Hi there, recently I bought an Orange Pi Zero3 with 1GB RAM. I want to connect a 20*4 character LCD display(https://www.tinytronics.nl/en/displays/lcd/lcd-display-20*4-characters-with-white-text-and-blue-backlight-with-i2c-backpack) to it. I have previously used this display with Arduino UNO, which worked great. Now I want to use it with the Orange Pi Zero3 (Ubuntu 24.04). I have no experience with the Orange Pi or single-board computers in general. I followed some tutorials, but I couldn't make it work. 

I did this:

 

Wiring:
 

I2C Backpack	Orange Pi Zero3
VCC	Pin 2
GND	Pin 6
SCL	Pin 5
SDA	Pin 3

 

 

Terminal:

sudo apt-get install -y python-smbus i2c-tools

user@orangepizero3:~$ sudo i2cdetect -y 0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f

00: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- UU -- -- -- -- -- -- --

50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

 

user@orangepizero3:~$ sudo i2cdetect -y 1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f

00: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

30: 30 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- UU -- -- -- -- -- -- --

50: 50 -- -- -- 54 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

 

 

It seems like the display cannot be found. How can I fix this?

Edited October 18, 20241 yr by bjan04
Added wiring details

I currently have OrangePi3 LTS and I use the firmware provided by OrangePi and there you had to install wiringOP and also run during system startup: i2c0
in the file: orangepiEnv.txt
That is, add the entry: overlays= i2c0 i2c1 i2c2
In Armbian firmware it is probably easier, you have to run the configuration from the terminal: armbian-config
and there find the section: I2C and enable: i2c0 / system restart
then proceed as you previously provided on the forum.

 

How to connect LCD to your model ... probably like I did to my OPi 3-LTS according to this tutorial. Of course the board is different but you have to find the same pins on your OrangePiZero3 model. I managed to do it so you should too.

for me it is: 3f

sudo i2cdetect -y 0
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f
00:                         -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3f 
40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  

I also use the lcdproc program to display the current time + install drivers for: hd44780

sudo apt-get install lcdproc lcdproc-extra-drivers

Find in your system where you have the file: hd44780.so

cd /

find -name hd44780.so

e.g. ./usr/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/lcdproc/hd44780.so

and add change the path to the file in the configuration : DriverPath=/usr/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/lcdproc/

Example lcdproc configuration: file: LCDd.conf
 

## Server section with all kinds of settings for the LCDd server ##
[server]

DriverPath=/usr/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/lcdproc/
Driver=hd44780
Bind=127.0.0.1
Port=13666
ReportLevel=3
User=root
Foreground=no
Hello="Welcome to"
Hello="Armbian"
GoodBye="Internet Radio"
GoodBye="OrangePi3 LTS"
WaitTime=5
ServerScreen=off
Backlight=off
Heartbeat=off
TitleSpeed=4
ToggleRotateKey=Enter
PrevScreenKey=Left
NextScreenKey=Right


## The menu section. The menu is an internal LCDproc client. ##
[menu]

## Hitachi HD44780 driver ##
[HD44780]
ConnectionType=i2c
Device=/dev/i2c-0
Port=0x3f
Backlight=no
Size=16x2
DelayBus=false
DelayMult=1
Keypad=no
Speed=0
i2c_line_RS=0x01
i2c_line_RW=0x02
i2c_line_EN=0x04
i2c_line_BL=0x08

i2c_line_D4=0x10
i2c_line_D5=0x20
i2c_line_D6=0x40
i2c_line_D7=0x80
BacklightInvert=no

