This is a placeholder topic for “Graphic LCD 84x48 - Nokia 5110” comments.
Cannot get this to work with a Pi Pico, but it works nicely with Arduino UNO.
Gone through all the options with the Pico SPI interface, tried both SPI controllers and various alt pin configurations. Tried various clock speeds and delay between byte transfers. Uses similar code to the Arduino written in python, tried a Pico library I found. The display refuses to show anything. It is further complicated because the data transfer is one way only. There is no SPI out of the display.
I could build my project with the Arduino, but the Pico is a better option. Bought the display a couple of years ago and have not used it till now. Was about to give it up as bad till I tried the UNO.
Has anyone got this to work with a Pico ??
Is there something obscure about the Pico SPI I am doing wrong ??
Till now I have mainly used the Pico with the I2C interface, which works nicely.
Regards
Jim
PS I could use a PiicoDev OLED with the large font I developed some time ago but I wanted to make some use of the Nokia 5110. And not have it as a wasted purchase.
EDIT: Also tried a brand new Pico with lastest micropython, nothing on display.
Huh. I think I have an old Nokia in a drawer somewhere… kept it for an emergency backup, but these days the phone network no longer supports it. Wonder if I could dig out the screen and put it to use…? That would be heaps cool.
Tried a difference library and example and now it works. Nice.
Not going to try to figure out why it was not working with previous library and code.
Regards
Jim
I am well down this rabbit hole. Currently waiting on a breadboard kit and some logic level converters…
What I have come up with.
Simple clock display with Nokia 5110, Pico, 400mAH battery, and some Makerverse boards (RTC, Nano Timer, USB-C Lipo charger).
Every 2 hours the Pico activates to display time and date for 2 minutes.
Pressing button activates Pico immediately for 2 minutes.
I estimate the battery should last about 45 days if on for 2 minutes every 2 hours.
The Pico is a power hog at 18mA, other items consume 3mA when on.
############################################################################
# Clock Display
#
# Using Makeverse RTC, Nokia 5110 Display and Pi Pico
#
#
############################################################################
import pcd8544
import framebuf
from machine import I2C, Pin, SPI
from PiicoDev_Unified import sleep_ms
from Makerverse_RV3028 import Makerverse_RV3028
############################################################################
# Pins
############################################################################
cs = Pin(22)
rst = Pin(21)
dc = Pin(20)
done = Pin(16, Pin.OUT)
############################################################################
# Variables
############################################################################
charBlank = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00')
charSlash = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x80\xf0\xfc\x7c\x0c\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xc0\xf8\xff\x3f\x07\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x60\x7e\x7f\x1f\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00')
charColon = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x70\x70\x70\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x0e\x0e\x0e\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00')
charError = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x38\x3c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\xfc\xf8\xe0\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xfc\xfc\x3e\x0e\x0f\x07\x03\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x1d\x1d\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00')
char0 = bytearray(b'\x00\xc0\xf0\xf8\x3c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x7c\xf8\xf0\xc0\x00\x00\xff\xff\xff\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xff\xff\xff\x00\x00\x07\x1f\x3f\x78\x70\x70\x70\x70\x70\x78\x3f\x1f\x07\x00')
char1 = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x80\xc0\xe0\xe0\xf0\xf8\xfc\xfc\xfc\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x03\x03\x01\x01\x00\x00\xff\xff\xff\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x7f\x7f\x7f\x00\x00\x00\x00')
char2 = bytearray(b'\x00\xf0\xf8\xf8\x3c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x3c\x7c\xf8\xe0\x00\x00\x00\x01\x01\x00\x00\x80\xc0\xe0\xf0\x3c\x1f\x0f\x07\x00\x00\x70\x78\x7c\x7e\x77\x73\x73\x71\x70\x70\x70\x70\x70\x00')
char3 = bytearray(b'\x00\x70\xf8\xf8\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\xfc\xf8\xf0\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x0c\x0c\x0e\x0e\x1e\x3f\xff\xff\xf0\x00\x00\x0e\x1f\x1f\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x3c\x1f\x1f\x07\x00')
