Embedded Computing
  • About
  • Blog
  • Hardware
    • Which Platform?
    • Controller Platforms >
      • Adafruit Platform
      • Arduino Plaform
      • BBC micro:bit
      • Espressif Platform
      • iLabs Platform
      • Raspberry Pi Platform (MCU)
      • Seeeduino Platform
      • Teensy Plaform
    • Computer Platforms >
      • BeagleBone Platform
      • Raspberry Pi Platform (SBC)
      • UDOO Platform
    • Peripherals >
      • Shields
      • Grove System
      • Sensors
      • Actuators
    • Displays >
      • E-Paper Displays
      • Reflective Displays
      • TFT Displays
      • LCD Displays
    • Legacy Platforms >
      • chipKIT Plaform
      • 4D Systems Platform
      • Intel Platform
      • LaunchPad Plaform
      • BoosterPacks for LaunchPads
      • LightBlue Bean
      • Maple Plaform
      • Mediatek Platform
      • Microsoft Azure IoT DevKit
      • Particle Platform
  • Software
    • Exploring RTOS with Galaxia >
      • Event Library
      • Semaphore Library
      • Mailbox Library
      • Timer Library
      • Clock Library
      • SWI Library
      • Task Library
    • Ultra-Low Power with EnergyTrace >
      • Ultra-Low Power with MSP430
      • Ultra-Low Power with Energia MT and Galaxia
    • Using Integers Instead of Reals
    • Going Python?
  • IoT
    • IoT Platforms: Which Hardware?
    • IoT Services: Which Solution? >
      • Recommended IoT Solutions
      • Platform-Specific IoT Solutions
      • Other IoT Solutions
      • Not tested IoT Solutions
      • Notification Solutions
    • Get Date and Time from Internet with NTP
    • Fast and Easy WiFi Connection with QR-Code
  • Tools
    • How to Start?
    • Reference >
      • Asking for Help
      • Boards Pins Maps
      • Ruler
      • Boards and Plugs
      • I²C Logic Level Converter
      • Standards for Connectors
    • Training >
      • Texas Instruments Workshops
      • Embedded Systems: Shape The World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Microcontroller Input/Output — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.10x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Multi-Threaded Interfacing — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.20x
      • Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.RTBN.12.01x
      • Systems Thinking with Texas Instruments Robotics System Learning Kit
    • Books >
      • Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad
      • Getting Started with Arduino
      • Arduino Cookbook
    • IDE >
      • The Battle of IDEs
      • More Options
      • Assessing the Next Generation of IDEs
      • Tools for Documentation
    • Equipment >
      • Saleae Logic Analyser
      • Rigol DS1102E Oscilloscope
      • XDS110 Debug Probe with EnergyTrace​
      • Segger J-Link Programmer-Debugger
      • Nordic Power Profiler Kit II
  • Projects
    • Libraries >
      • Master I²C Software Library
      • Date and Time Library
      • highView Library Suite
      • Others Libraries
    • smartDevices >
      • I²C smartColours Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartRFID Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartLED Display
      • I²C smartControls Smart Device
      • I²C smartWiFi Smart Device
      • I²C smartBLE Smart Device
      • I²C smartNode Smart Device
    • IoT Projects >
      • Typie-Walkie with LoRa and E-Paper Screen
      • Typie-Walkie with E-Paper Screen
      • Remote e-Paper Pictures Panel
      • Remote e-Paper Messages Panel
      • Industrial IoT Project
      • Remote Contactless Temperature Monitor
      • Using Node-RED for IIoT
      • Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Updated Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Weather and Security Station with Blynk
      • SensorTag to Blynk Using Node-RED
      • Pervasive Reporting
    • AI Projects >
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
    • Other Projects >
      • Driving a Large E-Paper Display with a Compact Xiao RP2040
      • Low-Power E-Paper Weather Station
      • Portable Particulate​ Matter Monitor
      • FRAM-based E-Paper Screen Controller
      • General Purpose 3.5" Screen
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
      • A Low Power Weather Station
      • Digital Volt-Amp-Watt Meter
      • Mobile Measurement with LCD Display
      • Screen with SRAM for GUI
      • Volt-Amp-Watt-Meter for Grove
      • Multi-Touch Project with CapTIvate

4D Systems Intelligent Screens

The 4D Systems screens rely on their own fast micro-controller --shall it be called a  GPU?— to manage the screen, touch, SD-card and sound, provide all the graphic primitives and include the fonts.

This frees memory and pins to the main micro-controller to which the screens are connected. 

Only two pins are required for the UART serial connection, hardware or software. The screen works fine up to 115200 bauds with hardware serial.

The state-of-the-art screen in 2012 is an impressive 4.3" 480x270 with capacitive touch.
Picture

My First Screen

My first screen was a μLCD-32PT (SGC) 3.2” Serial LCD Display Module from 4D Systems, a true marvel with:
  • a 320x240 LCD 16-bit colour display,
  • touch control,
  • a micro-SD-card FAT16 reader,
  • and a speaker.

The 4D Systems screens operate in two modes: 
  • stand-alone GFX mode, where the GCU acts as a MCU, 
  • and slave SGC serial mode, where the GCU acts as a slave connected to a main board. 

I've developed the Serial_LCD Library Suite based on the SGC serial mode, with high level application libraries for graphics, GUI and gallery.

Read the detailed review of the μLCD-32PT (SGC) 3.2” Serial LCD Display Module.
Picture

New 2013 Screens

The new range of screens launched early 2013 by 4D Systems includes two significant changes:
  • First, the screens support a specific mode to draw a graphic user interface in just a couple of minutes using drag-and-drop. This amazing new tool is called ViSi-Genie.
  • Second, the SGC serial mode has been replaced by the new SPE2 serial mode, unfortunately incompatible.
As the Serial_LCD Library Suite was based on the SGC serial mode, it is deprecated. Fortunately, 4D Systems provides a library for Arduino.

However, I plan to re-use most of the controls I've developed for the Serial_LCD library on the new LCD_screen Library Suite, aimed at standard screens.
Picture

Forth Generation Screens

The gen4 screens are the 4th generation of screens by 4D Systems. They use the new Diablo16 as GPU and are compatible with previous ViSi-Genie and serial SPE environments.

​This new generation also features a slim and sleek design.
  • The gen4-IoD-28T screen combines a 2.8 touch-screen with an WiFi-ready ESP8266, perfect for IoT applications.​
  • ​The gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB​ is a high-definition 3.5" screen with capacitive touch and bezel, ready to be added to any HMI project.  
Picture

Fifth Generation Screens

The pixxiLCD line is the fifth generation of screens by 4D Systems. They use the new pixxi GPU and are compatible with previous ViSi-Genie and serial SPE environments.

This new generation explores unusual shapes:
  • The pixxiLCD-13P2-CTP-CLB screen fits in a 1.3" circle with 240x240 pixels and capacitive touch.
  • The pixxiLCD-25P4-CTP screen also features 240x240 pixels and capacitive touch, but with a square form of 2.5" diagonal.
  • The pixxiLCD-39P4-CTP screen is a 3.9" rectangular with 480x128 pixels and capacitive touch.

​The screens are available with or without capacitive touch, and with an optional starter kit.

Displays

  • μLCD-32PT (SGC)
  • uLCD-32WPTU
  • ​gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB​
  • pixxiLCD screens

Adaptors

  • Adaptor for Arduino
  • BoosterPack adaptor for LaunchPad

Screens with MCU

  • PICadillo-35T with PIC32
  • gen4-IoD-28T with ESP8266​

Software

  • LCD_screen Library Suite
  • A Genie for Your Arduino Sketch
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.