IPS LCD 1.28″ 240×240 RGB Round Display GC9A01

The IPS LCD 1.28″ 240×240 RGB Round Display (GC9A01) is a high-quality, full-color circular screen designed for embedded and creative applications. With its 240×240 pixel IPS panel, this display delivers vivid colors, a wide viewing angle, and smooth graphics. Originally developed for smartwatches, it brings a modern, circular design to DIY projects such as digital gauges, meters, and animated eyes. Featuring the GC9A01 controller, it communicates via SPI interface for fast and efficient updates. The module supports 3.3V logic (with 5V power compatibility) and includes a built-in voltage regulator. Its 7-pin header allows for easy connection to microcontrollers like Arduino, ESP32, STM32, and Teensy boards. Compact, durable, and visually appealing, this display is perfect for developers and makers seeking to add color and creativity to their embedded projects. Featured By RoboticsBD.

Product Images are shown for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product.

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Features:

1. Round Full-Color Display: 1.28″ circular IPS LCD with 240×240 resolution for high-quality visuals.

2. GC9A01 Driver IC: Ensures fast refresh rate and reliable communication.

3. Wide Viewing Angle: IPS technology provides clear visibility from any direction.

4. SPI Interface: Simple 4-wire communication for quick and efficient updates.

5. 3.3V Logic Compatibility: Safe for modern MCUs; 5V tolerant with onboard regulator.

6. Breadboard Friendly: 7-pin interface allows quick connection and prototyping.

7. Versatile Applications: Ideal for smartwatches, gauges, IoT devices, and display meters.

8. Lightweight & Compact: Thin PCB and small footprint suitable for embedded systems.

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Applications:

1. Smartwatch and Wearable Displays: High-quality circular screen for portable devices.

2. Digital Gauges & Meters: Ideal for displaying sensor data, RPM, and temperature readings.

3. Robotics & Embedded Systems: Provides colorful status indicators and control UIs.

4. Creative Visual Projects: Perfect for Uncanny Eyes or animation-based installations.

5. DIY Electronics & IoT Projects: Enhances visual output in custom-designed devices.

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Please allow 5% measuring deviation due to manual measurement.

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Documentation:

SPI Interface

This display incorporates the SPI interface which provides for fast display updates.

Since it is a write only device, it does not need the SPI MISO line hooked up.  The  module does bring the CS pin out to the interface which allows multiple devices to share the same SPI bus.

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Module Connections

Connection to the display is via a 7-pin header.

1 x 7 Header

• RES –  Reset for the GC9A01 LCD controller.  Normally HIGH, pull LOW to reset.  This display requires a reset to operate correctly.
• CS –    Chip Select.  Active LOW
• DC –   Data / Command.  Determines type type of data being sent to the display.  LOW = Command, HIGH = Data
• SDA – Connect to SPI MOSI (Data)
• SCL –  Connects to SPI SCL (Clock)
• GND – Connect to system ground.  This ground needs to be in common with the MCU.
• VCC –  Connect to 3.3V or 5V.  This can come from the MCU or separate power supply.

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OUR EVALUATION RESULTS:

These are interesting modules to work with since they have full color and graphical capability with good library support and come in an interesting round shape.

The display drivers are 240×240 pixels, but obviously the LCDs are not rectangular, so the active pixels are those that fall within a circle that is overlaid over that rectangle.

These modules are breadboard friendly with a 7-pin header on the back that can be inserted into a solderless breadboard or a 7-pin female connector can be used to connect to it if the display is to be mounted.  The display is mounted on a thin PCB which helps provide support, but be sure to press on the header pins when applying pressure to insert them into a breadboard and not press on the glass to avoid possible damage.

Though these displays can seem to be a bit intimidating to use at first, just follow these steps to get up and running easily.

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Connecting the Display

Connect VCC to  3.3V or 5V and GND to ground on the MCU.

Connect the SPI lines.  We are using a Teensy 4.1 setup in our example and are using pin 11 for SDA (MOSI) and pin 13 for SCL (SCK).  Other MCUs may map their SPI on different pins.

Connect CS to pin 10, DC to pin 9 and RST to pin 8.  These are all arbitrary and can be reassigned to any available pins.

If you are using a 3.3V MCU, these lines can be connected directly.  If you are using a 5V MCU, then be sure to use a logic level converter.

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Install GC9A01A_t3n Library

Install the Teensy GC9A-1A_t3n library if using a Teensy.    You will need to manually download it from the GitHub site as it is not available via the Arduino IDE library manager.  This library is a modified version of the ILI9341_t3n library and includes updated example programs like the Uncanny Eyes.

https://github.com/mjs513/GC9A01A_t3n

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Download and Run Program

The program below is a modified version of the example program graphicstest that is included when the GC9A01A_t3n library is installed.  It is pruned way down to show the basic graphics operation of the display.

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GC9A01 LCD Test Program

/***************************************************
GC9A01A LCD Display Driver Test

This is a spin on the graphicstest example that works with the 
GC9A01A_t3n library for the Teensy products.

It demonstrates basic color, text, rectangle and circle 
drawing capability
 ****************************************************/
#include "SPI.h"
#include "GC9A01A_t3n.h"
// *************** Change to your Pin numbers ***************
#define TFT_DC  9
#define TFT_CS 10
#define TFT_RST 8
#define TFT_SCK 13
#define TFT_MOSI 11

GC9A01A_t3n tft = GC9A01A_t3n(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

void setup() {
  while (!Serial && millis() < 5000) ; // wait for Arduino Serial Monitor
  Serial.begin(9600);
  delay(500);
  Serial.println("CG9A01A Test");
  tft.begin();
  tft.fillScreen(BLACK); delay(500);
  tft.fillScreen(RED); delay(500);
  tft.fillScreen(GREEN); delay(500);
  tft.fillScreen(BLUE); delay(500);
  tft.fillScreen(BLACK); delay(500);
}

void loop(void) {
  for (uint8_t rotation = 0; rotation < 4; rotation++) {
    tft.setRotation(rotation);
    drawText();
    tft.drawCircle(120, 120, 110, WHITE);
    tft.fillRect(100, 118, 40, 4, WHITE);
    tft.fillRect(118, 100, 4, 40, WHITE);
    delay(3000);
  }
}

unsigned long drawText() {
  tft.fillScreen(BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(75, 0);
  tft.setTextColor(WHITE);  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setCursor(75,20);
  tft.setTextColor(YELLOW); tft.setTextSize(2);
  tft.println(1234.56);
  tft.setCursor(50,40);
  tft.setTextColor(RED);    tft.setTextSize(3);
  tft.println(0xDEADBEEF, HEX);
  tft.println();
  tft.setCursor(50,80);
  tft.setTextColor(GREEN);
  tft.setTextSize(5);
  tft.println("TEST");
  tft.setTextSize(2);
  tft.println("Now is the time,");
  tft.println("for all good men");
  tft.println("to come to the aid");
  tft.println("of their country.");
  tft.println();
  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.println("The quick brown fox");
  tft.println("jumps over the lazy");
  tft.println("dogs back...0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9");
}

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FURTHER READING:

PJRC Forum Thread About the GC9A01A_t3n Library

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Package Includes:

1 x IPS LCD 1.28″ 240×240 RGB Round Display GC9A01

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