Micro OLED not working

I’m an intermediate level user going through some old parts I got back in 2018 to see if I can get some new life out of them.

I’m working with an older model of Arduino Pro Mini 3v:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/9220

… and the original Micro OLED:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13003

To program the Pro Mini, I’m using the correct FTDI 3v, also purchased in 2018.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9873

Everything was were purchased in 2018, and has been in my parts cabinet since. I am trying to do the basic exercise to get the OLED working, but have had no luck. I can confirm that the Pro mini will take a Blink sketch, but I can’t get the OLED to respond over SPI. Haven’t tried I2C yet since I really wanted to just use SPI without any jumper settings.

Running Arduino IDE 1.8.16. I haven’t made any changes to the code, but I’ll share it below. Same as the demo sketch provided for SPI. I’ve completely started over to check my wiring three times, so now I am just stumped. I read somewhere the blue OLEDs have a shelf life… could this OLED just be dead after 5 years, even if unused during that time?

/******************************************************************************
   MicroOLED_Demo.ino
   SFE_MicroOLED Library Demo
   Jim Lindblom @ SparkFun Electronics
   Original Creation Date: October 27, 2014

   This sketch uses the MicroOLED library to draw a 3-D projected
   cube, and rotate it along all three axes.

   Development environment specifics:
    Arduino 1.0.5
    Arduino Pro 3.3V
    Micro OLED Breakout v1.0

   This code is beerware; if you see me (or any other SparkFun employee) at the
   local, and you've found our code helpful, please buy us a round!

   Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.
 ******************************************************************************/
#include <Wire.h>  // Include Wire if you're using I2C
#include <SPI.h> //you're using SPI
#include <SFE_MicroOLED.h>  // Include the SFE_MicroOLED library

//////////////////////////
// MicroOLED Definition //
//////////////////////////
#define PIN_RESET 9  // Connect RST to pin 9
#define PIN_DC    8  // Connect DC to pin 8
#define PIN_CS    10 // Connect CS to pin 10
#define DC_JUMPER 0 // Set to either 0 (default) or 1 based on jumper, matching the value of the DC Jumper
// Also connect pin 13 to SCK and pin 11 to MOSI

//////////////////////////////////
// MicroOLED Object Declaration //
//////////////////////////////////
// Declare a MicroOLED object. The parameters include:
// 1 - Reset pin: Any digital pin
// 2 - D/C pin: Any digital pin (SPI mode only)
// 3 - CS pin: Any digital pin (SPI mode only, 10 recommended)

MicroOLED oled(PIN_RESET, PIN_DC, PIN_CS); //Example SPI declaration, comment out if using I2C
//MicroOLED oled(PIN_RESET, DC_JUMPER); //Example I2C declaration, uncomment if using I2C

// I2C is great, but will result in a much slower update rate. The
// slower framerate may be a worthwhile tradeoff, if you need more
// pins, though.
void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  delay(100);
  //Wire.begin(); //set up I2C bus, uncomment if you are using I2C

  oled.begin();    // Initialize the OLED
  oled.clear(ALL); // Clear the display's internal memory
  oled.display();  // Display what's in the buffer (splashscreen)
  delay(1000);     // Delay 1000 ms
  oled.clear(PAGE); // Clear the buffer.

  randomSeed(analogRead(A0) + analogRead(A1));
}

void pixelExample()
{
  printTitle("Pixels", 1);

  for (int i = 0; i < 512; i++)
  {
    oled.pixel(random(oled.getLCDWidth()), random(oled.getLCDHeight()));
    oled.display();
  }
}

void lineExample()
{
  int middleX = oled.getLCDWidth() / 2;
  int middleY = oled.getLCDHeight() / 2;
  int xEnd, yEnd;
  int lineWidth = min(middleX, middleY);

  printTitle("Lines!", 1);

  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
  {
    for (int deg = 0; deg < 360; deg += 15)
    {
      xEnd = lineWidth * cos(deg * PI / 180.0);
      yEnd = lineWidth * sin(deg * PI / 180.0);

      oled.line(middleX, middleY, middleX + xEnd, middleY + yEnd);
      oled.display();
      delay(10);
    }
    for (int deg = 0; deg < 360; deg += 15)
    {
      xEnd = lineWidth * cos(deg * PI / 180.0);
      yEnd = lineWidth * sin(deg * PI / 180.0);

      oled.line(middleX, middleY, middleX + xEnd, middleY + yEnd, BLACK, NORM);
      oled.display();
      delay(10);
    }
  }
}

void shapeExample()
{
  printTitle("Shapes!", 0);

