LCD backpacks reduce the number of pins needed to connect to an LCD. LCDs are a fun and easy way to have your microcontroller project talk back to you. Character LCDs are common, and easy to get, available in tons of colors and sizes. We've written tutorials on using character LCDs with an Arduino (or similar microcontroller) but find that the number of pins necessary to control the LCD can be restrictive, especially with ambitious projects. We wanted to make a 'backpack' (add-on circuit) that would reduce the number of pins without a lot of expense.By using simple i2c and SPI input/output expanders we have reduced the number of pins (only 2 pins are needed for i2c) while still making it easy to interface with the LCD. For Arduino users, we provide a easy-to-use library that is backwards compatible with projects using the '6 pin' wiring. The breakout comes with a 2-pin and 3-pin terminal block as shown (you can snap it together to make a 5-pin terminal and then solder it to the backpack for easy wiring)This backpack will work with any 'standard' character LCD, from 8x1 to 20x4 sizes!

As long as they have a 16-pin single-line connection header at the top. We carry a few LCDs that work great. We suggest using our blue & white 20x4 or 16x2 LCDs. kipling mawson backpackIt does not work with the 16x2 OLED displays. adidas byrnes backpackYou can try to connect our RGB 16x2 or 20x4 LCDs up but this backpack will not control the RGB backlight so you'll have to use the backpack only for the 14 digital IO pins (pins #1-14) and connect the backlight pins (#15-#18) directly to your microcontroller with 4 extra wires for color/PWM control as if they were just an RGB LED.issey miyake backpack ebayFor advanced users, this project can be used for general purpose I/O expansion, the MCP23008 has 8 i/o pins (7 are connected) with optional pull-ups, the SPI 74HC595 has 7 connected outputs.backpack kunming

For a detailed tutorial on usage, including an Arduino library, wiring diagrams, and files, please visit the product pageLCD Backpack V2 - I2C and Serial RX Reviews (8) Related Products (9) LCD Backpack V2 - I2C and Serial RX The Hobbytronics LCD Backpack is a useful little board that can be soldered onto the back of LCD’s that use the standard Hitachi HD44780 compatible interface. This allows the LCD (and backlight if fitted) to be controlled directly from a microcontroller using either the I2C interface or via a serial RX connection at baud rates from 2400 up to 115200. It contains a bootloader so the software can be updated. The latest version can be downloaded on the right. Click Here to Download (Version 2.06) This has a number of advantages Reduces the minimum number of connections needed from 12 (for an LCD with backlight) to only 3 or 4 thus saving many input/output pins on the microcontroller Control an LCD using virtually any microcontroller either through the I2C interface or via a serial RX connection (either in hardware or software)

Digital control of LCD backlight brightness from off (0) to fully on (250) and any level in between LCD Contrast adjustment potentiometer fitted to backpack Allows the connection of multiple LCD displays to one microcontroller without additional pins. The backpack uses a 160 byte command buffer to alleviate any need for delays in your code. Send commands and data in a stream and the backpack will process them in order. Suitable for LCD’s with Hitachi HD44780 compatible interface without a backlight and for displays with common Anode LCD backlights. The LCD Backpack requires a suitable 5V or 3.3V supply (depending on the LCD display). This does not apply to the Serial connection however. Because only the RX in pin of the backpack is used, this can be connected directly to the TX of a system running at 3.3V without any level shifting. This makes it ideally suited to connecting directly to a Raspberry Pi for instance. Suitable for 5V and 3.3V common Anode LCD’s with Hitachi HD44780 compatible interface

I2C address defaults to 58 (0x3A) but can be set to any valid I2C address in the range 1 - 127 Digital control of LCD backlight brightness with 250 brightness levels. LCD contrast set by trimmer potentiometer. Space for I2C pullup resistors (if needed) Bootloader installed for easy software updates (see manual) Serial connection at 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 28800, 57600, 115200 160 byte command buffer I2C Communication at 5V or 3.3V  levels Serial RX communication at 5V or 3.3V levels Size:  43mm x 22mm The backpack comes complete with 16-way male header pins for connection to the LCD and a six pin right angle header for connection to a microcontroller. We have created a useful Arduino I2C Library to make using the backpack very easy and also have example code and a library file for the Hi-Tech C compiler. Conversion of these libraries to other languages should be straightforward. LCD Backpack Datasheet V2 and example programs

Arduino I2C and Serial RX Example code and Library Hi-Tech C LCD I2C Backpack Demo and Library Works with Raspberry Pi We can confirm that the LCD Backpack works great with the Raspberry Pi. Please note however that . You can use the Serial RX connection directly without the need for logic level conversion or use I2C with a 3.3V display The Backpack Datasheet contains example Raspberry Pi programs Using i2cset and the I2C interface Using Python and the Serial RX interface Video (Showing version 1 board) 20x4 LCD Display White/Blue LED Backlight 16x2 LCD Display White/Blue LED Backlight 16x2 LCD Display White/Blue LED Backlight 3.3V 16x2 LCD Display Yellow/green LED Backlight LCD 8x2 Character - Black on Green 3.3V 16x4 LCD Display White/Blue LED Backlight 16x2 LCD Display Yellow/green LED Backlight 3.3V Basic 16x2 Character LCD - White on Black 3.3V Basic 20x4 Character LCD - Black on Green 5V Enter the code in the box below: