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ESP32 Handheld Game Console

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245 views17 pages

ESP32 Handheld Game Console

Uploaded by

zombiemodusalla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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instructables

ESP32 Handheld Game Console

by

This instructables show how to use a ESP32 and ATtiny861 to build a NES emulator game console.

https://youtu.be/VabwqIvGB6I

Step 1: Hardware Preparation

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 1


ES P 3 2 D e v B o a r d
This time I am using a TTGO T8 ESP32 dev board. This
board have built-in Lipo charging and regulating P i n He a d e r
circuit, it can help reduce the extra components. A 4 pins male round pin header and a 4 pins female
round pin header for connecting I2C gamepad.
Dis play
This time I am using a 2.4" IPS LCD. The driver P ET G P l a t e
controller is ST7789V and the resolution is 320 x 240. A small PET/PETG plate for supporting the dev board
This resolution is best t for NES emulator 252 x 224 and Lipo battery, you can easily nd it in product
resolution. packing.

Bat t ery Mul t i p l e P ur p o s e P C B


This time I am using a 454261 Lipo battery. 4.5 mm is 2 PCB required, 1 0.4 mm thick for supporting the
the thickness of ESP32 dev board, and 61 mm is the Display, 1 1.2 mm thick for a I2C gamepad.
width of the board.

B ut t o n s I2 C G a me p a d C o n t r o l l e r
A 5 directions button, 2 small buttons for Select and This time I use a ATtiny861 microcontroller as an I2C
Start and 2 for A and B button. gamepad controller.

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 2


Step 2: Software Preparation

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 3


A r d ui n o I D E rel="nofollow">https://github.com/SpenceKonde/ATTi
Download and install Arduino IDE if not yet: nyCore/blob/mas...
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
ES P - I D F
AT T i n y C o r e S up p o r t Follow the ESP-IDF get started guide to setup the
Follow the installation steps to add ATTinyCore development environment if not yet:
support if not yet: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/sta...

Step 3: 3D Printing

Download and print the case: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3591170

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 4


Step 4: LCD Support

Cut a 24 x 27 holes 0.4 mm PCB for LCD support. Remember reserve some space for folding LCD FPC. Then use some
double side adhesive tape x the LCD on the PCB.

Step 5: Prepare PETG Plate

Cut out a 62 mm x 69 mm PETG plate for dev board and Lipo battery support.

Step 6: Fix ESP32 Dev Board

Use double side adhesive tape to x dev board on the PETG plate.

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 5


Step 7: Fix Lipo Battery

Use double side adhesive tape to x Lipo battery besides the dev board.

Step 8: Connect Battery & Dev Board

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 6


Step 9: Prepare Display Pins

LCD display have many variation form di erent vendors. Please obtain the correct datasheet and read it before any
patch and connection.

Some pins are reserved for touch panel. Since this LCD do not have touch panel, simply cut out those pins can
reduce the disturbance.

Step 10: Connect GND Pins

In most case, there are few pins require connect to GND. To reduce soldering e ort, I cut a copper tape shape to
reach all the GND pins and then soldering altogether.

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 7


Step 11: Connect Vcc Pins

There are 2 pins required connect to Vcc, LCD power and LED power. According to data sheet, LCD power can direct
connect to dev board 3.3 V pin but LED power operate a little bit lower than 3.3 V. So it is better add a SMD resistor
in the middle, e.g. 12 Ohm resistor.

Step 12: Connect LCD & Dev Board Support

use tape connect LCD support and dev board support together. Both support should reserve around 5 mm gap for
folding.

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 8


Step 13: Connect SPI Pins

Here are the connection summary:

LCD ESP32
GND -> GND
RST -> GPIO 33
SCL -> GPIO 18
DC -> GPIO 27
CS -> GPIO 5
SDI -> GPIO 23
SDO -> not connected
Vcc -> 3.3 V
LED+ -> 12 Ohm resistor -> 3.3 V
LED- -> GND

Step 14: Flash Program

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 9


1. Download the source code at GitHub: https://github.com/moononournation/esp32-nesemu
2. Under source code folder, run "make menucon g"
3. Select "Nofrendo ESP32-speci c con guration"
4. Select "Hardware to run on" -> "Custom Hardware"
5. Select "LCD Type" -> "ST7789V LCD"
6. Fill pin settings: MISO -> -1, MOSI -> 23, CLK -> 18, CS -> 5, DC -> 27, RST -> 33, Backlight -> -1, IPS -> Y
7. Exit and Save
8. Run "make -j5 ash"
9. Run "sh ashrom.sh PATH_TO_YOUR_ROM_FILE"

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 10


Step 15: I2C Connector

Breakout the I2C pins, ESP32 default I2C pins are:

Pin 1 (SCL) -> GPIO 22


Pin 2 (SDA) -> GPIO 21
Pin 3 (Vcc) -> 3.3 V (no 5 V power while powered by Lipo battery)
Pin 4 (GND) -> GND

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 11


Step 16: Assembly Part 1

Follow the video steps to fold and squeeze all the parts into the case.

https://youtu.be/8VfJcM7wYEQ

Step 17: Prototype I2C Gamepad

The program for the I2C Gamepad is very simple, only 15 lines of code. But it is a little bit hard to reprogram the
ATtiny861 after soldering, so it is better test it on the breadboard rst.

Download, compile and ash the program from GitHub: https://github.com/moononournation/attiny861_i2c_...

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 12


Step 18: Build I2C Gamepad

Here are the connection Summary:

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 13


ATtiny861 Button
GND -> All buttons one pin
Pin 20 (PA0) -> Up button
Pin 19 (PA1) -> Down button
Pin 18 (PA2) -> Left button
Pin 17 (PA3) -> Right button
Pin 14 (PA4) -> Select button
Pin 13 (PA5) -> Start button
Pin 12 (PA6) -> A button
Pin 11 (PA7) -> B button
Pin 6 (GND) -> I2C male pin header pin 4
Pin 5 (Vcc) -> I2C male pin header pin 3
Pin 3 (SCL) -> I2C male pin header pin 1
Pin 1 (SDA) -> I2C male pin header pin 2

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 14


Step 19: Assembly Part 2

Follow the video steps to install the cover and the I2C gamepad to the main body.

https://youtu.be/mznu135IDrs

Step 20: Optional: Audio Breakout Pins

ESP32 dev board Pin 25 and 26 is outputting the analog audio signal, it is very easy to breakout the these 2 pins and
also power pins (3.3 V and GND) on the top. Then you can patch a earphone to plug on it. Or even you can add an
audio ampli er module with speaker to play it loud.

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 15


https://youtu.be/7ONQE77eoBk

Step 21: What's Next?

NES emulator is not the only interesting thing you can make with ESP32. E.g. you can build a micro python console
with it. The only component you need to change is from I2C gamepad to I2C keyboard. I think it is not so di cult to
make it with a ATtiny88 controller. You may follow my twitter to see the status.

Is this LCD Display good to use for the project?: https://www.displaymodule.com/products/dm-


tft24-333

It looks there is an additional integrated circuit.


A super project!!!!!!
it should be posted in the instructables contest
you will conform win the prize
Crazy that the ESP32 can run nofriendo, I feel like doing another NES project with it

Brilliant

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 16


Hi, how much did this cost to build approx? Thanks.

Neat

Very impressive! Well done

ESP32 Handheld Game Console: Page 17

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