RGB LCD Shield Kit w/ 16x2 Character Display - Only 2 pins used! - POSITIVE DISPLAY
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This Adafruit shield simplifies the integration of a 16x2 Character LCD into your projects. It supports both RGB positive and RGB negative LCDs, which usually require up to 9 digital pins—6 for the LCD itself and 3 for the RGB backlight. That’s nearly half of the pins on a classic Arduino!
To solve this, we created a shield that lets you control a 16x2 Character LCD, up to 3 backlight pins, and 5 keypad pins using only the Arduino's two I2C pins. Best of all, you can still use these I2C pins for other devices like sensors and RTCs, as they can share the I2C bus.
This shield is ideal for building standalone projects with a user interface. It features 4 directional buttons and a select button for easy control without a bulky computer. It’s compatible with ‘classic’ Arduinos like the Uno, Duemilanove, and Diecimilla, using the I2C pins at Analog 4 and 5. It also works with the Arduino Mega R3 (which has dedicated SDA/SCL I2C pins), but earlier Mega models will require soldering wires to connect the shield's I2C pins to Digital 20 and 21. Note that it won't fit easily on an Arduino Ethernet due to the height of the Ethernet jack, but stacking headers can provide the needed clearance.
The shield comes as an easy-to-assemble kit, including a high-quality PCB and all necessary components (buttons, headers, etc.). Assembly is straightforward, even for beginners, and can be completed in around 30 minutes. For assembly instructions, check the product tutorial page before purchasing.
Additionally, an easy-to-use Arduino library is provided. It functions like the built-in LiquidCrystal library, automatically handling the shield’s pins. The library also allows for querying the 5 keypad buttons for input, with built-in debounce functionality, giving you more buttons without using extra pins.
The shield controls the RGB backlight of the character LCD by turning each LED on or off, allowing for 8 color combinations: Red, Yellow, Green, Teal, Blue, Violet, White, and off. However, it doesn't support PWM control of the backlight, so more precise color control isn't available at this time.
