Joy-it EXPLORER 700 User manual

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EXPLORER 700
Expansion board
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Dear customer,
Thank you for purchasing our product. In the following, we will show you
which things should be noted during the use.
Should you encounter any unexpected problems, do not hesitate to
contact us.

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2. CONNECTIONS
0,9" OLED:
SSD1306 driver,
resolution 128 x 64 Buzzer
CP2102 :
USB to UART converter
USB to UART: controlling the Pi
via serial interface
AD / DA IO-interface:
screw terminal
sensor interface:
connecting various sensors
Raspberry Pi GPIO interface:
to connect something with Raspberry Pi
PCF8591: 8bit AD/DA
converter, I2C interface
BMP280: pressure
sensor, I2C interface
PCF8574: I/O expension chip,
I2C interface
DS3231: real time clock chip,
I2C interface
Power indicator
user LED
joystick
LFN0038K IR
receiver
1-WIRE
interface: to
connect
1-WIRE
devices like
DS18B20
Schematic overview
All pins listed here refer to the GPIO/BCM pins of the Raspberry Pi.
Pin 8
Pin 19 Pin 16
Pin 20
Pin 18
Pin 26
Pin 5
Pin 6
Pin 13
Pin 12
Pin 21
Pin 4
SCL
SDA
SCK
MOSI
3V3
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
3V3
Ports
Modules
ICs

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CS
RES
DNC
SCK
MOSI
OLED
Pin 8
Pin 19
Pin 16
SCK
MOSI
Joysck
UP
DOWN
LEFT
Right
Push
B
C
A
D
Pin 20
3V3
GND
OUT
IR-Receiver
3V3
GND
Pin 18
LED1
LED2
PWR
LEDs
Pin 26
LED2
3V3
IN
GND
Buzzer
Buzz
GND
AIN0 AIN3
AIN1 DOUT
AIN2 GND
Screw terminal
AIN0
AIN1
AIN2
AIN3
AOUT
GND
A0
A1
A2
A3
Sensor interface
Analog Pins
AIN0
AIN1
AIN2
AIN3
D0
D1
D2
D3
Sensor interface
Digital Pins
Pin 5
Pin 6
Pin 13
Pin 12
SCL
SDA
DS3231 RTC
0x68
SCL
SDA
SCL
SDA
BMP 180
0x76
SCL
SDA
SCL P3
SDA P4
INT P5
P0 P6
P1 P7
P2
PCF 8574
IO-Expander
0x20
D
LED 2
L3
L4
Buzz
SCL
SDA
A
B
C
Pin 21
AIN0
SCL AIN1
SDA AIN2
AIN3
AOUT
PCF 8591
ADC
0x48
AIN0
AIN1
AIN2
AIN3
AOUT
SCL
SDA
3V3
DATA
GND
OneWire
(DS18B20)
3V3
Pin 4
GND
Backside of Explorer 700
L4 L3

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3. CONNECTING THE EXPANSIONBOARD
The Explorer 700 expansion board supports the Raspberry Pi A+, B+, 2, 3
Model B and 4. Before you can perform the code examples, you should
ensure that the Explorer 700 is connected to your Raspberry Pi and it is
provided with power.
4. AVAILABLE DOWNLOAD
We provide you with a pre installed image, which saves you the trouble of
installing and setting up libraries. You can download the image here.
To install the image on your microSD card, you can use Win32DiskIma-
ger. Here you select the microSD card to write to and the downloaded
image. Now click on Write to write on this SD card.
If you are not using our image, you can download our sample codes here,
which will help you to access these samples. But then please note the
following two chapters.
These chapters can be skipped when using our image.
5. INSTALLATION OF THE LIBRARIES
To use API examples which we oer, certain libraries are required which
should be installed manually, if you are not using our image. Python
libraries for Raspbian (includes Raspberry Pi, GPIO and spidev installation
packages. See: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/RPi.GPIO
https://pypi.python.org/pypi/spidev ) You get them with the command
wget .
Please note that the Raspberry Pi must be connected with the internet if
you want to us this command to install the library. Beforehand, you can
use the following command to update your soware to the latest.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

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Enter now the following command to install the Python-dev package.
sudo apt-get install python3-dev
Enter the following commands to install the smbus and smbus2 library
(I2C interfaces functions):
sudo apt-get install python3-smbus
sudo pip3 install smbus2
Enter the following command to install the serial library which includes
the UART interface functions.
sudo apt-get install python3-serial
To use the OLED, you must install this library :
sudo apt-get install python3-pil
For our code examples, the libraries RPi.GPIO and spidev are mandato-
ry.
You can install the RPi.GPIO library with the following command:
sudo apt-get install python3-rpi.gpio
The spidev library with this command:
sudo pip3 install spidev
Furthermore, for the BMP2802 you need libraries from Adafruit
CircuitPython_BMP280 and CircuitPython_Bundle, which are both
published under the MIT license (BMP280 and Bundle) . You install them
as follows:
sudo apt-get install git
git clone https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BMP280.git
sudo pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-bmp280
git clone https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_Bundle.git
sudo pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-lis3dh
To install the ADC library, enter the following commands:
git clone https://github.com/joy-it/PCF8591-python3-lib.git
cd ~/PCF8591-python3-lib/
sudo python3 setup.py install

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6. CONFIGURATION OF THE INTERFACES
Before running the API codes we provide, you should activate the ap-
propriate drivers for the interfaces.
Activation of the I2C-function
Enter the following command to configure your Raspberry Pi board.
sudo raspi-config
Choose in Interfacing Options → I2C → Yes to start the core driver of I2C.
Aerwards, you should adjust the configuration file. To open the
configuration file, enter the following:
sudo nano /etc/modules
Add the following two lines at the end of the configuration file:
i2c-bcm2708
i2c-dev
Press the key combination CTRL + X to leave the settings and press Y to
save them.
Activation of the serial functions
The serial port of the Raspberry Pi is set on the debugging via console
mode by default. If you want to use the serial port as a normal IO, you ha-
ve to adjust the configuration of the Raspberry Pi. If the debugging via
console function is deactivated, you can not access the Raspberry Pi
board via the serial port. If you want to control the Raspberry, you must
activate the debugging of the serial port via the console function again.
sudo raspi-config
Choose in Interfacing Options → Serial . Through selecting the option
No the debugging via the console function will be deactivated. Aer-
wards, the serial port can be used for the serial communication. With sel-
ecting the option Yes the debugging via console function can be acti-
vated again.
You also need to activate the 1-Wire interface. To do this, select Interfa-
cing Options → 1-Wire and activate the function with Yes .
You should now restart the Raspberry Pi.
Note: The serial port of the Raspberry Pi 3B is not available
because pin14 and 15 are connected with its own Blue-
tooth.
sudo raspi-config
To still use the serial functions, you have to enable the SPI-function. For
that, you open the terminal and enter the following command:
Now you only have to choose in Interfacing Options → SPI → Yes to
enable the SPI functions.

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8. CHANGING THE LED STATUS
The explorer board has LEDs which can be controlled by our code
examples. LED1 can be used directly.
To use this LED open the terminal and enter the following commands:
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700/LED1/
sudo python3 led.py
LED1 should now start blinking.
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.
There is another code for LED1 which lets it pulsate.
sudo python3 pwm.py
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit happens.
7. ANALOG DIGITAL CONVERTER EXAMPLES
The Explorerboard has 4 analog inputs which can be converted to digital
signals by the ADC PCF8591.
To start the example program, enter the following commands:
cd ~/PCF8591-python3-lib/examples/
sudo python3 read.py
The board also has an analog output, which can be used to output an
analog signal.
To start the example program, enter the following commands:
cd ~/PCF8591-python3-lib/examples/
sudo python3 write.py

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10. I/O-EXPANDER - PCF8574
The I/O Expander PCF8574 also controls the LED2, the buzzer and the
joystick.
Open the console and enter the following commands:
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700/
sudo python3 led2.py
With this program, LED2 is blinking.
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit the program.
sudo python3 joystick.py
This program combines the functions of the Explorerboard, which are
controlled by the PCF8574. When the joystick is pressed in one direction,
the buzzer sounds, LED2 lights up and the console outputs the direction
in which the joystick is pressed.
up
left
down
right
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.
11. BAROMETER - BMP280
This sample code is based on two Adafruit libraries (chapter 5). This
sensor can measure temperature and air pressure and can therefore also
calculate the altitude.
Note that the temperature can be influenced by the heat of the Rasp-
berry Pi.
In order to calculate a correct altitude, change the sea air pressure to
the air pressure at the current location in the sample code.
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700/BMP280/
sudo python3 bmp280.py
9. PRESS FUNCTION OF THE JOYSTICK
The joystick has next to the press function the common directions of
movement. Our code example shows when the press function is used.
Open the Linux console and enter the following commands:
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700/
sudo python3 press-joystick.py
By pressing the Joystick, the console will show the following:
JOYSTICK PRESSED
JOYSTICK PRESSED
JOYSTICK PRESSED
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.

