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Linux Framebuffer drivers for small TFT LCD display modules.

<img src="http://www.adafruit.com/images/ID797.jpg" title="Video: Raspberry Pi boots with Adafruit 2.2" LCD display" border="10" />

• Supported LCD modules
• Raspberry Pi LCD Shields
• Step-by-step using FBTFT
• Install
• Using fbtft_device
• Framebuffer use
• Debug
• Backlight
• Touchpanel
• Source code
• News

For a list of all wikipages see Pages

FBTFT development has moved
The FBTFT drivers are now in the Linux kernel: drivers/staging/fbtft (details).

Install

Raspberry Pi kernel with FBTFT support: https://github.com/notro/rpi-firmware

Raspian checklist

• Expand the filesystem
  sudo raspi-config
• FBTFT on Raspian

The FBTFT kernel is now Device Tree enabled, following the way of the official kernel.
It works both with Pi1 and Pi2.
There are still wrinkles to iron out in the official kernel, so those will also be present in the FBTFT kernel.

To continue using fbtft_device, add to /boot/config.txt:

dtparam=spi=on

With Device Tree there is no need for fbtft_device, ads7846_device and friends. Device Tree overlays can be used instead.
These overlays are currently available (choose one and add to config.txt):

dtoverlay=rpi-display
dtoverlay=pitft
dtoverlay=hy28a
dtoverlay=piscreen

Note: I could not get touch to work with pitft on the Pi2 (alert me if this works for someone).
The module stmpe_ts must loaded manually.

See for FBTFT RPI overlays more.

Install
FBTFT drivers as loadable modules

sudo REPO_URI=https://github.com/notro/rpi-firmware rpi-update
sudo reboot

FBTFT drivers built into the kernel proper (discontinued, 3.12.34)

sudo REPO_URI=https://github.com/notro/rpi-firmware BRANCH=builtin rpi-update
sudo reboot

A particular commit can be installed like this:

sudo REPO_URI=https://github.com/notro/rpi-firmware rpi-update f5fda53ad421799c7266310d87045cab0b525dec

• 2015-02-07

  • Add Raspberry Pi 2 support

• 2014-12-07

  • fbtft_device: added support for waveshare32b
  • fbtft_device: add Tontec 3.5 support
  • fb_ili9481,6: regwidth was incorrect
  • fbtft: make it possible to override regwidth

• 2014-11-28

  • add support for AGM1264K-FL
  • uc1701: add support for UC1701
  • fbtft_device: add adafruit28
  • add ILI9481 support
  • add support for the TLS8204 used in the latest Nokia 3310 displays

• 2014-08-02

  • add er_tftm050_2 and er_tftm070_5 support
  • add RA8875 support
  • add support for PiScreen
  • add ILI9486 support
  • add S6D02A1 support (Wolfgang Buening)

• Changelog

Missing kernel modules?

Use rpi-source to get the matching kernel source, making it easy to build modules.
Run like this:
REPO_URI=https://github.com/notro/rpi-firmware rpi-source
Examples on how to build various modules

Image Download

Discontinued
2015-02-12
The FBTFT images are now discontinued (I don't have time to make new releases).
Most of the changes from the Raspian image are listed here: FBTFT on Raspian

Raspberry Pi image with FBTFT support.
Wiki: https://github.com/notro/fbtft-spindle/wiki/FBTFT-image

FBTFT drivers as loadable modules. See 'Step-by-step' for loading drivers.

• 2014-06-20-wheezy-raspbian-2014-07-25-fbtft-master-firmware.zip

FBFTF drivers are built into the kernel. More info: branch: builtin

• 2014-06-20-wheezy-raspbian-2014-07-25-fbtft-builtin-firmware.zip

If you want to help out with my cost for displays and other accessories related to this project:

Step-by-step using FBTFT

Using the Adafruit 2.2" display as an example

Enable driver

Register device (the driver will load automatically)

sudo modprobe fbtft_device name=adafruit22

dmesg will show the default pin assignements, and that the driver is loaded.

   fbtft_device:  SPI devices registered:
   fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.0 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
   fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
   fbtft_device:  'fb' Platform devices registered:
   fbtft_device:      bcm2708_fb id=-1 pdata? no
   fbtft_device: Deleting spi0.0
   fbtft_device:  GPIOS used by 'adafruit22':
   fbtft_device:    'reset' = GPIO25
   fbtft_device:    'led' = GPIO23
   fbtft_device:  SPI devices registered:
   fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
   fbtft_device:      fb_hx8340bn spi0.0 32000kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
   graphics fb1: fb_hx8340bn frame buffer, 176x220, 75 KiB video memory, 16 KiB buffer memory, fps=20, spi0.0 at 32 MHz

Test

X Windows

FRAMEBUFFER=/dev/fb1 startx

Console

con2fbmap 1 1

Make it permanent (Debian)

Driver

Add to file /etc/modules

fbtft_device name=adafruit22 verbose=0

Auto login and startx

Auto login: modify file /etc/inittab

#1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty --noclear 38400 tty1
1:2345:respawn:/bin/login -f pi tty1 </dev/tty1 >/dev/tty1 2>&1

Auto startx: modify file /etc/rc.local

su -l pi -c "env FRAMEBUFFER=/dev/fb1 startx &"

Ref: http://elinux.org/RPi_Debian_Auto_Login

Console at boot

Add kernel argument to file /boot/cmdline.txt

fbcon=map:10

For more: Boot console

Make it permanent (Arch Linux)

Add to file /etc/modules-load.d/raspberrypi.conf

fbtft_device

Add to file /etc/modprobe.d/fbtft.conf

options fbtft_device name=adafruit22

If you find bugs or have problems, please submit an issue.

Thanks

Without the help from other people, this project would not exist

• Matt Porter wrote st7735fb which FBTFT grew from
• Texy has provided much input and testing that have helped move this project forward
• Derek Campbell did the work to implement DMA
• Several people have provided drivers and improvements
• Donations have helped me buy displays and accessories

Also thanks to people that help answering questions about FBTFT.