Last Updated: 02/01/2022
ESP32 with ILI9481 SPI LCD Touch Screen or is it a ILI9486?
Components >> ESP32 with ILI9481 SPI LCD Touch Screen or is it a ILI9486?
ILI9481 SPI LCD Touch Screen... or is it a ILI9486?
Unlike the 8 bit Parallel screens, this screen uses SPI to control the screen so basically 4 wires, MISO, MOSI, Chip Select &Data Command.
However this is just for the screen that also has a Reset pin and LED (Back Light) pin although I tied mine to the VCC as I always want the screen on.
This of course only deals with the screen, if you want to use touch you have the same 4 connections all over again. You can share the MISO & MOSI with the screen but need a couple more pins for data and Clk
I ordered a ILI9481 screen with 480 x 320 resolution from Aliexpress as shown below.
There are no serial numbers visable apart from the HST035003 that is the code for the touch screen as these screens can be supplied with or without touch.
Once the screen arrived I connected it as follows.
Pin Out as Follows
VCC 3.3v (My screen spec said it would accept 5 v on VCC not Logic pins
GND > Gnd
TFT_CS > ESP pin 15 // Chip select control pin
TFT_RST > ESP pin 4
TFT_DC > ESP pin 2 // Data Command control pin
TFT_MOSI (SDI) > ESP pin 23
TFT_SCLK > ESP pin 18
BL (LCD power) 3.3V
TFT_MISO > ESP pin 19...although can be left disconnected if not trying to read back from screen
Touch clock TCK > ESP pin 18
Touch Chip Select TCS > ESP pin 21
Touch data to screen TOI > ESP pin 23
Touch Data from screen TDI > ESP pin 19
PEN unused
ILI9481 LCD Touch Screen or is it a ILI9486?
You will need a couple of libraries so include the files:
spi.h and TFT_eSPI.h
The SPI library doesn't require any user set up, however the TFT_eSPI library requires the User_Setup.h to be edited in the library folder.
Problem 1: Wrong colours
According to my sketch this is a red background with a white bordered box and white text on a black background.
As you will see in the video it was this file that caused my intitial issues with the screen .
I have included the set up I used,
NOTE the lines
//#define TFT_INVERSION_ON
#define TFT_INVERSION_OFF
Until I set these as above the screen produced weird colours.
Below is the UserSetup.h file I used for the ESP32 Dev module and ILI9481 SPI LCD Screen
Problem 2: Mirored screen
Once the colours had been sorted I still had a mirrored screen. My intial thought was the rotation but this would not explain the mirrored test that I had totally missed in my concern over the colours.
Not being able to find a setting in User_Setup.h I was a bit baffled. I rechecked my order and it confirmed that I had bought a ILI9481, but then I thought back to previous orders when I have had the wrong resolution screen delivered.
I went back to the site and looked at the other screen options and they offered two other chips, even though they did not come with touch.
I modded user_Setup.h to try a ILI9486 chip and suddenly all was well, even if according to the website the option I have is not available.
Once that was all working it was just a case of setting up the touch system. I don't bother trying to calibrate it but rather adjust the values in my code as explained in the video.
My final User_Setup.h file is shown below.
// USER DEFINED SETTINGS
// Set driver type, fonts to be loaded, pins used and SPI control method etc
//
// See the User_Setup_Select.h file if you wish to be able to define multiple
// setups and then easily select which setup file is used by the compiler.
//
// If this file is edited correctly then all the library example sketches should
// run without the need to make any more changes for a particular hardware setup!
