Adafruit USB + Serial LCD Backpack Add-On with Cable

Adding a character display to your project or computer has never been easier with the new Adafruit USB or TTL serial backpack. This custom-designed PCB can connect to the back of any 16x2 or 20x4 character LCD and offers a wide range of features: printing text, automatic scrolling, setting the backlight, adjusting contrast, crafting custom characters, and controlling the cursor visibility.

It seamlessly integrates with RGB backlight LCDs, providing full 8-bit PWM control over the backlight. This enables dynamic background color changes, ranging from red and green to teal and chartreuse, or even a neutral background by turning the backlight off. The onboard USB-capable AT90USB162 chip accommodates both USB type C and TTL serial inputs, automatically selecting the active data source.

The USB connection is versatile, supporting any baud rate, while the TTL connection starts at a default rate of 9600, which is adjustable through commands. Custom settings such as baud rate, backlight color, brightness, and splash screen are persistently stored in EEPROM. The command interface aligns with the popular "Matrix Orbital" specifications, ensuring compatibility with existing applications or libraries like "LCD Smartie." For added convenience, you can instantly send ASCII to the LCD for immediate text display. Note that an LCD module is not included and requires separate purchase and soldering.