The ILI9341 is a TFT LCD display controller designed to drive 240x320 pixel displays with a 16-bit color depth. It is widely used in embedded systems for creating graphical user interfaces, displaying images, and rendering text. The controller supports communication via SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) or parallel interfaces, making it versatile and compatible with a variety of microcontrollers.
The ILI9341 controller is packed with features that make it suitable for high-quality graphical displays. Below are its key technical specifications:
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Resolution | 240x320 pixels |
Color Depth | 16-bit (65,536 colors) |
Communication Interface | SPI (4-wire) or Parallel (8/16-bit) |
Operating Voltage | 2.8V to 3.3V |
Backlight Voltage | 3.0V to 3.3V |
Maximum Clock Speed | 10 MHz (SPI mode) |
Operating Temperature | -20°C to 70°C |
Controller Dimensions | Varies based on display module |
The ILI9341 is typically used with a TFT display module. Below is the pinout for a common SPI-based ILI9341 module:
Pin Name | Description |
---|---|
VCC | Power supply input (3.3V recommended) |
GND | Ground connection |
CS | Chip Select (active low, used to enable communication with the display) |
RESET | Reset pin (active low, used to reset the display controller) |
DC (or RS) | Data/Command pin (used to distinguish between data and command instructions) |
SDI (MOSI) | Serial Data Input (Master Out Slave In, used for SPI communication) |
SCK | Serial Clock (used to synchronize SPI communication) |
LED | Backlight control (connect to 3.3V or PWM for brightness control) |
MISO | Serial Data Output (Master In Slave Out, optional for bidirectional SPI) |
Note: Some modules may have additional pins for touch functionality or parallel communication.
The ILI9341 can be easily integrated into a circuit using its SPI interface. Below are the steps to use the ILI9341 with an Arduino UNO:
Below is an example of how to initialize and display graphics on the ILI9341 using the Adafruit GFX and Adafruit ILI9341 libraries:
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h> // Core graphics library
#include <Adafruit_ILI9341.h> // ILI9341 driver library
// Define pin connections
#define TFT_CS 10 // Chip Select pin
#define TFT_RST 9 // Reset pin
#define TFT_DC 8 // Data/Command pin
// Create an instance of the ILI9341 display
Adafruit_ILI9341 tft = Adafruit_ILI9341(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);
void setup() {
// Initialize the display
tft.begin();
// Set rotation (0-3 for different orientations)
tft.setRotation(1);
// Fill the screen with a solid color
tft.fillScreen(ILI9341_BLUE);
// Draw a rectangle
tft.fillRect(50, 50, 100, 100, ILI9341_RED);
// Display text
tft.setTextColor(ILI9341_WHITE);
tft.setTextSize(2);
tft.setCursor(10, 10);
tft.print("Hello, ILI9341!");
}
void loop() {
// Nothing to do here
}
Display Not Turning On:
No Output on the Screen:
Flickering or Unstable Display:
Incorrect Colors or Graphics:
Q: Can I use the ILI9341 with a 5V microcontroller?
A: Yes, but you must use level shifters to convert the 5V logic signals to 3.3V to avoid damaging the module.
Q: How do I control the brightness of the backlight?
A: Connect the LED pin to a PWM-capable pin on your microcontroller and use analogWrite() to adjust brightness.
Q: Can I use the ILI9341 in parallel mode?
A: Yes, the ILI9341 supports an 8-bit or 16-bit parallel interface, but it requires more pins and is less common in hobbyist projects.
Q: What is the maximum resolution supported by the ILI9341?
A: The ILI9341 supports a maximum resolution of 240x320 pixels.
By following this documentation, you should be able to successfully integrate and use the ILI9341 in your projects!