128 X 64 mystery LCD identify

[ataradov]

This looks like something. Now you need to extract the command that are sent and match them against the datasheets.

In this case you see the commands:
1. 0xe2
2. 0x81 0x8f
3. 0x24
4. 0xa0 0xc2 0x2e
......
You need to write down the rest of them.

0xE2 is a Reset of aforementioned S6B0724. So this is a decent first candidate.

[amyk]

It's definitely in the S6B0724 family --- that e2 for reset gives it away --- but not it nor ST7565/ST7567 either, because 81 xx sets the contrast and the majority of controllers only offer 5 or 6 bits of adjustment, whereas this one is setting it to 8f and that implies a full 8 bits. c2 also sets bit 1 while most others in that family use bit 3 of cx for COM scanning direction control and leave bit 1 undefined.

I found one controller that matches the above, the UltraChip UC1601s, whose company slogan in the datasheet proclaims "The Coolest LCD Driver, Ever!!"

Others from UC like the UC1701 don't have 8 bits of contrast, so the '1601s is currently the best match. Note that this controller does have scrolling functionality, which the S6B0* and ST7565/7 lack.

A good (but incomplete) comparison: https://github.com/olikraus/u8g2/blob/master/doc/controller_cmds.txt

[mkiijam]

So any ideas where to find an LCD that uses this chip?

[ataradov]

You need to transcribe the commands first and see all the commands that are used.

So far the commands are also compatible with ST7567, which is a more modern and widely available chip. It is likely to just work.

There are plenty of suppliers of displays with that controller. I personally like BuyDisplay. Something like this may work https://www.buydisplay.com/1-54-inch-blue-128x64-graphic-lcd-display-module-spi-for-arduino-1 But they have plenty of other options, pick whatever fits the size.

[mkiijam]

I suppose the ST7565 wont work?

I see tons that use that chip...

[ataradov]

Well, you have not extracted the commands from the logic capture, so it is impossible to tell if it will work. If you do that, you could compare the commands against the datasheet.

A few commands that we have here are the same.

[amyk]

Neither the 7565, 7567, nor SH1106 OLED the OP tried without success has any scrolling/windowing feature (the SH1106 doesn't even have an e2 RESET command), so I suspect a 7565/7 LCD would probably show nearly the same results as the SH1106.

But I haven't and won't go through the few hundred MB of serial capture data that was posted to read out the commands either, that's something OP needs to do.

[mkiijam]

Neither the 7565, 7567, nor SH1106 OLED the OP tried without success has any scrolling/windowing feature (the SH1106 doesn't even have an e2 RESET command), so I suspect a 7565/7 LCD would probably show nearly the same results as the SH1106.

But I haven't and won't go through the few hundred MB of serial capture data that was posted to read out the commands either, that's something OP needs to do.

I will do whatever grunt work you guys say. At this point I haven't a clue of how to "go through..." the data. But, I will dig in somehow! Thank you all for the help so far, this has been very neat!

[ataradov]

I will do whatever grunt work you guys say. At this point I haven't a clue of how to "go through..." the data. But, I will dig in somehow! Thank you all for the help so far, this has been very neat!

Did you setup the protocol decoder in the logic analyzer?  In your logs the first command that is sent is 0xE2. Do you see that value in your decodes? If so, you need to got though the rest of them and write down all the unique commands you see.

For long transfers you only need to write down first 5-7 bytes,

[mkiijam]

Like this stuff from the "MOSI Transfer" lines?

E2
81, 8F
24A0, C2, 2E
EB
A4, A6, 89, AF
F3, 3F, 00, 10, B0, 00, 00, 00,...
00, 10, B0
2E, 24, A0, EB, 81, 8F, C2, 40, 85, 89, A4, A6, F1, 3F, F2, 00, F3, 3F, AF
81, 8C 

[ataradov]

Yes, this. You basically need to find as many unique commands as you can.

Then download the datasheets for all the mentioned controllers and see if the command makes sense.

The datasheets mostly describe the commands in binary, so 0xE2 would be 1110 0010.

In most cases only the first byte after the CS was asserted matters, but it also useful to check for each command if followup bytes and their count make sense.

[amyk]

The majority of the data will be display (bitmap) data. Look at only the bytes where the CD line is low.

...and if the bytes you posted are all commands, it pretty much confirms that the controller is a UC1601:

E2 - reset
81, 8F - set Vbias (contrast) to 143
24 - set temp compensation to 0 (default)
A0 - set frame rate 80fps
C2 - SEG/column sequence inversion
2E - set power control, default
EB - set bias ratio 9
A4 - disable all-on mode
A6 - disable inverse display
89 - set RAM address control default
AF - enable display
F3, 3F - set partial display end = 63
00 - column address LSB = 0
10 - column address MSB = 0
B0 - page address = 0
...
40 - set scroll line 0
85 - partial display on
89 - set RAM address control default
A4 - disable all-on mode
A6 - disable inverse display
F1, 3F - set COM end = 63
F2, 00 - set partial display start = 0
F3, 3F - set partial display end = 63
AF - enable display
81, 8C - set Vbias (contrast) to 140

Bolded commands are not present on ST7565/7, and in particular Fx are "do not use" test commands. I can't find any other controller in that family with the F1/F2/F3 and of the right size (UltraChip has a few others of different sizes but the same set of commands.)

[mkiijam]

Well, just for fun, I tried the ST7567 and it didn't work

U1601 is where it is at I suppose... no just to try to find one!

[mkiijam]

Along with looking for a U1601 based LCD, are there any software based emulators or something? Like a USB into your computer that then translates the LCD signal into an image you can see?

[ataradov]

I'm not aware of anything like that. It is really easier to just look at the command sent to the display and find the right controller.

[MLXXXp]

are there any software based emulators or something?

You could probably emulate the U1601 using a FPGA. This project emulates a SSD1306 to a VGA monitor but you could likely modify it for U1601 and output to whatever you like:

https://github.com/uXeBoy/VGA1306

[mkiijam]

are there any software based emulators or something?

You could probably emulate the U1601 using a FPGA. This project emulates a SSD1306 to a VGA monitor but you could likely modify it for U1601 and output to whatever you like:

https://github.com/uXeBoy/VGA1306

That is very cool but way over my head.

I hate this question, but I have looked. Am I missing something or is a LCD with the U1601 controller impossible to find?

[drussell]

Along with looking for a U1601 based LCD, are there any software based emulators or something? Like a USB into your computer that then translates the LCD signal into an image you can see?

I'm not aware of anything like that. It is really easier to just look at the command sent to the display and find the right controller.

Wow, that could be a cool project, though...  It would be a handy device, (well, software, really.)

[drussell]

I hate this question, but I have looked. Am I missing something or is a LCD with the U1601 controller impossible to find?

What physical size is this display, anyway?

There is a 2.8" on that buydisplay site that uses a UC1701, you would need to compare the datasheets to your commands to see if it matches because the commands aren't identical to the UC1601 but it does look like it is one of that family.

https://www.buydisplay.com/blue-2-8-inch-128x64-display-serial-lcd-module-spi-with-touch-panel

It says "touchpanel" but that's an optional accessory...

Edit:  Oh, wait... that one's not the 12-pin style you're looking for...

[Lomax]

This looks pretty darn close, and uses the UC1601 controller:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123192333083

Try searching eBay "including description" for "UC1601" and you'll find more (and cheaper) examples.

Thanks for an interesting thread btw, taught me a lot about identifying LCD drivers!

[yejing]

This screen appears in aliexpress
Roland TD-11 LCD Can search