Working with Raspberry Pi

Hardware connection

If the e-Paper has 40PIN harder, you can directly attach it on the 40PIN gpio of Raspberry Pi. If the e-Paper only has 8PIN connector, you can write it to Raspberry Pi according to the table below.

Connect to Raspberry Pi
e-Paper	Raspberry Pi
e-Paper	BCM2835	Board
VCC	3.3V	3.3V
GND	GND	GND
DIN	MOSI	19
CLK	SCLK	23
CS	CE0	24
DC	25	22
RST	17	11
BUSY	24	18

Enable SPI interface

The e-Paper use the SPI interface for communicating, you need to enable the SPI interface firstly for proper use.

打开终端，输入指令进入raspi-config设置界面

sudo raspi-config

Interfacing Options -> SPI -> Yes

Install libraries

Install BCM2835, open a terminal and run the following commands:

wget http://www.airspayce.com/mikem/bcm2835/bcm2835-1.60.tar.gz
tar zxvf bcm2835-1.60.tar.gz 
cd bcm2835-1.60/
sudo ./configure
sudo make
sudo make check
sudo make install

Install wirignPi

sudo apt-get install wiringpi
wget https://project-downloads.drogon.net/wiringpi-latest.deb
sudo dpkg -i wiringpi-latest.deb
gpio -v

Install Python libraries

#python2
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python-pip
sudo apt-get install python-pil
sudo apt-get install python-numpy
sudo pip install RPi.GPIO
sudo pip install spidev
#python3
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3-pip
sudo apt-get install python3-pil
sudo apt-get install python3-numpy
sudo pip3 install RPi.GPIO
sudo pip3 install spidev

Download demo codes

Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt-get install p7zip-full
sudo wget http://47.107.148.244/w/images/5/50/E-Paper.7z
7za X E-Paper.7z
cd e-Paper/RaspberryPi\&JetsonNano/

Run the codes

You need to go to the directory of RaspberryPi&JetsonNano and then run the command, otherwise, files are not exist.

C

Modify the main.c file for certain type (e-Paper)

cd c
sudo nano examples/main.c

For example: if the e-Paper you use is the 2.13inch e-Paper, you should remove the // symbol before the line EPD_2IN13_V2_test(). Then press Ctrl+X， then Y and Enter to save the file.

Compile the codes

make clean
make
sudo ./epd

python

Enter python directory, and run the command ls -al,

cd python/examples
ls -al

Run the commands according to the type of e-Pper. For example, if you want to drive the 2.13inch e-Paper

# python2
sudo python2.7 epd_2in13_V2_test.py
# python3
sudo python3 epd_2in13_V2_test.py

API Description

RaspberryPi and Jetson nano uses the same libraries, as they are compatible with each other in a way.
The codes include bottom hardware interface, middle EPD driver and application;

C

Bottom hardware interface

We package the bottom for different hardware platform.
Most of the interfaces are defined in DEV_Config.c(.h) files:RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\lib\Config
Two libraries are used for C codes: BCM2835 and WiringPi
By default, we use WiringPI, if you want to change to BCM2835, you can modify RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\Makefile file and modify the line 13 and lin 14 as below:：

Data type：

#define UBYTE   uint8_t
#define UWORD   uint16_t
#define UDOUBLE uint32_t

Initialize model and exit:

void DEV_Module_Init(void);
void DEV_Module_Exit(void);

Notice:

1. The functions are used to handle GPIO before initializing the e-Paper and after exiting.
2. If the board you have is printed with Rev2.1, the module enters low-ultra mode after DEV_Module_Exit(). (as we test, the current is about 0 in this mode);

GPIO Read/Write：

void DEV_Digital_Write(UWORD Pin, UBYTE Value);
UBYTE DEV_Digital_Read(UWORD Pin);

SPI Write data

void DEV_SPI_WriteByte(UBYTE Value);

Middle EPD driver

The EPD driver are saved in RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\lib\e-Paper
Open .h file you can get the functions below

Initialization: It should be used to initialize e-Paper or wakeup e-Paper from sleep mode.

