An ePaper display can be a fantastic solution when you need to show static or slowly changing information. Since this type of display uses power only when swapping states, they can be great for low-power embedded designs. At the same time, it’s a bit of a niche technology, and it’s not always clear how to get started with it. As a solution for your embedded sensor and wireless interface challenges, Catnip Electronics is offering the Paper WiFi Arduino-compatible display package.
The device features a 2.13″ ePaper display with a resolution of 212 x 104 pixels and an ESP32C3 module for WiFi/BLE communication and onboard processing. The device can interface with other electronics via I2C and UART, and features two broken-out GPIO pins for further interface and control. Additionally, the device has an onboard temperature and humidity sensor. So if you think you might have a use for it in the future, but a connected environmental display would be somewhat useful right now, it’s got you covered.
Hardware and firmware are both open source, and available on GitHub. The firmware is ready for your use and modification, taking care of WiFi provisioning and onboard sensor usage. Impressively, the device draws only .038mA of current in deep sleep, allowing it to last for years on 2xAA batteries.
If you’d like to know more about this product’s origin, I did an interview with Catnip Electronics, AKA Albertas Mickėnas, a few years ago!
