SpotPear ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4

ESP32-S3 4-inch LCD Development Board

Model: ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4

Brand: SpotPear

1. Overview

The ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 is a versatile microcontroller development board designed for Human-Machine Interface (HMI) applications. It features a 4-inch 480x480 pixel capacitive touch screen, powered by an Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core processor. The board integrates 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 (LE) connectivity, along with 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM. It is ideal for developing smart control panels, home gateways, intelligent interactive panels, industrial control systems, and smart lighting solutions.

ESP32-S3 4-inch Touch Screen Development Board with UI example
Figure 1: ESP32-S3 4-inch Touch Screen Development Board with example UI.

2. Features

  • Processor: Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core processor, up to 240MHz main frequency.
  • Wireless Connectivity: Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5 (LE) with an onboard antenna.
  • Memory: Built-in 512KB SRAM and 384KB ROM, with onboard 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM.
  • Display: 4-inch IPS capacitive touch display with 480×480 resolution and 65K colors. Offers a 160° wide viewing angle.
  • Touch Control: 5-point capacitive touch control via I2C interface, with interrupt support for flexible operation.
  • Peripheral Interfaces: Onboard CAN, RS485, I2C interfaces, TF card slot, and a full-speed USB Type-C port.
  • Power Management: Supports flexible clock and independent module power supply settings for low power consumption.
  • Wiring Flexibility: Comes with two types of screw terminals, allowing for bottom or back wiring to suit various integration scenarios.
ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 features overview
Figure 2: Key features of the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4.

3. Setup

3.1. Board Components

The ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 board integrates various components for its functionality:

Labeled diagram of ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 board components
Figure 3: Labeled diagram of the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 board.
  1. ESP32-S3N16R8: SoC with WiFi and Bluetooth, up to 240MHz operating frequency, integrated 8MB PSRAM and 16MB Flash.
  2. SW6106: Battery charging/discharging management chip.
  3. TJA1051T/3/1J: CAN transceiver.
  4. SP3485: RS485 transceiver.
  5. PCF85063: RTC chip.
  6. TCA9554PWR: IO expansion chip.
  7. XL1509-ADJE1: Power chip, supports 7~36V DC power input.
  8. 3.5mm 10pin screw terminal slot: For installing 3.5mm 10pin screw terminal block.
  9. RTC battery header: For connecting rechargeable RTC battery (only supports rechargeable RTC battery).
  10. USB Type-C port: ESP32-S3 USB interface, for power supply, burning program and printing logs.
  11. TF card slot.
  12. PH2.0 Lithium battery header: PH2.0 2P connector, for 3.7V Lithium battery, supports charging and discharging.
  13. Buzzer: Sound-producing peripheral.
  14. RS485 and CAN terminal resistor selection: Close by default.
  15. Power supply indicator.
  16. BOOT button.
  17. RESET button.
  18. BAT_PWR button: Power ON/OFF button when using battery for power supply.

3.2. Power Supply

The board can be powered via the USB Type-C port, a 7-36V wide voltage DC input, or a 3.7V Lithium battery connected to the PH2.0 header.

3.3. Wiring Methods

The development board supports two primary wiring methods using the provided screw terminals:

  • Bottom Wiring: Connect wires from the bottom of the board.
  • Back Wiring: Connect wires from the back of the board, suitable for embedded applications.
Diagram showing bottom and back wiring methods
Figure 4: Illustration of bottom and back wiring methods.

For connecting peripherals, use the dedicated terminals for RS485, CAN, and I2C. The 7-36V wide voltage input is also available via screw terminals.

Wiring diagram for RS485, CAN, I2C, and wide voltage input
Figure 5: Connection points for RS485, CAN, I2C, and wide voltage input.

4. Operating Instructions

4.1. Programming and Development

The ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 is designed for Human-Machine Interface (HMI) development. It can smoothly run GUI programs, such as those developed with LVGL (Light and Versatile Graphics Library). The USB Type-C port serves as the primary interface for burning programs and accessing serial logs.

Application scenarios for ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 including Smart Switch, HMI, and LVGL GUI Development
Figure 6: Application scenarios and LVGL GUI development.

4.2. Touch Screen Operation

The 4-inch capacitive touch screen supports 5-point touch, allowing for intuitive multi-point UI interactions. The touch functionality is managed via the I2C interface.

Demonstration of 5-point capacitive touch on the LCD
Figure 7: Capacitive 5-point touch demonstration.

4.3. Wireless Connectivity

Utilize the integrated 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5 (LE) for network communication and device pairing. The onboard antenna provides reliable wireless performance.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 (LE) support illustration
Figure 8: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

4.4. Peripheral Expansion

Expand the board's capabilities by connecting external modules via the CAN, RS485, and I2C interfaces. Ensure proper wiring and configuration for each peripheral.

5. Maintenance

  • Keep the board in a dry environment to prevent moisture damage.
  • Avoid exposing the board to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.
  • Handle the board with care to prevent physical damage to components or the screen.
  • When cleaning, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use liquid cleaners directly on the board.
  • Ensure proper grounding to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, especially when handling sensitive components.

6. Troubleshooting

  • Board not powering on: Check power connections (USB Type-C, DC input, or battery). Ensure the BAT_PWR button is pressed if using battery power.
  • Display not showing anything: Verify power supply. Check if the display ribbon cable is securely connected.
  • Touch screen unresponsive: Ensure the I2C connection for the touch controller is correct. Re-flash the firmware if necessary.
  • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity issues: Check your code for correct initialization and configuration of the wireless modules. Ensure your antenna is not obstructed.
  • Programming errors: Verify your development environment setup and USB connection. Check serial output for error messages.

7. Specifications

Feature Description
Processor Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core, up to 240MHz
Wireless Connectivity 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 5 (LE)
Memory 512KB SRAM, 384KB ROM, 16MB Flash, 8MB PSRAM
Display Type 4-inch IPS LCD
Display Resolution 480 x 480 pixels
Display Color Depth 65K colors
Viewing Angle 160°
Touch Type 5-point Capacitive Touch (I2C interface)
Interfaces CAN, RS485, I2C, TF Card Slot, USB Type-C
Power Input 7-36V DC, USB Type-C, 3.7V Lithium Battery
Battery Included No
Accessory Type LCD Screen
Typical Application Fields Education and Learning
Origin Mainland China
Dimensions (Overall) 84.20 mm x 84.20 mm (approx.)
Dimensions (Screen) 70.18 mm x 70.18 mm (approx.)
Dimensions (Board) 74.50 mm x 76.50 mm (approx.)
Outline dimensions of the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4 board
Figure 9: Outline dimensions of the development board.

8. User Tips

  • Screen Layout Programming: For programming the TFT screen layout, consider using the LVGL graphics library, which is well-suited for embedded GUI development on ESP32-S3.
  • Development Environment: Ensure your development environment (e.g., Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF) is correctly set up with the necessary board support packages and libraries for ESP32-S3 and LVGL.

9. Warranty and Support

For technical support, documentation, or warranty inquiries, please contact the manufacturer or your point of purchase. Refer to the official SpotPear website for additional resources and community forums.

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