arduino flight sim tft display manufacturer

In electronics world today, Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company, project and user community that designs and manufactures single-board microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices. Arduino board designs use a variety of microprocessors and controllers. The boards are equipped with sets of digital and analog input/output (I/O) pins that may be interfaced to various expansion boards (‘shields’) or breadboards (for prototyping) and other circuits.

The boards feature serial communications interfaces, including Universal Serial Bus (USB) on some models, which are also used for loading programs. The microcontrollers can be programmed using the C and C++ programming languages, using a standard API which is also known as the “Arduino language”. In addition to using traditional compiler toolchains, the Arduino project provides an integrated development environment (IDE) and a command line tool developed in Go. It aims to provide a low-cost and easy way for hobbyist and professionals to create devices that interact with their environment using sensors and actuators. Common examples of such devices intended for beginner hobbyists include simple robots, thermostats and motion detectors.

In order to follow the market tread, Orient Display engineers have developed several Arduino TFT LCD displays and Arduino OLED displays which are favored by hobbyists and professionals.

Although Orient Display provides many standard small size OLED, TN and IPS Arduino TFT displays, custom made solutions are provided with larger size displays or even with capacitive touch panel.

The display is driven by a ST7735R controller ( ST7735R-specifications.pdf (2.1 MB) ), can be used in a “slow” and a “fast” write mode, and is 3.3V/5V compatible.

Adafruit_ST7735 is the library we need to pair with the graphics library for hardware specific functions of the ST7735 TFT Display/SD-Card controller.

In the file dialog select the downloaded ZIP file and your library will be installed automatically. This will automatically install the library for you (requires Arduino 1.0.5 or newer). Restarting your Arduino software is recommended as it will make the examples visible in the examples menu.

The easiest way to remedy this is by extracting the GitHub ZIP file. Place the files in a directory with the proper library name (Adafruit_GFX, Adafruit_ST7735 or SD) and zip the folder (Adafruit_GFX, Adafruit_ST7735.zip, SD.zip). Now the Arduino software can read and install the library automatically for you.

Basically, besides the obvious backlight, we tell the controller first what we are talking to with the CS pins. CS(TFT) selects data to be for the Display, and CS(SD) to set data for the SD-Card. Data is written to the selected device through SDA (display) or MOSI (SD-Card). Data is read from the SD-Card through MISO.

So when using both display and SD-Card, and utilizing the Adafruit libraries with a SainSmart display, you will need to connect SDA to MOSI, and SCL to SCLK.

As mentioned before, the display has a SLOW and a FAST mode, each serving it’s own purpose. Do some experiments with both speeds to determine which one works for your application. Of course, the need of particular Arduino pins plays a role in this decision as well …

Note: Adafruit displays can have different colored tabs on the transparent label on your display. You might need to adapt your code if your display shows a little odd shift. I noticed that my SainSmart display (gree tab) behaves best with the code for the black tab – try them out to see which one works best for yours.

Low Speed display is about 1/5 of the speed of High Speed display, which makes it only suitable for particular purposes, but at least the SPI pins of the Arduino are available.

After connecting the display in Low Speed configuration, you can load the first example from the Arduino Software (“File” “Example” “Adafruit_ST7735” –  recommend starting with the “graphictest“).

Below the code parts for a LOW SPEED display (pay attention to the highlighted lines) – keep in mind that the names of the pins in the code are based on the Adafruit display:

You can name your BMP file “parrot.bmp” or modify the Sketch to have the proper filename (in “spitftbitmap” line 70, and in “soft_spitftbitmap” line 74).

#define SD_CS 4 // Chip select line for SD card#define TFT_CS 10 // Chip select line for TFT display#define TFT_DC 9 // Data/command line for TFT#define TFT_RST 8 // Reset line for TFT (or connect to +5V)

#define SD_CS 4 // Chip select line for SD card#define TFT_CS 10 // Chip select line for TFT display#define TFT_DC 9 // Data/command line for TFT#define TFT_RST 8 // Reset line for TFT (or connect to +5V)

To use this in your Arduino Sketch: The first 2 characters represent RED, the second set of two characters is for GREEN and the last 2 characters represent BLUE. Add ‘0x’ in front of each of these hex values when using them (‘0x’ designates a hexadecimal value).