/2.13inch e-Paper、2.9inch e-Paper
void EPD_xxx_Init(UBYTE Mode); // Mode = 0 Initialize full refresh; Mode = 1 Initilize partial refresh 
//4.2inch e-Paper
void EPD_xxx_Init(void);

xxx is the type of e-paper

Clear display: This function is used to clear the e-paper to white

void EPD_xxx_Clear(void);

xxx is the type of e-paper, for example, if the e-paper is 2.13inch e-paper, it should be EPD_2IN13_V2_Clear(); if it is 2.9inch e-paper, it should be EPD_2IN9_Clear()

Transmit a frame of image and display

//Blac/White e-Paper
void EPD_xxx_Display(UBYTE *Image);
//Three colors e-Paper
void EPD_xxx_Display(const UBYTE *blackimage, const UBYTE *ryimage);

// To partial refresh the 2.13inch e-paper, you should firstly use EPD_xxx_DisplayPartBaseImage function to display background, and then partial refresh by function EPD_xxx_DisplayPart()
void EPD_2IN13_V2_DisplayPart(UBYTE *Image);
void EPD_2IN13_V2_DisplayPartBaseImage(UBYTE *Image);

Enter sleep mode

void EPD_xxx_Sleep(void);

You should hardware reset or use initialize function to wake up e-Paper from sleep mode
xxx is the type of e-Paper, if it is 2.13, you should use EPD_2IN13_V2_Sleep()

Application functions

Basic drawing functions are provided here. You can find then in: Raspbian Pi & Jetson Nano: RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\lib\GUI\GUI_Paint.c(.h)

The fonts are saved in the directory: Raspberry Pi & Jetson Nano: RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\lib\Fonts

Create a new image buffer: This function is used to create a new image with width, height, Rotate degree and its color.

void Paint_NewImage(UBYTE *image, UWORD Width, UWORD Height, UWORD Rotate, UWORD Color)
Parameters:
 	image: The buffer of the image, this is a pointer of buffer address;
 	Width: width of the image;
 	Height: Height of the image;
 	Rotate: Rotate degree;
 	Color: Initial color of the image;

Select image buffer: this function is used to select the image buffer. You can create multiple image buffer with last function, then select the buffer for every image.

void Paint_SelectImage(UBYTE *image)
Parameters:
 	image: The name of image buffer, it is a pointer of buffer address;

Set display orientation: This function is used to set the rotate degree, it is generally be used after Paint_SelectImage(). You can set the rotate degree to 0、90、180、270 degree.

void Paint_SetRotate(UWORD Rotate)
Parameters:
 	Rotate: Rotate degree, you can choose ROTATE_0、ROTATE_90、ROTATE_180、ROTATE_270 which stands for 0、90、180、270 degree repetitively.

Image mirroring: This function is used to mirror image.

void Paint_SetMirroring(UBYTE mirror)
Parameters:
 	mirror: You can set it to MIRROR_NONE、MIRROR_HORIZONTAL、MIRROR_VERTICAL、MIRROR_ORIGIN

et pixel: this function is used to set the position and color of pixels in the buffer. This is the basic function of GUI.

void Paint_SetPixel(UWORD Xpoint, UWORD Ypoint, UWORD Color)
Parameters:
 	Xpoint: X-axes in buffer;
 	Ypoint: Y-axes in buffer;
 	Color : color

Clear: This function is used to clear the screen to certain color.

void Paint_Clear(UWORD Color)
Parameters:
 	Color:

Clear windows:this function is used to clear a window. It is generally used for time display.

void Paint_ClearWindows(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, UWORD Xend, UWORD Yend, UWORD Color)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: Start coordinate of X-axes of the window;
 	Ystart: Start coordinate of Y-axes of the window;
 	Xend: End coordinate of X-axes of the window;
 	Yend: End coordinate of Y-axes of the window;
 	Color:

Draw point: Draw a point on the position （Xpoint, Ypoint）in buffer

void Paint_DrawPoint(UWORD Xpoint, UWORD Ypoint, UWORD Color, DOT_PIXEL Dot_Pixel, DOT_STYLE Dot_Style)
Parameters:
 	Xpoint: X coordinate of point;
 	Ypoint: Y coordinate of point;
 	Color: color of point;
 	Dot_Pixel: the size of point, there are 8 sizes available;
 	 	 typedef enum {
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_1X1  = 1,	// 1 x 1
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_2X2  , 		// 2 X 2
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_3X3  , 	 	// 3 X 3
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_4X4  , 	 	// 4 X 4
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_5X5  , 		// 5 X 5
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_6X6  , 		// 6 X 6
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_7X7  , 		// 7 X 7
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_8X8  , 		// 8 X 8
 	 	} DOT_PIXEL;
 	Dot_Style: style of point. 
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	   DOT_FILL_AROUND  = 1,		
 	 	   DOT_FILL_RIGHTUP,
 	 	} DOT_STYLE;

