SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display Hookup Guide

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Contributors: Ell C, MAKIN-STUFF
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Introduction

Seven segment displays are SO 2020. I mean, we see them in our clocks, ovens, and microwaves on the daily. But what happens when you add more segments to each digit? You can upgrade your appliances and let everyone know how you REALLY feel. Introducing SparkFun's newest Qwiic-Enabled Alphanumeric Display in Pink, Green, Blue, Red, Purple, and White. Customize that microwave alert - "Your food is done, fool!" Or hack those oven messages - "I pity the fool that doesn't pre-heat!" These fourteen-segment digits allow you display all sorts of numbers, characters, and symbols. Let's jump in and have a look, shall we?

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Pink

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Pink

COM-16919
$9.95
SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Green

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Green

COM-18566
$9.95
3
SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Blue

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Blue

COM-16917
$9.95
1
SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Red

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Red

COM-16916
$9.95
SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Purple

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - Purple

COM-16918
$9.95
SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - White

SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display - White

COM-18565
$9.95
2

Required Materials

You will need a microcontroller to control the Qwiic Alphanumeric Display in order to follow along with this tutorial. Below are a few options that come Qwiic-enabled out of the box:

SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32 WROOM (Micro-B)

SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32 WROOM (Micro-B)

WRL-15663
$22.50
14
SparkFun Qwiic Pro Micro - USB-C (ATmega32U4)

SparkFun Qwiic Pro Micro - USB-C (ATmega32U4)

DEV-15795
$21.50
12
SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic

SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic

DEV-15123
$21.50
20
SparkFun RedBoard Artemis

SparkFun RedBoard Artemis

DEV-15444
$21.50
10

If your chosen microcontroller is not already Qwiic-enabled, you can add that functionality with one or more of the following items:

SparkFun Qwiic Adapter

SparkFun Qwiic Adapter

DEV-14495
$1.60
5
SparkFun Qwiic Shield for Arduino

SparkFun Qwiic Shield for Arduino

DEV-14352
$7.50
9

You will also need at least one Qwiic cable to connect your Alphanumeric Display to your microcontroller.

Qwiic Cable - 100mm

Qwiic Cable - 100mm

PRT-14427
$1.50
Qwiic Cable - 50mm

Qwiic Cable - 50mm

PRT-14426
$0.95

Qwiic Cable - 200mm

PRT-14428
Retired

Qwiic Cable - 500mm

PRT-14429
1 Retired

Suggested Reading

If you aren't familiar with the Qwiic system, we recommend reading here for an overview:

Qwiic Connect System

We would also suggest reading through the following tutorials if you are not familiar with the concepts covered in them:

Serial Communication

Asynchronous serial communication concepts: packets, signal levels, baud rates, UARTs and more!

I2C

An introduction to I2C, one of the main embedded communications protocols in use today.