# EOF

 

in file lcdproc.conf

# LCDproc client configuration file

## general options ##
[lcdproc]
# address of the LCDd server to connect to
Server=localhost

# Port of the server to connect to
Port=13666

# set reporting level
ReportLevel=2

# report to to syslog ?
ReportToSyslog=false

# run in foreground [default: false; legal: true, false]
#Foreground=true

# PidFile location when running as daemon [default: /var/run/lcdproc.pid]
#PidFile=/var/run/lcdproc.pid

# slow down initial announcement of modes (in 1/100s)
#delay=2

# display name for the main menu [default: LCDproc HOST]
#DisplayName=lcdproc


## screen specific configuration options ##

[CPU]
# Show screen
Active=True
OnTime=1
OffTime=2
ShowInvisible=false


[Iface]
# Show screen
Active=True

# Show stats for Interface0
Interface0=eth0
# Interface alias name to display [default: <interface name>]
Alias0=LAN

# Show stats for Interface1
#Interface1=eth1
#Alias1=WAN

# Show stats for Interface2
#Interface2=eth2
#Alias2=MGMT

# for more than 3 interfaces change MAX_INTERFACES in iface.h and rebuild

# Units to display [default: byte; legal: byte, bit, packet]
unit=bit

# add screen with transferred traffic
#transfer=TRUE


[Memory]
# Show screen
Active=True


[Load]
# Show screen
Active=True
# Min Load Avg at which the backlight will be turned off [default: 0.05]
LowLoad=0.05
# Max Load Avg at which the backlight will start blinking [default: 1.3]
HighLoad=1.3


[TimeDate]
# Show screen
Active=True
# time format [default: %H:%M:%S; legal: see strftime(3)]
TimeFormat="%H:%M:%S"
# date format [default: %x; legal: see strftime(3)]
DateFormat="%x"


[About]
# Show screen
Active=false


[SMP-CPU]
# Show screen
Active=false


[OldTime]
# Show screen
Active=false
# time format [default: %H:%M:%S; legal: see strftime(3)]
TimeFormat="%H:%M:%S"
# date format [default: %x; legal: see strftime(3)]
DateFormat="%x"
# Display the title bar in two-line mode. Note that with four lines or more
# the title is always shown. [default: true; legal: true, false]
#ShowTitle=false


[BigClock]
# Show screen
Active=false


[Uptime]
# Show screen
Active=false


[Battery]
# Show screen
Active=false


[CPUGraph]
# Show screen
Active=false


[ProcSize]
# Show screen
Active=false


[Disk]
# Show screen
Active=false


[MiniClock]
# Show screen
Active=True
# time format [default: %H:%M; legal: see strftime(3)]
TimeFormat="%H:%M"


# EOF

But this is an example configuration for OrangePi3 LTS and the Python scripts that are on the forum refer to Python 2 which is already old and in the systems there is only Python 3 and these scripts may be outdated and not work correctly

Maybe there is some programmer who will convert it to Python 3 🙂

My configuration also has a fix for Polish diacritics that are displayed incorrectly on the LCD... as slashes and strange characters or question marks???? 🙂

And the script supports mpd / mpc programs for internet radio

#!/usr/bin/python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

import smbus
import time
import subprocess

from time       import sleep, strftime
from datetime   import datetime
from subprocess import *

# Define some device parameters
I2C_ADDR  = 0x3f # I2C device address
LCD_WIDTH = 16   # Maximum characters per line
LCD_HEIGHT = 2

# Define some device constants
LCD_CHR = 1 # Mode - Sending data
LCD_CMD = 0 # Mode - Sending command

LCD_LINE_1 = 0x80 # LCD RAM address for the 1st line
LCD_LINE_2 = 0xC0 # LCD RAM address for the 2nd line
LCD_LINE_3 = 0x94 # LCD RAM address for the 3rd line
LCD_LINE_4 = 0xD4 # LCD RAM address for the 4th line

LCD_BACKLIGHT  = 0x08  # On
#LCD_BACKLIGHT = 0x0C  # Off


ENABLE = 0b00000100 # Enable bit

# Timing constants
E_PULSE = 0.005
E_DELAY = 0.005

#Open I2C interface
bus = smbus.SMBus(0)  # Rev 1 Pi uses 0 (and Orange PI PC, for pins 3 and 5)
#bus = smbus.SMBus(1) # Rev 2 Pi uses 1


def lcd_byte(bits, mode):
  # Send byte to data pins
  # bits = the data
  # mode = 1 for data
  #        0 for command

  bits_high = mode | (bits & 0xF0) | LCD_BACKLIGHT
  bits_low = mode | ((bits<<4) & 0xF0) | LCD_BACKLIGHT

