Hardware design
Inkplate 6COLOR is an open-source product, and we are happy to share an overview of its hardware design. On the following pages, you'll find schematics, KiCad design files, and other technical details related to the hardware. Whether you're looking to modify, troubleshoot, or simply understand the inner workings of Inkplate, this section has everything you need.
Basic overview
The Inkplate 6COLOR features a 5.8″ e-paper display, USB-C connectivity for both power and programming, abundant GPIO pins with I2C, SPI, and Qwiic header, on‑board ESP32–driven Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, CH340C USB‑to‑UART bridging, microSD expansion, and TI-based power management (battery charging and temperature sensing) — all in a form factor primed for custom enclosures.
Components
Here is an overview of on‑board components with their locations:
E-paper panel
The AC057TC1 is a 5.65-inch e-paper display panel from E Ink Holdings Inc. This model is without a frontlight or touchscreen, making it ideal for low-power, high-contrast applications such as e-book readers.
It features a 600 × 488 resolution (132 DPI), reflective matte treatment, and can display 7 colors: Black, White, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Orange. The display operates in a 15°C to 35°C temperature range and can be stored in temperatures as low as -25°C.
The inclusion of colors comes at the cost of the screen refresh time, which takes 12 seconds
See the table below for detailed specifications:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | E Ink |
| Model Number | AC057TC1 |
| Diagonal Size | 5.65 inches |
| Resolution | 600 x 488 pixels (132 DPI) |
| Pixel Format | Square |
| Active Area | 191.5 x 191.5 um |
| Outline Dimensions | 125.4(H) x 99.5(V) x 0.91(D) mm |
| Touchscreen | No (this version has no touchscreen) |
| Backlight | No backlight, no driver |
| Interface | Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) |
| Voltage Supply | 3.3V (Typ.) |
| Operating Temperature | 15°C to 35°C |
| Storage Temperature | -25°C to 60°C |