// Note that some sketches are designed for a particular TFT pixel width/height
// ##################################################################################
//
// Section 1. Call up the right driver file and any options for it
//
// ##################################################################################
// Define STM32 to invoke optimised processor support (only for STM32)
//#define STM32
// Defining the STM32 board allows the library to optimise the performance
// for UNO compatible "MCUfriend" style shields
//#define NUCLEO_64_TFT
//#define NUCLEO_144_TFT
// STM32 8 bit parallel only:
// If STN32 Port A or B pins 0-7 are used for 8 bit parallel data bus bits 0-7
// then this will improve rendering performance by a factor of ~8x
//#define STM_PORTA_DATA_BUS
//#define STM_PORTA_DATA_BUS
// Tell the library to use 8 bit parallel mode (otherwise SPI is assumed)
//#define TFT_PARALLEL_8_BIT
// Display type - only define if RPi display
//#define RPI_DISPLAY_TYPE // 20MHz maximum SPI
// Only define one driver, the other ones must be commented out
//#define ILI9341_DRIVER
//#define ST7735_DRIVER // Define additional parameters below for this display
//#define ILI9163_DRIVER // Define additional parameters below for this display
//#define S6D02A1_DRIVER
//#define RPI_ILI9486_DRIVER // 20MHz maximum SPI
//#define HX8357D_DRIVER
//#define ILI9481_DRIVER
#define ILI9486_DRIVER
//#define ILI9488_DRIVER // WARNING: Do not connect ILI9488 display SDO to MISO if other devices share the SPI bus (TFT SDO does NOT tristate when CS is high)
//#define ST7789_DRIVER // Full configuration option, define additional parameters below for this display
//#define ST7789_2_DRIVER // Minimal configuration option, define additional parameters below for this display
//#define R61581_DRIVER
//#define RM68140_DRIVER
//#define ST7796_DRIVER
//#define SSD1963_480_DRIVER
//#define SSD1963_800_DRIVER
//#define SSD1963_800ALT_DRIVER
//#define ILI9225_DRIVER
//#define GC9A01_DRIVER
// Some displays support SPI reads via the MISO pin, other displays have a single
// bi-directional SDA pin and the library will try to read this via the MOSI line.
// To use the SDA line for reading data from the TFT uncomment the following line:
// #define TFT_SDA_READ // This option is for ESP32 ONLY, tested with ST7789 and GC9A01 display only
// For ST7735, ST7789 and ILI9341 ONLY, define the colour order IF the blue and red are swapped on your display
// Try ONE option at a time to find the correct colour order for your display
// #define TFT_RGB_ORDER TFT_RGB // Colour order Red-Green-Blue
// #define TFT_RGB_ORDER TFT_BGR // Colour order Blue-Green-Red
// For M5Stack ESP32 module with integrated ILI9341 display ONLY, remove // in line below
// #define M5STACK
// For ST7789, ST7735, ILI9163 and GC9A01 ONLY, define the pixel width and height in portrait orientation
// #define TFT_WIDTH 80
// #define TFT_WIDTH 128
// #define TFT_WIDTH 240 // ST7789 240 x 240 and 240 x 320
// #define TFT_HEIGHT 160
// #define TFT_HEIGHT 128
// #define TFT_HEIGHT 240 // ST7789 240 x 240
// #define TFT_HEIGHT 320 // ST7789 240 x 320
//#define TFT_HEIGHT 240 // GC9A01 240 x 240
// For ST7735 ONLY, define the type of display, originally this was based on the
// colour of the tab on the screen protector film but this is not always true, so try
// out the different options below if the screen does not display graphics correctly,
// e.g. colours wrong, mirror images, or tray pixels at the edges.
// Comment out ALL BUT ONE of these options for a ST7735 display driver, save this
// this User_Setup file, then rebuild and upload the sketch to the board again:
// #define ST7735_INITB
// #define ST7735_GREENTAB
// #define ST7735_GREENTAB2
// #define ST7735_GREENTAB3
// #define ST7735_GREENTAB128 // For 128 x 128 display
// #define ST7735_GREENTAB160x80 // For 160 x 80 display (BGR, inverted, 26 offset)
// #define ST7735_REDTAB
// #define ST7735_BLACKTAB
// #define ST7735_REDTAB160x80 // For 160 x 80 display with 24 pixel offset
// If colours are inverted (white shows as black) then uncomment one of the next
// 2 lines try both options, one of the options should correct the inversion.
//#define TFT_INVERSION_ON
#define TFT_INVERSION_OFF
// ##################################################################################
//
// Section 2. Define the pins that are used to interface with the display here
//
// ##################################################################################
// If a backlight control signal is available then define the TFT_BL pin in Section 2
// below. The backlight will be turned ON when tft.begin() is called, but the library
// needs to know if the LEDs are ON with the pin HIGH or LOW. If the LEDs are to be
// driven with a PWM signal or turned OFF/ON then this must be handled by the user
// sketch. e.g. with digitalWrite(TFT_BL, LOW);
// #define TFT_BL 32 // LED back-light control pin
// #define TFT_BACKLIGHT_ON HIGH // Level to turn ON back-light (HIGH or LOW)
// We must use hardware SPI, a minimum of 3 GPIO pins is needed.
// Typical setup for ESP8266 NodeMCU ESP-12 is :
//
// Display SDO/MISO to NodeMCU pin D6 (or leave disconnected if not reading TFT)
// Display LED to NodeMCU pin VIN (or 5V, see below)
// Display SCK to NodeMCU pin D5
// Display SDI/MOSI to NodeMCU pin D7
// Display DC (RS/AO)to NodeMCU pin D3
// Display RESET to NodeMCU pin D4 (or RST, see below)
// Display CS to NodeMCU pin D8 (or GND, see below)
// Display GND to NodeMCU pin GND (0V)
// Display VCC to NodeMCU 5V or 3.3V
//
// The TFT RESET pin can be connected to the NodeMCU RST pin or 3.3V to free up a control pin
//
// The DC (Data Command) pin may be labeled AO or RS (Register Select)
//
// With some displays such as the ILI9341 the TFT CS pin can be connected to GND if no more
// SPI devices (e.g. an SD Card) are connected, in this case comment out the #define TFT_CS
// line below so it is NOT defined. Other displays such at the ST7735 require the TFT CS pin
// to be toggled during setup, so in these cases the TFT_CS line must be defined and connected.
//
// The NodeMCU D0 pin can be used for RST
//
//
// Note: only some versions of the NodeMCU provide the USB 5V on the VIN pin
// If 5V is not available at a pin you can use 3.3V but backlight brightness
// will be lower.
// ###### EDIT THE PIN NUMBERS IN THE LINES FOLLOWING TO SUIT YOUR ESP8266 SETUP ######
// For NodeMCU - use pin numbers in the form PIN_Dx where Dx is the NodeMCU pin designation
//#define TFT_CS PIN_D8 // Chip select control pin D8
//#define TFT_DC PIN_D3 // Data Command control pin
//#define TFT_RST PIN_D4 // Reset pin (could connect to NodeMCU RST, see next line)
//#define TFT_RST -1 // Set TFT_RST to -1 if the display RESET is connected to NodeMCU RST or 3.3V
//#define TFT_BL PIN_D1 // LED back-light (only for ST7789 with backlight control pin)
//#define TOUCH_CS PIN_D2 // Chip select pin (T_CS) of touch screen
//#define TFT_WR PIN_D2 // Write strobe for modified Raspberry Pi TFT only
// ###### FOR ESP8266 OVERLAP MODE EDIT THE PIN NUMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING LINES ######
// Overlap mode shares the ESP8266 FLASH SPI bus with the TFT so has a performance impact
// but saves pins for other functions. It is best not to connect MISO as some displays
// do not tristate that line wjen chip select is high!
// On NodeMCU 1.0 SD0=MISO, SD1=MOSI, CLK=SCLK to connect to TFT in overlap mode
// On NodeMCU V3 S0 =MISO, S1 =MOSI, S2 =SCLK
// In ESP8266 overlap mode the following must be defined
//#define TFT_SPI_OVERLAP
// In ESP8266 overlap mode the TFT chip select MUST connect to pin D3
//#define TFT_CS PIN_D3
//#define TFT_DC PIN_D5 // Data Command control pin
//#define TFT_RST PIN_D4 // Reset pin (could connect to NodeMCU RST, see next line)
//#define TFT_RST -1 // Set TFT_RST to -1 if the display RESET is connected to NodeMCU RST or 3.3V
// ###### EDIT THE PIN NUMBERS IN THE LINES FOLLOWING TO SUIT YOUR ESP32 SETUP ######
// For ESP32 Dev board (only tested with ILI9341 display)
// The hardware SPI can be mapped to any pins
#define TFT_MISO 19
#define TFT_MOSI 23
#define TFT_SCLK 18
#define TFT_CS 15 // Chip select control pin
#define TFT_DC 2 // Data Command control pin
#define TFT_RST 4 // Reset pin (could connect to RST pin)
//#define TFT_RST -1 // Set TFT_RST to -1 if display RESET is connected to ESP32 board RST
// For ESP32 Dev board (only tested with GC9A01 display)
// The hardware SPI can be mapped to any pins
//#define TFT_MOSI 15 // In some display driver board, it might be written as "SDA" and so on.
//#define TFT_SCLK 14
//#define TFT_CS 5 // Chip select control pin
//#define TFT_DC 27 // Data Command control pin
//#define TFT_RST 33 // Reset pin (could connect to Arduino RESET pin)
//#define TFT_BL 22 // LED back-light
#define TOUCH_CS 21 // Chip select pin (T_CS) of touch screen
//#define TFT_WR 22 // Write strobe for modified Raspberry Pi TFT only
// For the M5Stack module use these #define lines
//#define TFT_MISO 19
//#define TFT_MOSI 23
//#define TFT_SCLK 18
//#define TFT_CS 14 // Chip select control pin
//#define TFT_DC 27 // Data Command control pin
//#define TFT_RST 33 // Reset pin (could connect to Arduino RESET pin)
//#define TFT_BL 32 // LED back-light (required for M5Stack)
// ###### EDIT THE PINs BELOW TO SUIT YOUR ESP32 PARALLEL TFT SETUP ######
// The library supports 8 bit parallel TFTs with the ESP32, the pin
// selection below is compatible with ESP32 boards in UNO format.
// Wemos D32 boards need to be modified, see diagram in Tools folder.
// Only ILI9481 and ILI9341 based displays have been tested!
// Parallel bus is only supported for the STM32 and ESP32
// Example below is for ESP32 Parallel interface with UNO displays
// Tell the library to use 8 bit parallel mode (otherwise SPI is assumed)
//#define TFT_PARALLEL_8_BIT
// The ESP32 and TFT the pins used for testing are:
//#define TFT_CS 33 // Chip select control pin (library pulls permanently low
//#define TFT_DC 15 // Data Command control pin - must use a pin in the range 0-31
//#define TFT_RST 32 // Reset pin, toggles on startup
//#define TFT_WR 4 // Write strobe control pin - must use a pin in the range 0-31
//#define TFT_RD 2 // Read strobe control pin
//#define TFT_D0 12 // Must use pins in the range 0-31 for the data bus
//#define TFT_D1 13 // so a single register write sets/clears all bits.
//#define TFT_D2 26 // Pins can be randomly assigned, this does not affect
//#define TFT_D3 25 // TFT screen update performance.
//#define TFT_D4 17
//#define TFT_D5 16
//#define TFT_D6 27
//#define TFT_D7 14
// ###### EDIT THE PINs BELOW TO SUIT YOUR STM32 SPI TFT SETUP ######
// The TFT can be connected to SPI port 1 or 2
//#define TFT_SPI_PORT 1 // SPI port 1 maximum clock rate is 55MHz
//#define TFT_MOSI PA7
//#define TFT_MISO PA6
//#define TFT_SCLK PA5
//#define TFT_SPI_PORT 2 // SPI port 2 maximum clock rate is 27MHz
//#define TFT_MOSI PB15
//#define TFT_MISO PB14
//#define TFT_SCLK PB13
// Can use Ardiuno pin references, arbitrary allocation, TFT_eSPI controls chip select
//#define TFT_CS D5 // Chip select control pin to TFT CS
//#define TFT_DC D6 // Data Command control pin to TFT DC (may be labelled RS = Register Select)
//#define TFT_RST D7 // Reset pin to TFT RST (or RESET)
// OR alternatively, we can use STM32 port reference names PXnn
//#define TFT_CS PE11 // Nucleo-F767ZI equivalent of D5
//#define TFT_DC PE9 // Nucleo-F767ZI equivalent of D6
//#define TFT_RST PF13 // Nucleo-F767ZI equivalent of D7
//#define TFT_RST -1 // Set TFT_RST to -1 if the display RESET is connected to processor reset
// Use an Arduino pin for initial testing as connecting to processor reset
// may not work (pulse too short at power up?)
// ##################################################################################
//
// Section 3. Define the fonts that are to be used here
//
// ##################################################################################
// Comment out the #defines below with // to stop that font being loaded
// The ESP8366 and ESP32 have plenty of memory so commenting out fonts is not
// normally necessary. If all fonts are loaded the extra FLASH space required is
// about 17Kbytes. To save FLASH space only enable the fonts you need!
#define LOAD_GLCD // Font 1. Original Adafruit 8 pixel font needs ~1820 bytes in FLASH
#define LOAD_FONT2 // Font 2. Small 16 pixel high font, needs ~3534 bytes in FLASH, 96 characters
#define LOAD_FONT4 // Font 4. Medium 26 pixel high font, needs ~5848 bytes in FLASH, 96 characters
#define LOAD_FONT6 // Font 6. Large 48 pixel font, needs ~2666 bytes in FLASH, only characters 1234567890:-.apm
#define LOAD_FONT7 // Font 7. 7 segment 48 pixel font, needs ~2438 bytes in FLASH, only characters 1234567890:-.
#define LOAD_FONT8 // Font 8. Large 75 pixel font needs ~3256 bytes in FLASH, only characters 1234567890:-.
//#define LOAD_FONT8N // Font 8. Alternative to Font 8 above, slightly narrower, so 3 digits fit a 160 pixel TFT
#define LOAD_GFXFF // FreeFonts. Include access to the 48 Adafruit_GFX free fonts FF1 to FF48 and custom fonts
// Comment out the #define below to stop the SPIFFS filing system and smooth font code being loaded
// this will save ~20kbytes of FLASH
#define SMOOTH_FONT
// ##################################################################################
//
// Section 4. Other options
//
// ##################################################################################
// Define the SPI clock frequency, this affects the graphics rendering speed. Too
// fast and the TFT driver will not keep up and display corruption appears.
// With an ILI9341 display 40MHz works OK, 80MHz sometimes fails
// With a ST7735 display more than 27MHz may not work (spurious pixels and lines)
// With an ILI9163 display 27 MHz works OK.
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 1000000
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 5000000
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 10000000
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 20000000
#define SPI_FREQUENCY 27000000
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 40000000
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 55000000 // STM32 SPI1 only (SPI2 maximum is 27MHz)
// #define SPI_FREQUENCY 80000000
// Optional reduced SPI frequency for reading TFT
#define SPI_READ_FREQUENCY 20000000
// The XPT2046 requires a lower SPI clock rate of 2.5MHz so we define that here:
#define SPI_TOUCH_FREQUENCY 2500000
// The ESP32 has 2 free SPI ports i.e. VSPI and HSPI, the VSPI is the default.