char4 = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x80\xc0\xf0\x78\xfc\xfc\xfc\x00\x00\x00\xf0\xf8\xfc\x9e\x8f\x87\x81\x80\x80\xff\xff\xff\x80\x00\x00\x03\x03\x03\x03\x03\x03\x03\x03\x03\x7f\x7f\x7f\x03\x00')
char5 = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\xf0\xfc\x3c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x00\x00\x1c\x1f\x1f\x07\x07\x07\x07\x07\x07\x07\xfe\xfe\xf8\x00\x00\x0f\x1f\x1f\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x3c\x1f\x0f\x03\x00')
char6 = bytearray(b'\x00\xc0\xe0\xf0\x78\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x3c\x7c\xf8\xf0\x00\x00\xff\xff\xff\x1c\x0e\x0e\x0e\x0e\x0e\x1e\xfe\xfc\xf0\x00\x00\x03\x0f\x1f\x1c\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x3c\x3f\x1f\x07\x00')
char7 = bytearray(b'\x00\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x9c\xdc\xfc\xfc\x7c\x3c\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xc0\xf8\x7e\x1f\x0f\x03\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x7c\x7f\x7f\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00')
char8 = bytearray(b'\x00\x00\xf0\xf8\xfc\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\xfc\xf8\xe0\x00\x00\x00\xf0\xfb\xff\x3f\x1e\x1e\x1e\x1e\x1e\x3f\xff\xfb\xf0\x00\x00\x0f\x1f\x1f\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x38\x3c\x1f\x1f\x07\x00')
char9 = bytearray(b'\x00\xf0\xf8\xfc\x3c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x1c\x3c\xfc\xf8\xe0\x00\x00\x1f\x3f\x3f\x78\x70\x70\x70\x70\x70\x38\xff\xff\xff\x00\x00\x0e\x1e\x1e\x38\x38\x30\x30\x38\x18\x1e\x0f\x0f\x03\x00')
months = {"01":"JAN","02":"FEB","03":"MAR","04":"APR",
"05":"MAY","06":"JUN","07":"JUL","08":"AUG",
"09":"SEP","10":"OCT","11":"NOV","12":"DEC"}
Date = "01/01/80"
Time = "00:00"
Flash = True
Count = 0
PwrOffCount = 0
############################################################################
# Setup
############################################################################
spi = SPI(1)
spi.init(baudrate=2000000, polarity=0, phase=0)
lcd = pcd8544.PCD8544(spi, cs, dc, rst)
buffer = bytearray((pcd8544.HEIGHT // 8) * pcd8544.WIDTH)
fbuf = framebuf.FrameBuffer(buffer,pcd8544.WIDTH,pcd8544.HEIGHT,framebuf.MONO_VLSB)
i2c=I2C(0,sda=Pin(8),scl=Pin(9),freq=400000)
rtc = Makerverse_RV3028(i2c=i2c)
############################################################################
# display char at x.y
############################################################################
def Show_Digit(char, x, y):
cbuf = framebuf.FrameBuffer(char,15,24,framebuf.MONO_VLSB)
fbuf.blit(cbuf,x,y)
return
############################################################################
# Get character byte array to display
############################################################################
def GetChar(s):
if s == '0':
c = char0
elif s == '1':
c = char1
elif s == '2':
c = char2
elif s == '3':
c = char3
elif s == '4':
c = char4
elif s == '5':
c = char5
elif s == '6':
c = char6
elif s == '7':
c = char7
elif s == '8':
c = char8
elif s == '9':
c = char9
else:
c = charError
return c
############################################################################
# Display the time every minute
############################################################################
def DisplayTime(t):
Show_Digit(GetChar(t[0:1]),3,2)
Show_Digit(GetChar(t[1:2]),19,2)
Show_Digit(charColon,35,2)
Show_Digit(GetChar(t[3:4]),50,2)
Show_Digit(GetChar(t[4:5]),67,2)
lcd.data(buffer)
return
############################################################################
# Read the RTC date time, updates date if changed
############################################################################
def GetDateTime():
global Date,Months
dt = rtc.timestamp()
d = dt[8:10]+' '+months[dt[5:7]]+' '+dt[2:4]
t = dt[11:13]+':'+dt[14:16]
if d != Date:
fbuf.text(d,5,35,1)
lcd.data(buffer)
Date = d
return t
############################################################################
# Main
############################################################################
done.value(0)
fbuf.fill(0)
fbuf.rect(0,0,84,48,1)
lcd.data(buffer)
Time = GetDateTime() # updates date if needed
DisplayTime(Time)
try:
while True:
Count += 1
if Count > 60:
Time = GetDateTime() # updates date if needed
DisplayTime(Time)
PwrOffCount += 1
Count = 0
if Flash: Show_Digit(charColon,35,2)
else: Show_Digit(charBlank,35,2)
lcd.data(buffer)
Flash = not Flash
if PwrOffCount > 1:
PwrOffCount = 0
done.value(1)
sleep_ms(1000)
except Exception as e:
print('Error occurred : {}'.format(e))
finally:
pass
#############################################################################
#############################################################################
#############################################################################
Uses PiicoDev & Makerverse Libraries and Nokia Library.
