I2C µBackpack for 8x2 character LCD

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I2C µBackpack for 8x2 character LCD

Few words about my I2C µBackpack for 8x2 character LCDs.

I really like using the very common 16x2 character LCDs with I2C backpacks for their simplicity. However, sometimes There just isn't the space or even the need to use a wide display like the 16x2.

Conveniently, these HD44780-based displays are made in a lot of different sizes. My favorite is the 8x2, sadly (at the expense of tiny I2C OLEDs), this one is often overlooked by the maker community. This means There wasn't a proper, dedicated backpack you could easily get for them.

8X2 char. LCD

very common 16x2 char. LCD

20x4 char. LCD

.......
What is an I2C backpack?
An I2C backpack basically adapts the extensive parallel bus character displays use to the popular 2-wire I2C bus. This saves on a lot of wiring and precious IO pins on your microcontroller. And as a bonus, you can even share these 2 wires between 127 more accessories!!!
Of course, nothing comes without a catch; using an I2C backpack will make the refresh rate of your display a little slower.

When it comes to the small 8x2 display, you can no longer use the extremely common I2C backpack with all its pins. in one row. I copied the entire schematic of it and just arranged the display header for the 8x2 LCD.

Getting one for yourself
I have made the design files availible here. For assesembling it I have generated this interactive Bill Of Materials (BOM). If for some reason you just want to buy a completed one from me, you can contact me.
!!! If you want to get this board made, wait for me to publish a new revision with the correct IC footprint and a Stemma/Qwiic/uSup connector !!!

front side of the uBackpack
installed on an 8x2 LCD

back side of the uBackpack

bare boards

Compatibility
While I designed this backpack for use with 8x2 displays, it will also work with any display which has this kind of 2 row connector.

back of the new rev.

Revision B
In this revision I fixed the IC footprint and added the "standard" Qwiic/stemma/uSup connector for simple use.

back of the new rev.

........
More to come, im tired now.

Published 27.12. 2024

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