Minimizing an ESP32-S3 Growth Board Right down to the Module Itself

Engineers have a fascination with optimization and eradicating pointless parts from a design. Chris Greening (AKA Atomic14 on YouTube) utilized this fascination to an Espressif ESP32-S3 WROOM module. Usually you see these modules linked to a breakout board. Nevertheless, Greening eliminated every little thing essential to create a minimal USB-powered ESP32-S3 WROOM growth board.

Greening begins with the schematic of a typical ESP32-S3 WROOM breakout board. Yow will discover the ESP32-S3 system-on-module (SOM) mounted to such a board. These could comprise passives to make the design extra strong.

Nevertheless, as Greening’s rationalization reveals, many parts aren’t (strictly) wanted. For instance, there are not any pins for UART, JTAG, or Boot mode on this minimal ESP32 design. UART and JTAG features can be found through the S3’s native USB assist. Greening additionally eradicated the Boot mode pin. Remember that it’s possible you’ll have to brief this pin to floor the primary time you program the WROOM mannequin.

With the UART and JTAG pins eliminated, how do you entry the ESP32? Greening’s subsequent step was utilizing a breadboard to attach a USB breakout board and linear regulator. Oh, and he included an LED (with a present limiting resistor!) for the obligatory blink sketch.

This stage of the discount mission demonstrates the minimal {hardware} mandatory to attach an ESP32-S3 WROOM to a PCB through USB. However the Atomic14 video takes this idea one step additional.

Subsequent, Greening used polyimide (Katpon) tape to isolate the bottom/thermal pads on the again of the WROOM module. Then, fastidiously, he mounted a linear regulator, decoupling capacitors, and the essential LED. All of the breadboarded parts match after altering from through-hole to floor mount parts.