esp32-cam tft display in stock

This ESP32-CAM Project covers how to use ESP32-CAM with a TFT display to show the picture captured by the cam. We have covered several times how to use ESP32-CAM in different projects and we have described how to use ESP32-CAM in Machine Learning projects. Even if we can use ESP32-CAM with a Web server to show pictures, in this post we want to cover how to show a picture on a TFT screen (ST7735). Therefore, we would like to visualize the picture taken by the ESP32-CAM directly on the display. In this case, we use an ST7735s display, anyway, you can select a different TFT if you like.

You should already know how to take a picture using an ESP32-CAM therefore we will focus on two aspects only:How to connect the ESP32-CAM to TFT display

This is the most interesting part because here we will show the picture taken by the ESP32-CAM on the TFT display. To do it, we will use the TJpg_Decoder library because it simplifies our work. First of all, we use a low-resolution such as 120×160 so that the picture fits in the TFT.

defining the scale and the callback method used to render the picture:bool tft_output(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint16_t w, uint16_t h, uint16_t* bitmap){

At the end of this tutorial, you have learned how to use ESP32-CAM with TFT display. In this project we have integrated ESP32-CAM with ST7735 to show the image captured. We have build a simple camera machine using ESP32-CAM.

// NB. I am using the Arduino IDE v1.8.19,// and the ESP32 software from "https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32", BUT the ESP32 software version downloaded on 28May21.// (Note that the version as at now (19Aug22) seems to have a bug in it that stops the camera giving a valid photo.)// I am using Board="AI Thinker ESP32-CAM"#include "FS.h"#include #include #include     // https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-GFX-Library#include // https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_ILI9341#include     // https://github.com/Bodmer/TJpg_Decoder#include "esp_camera.h"#define CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER // Has PSRAM#include "camera_pins.h"#define BLOCK_SERIAL // comment-out to use GPIO-1 & GPIO-3 for Serial-output instead (useful for debugging Camera & TFT)#ifdef BLOCK_SERIAL#define Serial tft#define SD_CS 1     // via 1k for safety#define SWITCH_PIN 3 // via 1k for safety#else// GPIO-1 is ESP32-Tx// GPIO-3 is ESP32-Rx#endif#define RED_LED 33#define SPI_MOSI 13#define SPI_MISO 12#define SPI_CLK 14#define TFT_DC   2 // Data Command control pin#define TFT_CS  15 // Chip select control pin#define TFT_RST -1 // or can connect to GPIO-16 via 1k for safety (but GPIO also used for the PSRAM)SPIClass MySPI(HSPI); // Declare an HSPI bus object (to use or BOTH TFT and SD-card)Adafruit_ILI9341 tft = Adafruit_ILI9341(&MySPI, TFT_DC, TFT_CS, TFT_RST);// Adafruit_ILI9341 tft = Adafruit_ILI9341(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, SPI_MOSI, SPI_CLK, TFT_RST,SPI_MISO);#define TFT_ROTATION 0 // 0 to 3boolean camera_ok;// ******************************************************************************************void setup() { // ***************************************************************************tft.begin();tft.setRotation(TFT_ROTATION);tft_clear();tft.println("Hello World");#ifdef RED_LEDpinMode(RED_LED, OUTPUT);LED_flash(2);#endif#ifdef BLOCK_SERIAL#ifdef SWITCH_PINpinMode(SWITCH_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);#endif#ifdef SD_CSSerial.print("SDcard: ");boolean success=SD.begin(SD_CS,MySPI);if (success) {Serial.println("OK");} // works!else {Serial.println("Fail: check formatted SD-card is in!"); return;} // dont do the rest of setup()!