Draw line: draw a line for (Xstart, Ystart) to (Xend, Yend)

void Paint_DrawLine(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, UWORD Xend, UWORD Yend, UWORD Color, LINE_STYLE Line_Style , LINE_STYLE Line_Style)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: Start coordinate of X-axes of line;
 	Ystart: Start coordinate of Y-axes of line;
 	Xend: End coordinate of X-axes of line;
 	Yend: End coordinate of Y-axes of line;
 	Color: color of line
 	Line_width: the width of line, 8 sizes are avalilable;
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_1X1  = 1,	// 1 x 1
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_2X2  , 		// 2 X 2
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_3X3  ,		// 3 X 3
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_4X4  ,		// 4 X 4
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_5X5  , 		// 5 X 5
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_6X6  , 		// 6 X 6
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_7X7  , 		// 7 X 7
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_8X8  , 		// 8 X 8
 	 	} DOT_PIXEL;
 	 Line_Style:Style of the line;
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	 	 LINE_STYLE_SOLID = 0,
 	 	 	 LINE_STYLE_DOTTED,
 	 	} LINE_STYLE;

Draw rectangle: Draw a rectangle from (Xstart, Ystart) to (Xend, Yend).

void Paint_DrawRectangle(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, UWORD Xend, UWORD Yend, UWORD Color, DOT_PIXEL Line_width, DRAW_FILL Draw_Fill)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: Start coordinate of X-axes of rectangle
 	Ystart: Start coordinate of Y-axes of rectangle
 	Xend: End coordinate of X-end of rectangle
 	Yend: End coordinate of Y-end of rectangle
 	Color: color of rectangle
 	Line_width: The width of edges, 8 sides are available;
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_1X1  = 1,	// 1 x 1
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_2X2  , 		// 2 X 2
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_3X3  ,		// 3 X 3
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_4X4  ,		// 4 X 4
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_5X5  , 		// 5 X 5
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_6X6  , 		// 6 X 6
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_7X7  , 		// 7 X 7
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_8X8  , 		// 8 X 8
 	 	} DOT_PIXEL;
 	Draw_Fill: set the rectangle full or empty.
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	 	 DRAW_FILL_EMPTY = 0,
 	 	 	 DRAW_FILL_FULL,
 	 	} DRAW_FILL;

Draw circle:Draw a circle, use (X_Center Y_Center) as center;

void Paint_DrawCircle(UWORD X_Center, UWORD Y_Center, UWORD Radius, UWORD Color, DOT_PIXEL Line_width, DRAW_FILL Draw_Fill)
Parameters:
 	X_Center: X coordinate of center
 	Y_Center: Y coordinate of center
 	Radius：Radius of circle
 	Color: color of circle
 	Line_width: width of circle, 8 sizes are avalilable
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_1X1  = 1,	// 1 x 1
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_2X2  , 		// 2 X 2
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_3X3  ,		// 3 X 3
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_4X4  ,		// 4 X 4
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_5X5  , 		// 5 X 5
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_6X6  , 		// 6 X 6
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_7X7  , 		// 7 X 7
 	 	 	 DOT_PIXEL_8X8  , 		// 8 X 8
 	 	} DOT_PIXEL;
 	Draw_Fill: style of circle
 	 	typedef enum {
 	 	 	 DRAW_FILL_EMPTY = 0,
 	 	 	 DRAW_FILL_FULL,
 	 	} DRAW_FILL;

Draw character (ASCII): Set(Xstart Ystart) as letf-top point, draw a ASCII character.

void Paint_DrawChar(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, const char Ascii_Char, sFONT* Font, UWORD Color_Foreground, UWORD Color_Background)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: X coordinate of left-top pixel of character;
 	Ystart: Y coordinate of left-top pixel of character;
 	Ascii_Char：Ascii character;
 	Font: 5 fonts are available;
 	 	font8：5*8
 	 	font12：7*12
 	 	font16：11*16
 	 	font20：14*20
 	 	font24：17*24
 	Color_Foreground: color of character;
 	Color_Background: color of background;

Draw String: Set point (Xstart Ystart) as the left-top pixel, draw a string.

