Adafruit SHARP Memory Display Breakout - 2.7" 400x240 Monochrome

The Adafruit 2.7" 400x240 SHARP Memory Display Breakout offers a unique blend of eInk and LCD technology, giving you the ultra-low power consumption of ePaper with the fast-refresh capabilities of an LCD. This display features a gray background with black-on-gray pixels, delivering a clear, high-contrast e-reader-like experience. It does not have a backlight but is easily readable in daylight, though you'll need to provide external LEDs for dark or nighttime use.

Key Features:

• Low Power, High Contrast: This display combines the benefits of eInk (low power) and LCD (fast refresh), offering a crisp and efficient screen without the need for a backlight.
• 400x240 Resolution: A nice resolution for displaying text and graphics, with a sharp, easy-to-read display for e-reader style projects.
• Daylight Readable: No backlight required for daytime use, making it ideal for portable or battery-powered projects.
• 3V Logic & 5V Powered: This model is designed to work with 3V logic and is powered by 5V. It comes mounted on a fully assembled breakout board with integrated power management, including a 3V regulator, 5V boost converter, and level shifting circuitry, making it compatible with both 3V and 5V systems.

Usage and Setup:

• Simple Integration: The display connects easily via a ZIF socket on the breakout board, secured with double-sided tape. The board includes four mounting holes for easy attachment to your project.
• Write-Only Display: The display is write-only, meaning it only requires 3 pins to send data. However, because the entire 400x240 pixel array (13.5 KB) needs to be buffered by the microcontroller, it is not compatible with lower RAM chips like the ATmega328 (e.g., Arduino UNO) or ATmega32u4 (Feather 32u4). You will need to use a high-RAM microcontroller like the ATSAMD21 (Feather M0), Teensy, ESP8266, or ESP32 for optimal performance.

Display Demo:

• The Bad Apple demo shown is animated and scaled for illustration, focusing on contrast and refresh speed rather than resolution. It demonstrates the display's fast refresh rate and high contrast, even if the image appears blocky due to scaling.

This SHARP Memory Display is perfect for projects requiring a large, power-efficient display with excellent readability and quick refresh rates, such as eReaders, portable devices, or outdoor displays.