  // Silly pong demo. It takes a lot of work to fake pong...
  int paddleW = 3;  // Paddle width
  int paddleH = 15;  // Paddle height
  // Paddle 0 (left) position coordinates
  int paddle0_Y = (oled.getLCDHeight() / 2) - (paddleH / 2);
  int paddle0_X = 2;
  // Paddle 1 (right) position coordinates
  int paddle1_Y = (oled.getLCDHeight() / 2) - (paddleH / 2);
  int paddle1_X = oled.getLCDWidth() - 3 - paddleW;
  int ball_rad = 2;  // Ball radius
  // Ball position coordinates
  int ball_X = paddle0_X + paddleW + ball_rad;
  int ball_Y = random(1 + ball_rad, oled.getLCDHeight() - ball_rad);//paddle0_Y + ball_rad;
  int ballVelocityX = 1;  // Ball left/right velocity
  int ballVelocityY = 1;  // Ball up/down velocity
  int paddle0Velocity = -1;  // Paddle 0 velocity
  int paddle1Velocity = 1;  // Paddle 1 velocity

  //while(ball_X >= paddle0_X + paddleW - 1)
  while ((ball_X - ball_rad > 1) &&
         (ball_X + ball_rad < oled.getLCDWidth() - 2))
  {
    // Increment ball's position
    ball_X += ballVelocityX;
    ball_Y += ballVelocityY;
    // Check if the ball is colliding with the left paddle
    if (ball_X - ball_rad < paddle0_X + paddleW)
    {
      // Check if ball is within paddle's height
      if ((ball_Y > paddle0_Y) && (ball_Y < paddle0_Y + paddleH))
      {
        ball_X++;  // Move ball over one to the right
        ballVelocityX = -ballVelocityX; // Change velocity
      }
    }
    // Check if the ball hit the right paddle
    if (ball_X + ball_rad > paddle1_X)
    {
      // Check if ball is within paddle's height
      if ((ball_Y > paddle1_Y) && (ball_Y < paddle1_Y + paddleH))
      {
        ball_X--;  // Move ball over one to the left
        ballVelocityX = -ballVelocityX; // change velocity
      }
    }
    // Check if the ball hit the top or bottom
    if ((ball_Y <= ball_rad) || (ball_Y >= (oled.getLCDHeight() - ball_rad - 1)))
    {
      // Change up/down velocity direction
      ballVelocityY = -ballVelocityY;
    }
    // Move the paddles up and down
    paddle0_Y += paddle0Velocity;
    paddle1_Y += paddle1Velocity;
    // Change paddle 0's direction if it hit top/bottom
    if ((paddle0_Y <= 1) || (paddle0_Y > oled.getLCDHeight() - 2 - paddleH))
    {
      paddle0Velocity = -paddle0Velocity;
    }
    // Change paddle 1's direction if it hit top/bottom
    if ((paddle1_Y <= 1) || (paddle1_Y > oled.getLCDHeight() - 2 - paddleH))
    {
      paddle1Velocity = -paddle1Velocity;
    }

    // Draw the Pong Field
    oled.clear(PAGE);  // Clear the page
    // Draw an outline of the screen:
    oled.rect(0, 0, oled.getLCDWidth() - 1, oled.getLCDHeight());
    // Draw the center line
    oled.rectFill(oled.getLCDWidth() / 2 - 1, 0, 2, oled.getLCDHeight());
    // Draw the Paddles:
    oled.rectFill(paddle0_X, paddle0_Y, paddleW, paddleH);
    oled.rectFill(paddle1_X, paddle1_Y, paddleW, paddleH);
    // Draw the ball:
    oled.circle(ball_X, ball_Y, ball_rad);
    // Actually draw everything on the screen:
    oled.display();
    delay(25);  // Delay for visibility
  }
  delay(1000);
}

void textExamples()
{
  printTitle("Text!", 1);

  // Demonstrate font 0. 5x8 font
  oled.clear(PAGE);     // Clear the screen
  oled.setFontType(0);  // Set font to type 0
  oled.setCursor(0, 0); // Set cursor to top-left
  // There are 255 possible characters in the font 0 type.
  // Lets run through all of them and print them out!
  for (int i = 0; i <= 255; i++)
  {
    // You can write byte values and they'll be mapped to
    // their ASCII equivalent character.
    oled.write(i);  // Write a byte out as a character
    oled.display(); // Draw on the screen
    delay(10);      // Wait 10ms
    // We can only display 60 font 0 characters at a time.
    // Every 60 characters, pause for a moment. Then clear
    // the page and start over.
    if ((i % 60 == 0) && (i != 0))
    {
      delay(500);           // Delay 500 ms
      oled.clear(PAGE);     // Clear the page
      oled.setCursor(0, 0); // Set cursor to top-left
    }
  }
  delay(500);  // Wait 500ms before next example