void Paint_DrawString_EN(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, const char * pString, sFONT* Font, UWORD Color_Foreground, UWORD Color_Background)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: X coordinate of left-top pixel of characters;
 	Ystart: Y coordinate of left-top pixel of characters;
 	pString：Pointer of string
 	Font: 5 fonts are available:
 	 	font8：5*8
 	 	font12：7*12
 	 	font16：11*16
 	 	font20：14*20
 	 	font24：17*24
 	Color_Foreground: color of string
 	Color_Background: color of background

Draw Chinese charactgers: this function is used to draw Chinese fonts based ON GB2312 fonts.

void Paint_DrawString_CN(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, const char * pString, cFONT* font, UWORD Color_Foreground, UWORD Color_Background)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: Coordinate of left-top pixel of characters;
 	Ystart: Coordinate of left-top pixel of characters;
 	pString：Pointer of string;
 	Font: GB2312 fonts：
 	 	font12CN：11*21(ascii)，16*21 (Chinese)
 	 	font24CN：24*41(ascii)，32*41 (Chinese)
 	Color_Foreground: color of string
 	Color_Background: color of background

Draw number: Draw a string of numbers, (Xstart, Ystart) is the left-top pixel.

void Paint_DrawNum(UWORD Xpoint, UWORD Ypoint, int32_t Nummber, sFONT* Font, UWORD Color_Foreground, UWORD Color_Background)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: X coordinate of left-top pixel;
 	Ystart: Y coordicate of left-to pixel;
 	Nummber: the numbers displayed. the numbers are saved in int format, the maximum is 2147483647;
 	Font: 5 fonts are available：
 	 	font8：5*8
 	 	font12：7*12
 	 	font16：11*16
 	 	font20：14*20
 	 	font24：17*24
 	Color_Foreground: color of font;
 	Color_Background: color of background;

Display time:Display time, (Xstart, Ystart) is the left-top pixel. This function is used for e-Paper which supports partial refresh

void Paint_DrawTime(UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart, PAINT_TIME *pTime, sFONT* Font, UWORD Color_Background, UWORD Color_Foreground)
Parameters:
 	Xstart: X coordinate of left-top pixel of character;
 	Ystart: Y coordinate of left-top pixel of character;
 	pTime：pointer of time displayed;
 	Font: 5 fonts are available;
 	 	font8：5*8
 	 	font12：7*12
 	 	font16：11*16
 	 	font20：14*20
 	 	font24：17*24
 	Color_Foreground: color of fonts
 	Color_Background: color of background

Draw image:send image data of bmp file to buffer

void Paint_DrawBitMap(const unsigned char* image_buffer)
Parameters:
 	image_buffer: adrress of image data in buffer

Read local bmp picture and write it to buffer

Linux platform like Jetson Nano and Raspberry Pi support to directly operate bmp pictures
Raspberry Pi & Jetson Nano：RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\lib\GUI\GUI_BMPfile.c(.h)

UBYTE GUI_ReadBmp(const char *path, UWORD Xstart, UWORD Ystart)
Parameters:
	path：The path of BMP pictures
 	Xstart: X coordination of left-top of picture, default 0;
 	Ystart: Y coordination of left-top of picture, default 0;

Testing code

In the above part, we describe the tree structures of Linux codes, here we talk about the testing code for user.
Raspberry Pi & Jetson Nano: RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\c\examples. The codes in examples are testing code, you can modify the definition in main.c file for different types of e-Paper.

For example, if you want to test 2.13inch e-paper, you need to delete the "//" symbol on line 32.

// EPD_2in13_V2_test();

Change it to

EPD_2in13_V2_test();

Then compile it again and run

make clean
make
sudo ./epd

Python(Can be used for Jetson Nano\Raspberry Pi)

It is compatible with python2.7 and python3
python is easy to use than c codes
Raspberry Pi and Jetson Nano：RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\python\lib\

epdconfig.py

Initialize module and exit handle：

def module_init()
def module_exit()

Note: 1.The functions are used to set GPIP before and after driving e-Paper. 2.If the board you have is printed with Rev2.1, module enter low-ultra mode after Module_Exit(). (as we test, the current is about 0 in this mode);

GPIO Read/Write：

def  digital_write(pin, value)
def  digital_read(pin)

SPI Write data:

def spi_writebyte(data)

epdxxx.py(xxx is the type of e-Paper)

Initailize e-paper: this function should be used at the begining. It can also be used to wake up e-Paper from Sleep mode.

