P028B129-IPS-TP — 2.8-inch IPS TFT LCD Module, 240x320, 4-Wire SPI, ST7789V Driver, Resistive Touch Panel

The P028B129-IPS-TP is a 2.8-inch IPS TFT LCD module with 240(H)x320(V) pixel resolution, a 4-wire SPI interface driven by the ST7789V IC, and an integrated resistive touch panel (RTP). The display area measures 43.20(H) x 57.60 (V) mm, the outline is 50.00x69.20x3.50 mm, and the module operates from -20 degrees C to +70 degrees C. These three parameters define the integration envelope: the 50 mm wide outline fits standard handheld instrument chassis, the SPI interface connects to any MCU with a spare SPI peripheral, and the operating temperature range covers medical and industrial portable device environments without auxiliary heating.

Luminance is 260 cd/m2 from the LED side-light backlight, contrast ratio is 1200:1 in Normally Black IPS mode, and the all-direction viewing angle produces no gray inversion at any off-axis angle. The 262K (18-bit) color depth renders ECG waveforms, SPO2 readings, and numerical vital-sign displays without color banding at standard UI palette depths.

📥 Download Datasheet (PDF)

Complete specifications

Interface: 4-wire SPI and ST7789V driver IC

The ST7789V is a 240x320 TFT driver IC that accepts pixel data over 4-wire SPI (SCLK, MOSI, CS, DC). It contains built-in GRAM sufficient for one full 240x320 frame (approximately 150 KB at 16-bit color depth), so no external frame buffer memory is required. The 14-pin connector carries the SPI data lines, backlight LED anode and cathode, power supply (VDD and GND), and reset line.

The ST7789V write SPI clock supports up to 62.5 MHz per the datasheet. At 40 MHz SPI with DMA on an STM32F or ESP32, a full 240x320 RGB565 frame (153,600 bytes) transfers in approximately 31 ms, enabling roughly 32 fps at full-frame refresh. Partial-area updates using the ST7789V CASET and RASET commands reduce transfer time proportionally for waveform trace regions or numerical readout zones that update independently. Open-source ST7789V drivers are available for Arduino (TFT_eSPI and Adafruit ST7789 libraries), ESP-IDF, STM32 HAL, MicroPython, and LVGL.

Resistive touch panel (RTP): stylus and gloved-hand input, no controller IC required on module

The resistive touch panel on the P028B129-IPS-TP is a four-wire analog RTP. It outputs two analog voltages (X and Y axis) that the host MCU reads through ADC inputs to determine touch coordinates. No dedicated touch controller IC is embedded on this module; the ADC and coordinate linearization are handled in host firmware. This approach reduces module cost and allows the integrator to choose the ADC resolution and sampling rate that match the application.

Resistive touch panels respond to any stylus or pointing implement and to gloved hands, which is a functional requirement in medical environments where latex or nitrile gloves are worn during device operation. The RTP surface is a flexible polyester film; activation force is typically 20-80 g, which is within the range of finger-tip and stylus input. RTP panels do not require capacitive sensor calibration and are not affected by proximity of a conductive object without physical contact, which eliminates false-trigger events in electrically noisy environments such as operating rooms or industrial floors.

Physical dimensions: 50.00x69.20 mm outline, 3.50 mm depth, 14-pin connector

The module outline is 50.00(H)x69.20(V)x3.50 mm maximum depth. The active display area (43.20x57.60 mm) leaves a 3.40 mm border on the left and right edges and a 5.80 mm border at top and bottom, which accommodates a gasket seal or adhesive bonding bead in IP-rated enclosure assemblies. The 3.50 mm depth is within the standard LCD pocket depth for 2.8-inch handheld device chassis.

Pixel pitch is 0.180x0.180 mm (square pixels), yielding approximately 141 PPI. At this density, 10 pt Latin characters (approximately 19 px height) are legible at 30 cm viewing distance without sub-pixel rendering. Numerical readouts at 14 pt and waveform traces at 2 px line width are both within the legibility threshold for the primary use cases of this module. The 240x320 portrait aspect ratio (4:3) is the standard layout for handheld medical and industrial instruments displaying stacked data fields.