Happy with end result, bought a few more Nokia 5110 displays from Ebay ($3.56 each).
Makerverse products work very well.
Cheers
Jim
EDIT: Error in wiring. Shows GPIO19 connected to Nano timer Done, code actually uses GPIPO16 and pic shows connection to GPIO16.
@Kimmo Looking good.
Nice to see old tech get a new lease of life.
Cheers
It was a short lease!
Had a moment of brain fade and wired a couple of the pins to the wrong side of the level shifter 
Hey Kimmo,
It happens to the best of us! Hopefully its recoverable and if not, I guess the magic smoke decided the project path for you!
Cheers,
Blayden
After the first test run of this I realised I made a big mistake.
The Pico will work down to 1.8V, way below the safe level for a LiPo.
Probably damaged and reduced the life span of the LiPo I was using.
It ran for 39 days.
In the second attempt the Pico measures VSYS via ADC.3 and turns off immediately if the voltage is below 3.5V. This works pretty well. The display shows the battery voltage as a visual indicator.
Also reduced the ON time to 15 seconds, more than enough to read the date and time.
With a 400mAH LiPo it should have a life span of almost a year.
Now to test that.
I will be incorporating the VSYS check in future Pico battery powered projects.
Still amazed at how effective and versatile the RP2040 is for such a low cost.
This has been fun getting old tech (Nokia Display) to work with a modern microcontroller and other parts.
Cheers
Jim
Is it monochrome?
@lia262073 Yes. This Nokia display is ancient.
I had a Nokia with this type of display and killed it by accidently putting it through the wash.
The phone was amazing for the time. Early 2000’s. The Apple Smart phone brought in colour then all manufactures followed suit and the old phone usage faded away.
Cheers
Jim
Hey Jim,
I’m sorry to hear about your poor phone, the old Nokia’s were brilliant bit of kit. Though washing machine mishaps happen to the best of us!
It’s definitely interesting to see how much tech has developed over time and why certain improvements became the norm.
I haven’t seen a monochrome screen in a while, it’s always great to see old tech getting a bit of use 
Good luck with your project!
Cheers,
Sophia
Actually, there was maybe the best part of a decade’s worth of increasingly less dumb phones before the touchscreen smartphone - colour screens arrived well before the Apple phone, as did cameras and web browsers and so on. Peak of that stuff was probably the Blackberry, which many users swore by well into the touchscreen era, preferring its physical qwerty keyboard.
Dumb phones blurred into smartphones over quite a while. The big deal with the iPhone was the touchscreen, which together with the nicely-tuned tactile feedback blew everyone away… although I doubt it was the first phone with a vibration motor. Then there was the app ecosystem powered by a behemoth, which was probably the other 50% of the paradigm shift.
@Kimmo Thanks for correcting me, yeah I had forgotten the Blackberry; officers at work loved them.
Not for me, never liked the tiny buttons.
Smart business decision though; give people something they think is cute and they work extra, unpaid at home in mornings & evenings, before they come to work. LOL
Loved my Nokia 5110 2nd phone I ever owned.
Cheers
Jim
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