OpenBikeSensor presentation display

This repo contains code and parts (3D-printable and optionally lasercuttable) for a presentation display for the OpenBikeSensor.

The code is supposed to be built and flashed using platformio.

Variants

The display case can be built entirely 3D-Printed or with a case mostly made of lasercut plywood. Building the case and hardware is documented here.

Operation instructions

Power supply

• Power the device via the non-data USB-C connector. It works with the one on the ESP but running it that way long-time on high brighness will wreck the power circuitry of the ESP.
• The power supply should be USB-C PD capable or similar with at least 2A of permissible current draw at 5V, up to 3A in white text mode.
• If the power circuitry on the ESP module is shot, it can still be used - power needs to be supplied via the separate connector while flashing.

What do the buttons do

• Button 1 on GPIO 4
  • Pressed during boot/power up switches to the alternate color mode (rainbow/white) of the display.
  • Pressed during logo display switches between scrolling banner and static logo.
  • Pressed during distance display shows/hides the display content.
• Button 2 on GPIO 2
  • Pressed during boot/power up switches to the "text scroller" mode, skipping bluetooth and displaying a long string of text as a scroller instead. Meant for use during CriticalMass type events.
  • Pressed during operation increases brightness.
• Button 3 on GPIO 15 decreases Brightness.

Building and flashing the firmware

Open your shell in the root of this project (folder with platformio.ini).

Create virtual environment with platformio

• Create and activate a virtual environment and install platformio inside it (to avoid messing with your system environment):

  • macOS/Linux (bash):

    python3 -m venv .venv
    .venv/bin/python3 -m pip install platformio

  • Windows (PowerShell):

    py -m venv .venv
    .\.venv\Scripts\python -m pip install platformio

Build and flash the ESP32

Note

• Activate the virtual environment in each new terminal session before running pio commands.

  • macOS/Linux (bash):

    source .venv/bin/activate

  • Windows (PowerShell):

    .\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

• To deactivate when you’re done:

  deactivate

  or just close the terminal.

• Build the project:

  pio run

After connecting the ESP32 board to your computer:

• Flash to the connected board

  • If the led string starts at the top left:

    pio run --target upload -e topleft

  • If the LED string starts at the bottom right:

    pio run --target upload -e bottomright

• If needed for debugging or defvelopment: Monitor serial output:

  pio device monitor