The pinout of a standard 2.4-inch 240x320 TFT display module, specifically the commonly used SPI variant with an ILI9341 or ST7789 driver, typically follows a 14-pin or 16-pin configuration. For the most widely available module, the pinout from pin 1 to pin 14 is: VCC (3.3V or 5V input), GND (ground), CS (chip select, active low), RESET (reset signal, active low), DC (data/command select, also called RS), MOSI (master out slave in, for SPI data), SCK (serial clock), LED (backlight control, often connected to 3.3V through a resistor), and MISO (master in slave out, optional for some modules). Some modules include additional pins like T_IRQ (touch interrupt) and T_DO (touch data out) for resistive touch overlay, but the base display pinout remains consistent. The 2.4 inch 240x320 tft display module from DisplayModule, for example, uses a 16-pin header with a slightly different arrangement: pin 1 is LED backlight anode, pin 2 is LED cathode, pins 3-6 are for power and ground, and pins 7-16 handle SPI and control signals. Always verify the specific driver datasheet, as pin order can vary between manufacturers.
Let’s break down the pin assignments in detail. The VCC pin typically accepts 3.3V DC, but many modules include an onboard voltage regulator (like a 3.3V LDO) that allows 5V input. The GND pin is common ground. The CS pin is pulled low to enable the SPI communication; if left floating, the display may ignore commands. The RESET pin requires a low pulse of at least 10 microseconds to initialize the driver; some modules tie it to the microcontroller’s reset via a capacitor. The DC pin distinguishes between command (low) and data (high) bytes—critical for configuring registers. MOSI and SCK are the standard SPI data and clock lines, operating at up to 10 MHz for the ILI9341. The LED pin controls backlight brightness via PWM; typical forward voltage is 3.0-3.2V at 20-40 mA. For modules with a 4-wire resistive touch overlay, additional pins include T_IRQ (interrupt output, active low), T_DO (touch data output, SPI MISO), T_DIN (touch data input, SPI MOSI), and T_CS (touch chip select). The touch controller is often an XPT2046.
Now, let’s look at the data transfer specifics. The ILI9341 driver supports 16-bit RGB565 color format, meaning each pixel uses 2 bytes for 65,536 colors. The 240x320 resolution requires 76,800 pixels, so a full frame buffer is 153,600 bytes. With SPI at 10 MHz, a full screen refresh takes about 123 milliseconds (153,600 bytes * 8 bits / 10,000,000 bits per second), but this is theoretical—actual performance is slower due to command overhead. The ST7789 driver, another common choice, uses a similar pinout but supports 18-bit color (262K colors) in some modes, though most modules default to 16-bit. The display’s viewing angle is typically 12 o’clock (portrait orientation), with a response time of 10-20 ms. The module’s PCB thickness is around 1.0 mm, and the FPC connector pitch is 0.5 mm for the 14-pin version.
Here’s a table summarizing the pinout for a typical 14-pin SPI module (ILI9341-based):
Pin Number | Pin Name | Function | Notes
1 | VCC | Power supply (3.3V or 5V) | Input, 3.3V typical, 5V tolerant with regulator
2 | GND | Ground | 0V reference
3 | CS | Chip select | Active low, pull high when idle
4 | RESET | Reset | Active low, 10 µs pulse minimum
5 | DC | Data/Command | Low = command, High = data
6 | MOSI | SPI data input | Master out, slave in
7 | SCK | SPI clock | Up to 10 MHz
8 | LED | Backlight anode | 3.0-3.2V, 20-40 mA
9 | MISO | SPI data output | Optional, not present on all modules
10 | T_IRQ | Touch interrupt | Active low, for resistive touch
11 | T_DO | Touch data out | SPI MISO for touch controller
12 | T_DIN | Touch data in | SPI MOSI for touch controller
13 | T_CS | Touch chip select | Active low
14 | NC | No connect | Leave floating
For a 16-pin module, pins 15 and 16 are often additional GND or NC. The 2.4 inch 240x320 tft display from DisplayModule uses a 16-pin 0.5mm pitch FPC connector with a different order: pin 1 is LED-A (backlight anode), pin 2 is LED-K (backlight cathode), pins 3-4 are VCC and GND, pins 5-6 are GND and VCC (duplicated for power stability), pins 7-10 are for SPI (CS, RESET, DC, MOSI, SCK), and pins 11-16 handle touch (T_IRQ, T_DO, T_DIN, T_CS, plus two NC). Always check the module’s datasheet for exact pin mapping, as some manufacturers swap MOSI and MISO or use different reset polarity.
