Waveshare 13.3inch e-Paper (E)

Waveshare 13.3-inch E Ink Spectra 6 Full Color E-Paper Display Instruction Manual

1. Ynlieding en oerview

This manual provides essential information for the Waveshare 13.3-inch E Ink Spectra 6 (E6) Full Color E-Paper Display. This raw E-Ink display features a 1600×1200 resolution and utilizes a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) for communication. It is designed for applications requiring high contrast, high color saturation, and ultra-low power consumption, as it retains the last displayed content without continuous power.

2. Package Ynhâld

Kontrolearje oft alle hjirûnder neamde items yn jo pakket opnommen binne:

  • 13.3inch e-Paper (E) x1
Image showing the Waveshare 13.3inch e-Paper (E) display as the sole package content.

Figure 2.1: Package content showing the 13.3-inch e-Paper display.

3. Key Features

  • Adopts E Ink Spectra 6 (E6) technology, featuring high contrast and high color saturation.
  • No backlight required; the display retains its content indefinitely even when powered off.
  • Ultra-low power consumption, with power primarily consumed only during display refreshes.
  • Offers rich Wiki resources for development, including examples for Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ESP32, and STM32.
  • Optional e-Paper Driver HAT available, supporting standard Raspberry Pi 40PIN GPIO header for Raspberry Pi series boards.
  • HAT+ standard compliance improves interoperability and simplifies design and development.
  • Adapting SPI interface for compatibility with various controller boards (Arduino, ESP32, STM32, Raspberry Pi).
  • Onboard voltage translator ensures compatibility with 3.3V / 5V MCUs.
Image illustrating the 13.3-inch full color e-Paper display with key features like low power, wide viewing angle, and paper-like effect.

Ofbylding 3.1: Oerview of the 13.3-inch full color e-Paper display and its features.

4. Technyske spesifikaasjes

ParameterWeardeParameterWearde
Operaasje VoltageRaw display: 3.3V
with Driver HAT: 3.3V/5V
Display KleurE6 full color (E Ink Spectra 6)
Ynterface3-trieds SPI, 4-trieds SPIGriene Skaal2
Outline OfmjittingsRaw display: 284.70 × 208.80 × 0.85mm
e-Paper driver HAT: 65.00 × 30.50mm
Folsleine ferfarskingstiid19s
Display Grutte270.40 × 202.80 mmTotal Refresh Power<0.5W
Dot Pitch0.169 × 0.169 mmStandby Current of Raw Display<0.01uA (hast gjin)
Resolúsje1600 × 1200 pixelsViewyn hoeke>170°
Image displaying a table of features at a glance and detailed specifications for the e-Paper display.

Figure 4.1: Detailed specifications of the 13.3-inch e-Paper display.

Image showing the outline dimensions of the 13.3-inch e-Paper display and its optional HAT+ driver board.

Figure 4.2: Outline dimensions of the e-Paper display and the e-Paper Driver HAT.

5. E Ink Spectra 6 Technology

The E Ink Spectra 6 is a full-color e-paper technology that enhances the e-paper industry with superior color performance, high resolution, and high contrast. It utilizes red, yellow, and blue as primary colors, offering more possibilities for e-paper color display, resulting in clearer and brighter images.

Diagram explaining the E Ink Spectra 6 technology with microcups containing charged particles for color display.

Figure 5.1: Explanation of E Ink Spectra 6 technology.

This advanced performance includes a resolution of up to 200ppi, a wider operating temperature range, and faster screen refresh times. It is also more power-saving, aligning with ESG trends for energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

Comparison of Spectra 3000, 3100, and 6 technologies, highlighting improved color display and refresh times in Spectra 6.

Figure 5.2: Evolution of E Ink Spectra technology.

6. Advantages and Applications of E Ink

E-paper displays utilize microcapsule electrophoretic technology for displaying content. Charged particles suspended in a clear fluid move to the sides of microcapsules when an electric field is applied, making the microcapsule visible by reflecting ambient light, similar to traditional printed paper. E-paper displays clearly show images and text under lamplight or natural light, require no backlight, and offer a nearly 180° viewing angle. This technology is commonly used in e-readers due to its paper-like effect.

Image comparing E-paper E Ink display, printed A4 paper, and LCD monitor, showing clarity and readability. Also includes application examples like shelf labels and conference name tags.

Figuer 6.1: Advantages of E Ink and various application examples.

7. Opset en Ferbining

7.1 Connecting to Raspberry Pi (with optional HAT)

If using the optional e-Paper Driver HAT, it connects directly to the standard Raspberry Pi 40PIN GPIO header. This setup is suitable for Raspberry Pi series boards. The HAT+ standard ensures improved interoperability and automatic detection by Raspberry Pi software/firmware, simplifying the development process.

Image showing the Raspberry Pi 40PIN GPIO header connection with an e-Paper display and examples of full-color images.

Figure 7.1: Raspberry Pi GPIO header connection and example display content.

7.2 SPI Control Interface

The display features an onboard SPI control interface, making it compatible with various controller boards such as Arduino, ESP32, and STM32. The onboard voltage translator ensures compatibility with both 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers.

Image detailing the onboard SPI control interface pins and their functions on the e-Paper Driver HAT.

Figure 7.2: SPI control interface pinout for the e-Paper Driver HAT.

8. Operaasje

Operating the E Ink display primarily involves sending image data via the SPI interface to refresh the screen. Due to its bistable nature, the display will maintain the image without consuming power once refreshed. Power is only required during the refresh cycle. Refer to the provided Wiki resources for specific code examples and libraries for your chosen microcontroller platform.

9. Underhâld

To ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your E Ink display:

  • Behanneling: Handle the display with care, avoiding excessive pressure or bending, especially on the flexible FPC cable.
  • Reiniging: Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to gently wipe the display surface. Avoid abrasive materials or chemical cleaners.
  • Opslach: Bewarje it skerm yn in koele, droege omjouwing, fuort fan direkt sinneljocht en ekstreme temperatueren.
  • Krêft: Soargje foar goede Netzteil voltage (3.3V or 5V depending on setup) to prevent damage.

10. Probleemoplossing

If you encounter issues with your E Ink display, consider the following:

  • Display Not Refreshing: Check power connections and ensure the SPI interface is correctly wired. Verify that your code is sending refresh commands.
  • Partial Refresh Issues: Ensure your code is performing full refreshes when necessary, especially for color changes, as partial refreshes may not clear all previous content effectively.
  • Ferkearde kleuren: Double-check your image data format and color palette settings in your software.
  • Gjin werjefteútfier: Confirm that the display's FPC cable is securely connected to the driver board/HAT. Verify the power supply is stable and within the specified voltage berik.
  • Software flaters: Consult the Waveshare Wiki for updated libraries, example code, and community forums for common issues related to your specific microcontroller.

11. Stipe en boarnen

Waveshare provides comprehensive Wiki resources to assist with the development and use of this e-Paper display. These resources include detailed documentation, circuit diagrams, example code, and data sheets. For further information or technical support, please refer to the official Waveshare webside of nim direkt kontakt op mei har stipeteam.

Official Wiki Resources: Please contact Waveshare for specific links and access to their Wiki documentation.

Ask a question about this manual

Ask about setup, troubleshooting, compatibility, parts, safety, or missing instructions. Manuals+ will review the question and use this page’s manual context to help answer it.