Files
Plasma-DMD/docs/esp32-interface.md
mangavalkandClaude Opus 5.5 dbc1f0041f Initial commit: plasma DMD driver project
- Design docs: 12 V DC power supply, safety and bring-up, ESP32 interface, BOM
- PSU schematic (schemdraw) and KiCad 10 carrier-board project with HV net classes
- ESP32 PlatformIO firmware skeleton with HV watchdog toggle
- Reference schematic of the Stern 520-5138-00 display PSU

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-10-24 02:31:50 +02:00

1.3 KiB
Raw Permalink Blame History

ESP32 interface

Board: Wemos D1 mini ESP32, powered from the 5 V rail.

Level shifting

The panel inputs are 5 V TTL and the ESP32 is 3.3 V. Use a 74HCT245 (HCT only, because it accepts 3.3 V inputs) powered from 5 V, with DIR tied high (A→B) and OE tied low.

Pin plan

Signal (to panel, through 74HCT245) GPIO Notes
Dot clock 18 VSPI SCK
Serial dot data 23 VSPI MOSI
Column latch 17
Row data 16
Row clock 26
Display enable 22 Pull to off state at the 245 input
HV watchdog toggle 21 Charge pump → relay (see safety.md)
+65 V monitor (optional) 34 ADC, 2 × 1 MΩ + 33 kΩ divider

The strapping pins (0, 2, 5, 12, 15) are avoided so nothing twitches during boot.

Panel data connector

  • Map the panel's 14-pin data connector (signal ↔ pin) for this specific panel before wiring.

Scanning

  • 128 columns × 32 rows, about 120 Hz frame rate (as on WPC).
  • Per row: shift 128 bits of dot data (SPI), latch the columns, advance the row (row data is high for the first row only, then clock the row once per row).
  • The panel must never sit with one row lit. Scanning runs continuously, and the HV watchdog is toggled once per scanned row (about 2 kHz, so the charge pump stays charged).