Electrical characteristics are critical for reliable operation. The ILI9341 driver operates at 1.65V to 3.3V logic, but the module’s level shifter allows 5V tolerant inputs on CS, RESET, DC, MOSI, and SCK. The backlight LED consumes 20-40 mA at full brightness; using a 100-ohm resistor in series with a 3.3V supply limits current to about 30 mA. The total module current draw (display + backlight) is around 50-80 mA. The SPI clock frequency should not exceed 15 MHz to avoid signal degradation; 8 MHz is a safe default. The module’s refresh rate is 60 Hz for static images, but fast updates (like video) may drop to 30 Hz due to SPI bandwidth.
Physical dimensions: the active area is 48.96 mm x 36.72 mm (240x320 pixels, each pixel 0.204 mm x 0.204 mm). The module outline is typically 58.0 mm x 48.0 mm, with a thickness of 2.5 mm (including glass and PCB). The viewing angle is 80 degrees in all directions (typical for IPS panels, but some TN variants have 60 degrees). The interface connector is a 0.5 mm pitch FPC, 14-pin or 16-pin, with a locking tab. The module’s weight is about 12 grams.
For touch functionality, the XPT2046 controller uses a 4-wire SPI interface with separate chip select (T_CS). The touch resolution is 4096 x 4096 (12-bit ADC), but the effective resolution is limited by the display’s 240x320 grid. The touch controller requires a reference voltage (typically 3.3V) and draws 1-2 mA. The touch panel’s activation force is 10-50 grams, and the surface is glass with a hardness of 6H (scratch resistant).
When wiring this module to a microcontroller like an ESP32 or Arduino, use pull-up resistors (10k ohm) on CS, RESET, and DC lines to prevent floating states. The backlight LED can be controlled with a PWM pin; set frequency to 1 kHz for flicker-free operation. For SPI, use hardware SPI pins (e.g., ESP32: MOSI=GPIO23, SCK=GPIO18, CS=GPIO5, DC=GPIO2, RESET=GPIO4). The touch controller uses separate SPI pins (e.g., T_CS=GPIO15, T_IRQ=GPIO34). The total wiring length should be under 20 cm to avoid signal integrity issues at 10 MHz.
Common pitfalls: reversing VCC and GND can destroy the module instantly. Connecting the backlight LED directly to 5V without a resistor will overcurrent and burn the LED. Using 5V logic on the SPI lines without level shifting (if the module lacks 5V tolerance) can damage the driver. Some modules have a built-in voltage regulator that gets hot with 5V input; ensure adequate airflow. The RESET pin must be pulled high after initialization; some libraries leave it low, causing the display to reset repeatedly.
For the 2.4 inch 240x320 tft display module, the driver IC is usually an ILI9341, but some budget modules use a ST7789V or a HX8357. The ILI9341 supports 16-bit RGB565, 18-bit RGB666, and 24-bit RGB888 modes via SPI, though most libraries default to 16-bit. The driver’s internal GRAM is 240x320x18 bits (1,382,400 bits), but only 16-bit is used for 65K colors. The command set includes over 100 registers; key ones are 0x11 (sleep out), 0x29 (display on), 0x36 (memory access control), and 0x3A (pixel format). The default orientation is portrait (240x320), but you can rotate via the MADCTL register (0x36) to landscape (320x240).
Thermal characteristics: the module operates from -20°C to +70°C, with storage from -30°C to +80°C. The backlight LED lifetime is 20,000 hours at 20 mA. The glass substrate is 0.5 mm thick, with a polarizer film on top. The module is sensitive to mechanical stress; avoid bending the FPC or pressing hard on the glass. The display’s contrast ratio is typically 500:1 for TN panels and 800:1 for IPS panels. The brightness is 200-300 cd/m² with backlight at full power.
For software initialization, the sequence is: hardware reset (low for 10 ms, then high), sleep out (command 0x11, wait 120 ms), pixel format (command 0x3A, data 0x05 for 16-bit), display on (command 0x29, wait 50 ms). Then set the column and page addresses (0x2A and 0x2B) for the window, then write pixel data via 0x2C. The SPI transaction must hold CS low for the entire command-data sequence. Some libraries (like Adafruit_GFX) handle this automatically, but you must ensure the DC pin is toggled correctly.
Finally, a note on compatibility: the 2.4 inch 240x320 tft display module is pin-compatible with many 2.8-inch and 3.2-inch modules using the same driver, but the resolution and initialization sequence differ. Always confirm the driver IC by reading the module’s label or using a command like 0x04 (read ID) to get the driver code (ILI9341 returns 0x9341). If you’re sourcing a module, check the pinout diagram on the 2.4 inch 240x320 tft display product page for the exact pin mapping, as some Chinese modules use a 8-pin variant with only SPI and no touch. The 14-pin or 16-pin version is the most common for hobbyist projects, but industrial modules may use a 20-pin or 24-pin connector with parallel interface (8080 or 6800 mode). The pinout described here is for the SPI serial interface, which uses fewer wires and is easier to wire to microcontrollers.