  // Demonstrate font 1. 8x16. Let's use the print function
  // to display every character defined in this font.
  oled.setFontType(1);  // Set font to type 1
  oled.clear(PAGE);     // Clear the page
  oled.setCursor(0, 0); // Set cursor to top-left
  // Print can be used to print a string to the screen:
  oled.print(" !\"#$%&'()*+,-./01234");
  oled.display();       // Refresh the display
  delay(1000);          // Delay a second and repeat
  oled.clear(PAGE);
  oled.setCursor(0, 0);
  oled.print("56789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHI");
  oled.display();
  delay(1000);
  oled.clear(PAGE);
  oled.setCursor(0, 0);
  oled.print("JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\\]^");
  oled.display();
  delay(1000);
  oled.clear(PAGE);
  oled.setCursor(0, 0);
  oled.print("_`abcdefghijklmnopqrs");
  oled.display();
  delay(1000);
  oled.clear(PAGE);
  oled.setCursor(0, 0);
  oled.print("tuvwxyz{|}~");
  oled.display();
  delay(1000);

  // Demonstrate font 2. 10x16. Only numbers and '.' are defined.
  // This font looks like 7-segment displays.
  // Lets use this big-ish font to display readings from the
  // analog pins.
  for (int i = 0; i < 25; i++)
  {
    oled.clear(PAGE);            // Clear the display
    oled.setCursor(0, 0);        // Set cursor to top-left
    oled.setFontType(0);         // Smallest font
    oled.print("A0: ");          // Print "A0"
    oled.setFontType(2);         // 7-segment font
    oled.print(analogRead(A0));  // Print a0 reading
    oled.setCursor(0, 16);       // Set cursor to top-middle-left
    oled.setFontType(0);         // Repeat
    oled.print("A1: ");
    oled.setFontType(2);
    oled.print(analogRead(A1));
    oled.setCursor(0, 32);
    oled.setFontType(0);
    oled.print("A2: ");
    oled.setFontType(2);
    oled.print(analogRead(A2));
    oled.display();
    delay(100);
  }

  // Demonstrate font 3. 12x48. Stopwatch demo.
  oled.setFontType(3);  // Use the biggest font
  int ms = 0;
  int s = 0;
  while (s <= 5)
  {
    oled.clear(PAGE);     // Clear the display
    oled.setCursor(0, 0); // Set cursor to top-left
    if (s < 10)
      oled.print("00");   // Print "00" if s is 1 digit
    else if (s < 100)
      oled.print("0");    // Print "0" if s is 2 digits
    oled.print(s);        // Print s's value
    oled.print(":");      // Print ":"
    oled.print(ms);       // Print ms value
    oled.display();       // Draw on the screen
    ms++;         // Increment ms
    if (ms >= 10) // If ms is >= 10
    {
      ms = 0;     // Set ms back to 0
      s++;        // and increment s
    }
  }

  // Demonstrate font 4. 31x48. Let's use the print function
  // to display some characters defined in this font.
  oled.setFontType(4);  // Set font to type 4
  oled.clear(PAGE);     // Clear the page
  oled.setCursor(0, 0); // Set cursor to top-left
  // Print can be used to print a string to the screen:
  oled.print("OL");
  oled.display();       // Refresh the display
  delay(1000);          // Delay a second and repeat
  oled.clear(PAGE);
  oled.setCursor(0, 0);
  oled.print("ED");
  oled.display();
  delay(1000);
}

void loop()
{
  pixelExample();  // Run the pixel example function
  lineExample();   // Then the line example function
  shapeExample();  // Then the shape example
  textExamples();  // Finally the text example

  Serial.println(MOSI);
  Serial.println(MISO);
  Serial.println(SCK);
}

// Center and print a small title
// This function is quick and dirty. Only works for titles one
// line long.
void printTitle(String title, int font)
{
  int middleX = oled.getLCDWidth() / 2;
  int middleY = oled.getLCDHeight() / 2;

  oled.clear(PAGE);
  oled.setFontType(font);
  // Try to set the cursor in the middle of the screen
  oled.setCursor(middleX - (oled.getFontWidth() * (title.length() / 2)),
                 middleY - (oled.getFontHeight() / 2));
  // Print the title:
  oled.print(title);
  oled.display();
  delay(1500);
  oled.clear(PAGE);
}

Start with a simpler example, then try complicating things… double check the wiring vs here https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/mi … are-hookup and load the simpler demo that follows - any change?

Yeah, already checked the basic sketch and like I said, been through the wiring several times. Still same issue.

And since I know you will probably want to see, here’s the wiring and jumper setup picts. Ignore the blue tape, used to hold the screen in place.

I would just try swapping to i2c and if nothing changes it’s likely dead :frowning: