This project is an update of this project to fix it with Python 3.7+

4.3 inch e-Paper Display

Scripts to display vector shapes, BMP images and texts on WaveShare 4.3 inch e-paper display module via command-line instead of the Windows-only tools provided by the manufacture.

epd.py is based on the Arduino/C++ library provided by the manufacture.

Generate bitmap images to work with the e-Paper

1. Make sure the resolution of the image is less than 800x600 pixels. Start the tool mspaint.exe on Windows to open the image to be converted;
2. Select the option 24-bit bitmap in the Save as Type list, to save the image as a bmp format file;
3. Start the software tool provided by Waveshare: uC-GUI-BitmapConvert.exe;
4. Click File -> Open, and select the bitmap image you want to convert;
5. Click Image -> Convert Into -> Gray4 (2 BPP);
6. Click File ->Save As, and select the option Windows Bitmap file(*.bmp) in the Save as Type list, and then enter a correct file name and save the image. Please take a note to the format of the file name (see Notes on File Management part).

Interact With the e-Paper Display

>>> from epd import *
>>> help()              # prints help message which details all available functions
...
>>> epd_connect()       # must initiate a connection first, and then send commands to EPD
> EPD connected
> EPD handshake
...                     # whatever you want to do with EPD
>>> epd_disconnect()    # a clean finish after use

Notes on File Management

The manufacture's manual isn't very clear about this. I consulted their technical support regarding how to remove the preloaded files, but the answer he gave some isn't the fact by my experiments. So here's my conclusion:

• The 128MB internal storage is partitioned into 48MB for fonts and 80MB for images (according to the manual, unverified)
• When calling the import functions (one for fonts and one for images), the relevant internal partition gets CLEARED and the fonts or images in the root directory of the SD card are copied over.
• Valid fonts or images are determined by the file names:
  • GBK32.FON,GBK48.FON and GBK64.FON for fonts
  • capital letters and digits followed by .BMP for images. Note that the total length of file names must be no more than 10 chracters including .BMP.
• If no valid font or image is found on SD card, the import functions will just clear the relevant internal storage.

# Example: to import images
# insert SD card
> epd_set_memory_sd()
> epd_import_pic()
> epd_set_memory_nand()
# remove SD card

Error Codes

0       Invalid command
1       SD card initiation failed
2       Invalid arguments
3       SD card not inserted
4       File not found
20      Validation failed
21      Invalid frame
250     Undefined error