#endif#elseSerial.begin(115200);Serial.println("ESP32-CAM WITHOUT SD-Card");#endifcamera_ok=camera_init();TJpgDec.setJpgScale(1);TJpgDec.setCallback(tft_output); // "tft_output" is passed to the decoderSerial.print("\nRunning ");if (camera_ok) Serial.println("OK"); else Serial.println("but without Camera");delay(5000);} // end of setup() // **********************************************************************// ******************************************************************************************// ******************************************************************************************void loop() { // ****************************************************************************#define photo_count_max 12 // 0 to 11static int photo_next_free=photo_count_max; // 0=none, -1=none-already-reported // set to "photo_count_max" on boot so will count number of photos!#ifdef SWITCH_PINboolean push_switch=!digitalRead(SWITCH_PIN);if (push_switch) {tft_clear();Serial.println("Release for photo OR");Serial.println("Hold 3s = delete ALL");int x;for (x=0;x<12;x++) {delay(250); if (digitalRead(SWITCH_PIN)) break;} // allow for switch bounceif (x==12) {push_switch=false; sd_wipe_all(); photo_next_free=0;}}#elsedelay(5000);boolean push_switch=true;#endifif (push_switch) photo_next_free=take_picture(photo_next_free);else if (photo_next_free>0) {photo_next_free=sd_load_and_display(photo_next_free);} // NEXT-EMPTY photo-countelse if (photo_next_free==0) {photo_next_free=-1; tft_clear(); Serial.println("No photos!");} // only report once} // end of loop() // ***********************************************************************// ******************************************************************************************#ifdef RED_LEDvoid LED_flash(int count) {count*=2;boolean state=LOW; // LOW is ONwhile (count--) {digitalWrite(RED_LED,state); state=!state; delay(1000);}}#endif// ******************************************************************************************#if ((TFT_ROTATION&B1)==1)#define tft_text_row 0#else#define tft_text_row 260 // 240x320#endifvoid tft_top() {tft.setCursor(0,0);}void tft_text() {tft.setCursor(0,tft_text_row);}void tft_clear() {tft.fillScreen(ILI9341_BLACK);tft.setCursor(0,0); // toptft.setTextColor(ILI9341_WHITE);tft.setTextSize(2); // 1 to 5 // was 4}boolean tft_output(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint16_t w, uint16_t h, uint16_t* bitmap) {if (y>=tft.height()) return false;tft.drawRGBBitmap(x, y, bitmap, w, h);return true;}// ******************************************************************************************char* sd_build_file_name(int photo) {if (photo>999) photo=999;static char text[]="/photoXXX.jpg";snprintf(text+6,3+1,"%d",photo);char *p1=text+strlen(text);strcpy(p1,".jpg");return text;}void sd_wipe_all() {tft_clear();Serial.println("Deleting photos:");boolean found=false;fs::FS &fs = SD;for (int x=(photo_count_max-1);x>=0;x--) {char *path=sd_build_file_name(x);boolean success=fs.remove(path);if (success) found=true;if (found) {Serial.print(path+1); Serial.print("->");if (success) Serial.println("Deleted"); else Serial.println("Failed");} }if (!found) Serial.println("No photos to delete!");delay(5000);}int sd_load_and_display(int photo_next) { // returns NEXT_EMPTY_photo_count (ie. 0 if no photos)#ifdef BLOCK_SERIALif ((photo_next<0) or (photo_next>=photo_count_max)) photo_next=0;int first_blank=photo_count_max;for (int