Display a text on the SSD1306 display with ESP32

Purpose of this tutorial:

To display text on a SSD1306 OLED display using an ESP32, you would need to connect the display to the ESP32, and use a library specifically designed for the ESP32 and SSD1306 display.

The library provides functions to initialize the display, clear the screen, set the cursor position, and write text or graphics to the screen.

In this tutorial we will see how to display a text in an SSD1306 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.

SSD1306 display

The SSD1306 is a monochrome OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display that can be used to display text and graphics. It is a small, low-power display that can be easily integrated into a wide variety of projects.

The SSD1306 display is controlled using an I2C or SPI interface, which allows it to communicate with a microcontroller or microprocessor. It typically requires only a few connections to the microcontroller, such as Vcc, GND, SDA and SCL for I2C or SCK, MOSI, CS, DC and RST for SPI.

The SSD1306 display has a resolution of 128×64 pixels, and it can display text and graphics using a monochrome pixel format. The display has an integrated charge pump that allows it to operate at a voltage as low as 2.7V. This allows for low power consumption and makes it suitable for battery-powered projects.

The SSD1306 display can be controlled using a variety of libraries that are available for different 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 SSD1306 display in your projects.

The libraries typically provide functions for initializing the display, clearing the display, setting the cursor position, and writing text or graphics to the display. They also provide functions for controlling the display’s contrast and brightness.

Overall, the SSD1306 display is a versatile and low-power display that can be easily integrated into a wide variety of projects. It is a popular choice for creating small, portable, and battery-powered devices such as digital clocks, temperature displays, and other small graphic displays.

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, you must connect:

• the SDA pin of the SSD1306 display to pin D21 of the ESP32 card

• the SCL pin of the SSD1306 display to the D22 pin of the ESP32 card

• the GND pin of the SSD1306 display to the GND pin of the ESP32 card

• the VCC pin of the SSD1306 display to the 3.3V pin of the ESP32 card

Micropython program

Here is the program that displays a text on the SSD1306 display:

Note: the following library must be imported: ssd1306