Identify ESP chip and flash using esptool

Here to identify ESP chip and flash using esptool.py

First, you have to identify the USB port connect to ESP. In Linux/Raspberry Pi

- Before connect your ESP device to USB, run following command to clear dmesg buffer:

$ sudo dmesg -c

- Connect your ESP32 device to USB, and then run dmesg:

$ dmesg

-  You will find some like "cp210x converter now attached to ttyUSB0". Where /dev/ttyUSB0 is the USB port connected to ESP device.

TO Read Chip ID, enter the command:

$ esptool.py --chip auto --port /dev/ttyUSB0 chip_id

TO read SPI flash manufacturer and device ID, enter the command:

$ esptool.py --chip auto --port /dev/ttyUSB0 flash_id

Here is the output for ESP32-DevKitC V4 with ESP32-D0WD-V3 (revision 3) chip and 8MB flash.

ESP8266 with ESP8266EX chip and 4MB flash.

ESP32-S2-Saola-1 with ESP32-S2 chip and 4MB flash.

ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 with unknown ESP32-C3 (revision 3) and 4MB flash.

Install esptool on Raspberry Pi OS (32 bit)

esptool.py is a Python-based, open source, platform independent, utility to communicate with the ROM bootloader in Espressif ESP8266 & ESP32 chips, and also ESP32-S2.

To install on Raspberry Pi (running 32 bit Raspberry Pi OS), open Terminal and enter the command:

$ sudo pip install esptool

or install Development mode, allows you to run the latest development version from this repository.

$ git clone https://github.com/espressif/esptool.git

$ cd esptool

$ pip install --user -e .

ref: https://github.com/espressif/esptool

Program Seeeduino XIAO as USB-to-Serial bridge, to access HC-08 BLE 4.0 Module/ESP WiFi Modules.

HC-08 is a Bluetooth 4.0 low energy module. It provide TTL Serial interface. If we want to access it using PC, normal a USB-to-Serial adapter is used.

In this exercise, Seeeduino XIAO is programmed as a USB-to-Serial bridge to read/write HC-08 from Raspberry Pi using Arduino IDE's Serial Monitor.

Connection between Seeeduino XIAO and HC-08

XIAO		HC-08
=====================
3V3		VCC
GND		GND
TX		RX
RX		TX

For the code, simple foreward date from SerialUSB to Serial1, and foreward Serial1 to SerialUSB.

X_USBbridge.ino

/*
Xiao act as a bridge between USB and Serial device

It's assumed the device is running 3V3
Connection
Xiao Rx   - device Tx
Xiao Tx   - device Rx
XIAO GND  - device GND
XIAO 3V3  - device VCC

*/

void setup()
{
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
  
  delay(1000);
  SerialUSB.begin(9600);
  Serial1.begin(9600);

  //wait serial ports to device
  //while(SerialUSB);
  while(!Serial1);
  
  //Blink the LED 3 times to indicate program started
  for(int i=0; i<3; i++){
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
    delay(500);
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
    delay(500);
  }
}

void loop()
{
  if(SerialUSB.available() > 0){
    Serial1.write(SerialUSB.read());
  }

  if(Serial1.available() > 0){
    SerialUSB.write(Serial1.read());
  }
}

This video show how it work.

Before HC-08 connected (LED blinking), You can read/write HC-08 status with AT Command.
After HC-08 connected with test app on Android phone (LED on), you can send/receive text to/from the app. 

To know where/how to download datasheet (with AT Command Set) and test app for HC-08, read the post "HC-08 Bluetooth Module (BLE 4.0)".

To install Seeeduino XIAO board to Arduino IDE, read the post "Seeeduino XIAO".

---

This can be used to access HC-04 Dual Mode BLE SPP Bluetooth Module also.

Next:

~ Bluetooth Serial communication between HC-08(Master) and HC-04(Slave)

---

Access ESP WiFi Modules:

With baud rate changed to 115200, it can access ESP WiFi modules. Tested with ESP-01S and ESP-12S.

X_USBbridge_115200.ino

/*
Xiao act as a bridge between USB and Serial device

It's assumed the device is running 3V3
Connection
Xiao Rx   - device Tx
Xiao Tx   - device Rx
XIAO GND  - device GND
XIAO 3V3  - device VCC

*/

void setup()
{
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
  
  delay(1000);
  SerialUSB.begin(115200);
  Serial1.begin(115200);

  //wait serial ports to device
  //while(SerialUSB);
  while(!Serial1);
  
  //Blink the LED 3 times to indicate program started
  for(int i=0; i<3; i++){
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
    delay(500);
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
    delay(500);
  }
}

void loop()
{
  if(SerialUSB.available() > 0){
    Serial1.write(SerialUSB.read());
  }

  if(Serial1.available() > 0){
    SerialUSB.write(Serial1.read());
  }
}

Arduino IDE run on Raspberry Pi, to program Xiao as bridge to access ESP-01S: