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Sainsmart 3.2 TFT + PI = Frustration

e14 Contributor

I an a NOOB. No two ways about it. But I do know that I dont want to depend on shields to get things added. That being said:
I have a 3.2" Sainsmart touch sensitive TFT display and I want to use it with my PI. this is proving to be next to impossible as all the guides out there dont do a very good job for someone at my skill level.
I am hoping to lean on this amazing community to help me with some answers. I need to know how to pin the display to my PI and what drivers I will need to push it. I am asking this as we are mentoring some kids this summer in all things STEM and I thought it would be a cool takeaway for all of them to build a miniature MAME (roms) gaming box. Just a little something to bridge the gap! IF ANYONE could help I and the kids would be greatly appreciative. Just keep in mind any response will have to be VERBOSE as I am a noob image. I have attached all the files i have on the display.

Thanks in advance!    

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  • You might try this http://imall.iteadstudio.com/im130425001.html  if you unit is the same as this one at this location http://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-3-2-tft-lcd-display-touch-panel-pcb-adapter-sd-slot-for-arduino-2560.html?___store=en

     

    I did a quick google and came up with that unit based on what you described. Please make sure it really is the same unit.

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Thanks for that contribution Jim,

     

    That adapter might indeed do the job, but there are a couple of things there that give me second thoughts.

     

    1) There are no connections for the SD Card slot. That may not matter at all, there is already plenty of storage on the Pi.

    2) The documentation for the adapter specifically states that it is not compatible with their ITDB02-3.2S LCD screen, which according to my reading is the closest in spec to the one Todd has.

    3) The cable solution is going to be rather bulky if we're trying to create a hand held MAME box.

    4) The pinouts for the LCD end make sense, but the Pi end specification is off in the weeds. I'm sure its good, but I can't interpret it from the info on the site. I'll need to root about in the documentation to understand how they've hooked it up.

     

    Observation 2) is odd. The same documentation specifies that their ITDB02-2.4E LCD *is* compatible and as far as I can see the pinouts are the same between the two boards on the site (and the one Todd has for that matter). OTOH, the demo shown in a linked video is showing exactly the same output as one of the example images on the LCD which (we think) Todd actually has. This suggests there is a good chance it would work despite the statement on the itead web page.

     

    One very useful resource on your link Jim, is the example source code which will enable us to get up and running much more quickly.

     

    So, over to you Todd. Will this cable adapter work for you, or are you looking for something neater? If the latter, my idea was to make a custom adapter board that would allow the display to fit neatly over the Pi. That will mean firing up KiCAD (a free circuit design tool), designing it and getting some PCB's made (surprisingly cheaply too). The kids might enjoy that as well, but it will inevitably take more time (PCB turnaround time is about 3 weeks). Let us know which way you want to go.

     

    BTW, don't be put off by the KiCAD route. I have quite a lot of experience with it and with getting PCBs made. It's a real option so long as the extra wait for the boards to arrive is acceptable.

  • in reply to guzunty

    Derek,
    we are all in for the kiCAD route image I am not scared whatsoever, in particular with such helpful folks! By shield I meant snap in board to avoid having to solder, et. al... I want this to be made, not snapped in!

    Please let me know how we are to proceed... Ii havent put anything out to the kids yet and they are literally about to burst. I think ill give them a hint today image I have some blank PCBS and dont mind using them for a prototype... but I LOVE your idea of sending this out to get printed. Granted I will still require the kids to understand the logic. We would love to have the touch screen available and the SD card, however I cant really see a good use for the SD card, but if you can let me know....It starting to smell like pine trees, must be that christmas feeling image THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!\\\\\\\\

    +todd

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  • in reply to guzunty

    Derek,
    we are all in for the kiCAD route image I am not scared whatsoever, in particular with such helpful folks! By shield I meant snap in board to avoid having to solder, et. al... I want this to be made, not snapped in!

    Please let me know how we are to proceed... Ii havent put anything out to the kids yet and they are literally about to burst. I think ill give them a hint today image I have some blank PCBS and dont mind using them for a prototype... but I LOVE your idea of sending this out to get printed. Granted I will still require the kids to understand the logic. We would love to have the touch screen available and the SD card, however I cant really see a good use for the SD card, but if you can let me know....It starting to smell like pine trees, must be that christmas feeling image THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!\\\\\\\\

    +todd

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