Overview
The OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display module is 256 x 64 pixel graphic display with a 3.12 inch (diagonal) screen. The display is capable of rendering 16 shades of white brightness on a black background. The OLED display is designed around the Solomon Systech SSD1322 OLED driver/controller.
The glass display screen is mounted on an OEM controller board to which Tortuga Audio attaches its own custom adapter board. The adapter board extends the functionality of the OLED display module to include a 14 pin interface header for connecting the display to a Tortuga Audio preamp controller board (V25 & V3) , a place for attaching the rotary encoder (manual volume/control knob), and a place to mount the infrared remote receiver module.
The OLED display was released in June 2018 for use with Tortuga Audio’s LDR.V25 (“V25”) LDR preamp controller board and V25 versions of Tortuga Audio preamps and continues to be used with newer ePot.V3 Max and Mini stepped attenuator/controllers and related V3 preamp products. With release of the OLED display we discontinued using our earlier dual 7-segment displays.
There have been 4 revisions to the OLED display module designated as A, B, C & D.
Assembly description
The OLED display module is actually an assembly of different parts as listed below. Items #3 through #6 are attached to item #2 which is itself attached to item #1.
- OEM display screen attached to its OEM controller board
- Separate Tortuga Audio adapter board located behind, and attached to, the display screen’s OEM board via a pin header
- IR receiver module soldered into the adapter board
- (2×7) 14 pin OLED header on the adapter board that connects the display module to the V25 or V3 preamp controller board via a 14 pin ribbon cable
- Encoder module with 4 wire square pin cable that connects from the encoder module 4 pin header to the 4 pin header on the adapter board
- Rev A OLED display modules also had a separate (2×5) 10 pin control header on the adapter board. Subsequent revisions do not have this header/cable..
All control and data signals between the OLED display module and the preamp controller boards (V25 & V3) are handled through the ribbon cable(s).
Assembly versions
The are 4 versions of the OLED display module assembly designated A, B, C, & D. These versions refer to the Tortuga Audio adapter board. Versions A, B & C use a NewHaven OEM display while version D uses a EastRising OEM display. Both OEM versions utilize the same underlying OLED display SSD1322 driver and perform identically.
To complicate matters a bit further, there are different versions of the V25 & V3 preamp controllers that only work with certain OLED display module versions.
Please consult the table below for compatibility.
| Criteria | OLED Version A | OLED Version B | OLED Version C | OLED Version D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adapter board interface to OEM board | 1x22 pin horizontal header (top) | 1x20 pin horizontal header (top) | 1x20 pin horizontal header (top) | 2x8 pin vertical header (right side) |
| Display module OEM | NewHaven | NewHaven | NewHaven | EastRising |
| Connections to Tortuga Audio controller board | * 14 pin parallel - display signals only * 10 pin - for IR receiver and encoder signals only | * 14 pin serial SPI - display signals only * 10 pin - for IR receiver and encoder signals only | 14 pin serial SPI - for display signals, IR receiver and encoder | 14 pin serial SPI - for display signals, IR receiver and encoder |
| V25 - Rev A | Compatible | Not compatible | Not compatible | Not compatible |
| V25 - Rev B | Not compatible | Compatible | Compatible - requires IR receiver and encoder to be connected individually to V25.J3 header and not through the OLED display interface board | |
| V25 - Rev C | No compatible | Not compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
| V3 - Rev A & B | Not compatible | Not compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
OEM display versions
NewHaven OEM
The NewHaven OEM display consists of the display glass mounted to an OEM controller board. The controller board is the same width as the display glass but extends both above and below the display glass with mounting holes in each corner and either a 22 or 20 pin horizontal control interface pin header along the top. The Tortuga Audio adapter board (not shown here) is soldered to, and located directly behind, the NewHaven OEM display via the horizonal pin header.
The NewHaven OEM display is used in OLED display versions A, B & C.
EastRising OEM
The EastRising OEM display consists of the display glass mounted to an OEM controller board. The controller board extends barely above and below the display glass but does extend beyond both the left and right sides of the display glass with mounting holes in each corner and with a 2×8 pin vertical interface pin header located along the right side. The Tortuga Audio adapter board (not shown here) is permanently soldered to the 2×8 pin header, and is located directly behind, the EastRising OEM display. Also not shown here is the IR receiver mounted to the same adapter board near the left edge of the display.
