Transparent LCD on a Raspberry Pi
Want to bring up one of our transparent LCDs on a Raspberry Pi but confused about how exactly to do that? This is the post for you!
Getting Started
This guide will walk through using our CFAG12864Ux/Tx Raspberry Pi demo code. It is relevant to a wide range our our graphic LCDs, a list of which can be found at the end of this post.
Supplies:
• A display with CFA10110 adapter board (see list of applicable LCDs below)
• Raspberry Pi (I’m using the 4B+) with OS loaded
• 5V power supply
• Jumper cables (e.g., 6″ WR-JMP-Y40 or 3″ WR-JMP-41)
• A sketch
Connect the Display to the Adapter Board
If you ordered a kit you can skip this step. We did this for you.
If you ordered the CFA10110 separately from the display, insert the tail of the display shiny pins down into the ZIF connector. You shouldn’t need a lot of force to insert the tail into the connector (thus “Zero Insertion Force”).
Once the tail is firmly seated into the connector, close the connector by pushing down on the black tab.
Wire the Board to your Raspberry Pi:
Using the jumper wires, connect the CFA10110 board to the Raspberry Pi.
In the table below, I’m listing the pin number on the 40-pin header (not the GPIO number). Refer to the Raspberry Pi pinout for GPIO numbers.
// RPi Pin | LCD | Color
// ---------+--------+-------
// 3V3 | 3V3 | Red
// GND | GND | Black
// 11 | DC | Green
// 7 | RES | Blue
// 24 | CS | Purple
// 23 | D6 | Gray
// 19 | D7 | OrangeSoftware Installation
- install wiringPi per their instructions: https://github.com/WiringPi/WiringPi
- Enable SPI: https://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2014/08/enabling-the-spi-interface-on-the-raspberry-pi/
- clone repo: https://github.com/crystalfontz/CFAG12864Tx_and_Ux_ST7565P
- change directory into the Raspberry Pi folder of the repo
- build executable:
g++ main.cpp LCD_low.cpp LCD_draw.cpp fnt08x08.cpp -l wiringPi -o main
- run the executable
Use the Backlight
For the modules that include a backlight, connect a power source to the A and K tabs on the backlight frame. Check the datasheet of the module to ensure you provide the correct backlight voltage and current. The T3 module requires less power than the U3 module.
Relevant Displays and Kits
Do you need help getting started with your graphic LCD and CFA10110 adapter board? This getting started guide helps bring up any of the following displays or kits:
- Low Power Transflective Graphic LCD Module (CFAG12864T3-NFH-E1-1)
- Low Power Transflective LCD Dev Kit (CFAG12864T3-NFH-E1-2)
- 128×64 Backlit Transflective LCD with Breakout Board (CFAG12864T3-TFH-E1-1)
- Small Backlit Monochrome LCD Dev Kit (CFAG12864T3-TFH-E1-2)
- Low Power Transflective LCD Display Module (CFAG12864U3-NFH-E1-1)
- Low Power Monochrome LCD Dev Kit (CFAG12864U3-NFH-E1-2)
- 128×64 Monochrome Transflective Backlit LCD Module (CFAG12864U3-TFH-E1-1)
- 128×64 Transflective Backlit LCD Development Kit (CFAG12864U3-TFH-E1-2)
- In conjunction with the LCD Breakout Board (CFA10110):
- 1.1″ Small Transflective Graphic LCD (CFAG12864T3-NFH)
- 1.1″ Small Backlit Sunlight Readable LCD (CFAG12864T3-TFH)
- 1.1″ Graphic Transparent LCD Display (CFAG12864T4-NFI)
- 2.2″ Low Power 128×64 Graphic LCD (CFAG12864U3-NFH)
- 2.2″ 128×64 Backlit Low Power LCD (CFAG12864U3-TFH)
- 2.2″ Graphic Transparent LCD Display (CFAG12864U4-NFI)
If you need a guide for the CFAG12864T3 or CFAG12864U3 using a generic breakout board, check out this getting started guide or our DIY transparent display video. Speaking of videos, click here if you’d prefer this bring up guide as a video.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, we can be reached at support@crystalfontz.com, we also provide chat and telephone support Monday through Friday during our open hours.
We love to hear about your projects! Find us around the web (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Forum) and let us know what you’re working on.
Kelsey is an engineer at Crystalfontz. She graduated from Gonzaga University with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Kelsey’s roles at Crystalfontz include customer support, documentation, product demonstrations, and design.
What our customers say about Kelsey:
“As a new user to the world of LCD electronics, Kelsey has been a Godsend in providing the hand-holding I needed to get my project up and running despite my own efforts at fouling things up! :-)” – Owen M
“Kelsey got me through changing code for a new LCD in only two short emails.” – Phillip V
“The agent that I talked with (Kelsey), is technically sound and she knows what she is doing. The support is what made my job easier to get started with the different display technologies. Thank you!” – Vatsal S