y=0;y=(photo_count_max-1)) photo_next=0; else photo_next++; // next photo}return first_blank; // NEXT_EMPTY photo_count (0 if empty, photo_count_max if full)#elseSerial.println("Can"t use SD-Card as uses GPIO-1");return 0;#endif}// ******************************************************************************************boolean camera_init() {camera_config_t config;config.ledc_channel = LEDC_CHANNEL_0;config.ledc_timer = LEDC_TIMER_0;config.pin_d0 = Y2_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d1 = Y3_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d2 = Y4_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d3 = Y5_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d4 = Y6_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d5 = Y7_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d6 = Y8_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_d7 = Y9_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_xclk = XCLK_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_pclk = PCLK_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_vsync = VSYNC_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_href = HREF_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_sscb_sda = SIOD_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_sscb_scl = SIOC_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_pwdn = PWDN_GPIO_NUM;config.pin_reset = RESET_GPIO_NUM;config.xclk_freq_hz = 20000000;config.pixel_format = PIXFORMAT_JPEG;Serial.print("PSRAM: ");if (psramFound()){ // larger buferSerial.println("OK");config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_QVGA;config.jpeg_quality = 10;config.fb_count = 1;} else { // smaller bufferSerial.println("FAILED");config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_QQVGA;config.jpeg_quality = 12;config.fb_count = 1;}esp_err_t camera_status;for (int x=0;x<2;x++) { // try twice as sometimes get error 0x20004delay(2000);camera_status = esp_camera_init(&config);Serial.print("Camera init: ");if (camera_status!=ESP_OK) {Serial.print("failed with error 0x"); Serial.println(camera_status,HEX);}else {Serial.println("OK"); break;}}if (camera_status!=ESP_OK) return false; // exitsensor_t *sensor = esp_camera_sensor_get();if (sensor->id.PID == OV3660_PID) Serial.println("*** WARNING: Old-PID Sensor Detected - need to adjust settings ***");return true;}int take_picture(int photo_next) {int photo_try=photo_next;if ((photo_try<0) or (photo_try>=photo_count_max)) photo_try=0;boolean success=false;Serial.print("Taking photo...");#ifndef BLOCK_SERIALtft_clear();tft.println("Taking photo...");#endifdelay(1000);camera_fb_t * fb=nullptr;fb = esp_camera_fb_get();if (!fb) Serial.println("Fail?\nTry rebooting!");else {Serial.println();char *path=sd_build_file_name(photo_try);#ifdef BLOCK_SERIALfs::FS &fs = SD;File file = fs.open(path, FILE_WRITE); // will overwrite any existing file!!if (file) {file.write(fb->buf, fb->len);photo_try++; photo_next=photo_try; // can give "photo_count_max" and return this to calling sub!success=true;}file.close();#elsesuccess=true;#endifuint16_t w=0, h=0;TJpgDec.getJpgSize(&w, &h, fb->buf, fb->len);TJpgDec.drawJpg(0, 0, fb->buf, fb->len); // Display photo#if (tft_text_row==0)delay(5000); // bodge#endifif (success) tft_text();#ifdef BLOCK_SERIAL // ensure following photo is deleted (so on re-start we know where to start)!Serial.print(path+1);Serial.print("->");if (success) {Serial.println("Saved"); char *path=sd_build_file_name(photo_next); fs.remove(path);} else Serial.println("Fail");#elsetft.print(path+1);tft.println("->No Save");#endif}delay(5000);return photo_next;}