Optical performance: 260 nit luminance, 1200:1 contrast ratio, IPS all-direction viewing

Luminance is 260 cd/m2 at rated LED backlight current. The 1200:1 contrast ratio in Normally Black IPS mode keeps off-state pixel luminance below 0.22 cd/m2, which produces clear waveform traces and text on a dark background at typical examination-room lighting levels (200-500 lux). IPS technology maintains color shift below 10 delta-E at viewing angles up to 80 degrees from normal in all planes.

The 260 nit luminance is within the range used by handheld patient monitors and portable diagnostic devices for indoor clinical use. For outdoor or high-ambient-light environments, a 400-500 nit variant is the appropriate specification. The LED side-light backlight supports PWM dimming; apply PWM at 1 kHz or higher on the LED enable line to avoid flicker artifacts that may be visible in clinical video documentation or under fluorescent lighting.

Operating temperature: -20 degrees C to +70 degrees C for portable medical and industrial devices

The rated operating temperature of -20 degrees C to +70 degrees C covers portable medical instruments in clinical environments (typically 15-35 degrees C ambient) and industrial handheld devices in unheated storage or field deployment scenarios. The Normally Black IPS configuration maintains stable contrast and gray-scale linearity across this range; no heater circuit is required for cold-start at -20 degrees C.

Storage temperature extends to -30 degrees C / +80 degrees C, covering standard pharmaceutical and medical device cold-chain storage conditions and hot-vehicle storage scenarios. At the +70 degrees C operating upper limit, LED backlight luminance decreases approximately 10-15% relative to the 25 degrees C rated value; this is within normal LED thermal behavior and does not indicate accelerated degradation at rated operating conditions.

Target applications: portable medical instruments, handheld industrial devices, and MPOS terminals

The P028B129-IPS-TP is used in applications where a 2.8-inch SPI TFT LCD with resistive touch is the interface layer for a compact, battery-powered device. Documented application categories include:

• Handheld patient monitors displaying blood pressure, SpO2, and heart rate — the RTP allows gloved-hand input for parameter adjustment and patient ID entry

• Portable ECG monitors showing waveform traces at 240x320 resolution — the ST7789V partial-area update command refreshes the waveform region without redrawing the static parameter fields

• Portable pulse oximeters and blood glucose meters where the 50 mm wide outline fits a standard handheld housing and the 14-pin connector reduces wiring complexity

• Portable ultrasound accessories displaying mode-selection menus and measurement readouts alongside the primary imaging display

• Industrial handheld instruments (data loggers, calibrators, process meters) where the RTP survives harsh environments and gloved operation that would prevent capacitive touch use

ST7789V at 2.8 inches: comparison with ILI9341 and ST7735S in the same size class

The 2.8-inch 240x320 SPI TFT module market includes modules with three common driver ICs: ST7789V, ILI9341, and ST7735S. The ST7789V and ILI9341 both target 240x320 resolution and are largely register-compatible; many Arduino libraries (TFT_eSPI, Adafruit GFX) support both with a compile-time driver selection flag, which simplifies substitution between the two. The ST7789V has a lower minimum VDD specification (1.65 V vs 2.5 V for ILI9341), making it more suitable for 1.8 V logic designs on low-power MCUs.

The ST7735S targets smaller panels (up to 160x128 or 80x160) and is not a drop-in replacement for 240x320 modules. For the P028B129-IPS-TP specifically, use ST7789V initialization sequences and register addresses. If migrating firmware from an ILI9341-based 2.8-inch module, the frame memory write command (0x2C), column address set (0x2A), and row address set (0x2B) are identical between ST7789V and ILI9341, reducing porting effort to display initialization and rotation register differences.

Integration notes and procurement

For initial bring-up, connect the 14-pin FPC to a 0.5 mm pitch ZIF connector on the host PCB. Assign SCLK, MOSI, CS, DC, RST, and LED to the designated MCU pins. Pull RST low for at least 10 ms at power-up before sending the ST7789V initialization sequence. Confirm the DC pin polarity in firmware: DC low for command bytes, DC high for data bytes. Incorrect DC assignment is the most common cause of a blank or solid-color display on first power-up.

