Adafruit USB and Serial Backpack Kit with 16x2 RGB Negative LCD

The Adafruit USB and Serial Backpack Kit pairs a 16x2 RGB negative character display with an AT90USB162-driven controller board for effortless integration. It enables direct text printing, contrast adjustment, and full 8-bit PWM RGB backlight colour control over either USB or TTL serial connections. This mini-kit is ideal for students, hobbyists, and makers wanting a highly customisable, multi-colour readout for electronics projects or PC system monitoring.

Dual USB and serial connectivity

Powered by an AT90USB162 chip, the backpack accepts data over a mini-B USB port or a TTL serial input wire and automatically detects which source is active. The USB connection enumerates as a standard COM/serial port across Windows, Mac, and Linux systems at any baud rate, while the TTL serial input supports selectable rates from 2400 up to 57600 baud.

Full PWM colour and display control

The board provides 8-bit PWM control over the RGB backlight, letting you generate virtually any custom background colour beneath dark text. All configuration options—including backlight colour, screen brightness, contrast, baud rate, and splash screen—are retained permanently in onboard EEPROM.

Command set and software compatibility

Supporting standard Matrix Orbital commands, the backpack is compatible with applications like LCD Smartie as well as direct raw ASCII streams. It supports auto-scrolling, cursor manipulation, four general purpose outputs, and up to eight user-created custom glyphs.

Kit contents and assembly

This mini-kit includes the Adafruit USB/Serial backpack PCB, a 16x2 RGB negative backlight LCD, and a strip of pin header. Beginner-friendly soldering with a standard soldering iron is required to attach the header pins between the LCD and backpack.