// If the VSPI port is in use and pins are not accessible (e.g. TTGO T-Beam)
// then uncomment the following line:
//#define USE_HSPI_PORT
// Comment out the following #define if "SPI Transactions" do not need to be
// supported. When commented out the code size will be smaller and sketches will
// run slightly faster, so leave it commented out unless you need it!
// Transaction support is needed to work with SD library but not needed with TFT_SdFat
// Transaction support is required if other SPI devices are connected.
// Transactions are automatically enabled by the library for an ESP32 (to use HAL mutex)
// so changing it here has no effect
// #define SUPPORT_TRANSACTIONS
Example 1: ESP32_SPI_9481_v1.ino
Click to Download code: ESP32_SPI_9481_v1.ino
Simple test sketch, red background, white outline box and some text.
Touch points written to Serial monitor.
/* ESP32_SPI_9481_v1
*
* Despite the script name I was supplied with a 9486
*
* Basic attempt to get screen working
* Screen working...eventually
* I has to uncomment the following in the User_SetUp.h to get correct colours
*
//#define TFT_INVERSION_ON
#define TFT_INVERSION_OFF
* Touch working
*
* pins, note that touch and screen share a couple of pins...SPI
*
Pins in Order starting at screen VCC
VCC 3.3v (My screen spec said it would accept 5 v on VCC not Logic pins
GND > Gnd
TFT_CS > ESP pin 15 // Chip select control pin
TFT_RST > ESP pin 4
TFT_DC > ESP pin 2 // Data Command control pin
TFT_MOSI (SDI) > ESP pin 23
TFT_SCLK > ESP pin 18
BL (LCD power) 3.3V
TFT_MISO > ESP pin 19...although can be left disconnected if not trying to read back from screen
Touch clock TCK > ESP pin 18
Touch Chip Select TCS > ESP pin 21
Touch data to screen TOI > ESP pin 23
Touch Data from screen TDI > ESP pin 19
PEN unused
*/
#include "TFT_eSPI.h" // Hardware-specific library
#include "SPI.h"
//#define TFT_RED 0xF800 /* 255, 0, 0 */
TFT_eSPI tft = TFT_eSPI(); // Invoke custom library with default width and height
//touch variables
int xTouch; //x position
int yTouch; //y position
unsigned long touchTimer;//keeps track of touch timings
const int debounceSensitivity = 300;//300 milliseconds debounce
//deals with screen being touched
void screenPress() {
uint16_t x, y;
unsigned long currentMillis;
currentMillis = millis();
//deals with debouncing
if ((currentMillis - touchTimer) >= debounceSensitivity) {
touchTimer = currentMillis;
tft.getTouchRaw(&x, &y);//only bother getting readings when needed
if (tft.getTouchRawZ() > 500) {
//will need alterations if screen is rotated
xTouch = (x - 380) / 10; //9.75
yTouch = (y - 248) / 7; //7.04
Serial.printf("x: %i ", x);
Serial.printf("y: %i ", y);
Serial.printf("z: %i \n", tft.getTouchRawZ());
Serial.print("X: ");
Serial.print(xTouch);
Serial.print(" Y: ");
Serial.println(yTouch);
}
}
}
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
Serial.println("ESP32_SPI_9481_v1");
tft.begin();
tft.init();
tft.setRotation(0);
tft.fillScreen(TFT_RED);
tft.drawRect(0,0,319,476,TFT_WHITE);//screen seems to only display 476 wide, rest is hidden under black surround
tft.drawRect(10,10,10,10,TFT_WHITE);//just to let me know top corner
tft.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE, TFT_BLACK);
tft.setCursor(40,40);
tft.println("Some Text");
}
void loop() {
screenPress();
}
Additional Resource Links
Comments
This site has been designed to be child friendly, this means that comments cannot be added to videos or directly to the site. To add a comment or ask a question please email the address in this image: and use ESP32 with ILI9481 SPI LCD Touch Screen or is it a ILI9486? as a reference.