Introduction to ESP32 microcontroller board

I had mentioned about ESP32 microcontroller during the discussion on Standalone Versions of LMR SDR. ESP32 is a series of low-cost, low-power microcontrollers that integrate both WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities.

ESP32 DEVKIT V1 is a development board.

Silicon Labs CP2102 integrated circuit (IC) is a USB-to-UART bridge, used to establish communication between a computer and ESP32 microcontroller. UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) pins of the CP2102 (TX and RX) are connected to the corresponding RX and TX pins of the ESP32. CP2102 facilitates the uploading of code and converts the USB signals from the computer into UART signals that the ESP32 can understand, and vice versa.

1117-3.3 is a low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator. It takes a higher input voltage like the 5V from a USB input and regulates it down to 3.3V needed by ESP32.

Power to ESP32 can also be provided to the VIN pin. The yellow surface mount device labelled 106C is a tantalum capacitor for power supply filtering and stabilization.