#For 2.13inch e-Paper、2.9inch e-Paper
def init(self, update) #  Choose lut_full_update or lut_partial_update
#Other type
def init(self)

Clear e-paper: This function is used to clear e-Paper to white;

def Clear(self)
def Clear(self, color) # Some types of e-Paper should use this function to clear screen

Convert image to arrays

def getbuffer(self, image)

Transmit one frame of image data and display

#For two-color e-paper
def display(self, image)

#Because that controllers of 2.13inch e-paper are updated, when partial refresh, they should first use displayPartBaseImage() to display static background, then use displayPart() to dynamaticlly display.
def displayPartBaseImage(self, image)
def displayPart(self, image)

Enter sleep mode

def sleep(self)

epd_xxx_test.py(xxx is type of e-paper)

python examples are saved in directory：
Raspberry Pi和Jetson Nano：RaspberryPi&JetsonNano\python\examples\

If the python installed in your OS is python2, you should run examples like below：

sudo python epd_2in13_V2_test.py

If it is python3, the commands should be:

sudo python3 epd_2in13-V2_test.py

Orientation

To rotate the display, you can use transpose function like blackimage = blackimage.transpose(Image.ROTATE_270):

blackimage = blackimage.transpose(Image.ROTATE_270) 
redimage = redimage.transpose(Image.ROTATE_270)
#Support ROTATE_90, ROTATE_180, ROTATE_270

GUI

Python has a powerful PIL library PIL link, which can be used directly to drawing figures. Here we use it for drawing

Install the library firstly

sudo apt-get install python3-pil

Import the library

from PIL import Image,ImageDraw,ImageFont

Image: library; ImageDraw: drawing function; ImageFont: fonts

Set image buffer for drawing.

image = Image.new('1', (epd.width, epd.height), 255)  # 255: clear the frame

The first parameter is the depth of color, 1 means 2 grayscale. The second parameter is a tuple of image size. The third parameter is color of the image, 0 is black and 255 is white.

Create an image object.

draw = ImageDraw.Draw(image)

Draw rectangle

draw.rectangle((0, 10, 200, 34), fill = 0)

The first parameter is a tuple of coordination. 0, 10 is the top-left point of rectangle, 200, 34) is the right-bottom point. fille = 0 set the filled color to black.

Draw line

draw.line((16, 60, 56, 60), fill = 0)

The first parameter is a type of coordination, 16, 60 is the begin point, 200, 34 is the end point. fill=0 set the line to black

Draw circle

draw.arc((90, 60, 150, 120), 0, 360, fill = 0)

This function is used to draw a encircle of a square. The first parameter is a tuple of coordination of the square. the degree of the circle is 0 to 360 °, fille=0 set the circle to black.
If the figure is not square according to the coordination, you will get an ellipse.。

Besides the arc function, you can also use chord function for drawing solid circle.

draw.chord((90, 130, 150, 190), 0, 360, fill = 0)

The first parameter is the coordination of the enclosing rectangle. The second and third parameters are the beginning and end degrees of the circle. The fourth parameter is the fill color of the circle.

Character

You can directkt import ImageFont model for drawing characters:

font = ImageFont.truetype(os.path.join(picdir, 'Font.ttc'), 24)

You can use the fonts of Windows or other fonts which is in ttc format.

To draw English character, you can directly use the fonts; for Chinese character, you need to add a symbol u:

draw.text((8, 12), 'hello world', font = font, fill = 255)
draw.text((8, 36), u'电子墨水屏', font = font, fill = 0)

The first parameter is a tuple of coordination of character, the second parameter is the font and las one is set the color.

Read local picture

image = Image.open(os.path.join(picdir, '2in13-v2.bmp'))

The parameter is the path of picture.

Other functions.

For more information about the PIL library, please refer to http://effbot.org/imagingbook.

E-paper for RPi Use

Contents

Working with Raspberry Pi

Hardware connection

Enable SPI interface

Install libraries

Download demo codes

Run the codes

API Description

C

Bottom hardware interface

Middle EPD driver

Application functions

Testing code

Python(Can be used for Jetson Nano\Raspberry Pi)

epdconfig.py

epdxxx.py(xxx is the type of e-Paper)

epd_xxx_test.py(xxx is type of e-paper)

Orientation

GUI

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