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 Sharp Memory LCD BoosterPack 128

This Sharp Memory LCD BoosterPack 128 is the second generation after the previous Sharp Memory LCD BoosterPack 96. This new BoosterPack features a 1.3" 128x128 pixels screen in black and white and a micro-SD card reader. 

Connection is done through SPI, software or hardware, and uses 4 additional pins only to be added to the SPI pins. The micro-SD card requires 2 more pins, one for select, another for detect.

The Sharp LCD display doesn't include GRAM or graphic RAM. So it takes 128 rows x 128 pixels per row / 8 pixels per byte = 2048 bytes or 2 kB from the RAM or FRAM of the MCU for the frame buffer.

​The screen was sampled by Texas Instruments.
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Technology

Apart from the higher density, the screen offers a better readability: black on grey, instead of the previous reflective and non-reflective pixels. 

The screen may sound familiar, as it is already used in smart-watches.

​
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On the back, shunt resistors allow to change the pins for the chip selects of the screen and the micro-SD card, as well as for the micro-SD detect.

Readability is optimal at sun light or with artificial light. Reversed display (white on black) offers even better readability.

The screen uses very low power, and only needs to be refreshed once per second.

The contrast fits perfectly for displaying a QR code, in normal and reverse modes. See the Fast and Easy Connection with QR-Code project for more information.
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Software

The screen comes with libraries and examples for Code Composer Studio as well as Energia. The initial library for Energia was extended to support this new screen.

Pins Map

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Conclusion

This second generation of the Sharp Memory LCD BoosterPack is a welcomed improvement over the first one. 

The only fragile part is the flat cable connecting the screen, which is still not protected.
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Pros

  • Nice combination of screen with micro-SD card
  • Ultra-low power LCD
  • High contrast and great readability

Cons

  • No built-in GRAM
  • Fragile flat cable not protected

Wrap-Up

  • Requires a MCU with at least 2 KB of RAM
  • Ultra-low power LCD
  • Same library

Links

  • Product Page 
  • Sharp memory displays

Posted: 22 Oct 2018
​Edited: 06 Apr 2020
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