CL-32 Is a Trendy Pocket-Sized, E Ink-Based mostly Laptop Powered by an ESP32-S3 — with a Retro Fashion

After making a collection of ingenious Pi Zero-based pocket gadgets, Peter Barker (AKA moosepr) ventured on to a brand new, lower-power undertaking. The result’s the CL-32, a hanging pocket-sized pc that options an ESP32-S3 SoC, E Ink show, and GPIO port for expansions.

Beforehand, Barker created the Pi0cket, a tiny gaming system simply barely bigger than a Raspberry Pi 0. The CL-32 follows a computer-based undertaking known as Pi0CKET—Clicker, minus the Pi 0.

CL-32’s look takes design cues from pocket computer systems of the Eighties. These gadgets usually ran a BASIC dialect and had a single-line LCD. Regardless of these usability challenges, many individuals used to have such a strong pc of their pocket.

As an alternative of an LCD, CL-32 encompasses a comparatively giant E Ink show that may comfortably show 38 traces with 15 characters every. The E Ink show provides a number of benefits over conventional LCDs, together with decrease energy consumption, higher readability in direct daylight, and the flexibility to take care of the displayed picture (or textual content) whereas unpowered.

Under the display is a 72-key keyboard. Barker remains to be finalizing the keyboard design. At the moment, there are two designs to contemplate. One is extra typical, with a QWERTY-style enter space and a 9-digit keypad on the suitable. That structure would possibly evolve into one thing else as Barker learns extra about utilizing the system.

The microcontroller is an ESP32-S3 module. The S3 is a dual-core XTensa working at 240 MHz with 512 kilobytes of inner SRAM. The module options 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 with BLE help. It sits on the again of the PCB with a micro SD card socket, USB Kind-C connector, battery posts, and different gadgets.

A sunk-in part subsequent to the E Ink show is the CL-32’s enlargement port. It incorporates 16 GPIOs, Energy, and GND organized uniquely. The sockets are low-profile “backside entry” headers on the again of the PCB. Header pins join by means of holes from the highest facet. This kind issue means the easy-to-damage pins are on the cheap add-on board, and the structure of the headers means the board can solely connect in a single route. Barker admits this selection creates one other add-on kind issue, however the intention is to make CL-32 extra sturdy in instructional environments.

The off-the-shelf BP-4L LiPo has a capability ranking within the 1200 to 1500 mAh vary. With this battery, Barker estimates that the CL-32 might present days of coding enjoyable for its consumer.

One side that’s unclear concerning the CL-32 is what runs on the ESP32-S3. This versatile microcontroller might run quite a lot of working environments, together with MicroPython, a customized code, or perhaps it leverages Clem Meyer’s work to make Linux bootable on an ESP32-S3. Whatever the selection, we sit up for seeing extra particulars as this undertaking (or product?) evolves.

For extra info, go to CL-32’s web site and join e mail notifications. You can too see just a few particulars on this undertaking web page. Final, the X/Twitter #pi0cket has some detailed posts.