For the resistive touch panel, connect the four RTP lines (X+, X-, Y+, Y-) to ADC-capable GPIO pins on the host MCU. During X-axis measurement, drive X+ high and X- low, then read Y+ through the ADC with Y- floating. Reverse the drive and read assignment for Y-axis measurement. Apply a median filter over 5-10 consecutive ADC samples to reduce noise from the flexible RTP film. The ordering part number is P028B129-IPS-TP. Specify this exact model string in sample and quotation requests. Custom options include cover glass with optical bonding, extended temperature range, and alternative FPC connector pitch.

FAQ

Q1. Which MCUs and libraries support the ST7789V driver IC on this module?

A. The ST7789V 4-wire SPI interface is supported by: TFT_eSPI (Arduino/ESP32, select ST7789_DRIVER in User_Setup.h), Adafruit ST7789 library (Arduino), STM32 HAL with SPI master driver and ST7789V init sequence from the datasheet, MicroPython st7789 module (ESP32 and RP2040), and LVGL with the ST7789 display driver. Set display width to 240 and height to 320 in all library configurations. The ST7789V is also register-compatible with ILI9341 for core drawing commands (CASET 0x2A, RASET 0x2B, RAMWR 0x2C), so ILI9341-based firmware requires only initialization sequence changes to run on this module.

Q2. How do I read touch coordinates from the resistive touch panel without a dedicated controller IC?

A. The four-wire RTP on this module connects X+, X-, Y+, and Y- directly to host GPIO/ADC pins. To read X coordinate: drive X+ to VCC, drive X- to GND, configure Y+ and Y- as high-impedance inputs, then read the ADC value on Y+. To read Y coordinate: drive Y+ to VCC, drive Y- to GND, configure X+ and X- as high-impedance inputs, then read the ADC value on X+. Apply a median filter over 5-10 samples per axis to reduce noise. Map the raw ADC range to screen coordinates using a two-point calibration: touch the known screen corners, record the raw ADC values, and calculate the linear scaling factor. This calibration should be stored in non-volatile memory and repeated if the module is replaced.

Q3. Is this module suitable for medical device certification, and does it carry any regulatory marks?

A. The P028B129-IPS-TP is a display module component, not a finished medical device. It does not itself carry CE Medical Device Regulation (MDR), FDA 510(k), or IEC 60601-1 certification. When used as a component in a medical device, the device manufacturer is responsible for system-level certification. The module's operating temperature range (-20 to +70 degrees C), all-direction IPS viewing angle, and resistive touch input are functional characteristics relevant to handheld patient monitor and portable diagnostic device designs, but compliance testing and labeling obligations apply to the finished device, not the display module.

Q4. What is the maximum SPI clock speed, and how does partial-area update improve refresh rate?

A. The ST7789V write SPI clock supports up to 62.5 MHz. At 40 MHz with DMA, a full 240x320 RGB565 frame transfers in approximately 31 ms (about 32 fps). Partial-area update using CASET and RASET limits the write window to the changed region: for example, a 240x40 pixel waveform strip at the bottom of the screen transfers in approximately 4 ms at 40 MHz, allowing the waveform to update at 25 fps while the static parameter fields above it refresh at 1-2 fps. This separation of update rates reduces MCU SPI bus load and is the standard approach for ECG and SpO2 waveform display firmware on ST7789V-based modules.

Q5. What is the part number, and what options are available for custom configurations?

A. The ordering part number is P028B129-IPS-TP. When requesting samples or quotation, provide the part number, target host MCU and interface voltage (3.3 V logic is standard), required touch panel type (this SKU is resistive RTP; capacitive variants with I2C controller are a separate SKU), and target monthly production volume. Standard sample lead time is 5-10 business days. Custom configurations available on this platform include: optically bonded cover glass for improved outdoor contrast, alternative FPC pitch (0.3 mm or 1.0 mm options), conformal coating for humidity resistance, and extended operating temperature range below -20 degrees C. Custom configuration lead time is 8-12 weeks from specification approval.