Ask Electronics

63 readers

1 users here now

For questions about component-level electronic circuits, tools and equipment.

Rules

1: Be nice.

2: Be on-topic (eg: Electronic, not electrical).

3: No commercial stuff, buying, selling or valuations.

4: Be safe.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

DavideAndrea@discuss.tchncs.de

linker3000@discuss.tchncs.de

What is this e-paper connector? (feddit.de)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by agressivelyPassive@feddit.de to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I got my hands on an old e-ink price tag and want to repurpose this display.

Unfortunately, I can't really figure out, what this type of connector/bus is called. To me it looks like a standard issue ribbon cable.

There are some "universal" e-paper drivers (for example this one: https://www.ebay.de/itm/353141399922), but I have absolutely no idea, how to find out, if that's the right connector.

The device is made by Imagotag, if that helps.

Edit: I added a picture of the panel: https://feddit.de/pictrs/image/42ee4f60-231a-4c42-9a66-6c369134c49c.jpeg

None of the "markings" returned any results and the QR code couldn't be decoded by my phone.

top 6 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] dmention7@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The connector on the PCB is called a ZIF (zero insertion force) connector. Normally they are specified by the number of pins, the pitch of the pins, and whether there is any locking feature or "ear" on the sides of the ribbon cable. It looks like a standard latching connector made by any number of companies.

The ribbon cable looks like it is custom designed for the display's electrical pin out and the mechanical design of the enclosure.

If you can figure out the mfg of the display itself, you should be able to figure out the ribbon cable pinout.

I know a fair bit about connectors and circuit fab, but not an EE so hopefully this helps!

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

I added a picture of the panel, but as written in the other comment: no manufacturer to see - at least to me.

At least pin-count-wise, the driver I linked above should fit, and all e-ink displays for hobby use do seem to be driven by SPI, but whether it's the "same kind" of SPI and pinout....

[–] MrPozor@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago

You could try using the e-ink buddy from Adafruit. I bought one for driving a price tag e-ink as well but have not tested it yet unfortunately. On their site they say that e-ink connectors are pretty standardized.

[–] Raider7571@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey, I am not 100% sure but from other screens i have seen it is probably to boost power. One of the open source ereaders has a little chip that is similure. It is probably a spi display. Do you have the model number of the panel?

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

I don't have model number and there are zero indications to who manufactured it. I added a picture of the backside. That's everything readable on the panel. Nothing else.

[–] Thorry84@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

We need a picture of the entire pcb. The ribbon cable (technically a flex pcb, not a ribbon cable) is totally custom and not something you can put a signal on. The little green pcb looks like the driver, so we would need pics of that and maybe figure out where you can input some kind of signal.

These kinds of displays can be really hard te re-use. Often their driver is just a simple blob (chip on board) which would be completely custom. This can be made cheaply to order with as few as 500 units. So mass produced readers often use completely custom stuff to get down to a really low price. Unfortunately this means it's not possible te repurpose the screens later.

Spi is the norm for hobby displays because they are made to be driven easily. There is a driver chip that receives the spi signal and drives the display. With an actual product this often isn't the case and the screen gets driven directly.