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ESP32 Hanover Flip-dot Sign Controller

PCB Top Render

This controller directly controls Hanover Displays Ltd. dot-boards CMOS logic hardware directly through the parallel 14-pin ribbon cable, without the Hanover 7070 or 7080 processor board.

Design Considerations

This controller's design is based on Damien Walsh's work on Hanover flip-dot signs, with only layout changes targeting PCB fabrication and assembly services.

The following considerations went into the PCB schematic and layout:

  • SMT components used where possible
  • All components are only on the top side of the PCB
  • The ESP32-PICO-D4 SIP is used instead of a separate ESP32 module
  • PCB size minimized to increase savings with panelization
  • All board enable lines are connected to support up to 4 parallel dot-boards
  • Generous use of ground stitching vias

PCBA Notes

Time/Money Saving

I strongly suggest removing the following items from the PCBA BoM, as they are generic 2.54mm through-hole parts and can be easily sourced at a local dealer:

  • J2: CONN HEADER R/A 14POS 2.54MM
  • J3: DIP Black Male Header VERT

Dot-board Ribbon Cable

J2 is specified as a 2x7 pin 2.54mm pitch shrouded header for IDC cables, so a matching 2x7 pin 2.54mm pitch IDC connector must be retrofitted on the original Hanover dot-board ribbon cable.

The original Hanover cable is a Lumberg Micromodul series MICA 14 connector which mates to a corresponding MICS 14 header. As the Lumberg Micromodul parts are much harder to source (with the bottom line being that they cost more) and requires a custom footprint on the PCB, a jellybean part solution was preferred.

Bill of Materials

The BOM CSV provided uses Seeed Studio OPL SKUs for jellybean parts as I have a personal preference for Seeed Studio's Fusion PCBA service. If using other PCBA services, please substitute the Seeed OPL SKUs accordingly.

Firmware

Reference ESP32 Arduino framework firmware source is available at ndoo/esp32-hanover-flipdot-firmware

ESP32 GPIO mapping

  • Enable Display 1 - GPIO 15
  • Enable Display 2 - GPIO 13
  • Enable Display 3 - GPIO 12
  • Enable Display 4 - GPIO 14
  • Column Advance - GPIO 27
  • Reset - GPIO 26
  • Set/Unset - GPIO 25
  • Row Advance - GPIO 33
  • Coil Pulse - GPIO 2
  • LED 1 - GPIO 23
  • LED 2 - GPIO 19
  • LED 3 - GPIO 22