Little Bird
Display-O-Tron Breakout
The Display-O-Tron Breakout pairs a high-contrast 16 × 3 character LCD with an RGB backlight on a compact breakout board. It runs from either 3.3 V or 5 V an...
The Display-O-Tron Breakout pairs a high-contrast 16 × 3 character LCD with an RGB backlight on a compact breakout board. It runs from either 3.3 V or 5 V and supports SPI, 4-bit, and 8-bit interfaces via the ST7036 controller — making it compatible with Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and most other microcontrollers.
The RGB backlight is driven by onboard FETs, so you only need to supply logic-level signals to the R, G, and B pins (PWM supported) for full colour mixing.
Key Features
- 16 × 3 Character LCD – High-contrast display with ST7036 controller
- RGB Backlight – FET-driven, controllable via PWM for any colour
- Dual Voltage – Operates from 3.3 V or 5 V supply
- Multiple Interfaces – SPI, 4-bit, and 8-bit addressing (HD44780-compatible)
- M2.5 Mounting Holes – Easy to secure in enclosures and projects
Ideal For
- Raspberry Pi status displays and dashboards
- Arduino projects needing a compact character LCD
- IoT devices with visual feedback
Resources
- Datasheet (PDF) – Includes sample wiring diagrams for all modes of operation
- Python ST7036 Driver – Pimoroni library for Raspberry Pi
- DogLcd Arduino Library – Arduino-compatible driver
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- IoT
- Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.
- LCD
- LCD stands for liquid crystal display, a screen technology that uses a backlight and liquid crystals to show images or text. It matters because LCD modules usually need a display driver and enough controller pins or a bus interface to send image data.
- M2.5
- A metric screw thread size with a 2.5 mm nominal diameter. It matters for mounting because screws, standoffs, and holes must use the same size to fit securely without damaging the board.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
Find this product in
Displays & Screens
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