For this tutorial I’ve used an ESP32 -CAM, a 1.8″ TFT screen, an 18650 USB powerbank and a 3D printed case to make a selfie camera that automatically takes a photo when it sees a person’s face. The project has a lot of steps but is fairly simple. You can make it version without having a 3D printer.

Before uploading the code a few things need to be set up in the Arduino IDE. If this is your first time with the ESP32-CAM in the Arduino IDE you need to set up the ESP32 hardware libraries, learn to connect and test by following this tutorial ESP32-CAM in the Arduino IDE

There’s three libraries that need to be installed. The TFT_eSPI can easily be installed from the IDE library manager (Tools > Manage Libraries) by searching for TFT_eSPI. The TFT_eFEX and ESPAsyncWebserver libraries need to be installed by downloading the libraries using the the ‘Download ZIP’ link and in the IDE installing them with Sketch > Include Library > Add .ZIP Library.

The TFT_eSPI library needs to be configured to work with the ST7735S TFT panel. Copy the contents of the User_Setup.h file into the newly installed library file User_Setup.h file found in Documents > Arduino > libraries > TFT_eSPI. If you find the image quality is poor you can try other xxxxTAB versions. These refer to the colours of the tab on the screen protector but don’t match 100%.

The project only needs a few components. An ESP32-CAM, a 1.8″ ST7735S TFT screen, 10 male to male dupont cables, a USB powerbank, one 18650 battery and a spare USB cable or terminal block.

The project is wired as below. You need to connect two dupont cables to one connector so you can use 3v on the ESP32 to power the LED and VCC pins on the display.

Optionally there are two extra parts to print. A clip that holds the ESP32-CAM in place and a diffuser for the flash. The diffuser should be printed using a transparent filament.

Below is a quick video showing the the selfie capture sequence, starting with the face being detected, the flash lighting up, the photo being taken and finally the photo being displayed from the ESP32 SPIFFS storage:

A beautiful 3.5 inch touchscreen display, based on ESP32-WROVER, with built-in 2M pixel OV2640 camera, which makes it an ever perfect platform for your ESP32 projects.

Makerfabs ESP32 3.5 inch Touch with camera is absolutely open for makers, and besides, Makerfabs provide plenty of Demos to help the users on the usage. Have a try at this fantastic display in your next ESP32 project!~

This module is the 3.2” version of the ESP32 touchscreen display, based on ESP32-WROVER, with a built-in 2M pixel OV2640 camera. The LCD is 320x240 TFT, with driver is ILI9341, it uses SPI for communication with ESP32, the SPI main clock could be up to 60M~80M, make the display smooth enough for videos; and the camera OV2640 with pixel 2M, with this camera, you can make applications such as remote photography, face recognition…

While the camera not used, you can freely use all these pins with the breakout connectors, to connect the ESP32 display with sensors/ actuators, suitable for IoT applications.

I"ve used our AZ-Touch MOD kit for ESP32 as hardware plattform. This kit comes with a 2.4 or 2.8 inch tft touchscreen. The demo will work with both screen sizes, but of course it makes more sense to use the bigger 2.8 inch screen in this application.

Please install the CameraWebServer example on the ESP32-cam which comes with the Arduino IDE. It"s important to choose "ESP Wrover Module" as board and "Huge APP..." as partition scheme:

In this project, we will make few some interesting projects using ESP32 & 3.5″ TFT Touch Screen Display Camera. The customized board is manufacture by Makerfabs and has a combination of ESP32-WROVER chip + 3.5″ TFT Display + 2 MP OV2640 Camera + SD Card slot. With this cutomized board you can make plenty of ESP32 Based project.

But before you start doing these projects, you can read the previous article, i.e ESP32 Video Game. The ESP32 Video game is built using the same ESP32 TFT Touch Screen Display Camera.

This is a beautiful 3.5” touchscreen display, based on ESP32-WROVER chip, with a built-in 2M pixel OV2640 camera. The combination of all these gives a perfect platform for ESP32 Application like Video Games.

The TFT LCD driver is basically ILI9488 & has a dimension of 3.5″ with 320x480 screen resolution. The ILI9488 LCD uses SPI for communication with the ESP32 chip. The SPI main clock could be up to 60M~80M, make the display smooth enough for videos. The camera module on this board is an OV2640 Camera with a 2MP resolution.

with this camera, you can make applications such as remote photography, face recognition & security system projects. While the camera is not used, you can freely use all these pins with the breakout connectors. You can then connect the ESP32 display with sensors or modules & use it for any IoT applications. The ESP32 chip support Arduino or MicroPython programming

There are two versions of ESP32 3.5″ TFT Touch Screen with Camera. One is the Capacitive Type and the other the resistive type. You can use any of the display that you want. The purchase Link for both the display is given below.

LovyanGFX Library is a library for LCD Graphics driver with touch for ESP32 and SAMD51. It supports the TFT Touch Screen Display like ILI9163, ILI9342, ILI9341, ILI9486, ILI9488, ST7735, ST7789, ST7796, SSD1351. Download and add this library to the Arduino IDE.

The ESP32 Touch Camera use ILI9488 TFT Touch Display, which comes with resistive or capacitive screens. It has an OV2640 camera and SD card slot. It can be used as a webcam or an electronic album or a digital camera.

But in this project, we will use the product as a Touch Screen Camera. You can take photos with an OV2640 camera and preview them in real-time on a TFT screen. And then, you can save photos to the SD card in BMP Format. The photos that were taken can be later viewed through the TFT screen.

Since the embedded board has the 3.5″ Capacitive/Resistive TFT Touch Screen LCD Based on ILI9488, you can use it for painting or drawing applications. You can use your hand or stylus (resistance screen) to draw on the screen.

Unzip the code folder and then open the touch_draw_v2.ino file. The Arduino IDE will open with so many different tabs. Select/Comment/Uncomment the Capacitive or Resistive type Touch Screen Display in the code. And then you can upload the code to the ESP32 Dev Board.

After you upload the code, the TFT Display will start displaying the Dashboard with color selection on the side. You can choose any color and start drawing anything that you want.

Apart from taking pictures and drawing, you can use this ESP32 Touchscreen Display as a Slide Show Viewer. For this choose few pictures with resolution 480x320 and rename them as number 1, 2, 3, 4, ……, n. The Picture should be in.bmp format. The jpeg and png formats are not supported.

Unzip the code folder and then open the SD2TFT.ino file. The Arduino IDE will open with so many different tabs. You can now compile the code & upload the code to the ESP32 Dev Board. Such a cool ESP32 TFT Touch Screen Projects.

You can make more ESP32 TFT Display Projects using the same module. Thus ESP32 Touch Camera can be used in many application from gaming to drawing or imaging.

In this project we will develop an AI Camera using Google Vision API & ESP32 CAM Module. This is basically detailed testing of Google Vision API with ESP32 Camera for the applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The developedAI camera can detect objects in the frame captured and displays the frame as well as detected labels on the TFT LCD Screen.

The project requires some time and patience as a lot of steps are involved in it. We will write the Arduino Code for ESP32 CAM Module and add some libraries like TFT Library, JSON Library & Decoder Library. The next process involves setting up Google Vision API & NodeJS installation with some settings required for GCP. All the hardware setup along with Arduino & NodeJS code is fully explained in this article. Thus developing a homemade AI Camera using Google Vision & ESP32 CAM Module would be easy.

In order to program the ESP32 CAM Module, you can use the above schematic. But the schematic for the project Google Vision API with ESP32 Camera is a little different. We have used the ILI9341 2.8″ TFT LCD Display so that the display will be used for displaying the captured image. Here is the connection diagram for the project.

Here we have explained the whole workflow, from how the object is detected to displaying labels on the screen. We are having our ESP32 CAM module which captures the image of the environment or the object and then sends it to the TFT screen using SPI protocol so that the image is displayed on the screen.

The NodeJS server sends the image to the Vision AI API. But to interact with the API it needs some authentication which is done using the Authentication ID. Once the frame is sent, the API returns the labels to the server, and from the server, these labels are sent to the ESP-CAM and from there, labels are displayed on TFT-Screen.

Now in order to the use TFT screen and read the data from the server we require a few libraries which can be installed using the Arduino library manager. To open Library manager press Ctrl+shift+I, it might take a few seconds to open according to the system specifications. Now in the search bar type the name of libraries and install them.

The TFT display is a kind of LCD that is connected to each pixel using a transistor and it features low current consumption, high-quality, high-resolution and backlight. This 2.8-inch full color LCD has a narrow PCB display. The resolution is 320×280 pixels and it has a four-wire SPI interface and white backlight.

I have an ESP32-CAM AI Thinker board with an OV2640 image sensor and an ST7789 240x240 TFT LCD (SPI, but without a CS pin). I am trying to get a relatively good frame rate (30+ fps) on the TFT. I am simply capturing images and pushing the images to the screen.