Inkplate 6 panel not updating after ordering

TECHNICAL SUPPORT Inkplate
1

Customer:

I ordered the Inkplate 6 and was very happy with it, but when I experimented with it yesterday, the panel suddenly wouldn’t update anymore. The serial communication with ESP32 still works and so I tried to upload a program that just tried to clear the screen, but that didn’t work either. Today I measured some voltages on the circuit board and found out that the ESP32 still got the proper 3.3V on its input and the TPS65186 also got 4.7V on the input pin. The outputs of the TPS driver chip on the other hand only had small voltage levels above zero volts instead of the required +15V and -15V. So I think either the driver chip itself or one of its support components has failed.

Original message (German)

a while ago I ordered the Inkplate 6 and was very happy with it, but

when I experimented with it yesterday, the panel suddenly wouldn´t

update anymore. The serial communication with ESP32 still works and so I

tried to upload a program that just tried to clear the screen, but that

didn´t work either. Today I measured some voltages on the cirucuit board

and found out, that the ESP32 still got the proper 3,3V on its input and

the TPS65186 also got 4,7V on the input pin. The outputs of the TPS

driver chip on the other hand only had small voltage levels above zero

volts instead of the required +15V and -15V.

So I think either the driver chip itself or one of its support

components has failed, but I´m not able to replace such small

components. Is it possible for you to replace just the board assembly

without the panel or at least let me order the board assembly without

the panel?

Originally submitted via email support on 24 November 2020. Migrated to the forum for community visibility.

2

Soldered Support:

The TPS chip will only output voltage when it’s refreshing the screen. At all other times, the chip is powered off to save energy. If you want to measure its output, you should either measure while it’s refreshing (although that’s quite a short time) or turn on the TPS manually. Be careful while doing this, though. You can do it with these functions: Inkplate-Arduino-library/src/Inkplate.cpp at master · SolderedElectronics/Inkplate-Arduino-library · GitHub

Can you test this way to confirm that TPS is really dead?
Have you tried reconnecting the flex cable connector?

Are you using the latest library: GitHub - SolderedElectronics/Inkplate-Arduino-library: Inkplate family Arduino library. The easiest way to add e-paper to your project. · GitHub

3

Customer:

I tried it again and it worked. It apparently had something to do with my code or with the connector.

Original message (German)

i´m very grateful for your detailed help and fast reaction. Today
I tried it again and it worked. I´m very sorry for bothering you
with my mail and excuse my bad troubleshooting. Apparently it did
have something to do with my code or with the connector. Again I´m
very sorry for my mail and thank you for your much appreciated
help and the information about the driver being turned off for
saving power. I´m looking forward to great new products from you.