0.96 inch I2C OLED Display with Arduino

Introduction

Using the SSD1306 OLED Display with Arduino is a popular choice for showing text, graphics, and sensor readings in projects. This guide will help you set up a 0.96 inch I2C OLED Display with Arduino, covering wiring, code examples, and tips to get your display working quickly. Whether you’re a beginner or working on an advanced project, this article will simplify using OLED displays in your circuits.

Read more about OLED displays here.

Components Required:

• Arduino Uno (or any compatible Arduino board)
• 0.96 inch OLED Display (I2C interface)
• Jumper Wires
• Breadboard (optional, for easier prototyping)

Wiring the OLED Display with Arduino

Installing the Required Libraries

Before using the OLED Display with Arduino, you need to install two essential libraries:

1. Open Arduino IDE.
2. Go to Sketch → Include Library → Manage Libraries.
3. In the search bar, type Adafruit GFX. Click Install.
4. Next, search for Adafruit SSD1306 and click Install.

Once both libraries are installed, you’re ready to start working with your OLED display.

Basic Code to Display Text

Once your OLED Display with Arduino is wired up, displaying text is simple. Here’s an example code to show “Hello, World!” on the OLED screen:

// I2C OLED Display with Arduino by ArduinoYard.com
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

#define OLED_RESET 4

Adafruit_SSD1306 display(OLED_RESET);

void setup() {
  display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);  
  display.display();
  delay(2000);
}

void loop() {
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setCursor(0, 10);
  display.println("Hello,");
  display.setCursor(0, 30);
  display.println("World!");
  display.display();
  delay(2000);
}

How It Works – Code Breakdown

Let’s walk through the code step-by-step to understand how it displays “Hello, World!” on the OLED Display:

1. Initialization: setup() function

This part is executed once when the Arduino starts.

display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);
display.display();
delay(2000);

• display.begin() – Initializes the OLED display.
  • SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC specifies that the display is powered by a 3.3V supply generated internally.
  • 0x3C is the I2C address of the OLED display (common for most 0.96” OLEDs).
• display.display() – Refreshes the display to show any content (even if empty) after initialization.
• delay(2000) – Pauses the program for 2000 milliseconds (2 seconds), allowing the initial screen to stay visible before the loop starts.

2. Displaying Text: loop() function

This part runs repeatedly after setup().

display.clearDisplay();

• Clears the display buffer (removes any previous content).

display.setTextColor(WHITE);

• Sets the text color to white. Since most OLED displays are monochrome (black and white), WHITE is the color used to show text or graphics.

display.setTextSize(2);

• Sets the text size.
  • Size 1 is the smallest (default), 2 is larger, and so on.
  • Each increase in size multiplies the text by that factor.

display.setCursor(0, 10);

• Positions the cursor at coordinates (0, 10) on the display.
  • (x, y) refers to pixels, with (0, 0) being the top-left corner.
  • Here, text will start 10 pixels down from the top.

display.println("Hello,");

• Prints the text “Hello,” on the display at the current cursor position.
• Moves the cursor to the next line automatically after printing (similar to Serial.println()).

display.setCursor(0, 30);
display.println("World!");

• Moves the cursor to (0, 30), then prints “World!” on the display.

display.display();

• Pushes the content from the display buffer to the screen.
  • Nothing appears on the OLED until you call display.display().

delay(2000);

• Pauses the display for 2 seconds, keeping the text visible.

Summary of Key Functions:

This is the basic structure for displaying text on an OLED Display with Arduino.

Demonstration

Troubleshooting OLED Display Address Issues

If your OLED display is not working as expected, it could be due to an incorrect I2C address. Different OLED displays can have varying addresses depending on the driver chip or manufacturer.

Common I2C Addresses:

• SSD1306 driver: Usually uses 0x3C.
• SH1106 driver: Typically uses 0x3D.

However, some displays may have different addresses, so it’s important to confirm the correct one.

How to Find the Correct I2C Address:

1. Check the Display Documentation:
   Refer to your OLED display’s datasheet, product description, or seller’s details for the default I2C address.
2. Use an I2C Scanner Sketch:
   If you’re unsure of the address, you can run an I2C scanner sketch. This simple program scans all possible I2C addresses and shows which devices are detected.

I2C Scanner Sketch Example:

Here’s an example sketch you can upload to your Arduino to find the address of your OLED display:

#include <Wire.h>

void setup() {
  Wire.begin();
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial); // Wait for serial monitor to open
  Serial.println("\nI2C Scanner");
}

void loop() {
  byte error, address;
  int nDevices;

  Serial.println("Scanning…");

  nDevices = 0;
  for (address = 1; address < 127; address++ )
  {
    Wire.beginTransmission(address);
    error = Wire.endTransmission();

    if (error == 0)
    {
      Serial.print("I2C device found at address 0x");
      if (address < 16)
        Serial.print("0");
      Serial.print(address, HEX);
      Serial.println(" !");

      nDevices++;
    }
    else if (error == 4)
    {
      Serial.print("Unknow error at address 0x");
      if (address < 16)
        Serial.print("0");
      Serial.println(address, HEX);
    }

  }

  if (nDevices == 0)
    Serial.println("No I2C devices found\n");
  else
    Serial.println("Done\n");

  delay(5000); // Wait 5 seconds before scanning again
}

What to Do Next:

• Open the Serial Monitor (set baud rate to 9600).
• Note the address detected (e.g., 0x3C or 0x3D).
• Update the address in your OLED initialization code like this:

display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);  // Replace 0x3C with the detected address

This should solve any I2C address issues and get your OLED Display with Arduino working smoothly.

Conclusion

OLED displays are a versatile and powerful tool for displaying information in your Arduino projects. By following this beginner’s guide, you should be able to connect an OLED display to an Arduino and display text or graphics on it using a library like the Adafruit SSD1306 library.

With some creativity and experimentation, you can use OLED displays to create unique and innovative projects like:

YOUTUBE CHANNEL STATISTICS DISPLAY WITH NODEMCU(ESP8266) AND I2C OLED DISPLAY

Thank you!