Interfacing Cameras and Displays with ESP32

In this chapter, we embark on an exciting journey of connecting cameras and displays to the ESP32 microcontroller. As we explore the features of ESP32 and the Arduino IDE, we will uncover the ability to capture and show visual information. This will enable us to create even more dynamic and interactive projects.

We will begin by familiarizing ourselves with the ESP32 camera module and its capabilities. We will explore how to program the ESP32 camera, enabling us to capture images. Additionally, we will delve into integrating a motion sensor with the ESP32 camera module and create a program that triggers image capture whenever motion is detected. This comprehensive approach will allow us to gain a thorough understanding of the ESP32 camera, program it effectively, and implement motion-based image capture functionality.

Following our exploration of the camera, we will shift our focus to display interfaces. We will discover the different...

Technical requirements

In this chapter, for the projects that require a camera, we will be using the ESP32-CAM board, which has a built-in camera and SD card support. Furthermore, we will use the ESP32 DevKit board and 16x2 LCD, SSD1306 organic light-emitting diode (OLED), ILI9341 TFT Touchscreen, and e-paper displays.

All the code files used in this chapter will be available at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Programming-ESP32-with-Arduino-IDE/tree/main/Chapter3.

Using the ESP32 camera module

The ESP32-CAM is a versatile and compact development board that combines an ESP32 microcontroller with a camera module, making it an ideal choice for projects involving image and video processing. This small yet powerful board offers a wide range of features, including built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which enable seamless communication with other devices. ESP32-CAM’s camera module boasts a resolution of up to 2 megapixels and supports various image formats, allowing for the capture of high-quality photos and videos. Additionally, it features a microSD card slot for local storage, making it suitable for applications that require data logging or recording. With its rich set of capabilities, ESP32-CAM is a popular choice for projects such as surveillance systems, remote monitoring, IoT applications, and even robotics. Its open source nature and extensive community support further enhance its appeal, providing developers with a vast array...

Interfacing displays with ESP32

Displays are beneficial for IoT projects involving ESP32 due to their ability to provide visual feedback and enhance user interaction. With displays, real-time sensor data, system status, and notifications can be easily conveyed, improving user experience. Additionally, displays enable the creation of intuitive user interfaces, allowing users to interact with the IoT system directly and access information conveniently.

In this section, we will discuss various display options that can be interfaced with ESP32 and cover the following topics:

16x2 LCD display
OLED display
TFT display with touch integration
E-paper display
Comparison of all the aforementioned displays

By the end of this section, you will have a solid understanding of how displays are interfaced with ESP32, and you will be able to select a suitable display for your next project.

Interfacing a 16x2 LCD with ESP32 using I2C

A 16x2 LCD with an I2C interface...

Comparison of displays

This section compares all the displays you have learned about in previous chapters and interfaced with ESP32. Table 3.4 will help you understand which display will fit your needs for a certain type of project. These displays are compared based on type, resolution, communication protocol, power consumption, price, and applications:

Summary

In this chapter, we explored the capabilities of the ESP32 microcontroller when it comes to connecting cameras and displays. We began by understanding the ESP32 camera module and its features. We learned how to program the ESP32 camera to capture images and integrate a motion sensor for triggering image capture based on motion detection.

Moving on to display interfaces, we discussed various types of display interfaces, such as SPI, I2C, and parallel. We examined popular display modules compatible with ESP32 and the options they offer for visual output. With this knowledge, we learned how to interface displays with ESP32, configure display pins and connections, and initialize the display module. We also delved into advanced display features such as touchscreen integration.

In the next chapter, we will take our first step toward IoT development with ESP32 by learning about network-based protocols.

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Published in: Jan 2024Publisher: PacktISBN-13: 9781837638031

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Author (1)

Asim Zulfiqar

Asim Zulfiqar is a blogger and tech content creator who has been writing tutorials on embedded systems and IoT on his blog and YouTube channel, High Voltages. Currently, he is working as a scientific programmer for IoT research projects. He completed his bachelor's degree in electronic engineering at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan. After that, he completed his Erasmus Mundus joint master's degree program in Photonics Integrated Circuits, Sensors, and Networks at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Italy), Aston University (U.K), and Osaka University (Japan).
Read more about Asim Zulfiqar

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Feature	16x2 LCD I2C	SSD1306 OLED I2C	ILI9341 TFT Touchscreen	2.9” E-Paper Display
Display Type	LCD	OLED	TFT	E-paper
Resolution	16x2	128x64	320x240	296x128
Communication Protocol	I2C...

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