Heltec HT-DE01 Multi Size E-Ink Drive Board
A compact universal e-ink driver board based on ESP32-S3FN8 with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, 24-pin FFC interface compatible with most e-ink displays, USB-C and LiPo battery support, and Arduino development environment.
$9.90
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Specifications
Components
Xtensa LX7 dual-core processor at 240MHz with 8MB flash, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 5 (BLE + Mesh). Provides the main processing, wireless connectivity, and SPI bus for e-ink display control.
Silicon Labs USB 2.0 full-speed to UART bridge IC providing serial programming and debug interface via USB-C connector. Includes DTR/RTS auto-reset circuit for one-click flashing.
Standalone linear Li-Ion/LiPo battery charger with constant current/constant voltage algorithm, thermal regulation, and charge status indicator. Programmed for charging via the 2K resistor on PROG pin.
Low-dropout CMOS voltage regulator from Chipower providing stable 3.3V output with high PSRR (Power Supply Rejection Ratio) to power the ESP32-S3 and peripherals.
Bus Interfaces
GPIO Map
Overview
The Heltec HT-DE01 is a universal e-ink driver board designed to work with most 24-pin FFC interface e-ink displays. Built around the ESP32-S3FN8 microcontroller, it provides WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 5 (BLE + Mesh) connectivity, enabling wireless display updates over the air or via web interface. The board integrates a CP2102 USB-to-UART bridge for easy Arduino-based development and flashing.
Despite its compact 49mm x 25mm footprint, the HT-DE01 packs a complete power management system with a TP4054 LiPo battery charger, SH1.25-2 battery connector, and automatic USB/battery power switching. The CE6260B33M LDO regulator provides a stable 3.3V rail, while diode protection and a 500mA fuse safeguard the board. This makes it ideal for battery-powered e-ink signage and portable display projects.
The board drives e-ink panels through a dedicated SPI bus (GPIO2-7) connected to the 24-pin FFC connector, which carries all necessary signals including PREVGH/PREVGL gate driver voltages and GDR output. The Vext power rail is controllable via GPIO to completely shut down the e-ink display for ultra-low power sleep modes. Heltec provides a complete Arduino SDK with sample code and an E-Ink library supporting 1.54", 2.13", and 2.9" panels.
Use Cases
5E-Ink Development
Development and prototyping of e-ink/e-paper display projects, including custom e-paper dashboards, labels, and low-power information displays.
Electronic Shelf Labels
Wireless e-paper price tags and information labels for retail shelves, warehouses, and inventory management.
Digital Signage
Driving displays for advertising, information kiosks, or menu boards with 4K video and dynamic content.
Smart Display
Connected display for smart home status, notifications, or interactive interfaces.
E-Paper Display
Applications using e-paper (e-ink) displays for low-power information panels and dashboards.
Resources
Where to Buy
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