  # High bits
  bus.write_byte(I2C_ADDR, bits_high)
  lcd_toggle_enable(bits_high)

  # Low bits
  bus.write_byte(I2C_ADDR, bits_low)
  lcd_toggle_enable(bits_low)

def lcd_toggle_enable(bits):
  # Toggle enable
  time.sleep(E_DELAY)
  bus.write_byte(I2C_ADDR, (bits | ENABLE))
  time.sleep(E_PULSE)
  bus.write_byte(I2C_ADDR,(bits & ~ENABLE))
  time.sleep(E_DELAY)

def lcd_string(message,line):
  # Send string to display

  message = message.ljust(LCD_WIDTH," ")

  lcd_byte(line, LCD_CMD)

  for i in range(LCD_WIDTH):
    lcd_byte(ord(message[i]),LCD_CHR)

def replace_pl(chars):
  pl = {  'ą': 'a',
          'ć': 'c',
          'ę': 'e',
          'ł': 'l',
          'ń': 'n',
          'ó': 'o',
          'ś': 's',
          'ź': 'z',
          'ż': 'z',
          'Ą': 'A',
          'Ć': 'C',
          'Ę': 'E',
          'Ł': 'L',
          'Ń': 'N',
          'Ó': 'O',
          'Ś': 'S',
          'Ź': 'Z',
          'Ż': 'Z',
  }
  for f, t in pl.items():
    chars = chars.replace(f,t)
  return chars

def main():

  counter = 0

  while True:

  # Get current status and playtime
    process = subprocess.Popen('sudo mpc -v', shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
    ekran1 = process.communicate()[0]
    ekran1 = replace_pl(ekran1)
    statusLines = ekran1.split('\n')
    ekran1 = statusLines[1]
    if ekran1 <> '':
      ekran1L1 = ekran1.split(' ',1)[0].strip()
      ekran1L2temp = ekran1.split(' ',1)[1].strip()
      ekran1L2 = ekran1L2temp.split(' ',1)[0].strip()

    process = subprocess.Popen('sudo mpc -f %name%', shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
    ekran2 = process.communicate()[0]
    ekran2 = replace_pl(ekran2)
    statusLines = ekran2.split('\n')
    ekran2 = statusLines[0]
    ekran2L1 = ekran2[0:16]
    ekran2L2 = ekran2[16:31]

    process = subprocess.Popen('sudo mpc -f %artist%', shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
    ekran3 = process.communicate()[0]
    ekran3 = replace_pl(ekran3)
    statusLines = ekran3.split('\n')
    ekran3 = statusLines[0]
    ekran3L1 = ekran3[0:16]
    ekran3L2 = ekran3[16:31]

    process = subprocess.Popen('sudo mpc -f %title%', shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
    ekran4 = process.communicate()[0]
    ekran4 = replace_pl(ekran4)
    statusLines = ekran4.split('\n')
    ekran4 = statusLines[0]
    ekran4L1 = ekran4[0:16]
    ekran4L2 = ekran4[16:31]

    if counter == 1:
      if ekran1 == "":
        counter = 7
      else:
        lcd_string(ekran1L1,LCD_LINE_1)
        lcd_string(ekran1L2,LCD_LINE_2)
    if counter == 7:
      if ekran2 == "":
        counter = 14
      else:
        lcd_string(ekran2L1,LCD_LINE_1)
        lcd_string(ekran2L2,LCD_LINE_2)
    if counter == 14:
      if ekran3 == "":
        counter = 25
      else:
        lcd_string(ekran3L1,LCD_LINE_1)
        lcd_string(ekran3L2,LCD_LINE_2)
    if counter == 25:
      if ekran4 == "":
        counter = 35
      else:
        lcd_string(ekran4L1,LCD_LINE_1)
        lcd_string(ekran4L2,LCD_LINE_2)

    sleep(0.1)
    counter = counter + 1
    if counter == 40:
      counter = 1


if __name__ == '__main__':

  try:
    main()
  except KeyboardInterrupt:
    pass
  finally:
    lcd_byte(0x00, LCD_CMD)
    lcd_byte(0x01, LCD_CMD)
    lcd_byte(0x08, LCD_CMD)

 

Edited October 24, 20241 yr by kris777