The EastRising OEM display, equipped with the Tortuga Audio adapter board, is functionally compatible with the NewHaven OEM Rev C OLED display but is dimensionally different with different mounting.
Primary ribbon cable
The OLED cable is a 2×7 IDC ribbon cable that connects the 14 pin OLED.J2 header on the display module and the corresponding OLED header on V25/V3 controller boards. The ribbon cable carries the following signals:
- 3V3 – power (clockwise)
- G – ground
- SC – SPI clock
- CS – SPI display select
- SW – encoder switch
- EB – encoder leg B
- RES – OLED display reset
- G – ground
- G – ground
- DC – OLED display data/command
- EA – encoder leg A
- IR – infrared receiver signal
- SO – SPI data
- LED – status/panel LED signal
- Data/Command
Please note that the ribbon cable connector ends are NOT keyed and thus can be connected in reverse. While this is unlikely to damage equipment, please be careful to make sure the red stripe on the ribbon cable is on the same side of each header that has a white dot the circuit board (i.e. align the red stripe with the white dot).
Secondary ribbon cable
Version A display module used a second 2×5 IDC ribbon cable to carry encoder and IR receiver signals. This cable ran between the 10 pin V25.J3 header and the its corresponding 10 pin OLED.J3 header on the adapter board of the Rev A version of the OLED display module.
OLED display module versions B onwards do not use the second ribbon cable.
Encoder module
An encoder it a type of rotary switch. It works by generating pulses as it turns. These pulses have a different pattern depending on whether the encoder is turned clockwise or counterclockwise. It generates 20 complete pulse sequences per revolution. Thus, for a 100 step volume control, you would have to rotate the encoder/knob 5 times to go from step 0 (mute) to step 100 (max volume). This is a different paradigm from a conventional volume pot where one revolution (or less) goes from 0 to max volume.
The encoder’s directional pulse generation, together with the integral push button, make is possible for the encoder to perform numerous functions such as muting, power on/off, and input switching, in addition to volume control.
The ePot.V3 Mini has its own built-in encoder module. Do not connect a separate encoder module to the OLED display when using the ePot.V3 Mini. In doing so you will have connected 2 separate encoders to the V3 Mini which will either disable encoder operation or cause it to malfunction. Your can order a V3 Mini with the encoder detached if requested.
Encoder cable
A 4-wire square-pin type cable (or 4 separate square pin female-female jumpers) connects the rotary encoder module to the 4 pin OLED.J4 header on the display module adapter board. The pins are labeled EA, EB, ES & G on both the OLED interface board and the encoder module. This cable is used in all versions of the OLED display module.
IR receiver modules
Two different IR receiver parts have been used in Tortuga Audio products. They are referred to as IR Receiver Module #1 and #2. IR Receiver Module #1 is the most common and was used exclusively up until July, 2021 at which time we started using IR Receiver Module #2. #1 is a 3-wire model while #2 is a 4-wire model where the 3 left-most pins on the 4-wire model are the same as the 3-wire model. Aside from pin-out differences, they are functionally interchangeable.
Both IR receiver module interface to the preamp controller board through the OLED display adapter board. It is soldered directly to the OLED display adapter board. Module #1 pins are keyed such that the IR receiver module can only go in one way naturally. Module #2 can be installed backwards so please pay attention to the pin diagram/labels here and the OLED adapter board.
The OLED display, together with the attached IR receiver module, must be positioned to look out into the room through the front panel.
IR Receiver Module #1 dimensions
IR Receiver Module #2 dimensions
Please note that Module #2 can be installed into existing OLED display adapter boards that were designed for Module #1 but that there is no mounting hole for the right-most pin #4 on Module #2. This pin must be manually looped around and soldered on to the left-most leg without touching pins #2 or #3. Pins #1 and #4 are both ground pins.
Interface with V25 controller
The interface between the OLED display module and the V25 controller board is shown below but without the actual cables present. The V25 board shown below is a version A board with the extra 10 pin J3 header for the IR/encoder power/signal connections. Version B and C boards do not have the J3 header and instead use the 14 pin J9 header for the IR/encoder power/signal connections.
The OLED display module shown above is a version A module with both the 14 pin and 10 pin headers. Version B and C modules only have the 14 pin header. All versions have the 4 pin encoder header. Also note the IR receiver soldered to the adapter board. The IR receiver is located immediately next to the front of the display and is oriented so that it looks forward and must be able to “see” into the room in order to receive commands from the Apple IR remote.
Interface with V3 controller
** coming soon **