USB to Tiny OLED Display

Modern computer workstations feature one or more high-quality screens in sizes that would have been impressive as a living room TV not that many years ago. This wealth of space allows for a wide range of information display options, but what if you want to add a tiny display (or three) dedicated to a single task or data input in the same physical space?

The USB to OLED project from Stefan Wagner presents a fantastic method for display such tiny bits of data, on a common 128x64 pixel OLED screen over USB. It takes the form of a small PCB that fits behind a standard 0.96” OLED, and uses a CH552E or CH554E microcontroller to translate serial USB signals into the I2C protocol that these little displays can understand. It also features a small buzzer onboard to notify you when it would like your attention.

Communication with the device is as simple as sending a serial message to the correct port, which it displays onscreen. More advanced output can be accomplished via PC-side scripting, such as showing images or playing Conway's Game of Life.

Reference material is available on Wagner's GitHub page, including the PCB design if you’d like to replicate the project. Perhaps you could have an array of USB-controlled mini monitors underneath your main screen, showing computer usage stats, text messages, crypto prices, or anything else that’s of immediate interest to you!