Customer:
After using the new Inkplate 10 for a while, it starts to instantly get grainy after an update. Any idea?
Attachment omitted in migration: IMG_6443.jpeg
Originally submitted via the contact form on soldered.com on 2 March 2024. Migrated to the forum for community visibility.
Soldered Support:
To help diagnose this, could you please upload a picture showing the issue?
Attachment omitted in migration: image.png
Customer:
Here is the picture: https://imgur.com/a/uMFdWpQ After unplugging and replugging it a couple of times it now looks normal again. Not sure what that was.
I also have a broken Inkplate 10 v1 where the screen is probably still fine if it had a working power board. Can I send it back to you to recycle the screen for new inkplates?
Soldered Support:
That was eInk artifacts due to a wrong VCOM. VCOM is a negative voltage which changes the contrast of the ePaper. You can try different values for VCOM and see which one works best. Some Inkplate 10 models come with an ideal VCOM with a sticker on the back, but some don’t and you have to find them through experimentation.
Here’s how to change your Inkplate’s VCOM:
Open the sketch and change the variable EEPROMoffset to some other number, it’s on line 40. Then you can upload to Inkplate and then open Serial monitor at baud rate 115200.
You will be prompted to enter VCOM. Check if there is a number on the ePaper’s flat cable’s sticker (like -1.4). VCOM is usually from -1.0 to -2.5 or so. Give some values a try and see which makes the image look better for you. You will then be prompted to select the waveform too, but usually once you figure out the right one, just stick to that one as that one corresponds to the ePaper the best.
Setting the VCOM correctly will likely improve this eInk artifact in the future. After you upload your old firmware the VCOM you set will stay.
Regarding your broken Inkplate 10 v1: We have new versions of the Inkplate 10 board without the ePaper display available. You could technically use your old ePaper with this new board, but the tape adhesive which we use for it is quite strong so I’m not sure what’s the best way to take it off. I could make an inquiry for you if you’d like.
Attachment omitted in migration: factory programming vcom.zip