This function is used to indicate what corner of your display is considered (0,0), which in essence rotates the coordinate system 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees.

However, if your application needs your screen sideways, then you’d want to rotate the screen 90 degrees, effectively changing the display from a 128×160 pixel (WxH) screen to a 160×128 pixel display. Valid values are: 0 (0 degrees), 1 (90 degrees), 2 (180 degrees) and 3 (270 degrees).

Based on these functions, I did create a little demo to show what these functions do. Either download the file or just copy the code and paste it into an empty Arduino Sketch.

tft.print("Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur adipiscing ante sed nibh tincidunt feugiat. Maecenas enim massa, fringilla sed malesuada et, malesuada sit amet turpis. Sed porttitor neque ut ante pretium vitae malesuada nunc bibendum. Nullam aliquet ultrices massa eu hendrerit. Ut sed nisi lorem. In vestibulum purus a tortor imperdiet posuere. ");

Inspired by some hardware of a popular flight simulator vendor i decided to built up something similar on my own. The first version was implemented using simple rotary encoders, a LCD display, an Arduino Leonardo and a case. The result was not bad, but in aviation double stacked rotary encoders are quite common.

After using the first version for some time i stumbled upon the project MobiFlight. A software which supports some Arduino hardware with a special firmware and a bridge software connecting the Arduino to a flight simulator.

First of all: Even though the Arduino has a number of standard plugs you"ll have to solder some parts for this project. Nothing complicated, just some pin rows have to be soldered to PCBs (printed circuit boards). If you does not own a soldering iron have a look if there is a maker space nearby. They might have something for you.

The single rotary encoders are quite common. Have a look to find a variant soldered to a PCB ready for use with an Arduino and a knob. They can be easily connected to the Arduion with a jumper cable.

The stacked rotary encoders are industrial grade and a litte expensive. Some dealers provide a PCB for connection with an Arduino, but you have to solder the encoder and a row of PIN headers to the PCB on your own. If you think these are to expensive you can of course replace one double encoder by two cheaper single rotary encoders.

To connect the 20x4 character LCD display to the Arduino take care to buy one with an I²C interface. Other displays are not supported by MobiFlight. The I²C interface is a standard to easily control the display from an Arduino. This interface is supported for a number of different display sizes by the MobiFlight software. In most cases you have to solder the I²C interface to the display on your own.

The direction of the type A/B USB-adapter is changebale. It"s great for a self-made casing. You can simply unplug your self made panel from you computer.

Nevertheless, the people behind this software are having cost. Mostly for webservers. With this step i want to encourage you to make donations to these Open Source software projects. I don"t want to urge you to spend a big amount of money. Instead think about a cup of coffee. In Germany a simple coffee is available for about 1.50 €. If you spend this amount on a monthly base this probably won"t ruin you. But if 20 people are donating 1.50 € a month, the maker of an Open Source software are getting 30 € to host a webpage.

If i was able to convince you: Great and thank you. If not: never mind, just continue reading and build up your own multi panel for your flight simulator.

The PCBs for the single rotary encoders typically include a so called "pull up" resistors. In case they don"t: the Arduino (in detail: the used ATmega chips) can optionally provide such a resistor. And finally: The MobiFlight software automatically configures all input PINs to use this pull up logic.

The PCB for the double rotary encoders does not provide a pull up resistor. But as mentioned, the MobiFlight software will configure the Arduino accordingly.

The display uses a so called I²C interface. This interface needs to be connected to power, ground and two dedicated pins by the Arduino. For the Arduino Mega 2560 R3 these are the pins D21/SCL and D20/SDA. These pins are labled accordingly. On most I²C interfaces, these pins are labled too.

Now it"s time to take something to make the necessary holes into the housing. You have to measure the diameter of the axis of the different rotary encoders. Take a drill and a saw to make the rectangular hole for the display ... And so on.

Download the MobiFlight software MobiFlight-Installer.exe. Move the software to a separate folder. This is important because the installer will download the real software to the same folder as the Installer.

