Connect 1.69" round Spectra 6 E-Paper to any MCU with the DESPI-0169ED adapter board. 32-pin FPC to SPI breakout, integrated one-key boost driver, on-board power measurement, and ready-to-run ESP32 firmware.
Spectra 6 · 32-Pin Single FPC · Integrated Boost Driver
DESPI-0169ED 1.69" Round E-Paper Adapter Board
Connect a 1.69-inch round Spectra 6 E-Paper to any MCU board and simplify driver development. Converts a 32-pin single FPC to a standard SPI bus, integrates a one-key boost driver for stable VGH/VGL, and adds on-board power measurement points — built for round smart devices and wearable prototypes.
An integrated boost circuit delivers stable VGH/VGL driving voltages, with dedicated test points (VGH / VGL / TVC / FVC) for power-up validation and waveform debugging.
One-Key Boost VGH / VGL Stable 4 Test Points
Standard Interface Conversion
Converts the 32-pin FPC into a standard SPI bus (SCLK, SDI, CS, DC) and breaks out BUSY / RES signals, so the display plugs straight into common MCU development boards.
SPI 4-Wire BUSY / RES Exposed 8 Pins
Debugging & Power Analysis
On-board power monitoring tracks real-time current during refresh cycles for precise energy evaluation. Cascade and expansion are supported through the CSB2 / MS pins.
Real-Time Current CSB2 / MS Cascade
Technical Specifications
Model
DESPI-0169ED
Board Dimensions
37.43 × 22.33 mm
Display Connector
32-Pin, 0.5 mm Single FPC (Plug-in)
Operating Voltage
3.3 V
Temperature Range
0°C ~ 50°C
Host Interface
SPI (SCLK / SDI / CS / DC)
Control Signals
BUSY, RES
Supported Display
GDEH0169E02 (Spectra 6)
Display Size
1.69 inch, Round
Resolution
400 × 400
PPI
236
Display Colors
Black / White / Red / Yellow / Blue / Green
Extra Features
Power measurement, one-key boost
Expansion
CSB2 / MS cascade
Pin Function Description
DESPI-0169ED physical interface diagram: the left side is pin headers for connecting to the main control board, and the right side is the e-paper FPC connector socket.
BUSY
E-Paper busy signal; low indicates busy
RES
E-Paper reset signal; active low
DC
Data / Command select; high for data, low for command
CS
Chip select 1; active low
SCLK
SPI clock signal
SDI
SPI data signal (MOSI)
GND
Power ground
3V3
Power positive (3.3 V)
Platform Compatibility
ESP32 Platform
We provide ready-to-run ESP32 firmware and example projects. The board connects directly to the ESP32 SPI bus, making driver development quick and simple.
Note: For other platforms (STM32, Arduino, etc.), official firmware is not provided. Customers need to develop their own driver or use flying wires for connection.
Typical Applications
01
Round Smart Devices
The 400×400 circular active area makes the board ideal for round smart home controllers, desk clocks and interactive knobs.
02
Wearable Prototypes
Bi-stable, reflective Spectra 6 imaging keeps the display readable without power — perfect for low-power wearable concepts and smart badges.
03
Instrument Dial Panels
Six-color circular graphics suit gauges, meters and status dials where a conventional rectangular LCD does not fit the enclosure.
04
Driver Development & Evaluation
On-board test points and power measurement let engineers validate waveforms and refresh energy before committing to a custom PCB.
Why DESPI-0169ED Shortens Your Development Cycle
No External Boost Design
The one-key boost circuit generates the required VGH/VGL rails on board, removing the need to design and tune a discrete boost stage before you can light up the panel.
Plug-and-Play SPI Breakout
The 32-pin FPC is broken out into familiar SCLK / SDI / CS / DC plus BUSY and RES, so existing SPI driver code ports over with minimal changes.
Measurable Power Budget
Dedicated measurement points let you profile real refresh current instead of estimating it, which is critical for battery-powered round devices.
Feature
Discrete / DIY Wiring
DESPI-0169ED
Boost / Driving Voltage
External boost module and hand wiring
On-board, one-key VGH / VGL
Interface
32-pin FPC needs a custom breakout
Standard SPI + BUSY / RES
Power Debugging
Requires series multimeter or shunt
On-board measurement points
Test Points
None
VGH / VGL / TVC / FVC
Expansion
Redesign the carrier board
CSB2 / MS cascade pins
Time to First Image
Days of board bring-up
Minutes — connect and drive
About Us
Thank you for your interest in the DESPI-0169ED adapter board. We can supply the matching 1.69-inch round Spectra 6 display and other accessories. For more information, please visit www.good-display.com.
