ATTiny85 Connects to I2C OLED Display - Great Things Can Be Small

I recently came across a tiny OLED display which I also used for another project. This time I thought a tiny display can be driven by an [AT]Tiny processor :).

The vision is - "create a tiny gaming machine"

Well the first step is taken. At least something is happening on the display. Feel free to suggest a game idea.

Parts we need

• ATTiny85 break out board - CoPiino Connectable BrainZ from ebay ($6)
• OLED Display with SSD1306 driver from ebay ($5)
• AVR Programmer USBasp from ebay ($4)
• 5V/3.3V regulated voltage source
• some jumper wires
• Arduino IDE

Attention: The display module I used had an operation range from +3.3V to +5V. So I could easily connect +5V. You need to carefully check if your display also supports +5V otherwise use a regulated +3.3V power source !!

Edit:

• uploaded additional target project => demo for font and icons
• uploaded some pictures for font and icons

The CoPiino Connectable BrainZ comes as soldering kit. So it needs some soldering. All parts are through-hole and can be soldered old fashioned with soldering iron.

Scope of supply:

• PCB 21x28mm with M3 fixing hole
• 1x ATTiny85-20PU
• 1x LED 3mm yellow
• 1x Resistor 1k
• 3x Resistors 4.7k
• 2x Capacitors 100nF
• 1x pin header angled 1x4
• 1x pin header angled 1x5
• 1x Straight header
• 2x3 (AVR ISP)
• 1x Receptacle angled 1x4

It took me 20mins to solder all parts.

This step is pretty forward. The required source code is attached to this step. All files need be extracted.

Included files are

• ATTiny_OLED_Bouncing_Ball.ino
• SSD1306_minimal.cpp
• SSD1306_minimal.h
• TinyWireM.cpp
• TinyWireM.h
• USI_TWI_Master.cpp
• USI_TWI_Master.h

1. With the Arduino IDE we open the ATTiny_OLED_Bouncing_Ball.ino

2. We need to use the menu "Sketch" - "Add File ... " and add all other files one by one

3. Connect the CoPiino Connectable BrainZ to the USBasp (see notes below)

4. Connect USBasp preferably to a USB hub

5. Arduino IDE: Compile and Upload

6. Check for completed Upload

7. Disconnect USB

8. done

notes:

For connecting the USBasp to the CoPiino Connectable BrainZ we apply these pin connections

ISP10PIN to ISP6PIN

Pin 9 to 1 [MISO]

Pin 2 to 2 [VCC]

Pin 7 to 3 [SCK]

Pin 1 to 4 [MOSI]

Pin 5 to 5 [RST]

Pin 2 to 6 [GND]

The display will be connected through I2C / TWI which are the signales SDA/SCL. Additionally we draw VCC and GND from the CoPiino Connectable BrainZ to the display. So all toghether we have 4 single cables between display and BrainZ.

Attention: The display module I used had an operation range from +3.3V to +5V. So I could easily connect +5V. You need to carefully check if your display also supports +5V otherwise use a regulated +3.3V power source !!

We then use our 5V/3.3V regulated power source and inject GND and VCC into the appropriate pins at the BrainZ module.

You will be enlightened by the nice moving ball in a grid on the display.

Congrats!

Now its time to make the next step. Any gaming idea that can be implemented?