Simple MicroPython demo of a cheap AliExpress Futaba 8-MD-06INKM display module on a RPi Pico

futaba_vfd.py

from machine import Pin
import time

# Futaba 8-MD-06INKM datasheet @ https://davll.me/posts/2021/05/22/futaba-vfd-1/data/008MD006INKM_A.pdf

# DIN    -> GP3 (SPI0 TX)
# CLK    -> GP2 (SPI0 SCK)
# CS     -> GP1 (SPI0 CSn)
# RESET  -> GP4
# EN     -> 5V (VBUS)
# VCC 5V -> VBUS
# GND    -> GND

def write_to_display(command):
    for i in range(8):
        clk(0)
        
        if (command & 0x01) == 0x01:
            din(1)
        else:
            din(0)
        
        command >>= 1
        
        clk(1)

din = Pin(3, mode=Pin.OUT, value=0)
clk = Pin(2, mode=Pin.OUT, value=0)
cs = Pin(1, mode=Pin.OUT, value=0)
reset = Pin(4, mode=Pin.OUT, value=0)

reset(0)
time.sleep_us(5)
reset(1)

cs(0)
write_to_display(0xE0) # select display timing command
write_to_display(0x07) # set display timing (number of digits in display), see 2.4 in datasheet for more info
cs(1)

cs(0)
write_to_display(0xE4) # select dimming command
write_to_display(0xFF) # set dimming amount (0 to 255, 255 being the brightest), see 2.6 in datasheet for more info
cs(1)

while True:
    cs(0)
    write_to_display(0b00100000) # select character 0 for write, see 2.1 in datasheet for more info
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 0
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 1
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 2
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 3
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 4
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 5
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 6
    write_to_display(0b00011101) # write character 00011101 to character 7
    cs(1)

    cs(0)
    write_to_display(0xE8) # show previously loaded characters on screen, see 2.7 for more info
    cs(1)
    
    time.sleep_ms(100)
    
    cs(0)
    write_to_display(0b00100000)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    write_to_display(0b00011110)
    cs(1)

    cs(0)
    write_to_display(0xE8)
    cs(1)
    
    time.sleep_ms(100)