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Open Source 3.2” TFT Smart Display

This project is an open source 3.2″ Smart TFT display board. The board is based on a PIC32 and a 3.2′ TFT with touchscreen (ILI9320 controller, using 16bits PMP). The software has two main parts. One that produces the 2D functions and a GUI with various widgets (buttons, check boxes, sliders etc).

Tags: #display#smart#tft
Ibrar Ayyub By Ibrar Ayyub
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Summary of Open Source 3.2” TFT Smart Display

This article describes an open-source 3.2-inch Smart TFT display board project based on a PIC32 microcontroller and an ILI9320 touchscreen controller using 16-bit PMP. The custom PCB measures 4.9 x 4.9 cm with two layers. The software, rewritten from scratch to avoid complex libraries, consists of two main components: P2D for 2D drawing functions and a GUI featuring widgets like buttons, checkboxes, and sliders. The project is released under OSHW/GPL3 license.

Parts used in the 3.2″ Smart TFT Display:

  • PIC32 Microcontroller
  • 3.2 inch TFT Display
  • Touchscreen (ILI9320 controller)
  • Custom 2-layer PCB (4.9 x 4.9 cm)
  • 16-bit Parallel Memory Port (PMP)
  • GUI Widgets (buttons, checkboxes, sliders, graphs)
  • P2D Drawing Functions Library

Description

A new version of 3.2″ TFT Smart Display project can be found here

In the beginning, I just wanted to play with these cheap TFT screens available on eBay (displaying some pictures & text, nothing more); step by step, I finally designed a PCB and a built a consequent software with many 2D basic functions and even a small GUI.

The board is based on a PIC32 and a 3.2′ TFT with touchscreen (ILI9320 controller, using 16bits PMP). The PCB is 4.9 x 4.9 cm, 2 layers (=> $15 / 10 units at seeedfusion).

Schematic

About the software: I’ve first tried to use some parts of code provided by Microchip, but their library looks like quite complex from my point of view (some files with more than 5k lines, with too much #ifdef…. ><“). As a result, I rewrote a new software, from scratch; this software is composed of 2 main parts:

– P2D: 2D functions (drawing a line, put some texts & sprites, draw filled polygons, memory buffering…)

– GUI: small GUI with some basic widgets (buttons, checkbox, graph, …). Each widget has generic attributes (disabled, notified, focused, …), can be grouped and linked to signals (e.g. emit a signal when the widget is pressed)

The project is under OSHW / GPL3.

For more detail:  Open Source 3.2” TFT Smart Display

  • What is the core microcontroller used in this project?
    The board is based on a PIC32 microcontroller.
  • Does the display include a touchscreen?
    Yes, it features a touchscreen with an ILI9320 controller.
  • How many layers does the PCB have?
    The PCB is a 2-layer board.
  • What are the two main parts of the software?
    The software is composed of P2D for 2D functions and a GUI with basic widgets.
  • Why did the author rewrite the software from scratch?
    The original Microchip library was considered too complex with large files and excessive conditional compilation.
  • Can widgets be linked to signals?
    Yes, each widget can be grouped and linked to signals, such as emitting a signal when pressed.
  • Under what license is this project released?
    The project is under the OSHW / GPL3 license.
  • What is the cost estimate for ordering the PCB?
    The estimated cost is $15 for 10 units from seeedfusion.
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Ibrar Ayyub

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough...