to its backlight. Thus, you need to awake the device and remember that it only consumes ultra-low power consumption when updating.

Monitoring performance in a modern brewery

• 32” Digital E-Ink Newspaper

Unlike many e-ink projects that use small displays, a 32’ digital E-ink newspaper allows you to go big with a 32-inch display. Its huge layout e-ink display serves the need to reinvent a newsprint touch accessing real-time headlines globally. Besides, it’s incredibly energy efficient and wireless and can use the battery for months without recharging.

Newspaper book from tablet pc

• Beer Fermentation Monitor

There is no better way to brew beers at home than using real-time display data and electronic sensors. Incorporate an e-ink and get a lustrous and attractive beer fermentation display. The project uses ESP32 and a tilt hydrometer to monitor the beer. The Firebase library stores the data until ESP8266 e-ink retrieves it when ready while still displaying after every 20 minutes. On the other hand, once the battery is lower to a particular percentage, the display will complete one last piece of information, demonstrating that the battery is draining. ESP8266 wake-ups won’t update until you recharge the battery.

• IoT E-Ink Message Board

An e-ink builder James Bruton used Google Docs API when creating this e-ink shopping list. As a result, you can change your Google document and then reflect on the e-ink display. Even though a pen and paper can serve the same purpose, the ability to make changes remotely makes it exceptional. It suits the desires of tech hobbyists impeccably. Rather than pinning messages on the fridge in your home, an IoT e-ink message board is the modern alternative.

Close-up of Raspberry Pi Pico, Raspberry Pi 4b, and Raspberry Pi Zero W

Summary

E-ink is much more flexible, making it possible to develop rollable displays for electronic devices. Besides its power-efficient, hence, it can retain the image on a screen for a longer period. As a result, it is appropriate to use on various mobile devices. In addition, when interfaced with Raspberry Pi, it enables you to complete multiple projects.