Quick Start Guide: ESP32-S3 Round Rotary Knob LCD Smart Screen

This guide will walk you through setting up your new ESP32-S3 development board with the 2.1-inch round LCD and rotary knob using the Arduino IDE and LVGL (Light and Versatile Graphics Library) for a quick test of the display and knob functionality.

📦 What You Need

• ESP32-S3 Development Board (2.1-inch Round Rotary Knob LCD)
• USB Type-C Cable (for power and data connection)
• Computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Arduino IDE (Installed)

🛠️ Step 1: Set Up Arduino IDE

You need to add support for the ESP32-S3 chip to your Arduino IDE.

1. Install the ESP32 Board Package:
   • Open Arduino IDE.
   • Go to File > Preferences (or Arduino > Preferences on macOS).
   • In the “Additional Board Manager URLs” field, paste this URL:

     https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json
     

   • Click OK.
   • Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager…
   • Search for esp32 and install the “esp32 by Espressif Systems” package (make sure it’s the latest stable version).
2. Install Necessary Libraries:
   • Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries…
   • Search for and install the required libraries for the display and LVGL.
     • Search for: LVGL (Install the main library by LittlevGL/LVGL)
     • Search for: TFT_eSPI (Install the library by Bodmer)
     • (Note: The exact libraries can vary, but TFT_eSPI and LVGL are the most common starting point for these screens.)

⚙️ Step 2: Configure Board Settings

Connect the development board to your computer using the USB Type-C cable.

1. Select the Board:
   • Go to Tools > Board > esp32 > ESP32S3 Dev Module.
2. Select the COM Port:
   • Go to Tools > Port and select the port corresponding to your connected ESP32-S3 board (e.g., COM3 on Windows, /dev/ttyUSB0 on Linux, or /dev/cu.usbserial-xxx on macOS).
3. Adjust Board Parameters (Crucial Step):
   • Go to Tools and set the following parameters. The exact names may vary slightly, but these are the recommended settings for high-performance displays:
     • CPU Frequency: 240MHz (WiFi/BT)
     • Flash Mode: QIO
     • Flash Frequency: 80MHz
     • Flash Size: 16MB (128Mb) (Or whatever size your board has)
     • Partition Scheme: Default 4MB with spiffs or a scheme with Large APP (required for LVGL demos)
     • PSRAM: OPI PSRAM (or Enabled if OPI is not an option)

💻 Step 3: Run a Demo Sketch (LVGL)

Since LVGL is often used with this screen, a demo sketch is the best way to confirm everything works. You will likely need to adjust the configuration for the TFT_eSPI library.

1. Configure TFT_eSPI:
   • Locate the TFT_eSPI library folder in your Arduino sketchbook directory (usually in Documents/Arduino/libraries/TFT_eSPI).
   • Open the User_Setup_Select.h file.
   • Comment out any existing #include <...> lines that select a configuration file.
   • Uncomment or add the line that corresponds to your board’s configuration. You might need to check the seller’s resources or GitHub for the exact custom file. A common configuration to start with (you may need to search for one specific to your seller) is one like:
     C++

     //#include <User_Setup.h> // Comment this out
     #include <User_Setup_Rotary_Knob_21_Round.h> // Placeholder - check seller's documentation!
     

   • If no specific configuration file is provided by the seller, you might need to manually set the display and knob pins in a custom User_Setup.h file.
2. Load the LVGL Demo:
   • A simple LVGL demo that shows a basic interface and responds to the rotary encoder is your best starting point. You will typically need to download an example project from the seller’s documentation/GitHub.
   • Example from Seller’s GitHub: Download the example code (often named LVGL_Arduino or similar) and open the main .ino file in the Arduino IDE.
3. Upload the Code:
   • Click the Upload button (right arrow icon) in the Arduino IDE.
   • If the upload fails: You may need to manually put the ESP32-S3 into Download Mode:
     1. Press and hold the BOOT button (sometimes labeled IO0).
     2. Momentarily press the RESET button (sometimes labeled EN).
     3. Release the BOOT button.
     4. Try the Upload again.

🎉 Step 4: Test and Interact

• After a successful upload, the screen should initialize and display a graphic user interface (GUI).
• Test the Rotary Knob: Rotate the knob clockwise and counter-clockwise to navigate menus or change values on the screen.
• Test the Push Button: Press the knob down (it acts as a button) to select an item or activate a function.

You are now ready to start developing your custom smart screen applications!