Arduino Pro Mini (ATMEGA 328 5v 16 MHz) Display Module Controller

This is a work-in-progress today so this page will be changing periodically before it is final.

I needed to build a module that will offer a 20 character by 4 line backlit LCD display and two or more 4 digit 7 segment displays. The module would have to take serial commands, interpret them, and display the data appropriately. Several years ago, this would have proven to be a rather busy board with a lot of wire connections. But today? All I needed was the 20x4 display, two common cathode .36" bright blue 4 digit 7 segment displays, a MAX7219 LED display controller, and one single Arduino 5v Pro Mini 328 running at 16 MHz. As far as discreet components, I only needed 2 resistors, 2 capacitors, a trimmer pot, and some Dupont female/male ended ribbon jumper wire for the LCD display.

As with much of the hardware I play with, there always seems to be a library available for the Arduino somewhere. For this display module, I am using the standard (and included) LiquidCrystal library, and the LedControl library for the MAX7219. To program the Pro Mini, I am using a 5V FTDI Basic USB to Serial Converter I picked up on eBay for about $10. I also picked up the Pro Mini from eBay for about $3 which also included headers.

Serial access is simple as usual, using the RXD/TXD lines, at 115,200k. I am using the same buffering/command parsing functions I wrote for my Teensy 3.1 with very little modification.