VGA pixel game console V1.0 based on esp32

Based on the open source information on the Internet, a convenient and practical VGA pixel game console based on esp32 is designed. It only requires a simple circuit to play classic games such as Snake and Tetris.

It supports multiple button operations and adds the function of separating the base plate and the button plate. After all, the base plate is connected to a very thick VGA wire and is connected by two layers of studs. By default, only VGA is connected to the monitor. If it is an HDMI monitor, you need to prepare a VGA to HDMI adapter or cable.

The preparation materials mainly include:

1. VGA female socket, with 3 rows of pins.

When purchasing from other channels, please pay attention to the package size and pins.

2. Multiple key switches.

At this stage, only 5 are needed. If all welding is done, 9 will be needed.

3. Two resistance values.

  4 470, 8 4.7k, 4.7k at this stage is enough. You can also use other resistance values, for example, use about 270-500 instead of 470. You can also use 1-5k for 4.7k.

4. 20p female header, spacing 2.54mm.

If you have 4p or 8p headers on hand, you can use them in combination. In addition, you don't need this if you directly solder the development board.

5. Type-c female socket, 6p pin, only power supply.

6. esp32 development board.

Note that different types of esp32 development boards may have different sizes. Please note that the 20p female header distance on the PCB should be modified according to the actual situation. The default PCB is nodemcu, with 340 onboard.

Generally, the onboard download circuits are different and have different sizes. The board of download circuit 340 is narrower and the board of 2102 is wider.

7. 4p pin header and female header.

The pin header needs to be an extended version, about 21mm. If not, you can directly use other connection methods such as flying wire welding or iron wire.

Other needed accessories

1. Copper pillars and screws. The copper pillar needs to be about 20mm.

2. If it is an HDMI monitor, you also need to convert VGA to HDMI. If you have a vga monitor on hand, you can use it directly without an adapter.

welding process

1. Weld two 20p female headers, 4p pin headers, vga female sockets, typec female sockets, typec dip pin headers (optional), rst buttons and R9-R12 resistors to the bottom plate.

2. The upper board is the button board, weld the R1-R8 resistors, the remaining 8 buttons, and the 4p female header. At present, you can only solder the 4 direction buttons and resistors, and the program has not yet defined the remaining 4 buttons.

3. There is no extended pin header, so it can be directly connected by flying welding or other methods.

4. Pay attention to the distance between the metal cover of the development board and its own metal nodes and the buttons on the key board and the welding points at the bottom of the resistor to prevent short circuits. You can also put a plastic sheet on the development board, and the pins of the resistors and buttons are No need to stay too long.

Note: In order to facilitate welding, the pad length of the typec and the pad of the vga female base fixing pin have been modified.

Assembly process

1. Many pins on the bottom of the base board, that is, the esp32 female board, are a bit thorny. You can place another unsoldered blank pcb board and connect it with short copper pillars.

2. Plug in the esp32 development board. Note that one of the female headers is empty. Do not insert it. The development board is 19p and the female headers are 20p. The crosses on the PCB are the two at the top.

3. Connect the key board and the base plate through studs, and ensure that the headers and pins correspond well.

Use process

1. Type-c is connected to an ordinary 5V charging head, and the current is 1A, not too high.

2. The VGA female socket is directly connected to the VGA display through a VGA cable, or connected to an HDMI display through an adapter.

3. Pay attention to the empty space of the esp32 development board. Once it is misaligned, it may cause unpredictable problems, such as burning the display or burning the development board. .

For high-definition demonstration video, see: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1ML411b7nU/