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12. REAL - TIME CLOCK - DS3231
You can terminate the connection to the RTC with the following
command :
sudo i2cdetect -y 1
Now you should see an address with which you can control the RTC. With
us it is 0x68. If this address is dierent, you must change it in the code
example.
You can embed this RTC into your system as a real-time clock or use it
only in a code. Please note that a real-time clock is only fully functional if
a battery is installed in the corresponding battery holder.
Embedding in the system
First, you edit the modules file. You do this with the following command:
sudo nano /etc/modules
Add this line to the end of the file:
rtc-ds3231
You can save the file with CTRL + O and exit the editor with CTRL + X.
Now you have to edit the config.txt . Open it with the following command:
sudo nano /boot/config.txt
There you add this line to the end of the file:
dt-overlay=i2c-rtc,ds3231
You can save the file again with CTRL + O and exit the editor with CTRL +
X. Now, you have to install the driver of the RTC. The driver of DS1307
(another RTC) is also used by DS3231.
sudo modprobe rtc-ds1307
sudo nano /etc/rc.local
Above the command exit 0 add the following three lines:
Now edit the following file to set the system time aer a start to the time
of the RTC:
Close the file again with CTRL + O and CTRL + X and restart the Raspberry
Pi. Now the time of the system aer each restart is set by the RTC.
Note that a CR1220 battery must be inserted in the battery holder so
that the real-time clock can maintain the correct time.
echo ds3231 0x68 > /sys/class/i2c-adapter/i2c-1/new_device
hwclock --hctosys
date
exit 0

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sudo rmmod rtc-ds1307
You only need to execute this command if you have embedded the RTC in
the system. You should then also remove the added lines in rc.local to
avoid incorrect changes in the system.
In our code example we use the library RTC_SDL_DS3231 published by
SwitchDoc Labs .
To execute the code, you must go first into subfolder . You do this with
the following command:
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700/RTC_SDL_DS3231
There you can execute our code, which maps the RTC to system time and
sets the time and date every second. You can execute this code with the
following command:
sudo python3 ds3231.py
sudo hwclock -r
With this command the time of the RTC can be output.
sudo hwclock -w
Aerwards, you can control the RTC as one of the system.
Therefore, you can now use the following commands:
Use in code
If you want to use your RTC in the code, you must uninstall the drivers of
the RTC or do not embed the RTC in the system, because the driver of the
RTC blocks it for further processes. You can uninstall the driver with:
This command adjusts the RTC to the time of the system.
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.
13. TEMPERATURE SENSOR - DS18B20
The temperature sensor which is included in the scope of delievery, must
be connected seperately and is not on the board. Thereby, you should
note that the straight side of the sensor is showing to the display and the
rounded side is pointing torwards the Raspberry Pis USB and ethernet
ports.

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14. IRM - INFRARED REFLECTING SENSOR
On the board is an infrared receiver which can convert infrared into
electric signals. This signals include the infrared values which are issued
by the console via this code example.
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700
sudo python3 irm.py
Therefore, an infrared remote controll is requiered, which is not included
in the scope of delievery.
IRM test start:
Get the key: 0x0c
Get the key: 0x18cd
Get the key: 0x5e
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.
24.687 *C
24.750 *C
24.812 *C
Press the keys CTRL + C to exit this program.
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700
sudo python3 ds18b20.py
The console will display the temperature in Celsius.
For this example, open the console and enter the following command:
15. UART - TRANSMISSON OF SERIAL DATA
The serial interface of the Raspberry Pi is by default deactivated. For this
program, you must enable this function so that the Raspberry Pi is not
communicating via the serial port. Instead, other methods must be used
to communicate with the Raspberry Pi.
To use this code example, you first have to change the serial function in
the configuration of the Raspberry Pi.
For that, enter the following command into the console:
sudo raspi-config

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Aer that choose Punkt P6 Serial.
Answer the question Would you like a login shell to be accessible over
serial? with No.
Now navigate with the arrowkey to the option 5 Interfacing Options.
Answer the question Would you like the serial port hardware to be
enabled? with Yes.

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Now you can click on Connect to establish a connection. As the next step,
you have to start the code example on your Raspberry Pi. For that enter
the following:
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700
sudo python3 uart.py
The USB to UART interface of your Raspberry Pi allows you to connect the
Pi with your computer and to let them communicate without a
connection with the internet.
In this example, we use HTerm. Download this program here and install
it.
First of all, open HTerm and assume the settings like shown in the
picture. Therefore, it is to note that you set the right baudrate (115200)
and the right port. You should also note that your port could be dierent
which you should ensure in the device manager.
In HTerm you will see the following:
Now you can send texts to your Raspberry Pi. The code examples allows
that the Raspberry Pi will send all sent texts from your computer back to
your computer.
You can enter these texts in the text field and send them with ASend .

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Aer that your computer will receive the following:
You can open the terminal console via the UART connection instead of an
external display or via the internet. Therefore, you can use PuTTY,
MobaXterm or others for the connection. For that, you have to change
your settings again.
First, enter the following command into the console:
sudo raspi-config
Navigate now with the arrow key to the option 5 Interfacing Options.
Then choose point P6 Serial .
Answer the question Would you like a login shell to be accessible over
serial? with Yes.

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Aer a reboot, you can connect your Raspberry Pi with your computer.
Now MobaXterm, which you can download here and establish a
connection with the following setting:
Therefore, you should note that you have to choose the connection type
Serial and the right port (viewable in device manager) as well as to set
the baudrate to 115200.
Now, the console will be opened and you must log in on your Raspberry
Pi. If you use our image, the user name is pi and the password is
raspberry .
Attention, the keystrokes will not be shown if you enter your password.
Aer you logged in successfully, the console will open and you can use
the terminal of the Raspberry Pi the same way as via SSH only without an
internet connection.

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16. OLED - DISPLAY
To execute these codes, make sure the I2C and SPI are activated. In
chapter 6 you can read how to activate both. The PIL library must also be
installed. How to install it can be read in chapter 5.
Our code examples can generate dierent displays at the OLED. These
dierentiate in significant aspects from each other.
cd ~/Desktop/Explorer-700/OLED
sudo python3 dispchar.py
This script shows a text on the display which can be changen in the
source code.
sudo python3 image.py
This script displays a picture on the display. This image can also be chan-
ged in the code.
sudo python3 animate.py
The last script generates a animation on your OLED.

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18. SUPPORT
If any questions remained open or problems may arise aer your
purchase,we are available by e-mail, telephone and ticket support
system to answer these.
E-Mail: [e-mail]
Ticket-system: http://support.joy-it.net
Telephone: [phone] – 66 (10 - 17 o'clock)
For further information visit our website:
www.joy-it.net
Published: 16.11.2020
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SIMAC Electronics GmbH
Pascalstr. 8, 47506 Neukirchen-Vluyn
17. OTHER INFORMATION
Our Information and Take-back Obligations according to the
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG)
Symbol on Electrial and Electronic Products:
This crossed-out bin means that electrical and electronic products
do not belong into the household waste. You must hand over your old
appliance to a registration place. Before you can hand over the old
appliance, you must remove used batteries and replacement batteries
which are not enclosed by the device.
Return Options:
As the end user, you can hand over your old appliance (which has
essentially the same functions as the new one bought with us) free of
charge for disposal with the purchase of a new device.
Small devices, which do not have outer dimensions bigger than 25 cm
can be handed in for disposal independently of the purchase of a new
product in normal household quantities.
1. Possibility of return at our company location during our opening
hours
Simac Electronics Handel GmbH, Pascalstr. 8, D-47506 Neukirchen-Vluyn
2. Possibility of return nearby
We will send you a parcel stamp with which you can send us your old
appliance free of charge. For this possibility, please contact us via e-mail
at [e-mail] or via telephone, then please dial 02845 93 60 -23
Information about Package:
Please package your old appliance safe for transport. Should you not
have suitable packaging material or you do not want to use your own
material, you can contact us and we will send you an appropriate