Display a number on TM1637 display with ESP32

The TM1637 display is a 4-digit, 7-segment LED display that can be used to display numerical values, and the ESP32 is a microcontroller with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, which can be programmed using the Arduino IDE.

To use the TM1637 display with an ESP32, you will need to connect the display to the ESP32 according to the wiring diagram provided by the library.

Typically, the TM1637 display requires two data lines to communicate with the ESP32, one for the clock signal (CLK) and one for the data signal (DIO). The ESP32 can then send commands to the display over these lines to control the display.

Once the display is connected to the ESP32, you can use a library such as the TM1637 library for Micropython, which provides a set of functions for controlling the display.

The library provides functions for initializing the display, displaying numbers and characters, and controlling the brightness. You can also use the library to control the display’s colon and the display’s dot.

Purpose of this tutorial:

In this tutorial we will see how to display the number 10 on the TM1637 display with the ESP32 card.

Necessary components

ESP32

The ESP32 is a low-cost, low-power microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. It is a popular choice for IoT projects and is commonly used for a variety of applications such as home automation, wireless control, and sensor data logging. The ESP32 features a dual-core processor, a rich set of peripherals, and support for a wide range of protocols. It can be programmed using the Arduino IDE and various other programming languages such as C, C++, and MicroPython.

Additionally, the ESP32 has a wide range of features including:

• A high-performance processor with a clock speed of up to 240 MHz
• Support for various types of wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
• Multiple communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, and I2S
• A large number of GPIO pins to connect to external devices and sensors
• A built-in security module for secure communication

The ESP32 is often used in projects where a low-cost, low-power device with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities is needed, and it is commonly used with other sensors and devices to build IoT projects, home automation systems, wireless control systems, and data logging systems.

TM1637 display

The TM1637 display is a 4-digit, 7-segment LED display that can be used to display numerical values and simple characters. It is a common-cathode display, which means that all the LED segments share a common cathode terminal.

The TM1637 display typically requires two data lines to communicate with a microcontroller, one for the clock signal (CLK) and one for the data signal (DIO). The microcontroller can then send commands to the display over these lines to control the display.

The TM1637 display is controlled using a serial protocol, which allows multiple displays to be daisy-chained together. This means that several displays can be controlled using a single set of data and clock lines.

The TM1637 display has a built-in LED driver that can control the brightness of the display. The brightness can be adjusted using the built-in commands.

The TM1637 display also has a built-in function to control the colon and dot of the display. This feature can be used to create a clock display, for example.

The TM1637 display is a low-cost and low power consumption display, which makes it a popular choice for a variety of projects, such as digital clocks, counters, temperature displays, etc.

There are different libraries available for different microcontroller platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, etc. These libraries provide a set of functions for controlling the display and make it easy to use the TM1637 display in your projects.

Connecting wires

Connecting wires refers to the process of physically connecting wires or cables to a device or circuit in order to establish an electrical connection. This can be done by using various connectors such as plugs, sockets, or terminal blocks. The wires are typically color-coded to indicate their function, such as red for power, black for ground, and yellow for signals.

Test plate 

A test plate is a type of circuit board that is used to test electronic components. It typically consists of a flat board made of a non-conductive material, such as plastic or fiberglass, with a number of holes or pads that are used to connect electronic components. The test plate allows you to connect electronic components and test them easily.

Mounting

To perform the assembly, we connect:

• the VCC pin of the display to the 3.3V terminal of the ESP32 board

• the GND pin of the display to the GND terminal of the ESP32 board

• the DIO pin of the display to pin D4 of the ESP32 card

• the CLK pin of the display to pin D2 of the ESP32 board

Micropython program

Note: the following library must be imported: tm1637