How to Use Adafruit Grayscale 1.5in 128x128 OLED Graphic Display: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

The Adafruit Grayscale 1.5in 128x128 OLED Graphic Display is a compact and versatile monochrome display module. With a resolution of 128x128 pixels, it offers high contrast and excellent visibility under various lighting conditions. This display is perfect for projects that require a small yet clear interface to show text, graphics, or custom user interfaces.

• Wearable devices
• Portable instruments
• User interfaces for small-scale projects
• Data visualization for sensors
• DIY gaming consoles

• Display Type: OLED, Grayscale
• Resolution: 128x128 pixels
• Color Depth: 16 levels of gray
• Communication: I2C/SPI
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V - 5V
• Active Display Area: 1.5 inches diagonal

1. Power Connections: Connect the VCC pin to a 3.3V or 5V power supply and the GND pin to the ground.

2. Data Connections: For I2C communication, connect the SCL and SDA pins to the corresponding SCL and SDA pins on your microcontroller. For SPI communication, connect SCL to SCK, SDA to MOSI, DC to a digital pin for data/command selection, CS to a digital pin for chip selection, and RES to a digital pin for resetting the display.

3. Initialization: Before sending data to the display, initialize it using the appropriate library and set the communication protocol (I2C/SPI).

• Use level shifters if connecting to a 5V microcontroller to protect the display's 3.3V logic.
• Avoid exposing the display to direct sunlight for extended periods to prevent damage.
• When using SPI, ensure that the CS, DC, and RES pins are correctly set up in your code.

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1327.h>  // Include the SSD1327 grayscale OLED driver library

#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 128  // OLED display width and height, in pixels
#define OLED_RESET    -1   // Reset pin # (or -1 if sharing Arduino reset pin)
#define SCREEN_ADDRESS 0x3D // I2C address for the display

Adafruit_SSD1327 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, OLED_RESET);

void setup() {
  // Initialize with the I2C addr 0x3D (for the 128x128)
  if(!display.begin(SSD1327_I2C_ADDRESS, OLED_RESET)) {
    Serial.println(F("SSD1327 allocation failed"));
    for(;;);
  }
  display.display();  // Show initial display buffer contents on the screen
  delay(2000);       // Pause for 2 seconds
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextSize(1);      // Normal 1:1 pixel scale
  display.setTextColor(SSD1327_WHITE); // Draw white text
  display.setCursor(0, 0);     // Start at top-left corner
  display.print(F("Hello, world!"));
  display.display();
}

void loop() {
  // There's no need to update the display continuously in this example
  // The text "Hello, world!" will remain on the screen
}

• Display Not Powering On: Check the power connections and ensure the voltage is within the specified range.
• No Data on Display: Verify that the I2C/SPI connections are correct and that the correct communication protocol is selected in the code.
• Garbled or Incomplete Graphics: Ensure that the display buffer is correctly initialized and that the display is not being updated too rapidly.

• Double-check wiring, especially the power and ground connections.
• Use the example code as a starting point to ensure that the display is working correctly.
• Consult the Adafruit SSD1327 library documentation for advanced functions and troubleshooting tips.

Q: Can the display be used with both 3.3V and 5V logic? A: Yes, but level shifting is recommended when using 5V logic.

Q: Is the display sunlight-readable? A: The OLED display is visible in sunlight, but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided.

Q: How can I display images on the OLED? A: Convert your images to a bitmap array and use the display library's drawing functions to render the image on the screen.