Setting up a battery for a Sharp ePaper display

This guide explains how to enable communication between the Wallboard ePaper application and a T2078 battery board. It covers both a new application installation and adding a battery to an existing display.

The battery setup described here is for Sharp displays. It is separate from the built-in battery operation of Philips ePaper displays.

Before you start

You will need:

• A compatible Sharp display and T2078 battery kit. Battery setup has been verified on the Sharp EP-C251 running Android 11. Contact Wallboard support before using a different model or firmware combination.
• A Windows computer with a version of Wallboard Toolbox that includes E-ink battery install.
• A USB data cable for connecting the display to the computer, and the battery board's USB communication cable.
• The power supply and power cabling specified by the display and battery kit supplier.
• A Wallboard ePaper application version with Sharp battery support. Toolbox checks compatibility during the separate battery setup procedure and can update an older installed application if needed.

Keep the display powered throughout setup. Follow the supplier's instructions for the battery's physical installation and power connections. The USB communication connection does not replace the required power wiring.

Connect only one display to the computer at a time. The procedure uses a wired USB connection; wireless debugging and command-line setup are not required. If Toolbox needs to download an application update, the computer also needs network access to the configured CMS server.

Choose your setup procedure

Your display's current setup	What to do
You are installing the application with a Toolbox version that prepares automatic battery access	Complete the normal installation, then follow New application installation. The battery does not need to be present during installation.
The application is already installed, but battery access was never prepared or you are unsure	Follow Add a battery to an existing installation.
The device received an application update without Toolbox battery preparation	Follow the existing-installation procedure. An application update alone does not perform the initial battery-access setup.
An earlier battery setup was interrupted	Follow Recover or cancel an interrupted setup.

New application installation

1. Connect the Sharp display to your computer and complete the normal ePaper application installation.
2. During a full Sharp installation, a compatible Toolbox and application prepare automatic battery access. There is no battery checkbox, and installation does not wait for a battery board.
3. Finish the normal installation and CMS registration before replacing the computer's USB cable.
4. When you are ready to use the battery, connect its USB communication cable to the display's USB data port. Keep the display powered and allow the application to run. The application handles the matching USB access prompt automatically.

The battery can be connected during the initial installation visit or added later. A prepared display does not need to remain connected to the computer.

Older application versions

If Toolbox reports that the installed application does not include battery support, acknowledge the information with OK and finish the normal installation. Battery access has not been prepared for that version. Before adding a battery, use the existing-installation procedure below with a compatible application.

Add a battery to an existing installation

Use E-ink battery install to prepare an already deployed Sharp display. This procedure keeps the display's CMS registration and application settings. It does not require uninstalling the application or registering the display again.

1. Prepare the display

1. Keep the display powered. Disconnect the battery board's USB communication cable from the display if it is connected.
2. Connect the display's USB data port to your computer using the USB data cable.
3. Open Wallboard Toolbox, click Start, choose ePaper, and click Next.
4. On the device-selection screen, click E-ink battery install.
5. Normally, leave App update (optional) unchanged. If the installed application needs an update, Toolbox attempts to download a compatible version. To provide an approved update file instead, expand this section and click Choose APK. The update must be compatible with the installed application's signature and include battery support.
6. Click Prepare device. Keep the computer cable connected until Toolbox asks you to Connect the battery board.

The application may temporarily stop while setup is in progress. Do not start a normal application reinstall to continue this procedure.

2. Connect the battery board

1. When Toolbox asks you to connect the battery board, unplug the computer's USB data cable from the display.
2. Connect the battery board's USB communication cable to the same display USB data port.
3. Leave the board connected for at least 30 seconds so the display can establish access and read a battery report.
4. Disconnect the board's USB communication cable and reconnect the computer's USB data cable.

Keep power connected during these cable changes. The battery connection step has a three-minute timeout. Carry out the cable changes promptly after Toolbox indicates that the device is ready.

3. Verify and finish

1. With the same display connected to the computer again, click Verify / recover.
2. Wait for SETUP COMPLETE and The battery is ready to use. Toolbox verifies USB access and a fresh battery communication report before showing success.
3. Disconnect the computer's USB data cable and reconnect the battery board's USB communication cable for normal operation.

Reaching the cable-change step alone does not mean setup is complete. Always verify the result before finishing the installation visit.

Recover or cancel an interrupted setup

If setup times out, the display restarts, or Toolbox closes before verification:

1. Keep the display powered and reconnect it to the computer with the USB data cable.
2. Open E-ink battery install and click Verify / recover.
3. Read the result in Activity details. Toolbox can check an earlier setup and restore the application so it can run again when recovery is needed.
4. If setup was not completed, resolve the reported issue and repeat the preparation and cable-change steps.

To stop a pending setup, reconnect the computer cable and click Cancel setup. If cancellation cannot be confirmed, use Verify / recover before starting again. Closing Toolbox or unplugging the cable is not confirmation that setup was cancelled or completed.

Troubleshooting

What you see	What to check
E-ink battery install is missing	Use a Toolbox version that includes Sharp battery setup.
Toolbox cannot find the display	Power on the Sharp, use a USB data cable, and connect only one display to the computer. Check that Windows recognizes it.
The application update is rejected	Use an approved APK with battery support that is signed with the same application signing certificate as the installed version. Do not uninstall the existing application to bypass the error.
NEEDS ATTENTION, a timeout, or no verified battery report	Reconnect the computer, use Verify / recover, and check Activity details. Confirm the board was connected to the USB data port for at least 30 seconds, with power maintained throughout.
A USB access prompt remains on the display	Automatic battery access may not have been prepared or may have been disabled. Use the existing-installation procedure to set up access.
The application cannot register with the CMS	Check the display's own network connection, server URL, and date/time. A USB connection to the computer does not provide the display with internet access.

After an application uninstall, factory reset, or removal of the USB access settings, battery setup may need to be repeated. A normal application update does not replace a missing initial setup.

If you need assistance, open Activity details, open the Toolbox log using Show application logs, save a copy, and contact Wallboard support. Include the display model, application version, and the step where setup stopped.