Connect the device to your PC. Afterwards start the just downloaded MFConnector.exe. When starting the software will scan for compatible Arduino devices. When asked if you want to install the special software accept it. This will change the default Arudino firmware by the special MobiFlight firmware. This step can be reversed with the connector software.

Next i added the Display as LcdDisplay. The I²C devices all have an assigned address. Refer to the documentation of your display which address is preselected. In many cases this is the address 0x27. The number of columns is 20, the number of rows 4.

Next we want to be able to change this variable using the single encoder. Change to the Input tab of the main window and add a new item. After giving a name like menu or menu input open the configuration of this new item. Choose the correct Arduino (here Multipanel (COM5)) and the device Encoder-Menu.

Now we want to tell MobiFlight what to do when the encoder is used. We will begin with the On Right event because this is a little bit easyer to understand.

Choose the Action Type value MobiFlight - Variable. In the next line you have to select the variable menu which was created on the input tab. In the line Value we tell what to do. The formula is ($+1)%7. The $ will contain the value of the variable menu. We add 1 to this value. Next we do a modulo operation. This will give the remainder of a whole number division. Samples:Value was 0 -> (0 + 1) is 1, dividing 1 by 7 is zero with a remainder of 1. 1 is assigned to menu.

Now we want to display this menu value to the attached display. Add a new line by double clicking and assigning a name like display. Open the settings for this new line. Select the menu variable in the Sim Variable settings. Change to the Display tab and enter data like in the screenshot above. Again the $ sign is a placeholder for the value of the variable menu.

The screenshots are showing samples for Output and Input. In both cases you see, that only some are used to be displayed or used to change values. By using the Precondition we are able to control what happens in which menu. The standard case is that you have quite a lot of red exclamation marks that indicate that the Output/Input is inactive for the moment. When changing the menu with the topmost rotary, the exlamation marks should move.

As a sample I took the setting of the heading bug. Select the normal event on the typical way: Microsoft/Generic/Flight Instrument and select HEADING_BUG_DEC. When done you tick the box in front of the Show Preset Code. You see code like (>K:HEADING_BUG_DEC). By copying and pasting this more than once into the text box, the event will be executed more than once when the encoder is in fast mode. This way the heading bug will change more quickly when used rapidly. The same setting can be made for the other direction.

Using the Show Preset Code can be used to map multiple input on the same rotary. For zooming the GNS530 as well as zooming the MFD map of the G1000 you can add the events (>H:AS530_RNG_Zoom) and (>H:AS1000_MFD_RANGE_DEC,number). When turning the rotary, both events will be sent to the simulator. No matter if your"e sitting in a GNS530 equipped aircraft or inside a glass cockpit with a G1000, the map will zoom for both of them.

First we add a new MobiFlight Variable on the Output tab as shown in the first image. Its named adf1Digit. This provides a new variable which we will control on the Inputs tab.

Now we want to give a hint on the display, which digit we are setting when using the other rotary switch. We introduce one more internal variable I called adf1DigitDisplay. Important is to add a Config Reference to the above mentioined variable adf1Digit. Remeber the sign this variable is assinged to, in the screenshot it is the # sign. We will need this for the next tab.

We change over to the Compare tab of this new variable and use a special feature of MobiFlight. We will enter a condition which is always true. In this case we know, that the variable will always be greater or equal to 0. By doing so, the line set it to will always be executed.

This tests if the referenced variable adf1Digit is 0, and change the value of adf1DigitDisplay to the string ^^--. If the value is not 0, it will test the same variable for "1" and change the output to the string --^-, if not it changes the output to ---^. With that done we have a marker on this screen which will point to the digits that will be changed when using the rotary encododer.

Within the display for this menu we reference the variable adf1DigitDisplay (in the screenshot as @) and put this below the display of the ADF1 frequency. This will result in a display like in the last screenshot.

TFT displays bring life to the project. Why shy with the LCD character display? OLED displays look good and stand out too but small size and limited colors limit the application to basic graphics but are still colorless. No color? No life!

Having the option of TFT display in your next Arduino project can add so many vibrant menu options, can display images, and hence can be a very rich user experience thing.

This is a very basic example of displaying a few texts on the display. We will use the library from Adafruit for the same. The best thing about the Wokwi Embedded systems simulator is that you can run the code straight from the browser. It means, you can easily share the project (as a link) and your friend can run it and lay with the project.

In this article, you will get a working Arduino project which has a simulated TFT display. The display will exactly work in the same way how it would work in the real world and with the real hardware. You can try any TFT project you have!

Let us get started. You will complete the code, connection diagram as well as live working Arduino simulation link so that you can start playing with the code instantly! For more information on the Simulated TFT display,click here.

Enables Bluetooth® Low Energy connectivity on the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010, Arduino UNO WiFi Rev.2, Arduino Nano 33 IoT, Arduino Nano 33 BLE and Nicla Sense ME.

Enables smooth servo movement. Linear as well as other (Cubic, Circular, Bounce, etc.) ease movements for servos are provided. The Arduino Servo library or PCA9685 servo expanders are supported.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. It appears that the upgrade package overwrites the FBTFT drivers, in particular, the Raspberry Pi bootloader. This seems to solve the problem:

dwc_otg.lpm_enable=0 console=ttyAMA0,115200 console=tty1 root=/dev/mmcblk0p6 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline rootwait fbtft_device.custom fbtft_device.name=waveshare32b fbtft_device.gpios=dc:22,reset:27 fbtft_device.bgr=1 fbtft_device.speed=48000000 fbcon=map:10 fbcon=font:ProFont6x11 logo.nologo dma.dmachans=0x7f35 console=tty1 consoleblank=0 fbtft_device.fps=50 fbtft_device.rotate=0

Unfortunately, their “driver” is an SD card image containing a complete installation of Raspbian which has been preconfigured to use their display. Which is fine if you’re setting up a brand new system that doesn’t need to be a specific distro, but if you’re trying to add the display to an existing Raspberry Pi, already configured the way you want it, with software installed and data present, or if you want to use a specific distro such as Octopi, then it’s not terribly helpful.

Hello..I tired to interface this lcd “https://www.crazypi.com/raspberry-pi-products/Raspberry-Pi-Accessories/32-TOUCH-DISPLAY-RASPBERRY-PI” to my Raspberry pi model B+.I got a DVD containing image for LCD in the package.I burned it to the SD card and plugged in the display.But my lcd is completly blank.But green inidcation led (ACT LED) in board is blinking.Why my LCD is Blank ?

[ 0.000000] Kernel command line: dma.dmachans=0x7f35 bcm2708_fb.fbwidth=656 bcm2708_fb.fbheight=416 bcm2709.boardrev=0xa21041 bcm2709.serial=0x631a4eae smsc95xx.macaddr=B8:27:EB:1A:4E:AE bcm2708_fb.fbswap=1 bcm2709.disk_led_gpio=47 bcm2709.disk_led_active_low=0 sdhci-bcm2708.emmc_clock_freq=250000000 vc_mem.mem_base=0x3dc00000 vc_mem.mem_size=0x3f000000 dwc_otg.lpm_enable=0 console=ttyAMA0,115200 console=tty1 root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline rootwait fbtft_device.custom fbtft_device.name=flexfb fbtft_device.gpios=dc:22,reset:27 fbtft_device.bgr=1 fbtft_device.speed=48000000 fbcon=map:10 fbcon=font:ProFont6x11 logo.nologo dma.dmachans=0x7f35 console=tty1 consoleblank=0 fbtft_device.fps=50 fbtft_device.rotate=0

i have a watterott display (https://github.com/watterott/RPi-Display) and changed the device-name to “rpi-display”. i use a rsapberrypi 2 and hae the latest raspian image installed.

Did you check to see if your device is supported yet? The device name should be specific for your screen, as listed in the fbtft file linked to in the beginning of the post

My system: Raspberry Pi 2 Model B with Raspian Wheezy from Febuary 2015. LCD display of Sainsmart 3.2 http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/1283498/Raspberry-Pi-Display-Modul-Touch-Display-81-cm-32/?ref=home&rt=home&rb=1

dwc_otg.lpm_enable=0 console=ttyAMA0,115200 console=tty1 root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rootfstype=ext4 cgroup_enable=memory elevator=deadline rootwait fbtft_device.custom fbtft_device.name=sainsmart32_spi fbtft_device.gpios=dc:24,reset:25 fbtft_device.bgr=1 fbtft_device.speed=48000000 fbcon=map:10 fbcon=font:ProFont6x11 logo.nologo dma.dmachans=0x7f35 console=tty1 consoleblank=0 fbtft_device.fps=50 fbtft_device.rotate=90

The LCD display shows the raspberry correctly. However, the touch screen input does not work. The mouse pointer can I move correctly with your finger, but I can not select things (function of the left mouse button).

Can someone upload SD card image that works with RBP2 ? My idea is to use Eleduino TFT as additional screen and play movies via HDMI.. is it possible?

Does anyone tried splash boot screen with waveshare v4 LCD and Rpi2? I tried to follow some example from https://github.com/notro/fbtft/wiki/Bootsplash but no success.

fbtft_device name=waveshare32b gpios=dc:22,reset:27 speed=48000000 width=320 height=240 buswidth=8 init=-1,0xCB,0x39,0x2C,0x00,0x34,0x02,-1,0xCF,0x00,0XC1,0X30,-1,0xE8,0x85,0x00,0x78,-1,0xEA,0x00,0x00,-1,0xED,0x64,0x03,0X12,0X81,-1,0xF7,0x20,-1,0xC0,0x23,-1,0xC1,0x10,-1,0xC5,0x3e,0x28,-1,0xC7,0x86,-1,0×36,0x28,-1,0x3A,0x55,-1,0xB1,0x00,0x18,-1,0xB6,0x08,0x82,0x27,-1,0xF2,0x00,-1,0×26,0x01,-1,0xE0,0x0F,0x31,0x2B,0x0C,0x0E,0x08,0x4E,0xF1,0x37,0x07,0x10,0x03,0x0E,0x09,0x00,-1,0XE1,0x00,0x0E,0x14,0x03,0x11,0x07,0x31,0xC1,0x48,0x08,0x0F,0x0C,0x31,0x36,0x0F,-1,0×11,-2,120,-1,0×29,-1,0x2c,-3

I remember that I plugged in the screen wrongly one time, before configuring any of the GPIO pins. Can this have damaged the screen? Still it’s weird that the display part works well and the touch part not at all.

I do not think that has anything to do with it. Other than power pins, the rest are communication. If it still works then you are good. No, there is something else. I do suspect it us related to the BCM pin numbering. The real question is… Why isnt the eeveloper responding? I have since abandoned this TFT because of his lack of response.

Here is a link to an updated image from waveshare. Upon install it got the display up and running, but I still do not have touch functionality. I’ve been playing around with it, but it has been to no avail…hopefully someone better at this stuff from me can get the touch working.

well ,,i follow all instructions and still kernel panic ,,,,may i request from mr. Circuitbasics@Gmail.Com that have a contact with manufacture and just ask for 2-3 links for image files for different versions of pi till all this f discussions are finished,,i cant understand 10 guys said we run it and 40 guys said kernel panic ,,as an expert i did 50 times imaging and follow all changes fro this forum and other forums and still cant run it ,,,so sth is wrong …..just asking the manufacture for simple f image ,,that`s it ,,,,simpleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

well i did it at last on pi 2,,after reading 100 pages and reimaging 50 times ,,i finally find the solution ,,,,there is a simple line forgotten to be attached in setup instruction,,,well i give u clue for prodigies ,,there is a step left between step 3 and 4,,,,and a simple change in step 5 according to your pi version ,,,that`s it ,,nothing else,,,,

I filed the steps to calibrate the screen but it did not work.I think because it did not find the TFT pin, because I think the touch problem is the assigned pin to control it changed.

i have raspberry pi 2 with 3.2 inch rpi lcd v4 waveshare spotpear.i have done as per your instructions.the display is working but touch screen not working.error shows waveshare32b module not found as well as touch screen module not found messages.

Unfortunately I have lost the Touch facility on my Waveshare 3.5″ LCD Touchscreen? Can you offer any reasons as to why? I copied the Raspbian image to my Raspberry Pi from the Waveshare website first of all. The Touchscreen displays but is not reactive with any touch

I have purchased a raspberry pi B+ total kit and waveshare 3.2 TFT display online. In the package i have been given a pre-loaded NOOBS installed SD card. I did not even start anything yet. What should i do what r the things needed and how to connect the display i really want to know. I need help as i don’t know anything. Does the above solution help or will u suggest something………………..

For anyone who have those unbranded cheap TFT touch modules and cannot get it to work with this guide, I had success on my 3.5″ with the following steps: http://pastebin.com/89qmFbPB

I have the WaveShare 3.5 (A) and cannot get it to work with the Kali Linux with TFT for Raspberry Pi. Have anybody gotten the A to work? (Not the B, theres instructions for the B already and dont work with A)

So I have the original image that came with my screen and it works fine with the LCD but my problem is that I want to use my LCD screen with other distros (at this time I am trying to use it with Kali Linux with TFT support by default https://www.offensive-security.com/kali-linux-vmware-arm-image-download/) What do I have to do to transfer the needed files from the original image that WORKS with the screen and use them with another image?

I originally bought this bundle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013E0IJUK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00 with an RPi LCD V3 and no extra documentation on the specifics on the chipset. I tried with the bftft drivers but since I have no idea what to call this screen I just suppose it isn’t supported.

I’m not sure if the Jessie kernel is compatible – can anyone please confirm or not ?? Adafruit states that their setup for TFT screens are Wheezy only ; is this a different setup ??

Please check out my answer, it may help you if it works. I’m not in that case but I’m assuming that the desktop environment simply doesn’t automatically start running anymore… This can be changed in the raspi-setup

Hi, I am using raspberry pi 2 with raspbian jessie installed. I the waveshare spotpear 3.2 v4. The above instructions are not working. and after completing the steps there was no display from hdmi or lcd. One things to notify is.: the etc/modules files only had i2c-dev and not snd-bcm2835.

Sir, Your post has very useful to me. i am using Tinylcd. but i cant get display. i am performing all the steps in your post. i cant get touch controller information from the product website and also i am using RASPberryPi B+ model. could u please give me best solution to my work. Than you.

I have KeDei 3.5 inch TFT version 4.0 by Osoyoo. (released after January 1 2016) how do i get it working with vanilla Raspbian Jessie (do not want to install the image sent by the seller)

Thanks for the great tutorial. I do have a question. Once you install the drivers for the lcd are you effectively disabiling the hdmi port or is it still available to use and will the pi function with both displays. I have a pi 3

i am sorry, but i am a naive , and i have this question, can we upload any file into it for the display? like have a software in which if i tap it gives back a feedback to the code?

Its a script. Download and instead of running sudo ./LCD4-show run cat ./LCD4-show to simply display what it does without actually running it. The commands are fairly simple modifying a few files. I actually saved the LCD-show.tar.gz on my own server for faster future download but also for backup as it saved me tons of hours (if that’s a measuring unit for time :) )

i bought a 3.5 inch tft lcd screen from banggood. and i have installed raspian jessie, the latest version, in my sd card. but when i power on my Pi, only a white backlit screen comes. there are no images or graphics whatsoever.

PLEASE DELETE this article. You have great power with this article showing up for so many people in their search results, and you display ZERO responsibility. This is terrible!

Will your system work with my SainSmart 2.8″ 2.8 inch TFT LCD 240×320 Arduino DUE MEGA2560 R3 Raspberry Pi ? I would like to know before not be able to back out. Thanks, Lee

it worked. but the resolution is for bigger screens. i got the menubar small, but the rest appears too big , and out of screen. the wastebasket icon is 1/6 of my 3.2″ screen. wich HAS the resolution capability too display the whole desktop. But i’m a PI newby and dunno how to adjust the screen resolution on this display. anybody?

After I did the step that “INSTALL THE FBTFT DRIVERS” and then reboot, my raspberry pi couldn’t boot successfully and the green light is always on, could you help me solve this problem? Thank you.

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