High END Displays. Low Cost HARDWARE.
“PennyPixel enables standard low-cost MCUs to drive high-resolution displays –
cutting cost and complexity while delivering premium visuals.”
What makes it different?
Cut BOM,
not corners
Deliver crisp, modern visuals without extra RAM chips or pricey display controllers. Keep your design lean – and your budget leaner.
Made for standard
MCUs
Run advanced panels from the hardware you already trust. No exotic parts list, no complex supply chain.
Scale from protoype
to product
From first demo to mass production, the approach stays simple. Less risk, faster iterations, better margins.
Penny Pixel Eval-Kit
DEMO GAllery
800x480 (e.g. 4.3" / 5" / 7" TFTs)
480x272 (e.g. 4.3" TFTs)
FAQs
What is Penny Pixel?
Penny Pixel is a patented display-driving technology that enables standard, low-cost microcontrollers to power high-resolution Active Matrix (TFT) displays—without the need for costly controllers or external framebuffers. It bridges the gap between simple Passive Matrix displays and traditional high-priced Active Matrix systems, offering premium visuals with minimal hardware complexity.
Does Penny Pixel require proprietary hardware?
No. Penny Pixel uses only standard microcontrollers and open reference schematics. There is no proprietary chip or “black-box” firmware involved. Customers have full visibility and control over their design.
Which microcontrollers are supported?
Penny Pixel runs on a wide range of MCU families – STM32, NXP, Microchip, Infineon and many others – as long as the device provides some basic peripherals. This cross-vendor compatibility ensures flexibility and product longevity.
Is Penny Pixel a display controller chip?
No. It’s a firmware-driven method, not a hardware controller. You implement it on your own MCU. That means no additional ICs, no complex supply chain and no lock-in to a single vendor.
Do I need special development tools?
No special tools are required. You can develop and debug Penny Pixel applications using your existing IDE and toolchain for your chosen MCU family.
Why choose Penny Pixel?
Because it gives you freedom – from high hardware costs, from vendor lock-in and from closed ecosystems. Penny Pixel lets you design modern, high-quality visual interfaces at lowest cost possible.
Does Penny Pixel require a lot of processing power?
No. Penny Pixel typically uses only a few percent of the MCU’s CPU load, leaving plenty processing capacity for your main application to run comfortably on the same chip.
How does Penny Pixel reduce cost?
Penny Pixel eliminates the need for high-end processors, external RAM, and specialized controller ICs. By leveraging the built-in peripherals of standard MCUs it drives high-resolution displays directly. This dramatically cuts hardware costs, simplifies design and shortens development time.
Is the source code available?
Yes. Reference source code and schematics are openly available to licensees. You only pay a simple license fee. No hidden or closed IP.
What kind of displays are compatible?
Penny Pixel supports a broad range of Active Matrix displays such as TN-, IPS-TFTs and AMOLEDs with Parallel-RGB or similar interfaces. It can also be adapted to LVDS or other formats via simple low-cost converter ICs.
Is Penny Pixel patented?
Yes. Penny Pixel is a patented / patent pending technology owned by Penny Pixel, Inc.
What industries can benefit from Penny Pixel?
Penny Pixel is ideal for:
- Industrial HMIs and control panels
- Consumer appliances
- IoT devices with modern UIs
- Automotive and instrumentation displays
- Portable and battery-powered systems
Is Penny Pixel difficult to program?
Not at all. Penny Pixel is fully written in standard C – no assembly, no vendor-specific extensions and no complicated setup. It’s designed to be easy to integrate, even for small teams or individual developers.
How do I obtain a license?
Use the contact form.
FAQs
What is Penny Pixel?
Penny Pixel is a patented display-driving technology that enables standard, low-cost microcontrollers to power high-resolution Active Matrix (TFT) displays—without the need for costly controllers or external framebuffers. It bridges the gap between simple Passive Matrix displays and traditional high-priced Active Matrix systems, offering premium visuals with minimal hardware complexity.
How does Penny Pixel reduce cost?
Penny Pixel eliminates the need for high-end processors, external RAM, and specialized controller ICs. By leveraging the built-in peripherals of standard MCUs it drives high-resolution displays directly. This dramatically cuts hardware costs, simplifies design and shortens development time.
Does Penny Pixel require proprietary hardware?
No. Penny Pixel uses only standard microcontrollers and open reference schematics. There is no proprietary chip or “black-box” firmware involved. Customers have full visibility and control over their design.
Is the source code available?
Yes. Reference source code and schematics are openly available to licensees. You only pay a simple license fee. No hidden or closed IP.
Which microcontrollers are supported?
Penny Pixel runs on a wide range of MCU families – STM32, NXP, Microchip, Infineon and many others – as long as the device provides some basic peripherals. This cross-vendor compatibility ensures flexibility and product longevity.
What kind of displays are compatible?
Penny Pixel supports a broad range of Active Matrix displays such as TN-, IPS-TFTs and AMOLEDs with Parallel-RGB or similar interfaces. It can also be adapted to LVDS or other formats via simple low-cost converter ICs.
Is Penny Pixel a display controller chip?
No. It’s a firmware-driven method, not a hardware controller. You implement it on your own MCU. That means no additional ICs, no complex supply chain and no lock-in to a single vendor.
Is Penny Pixel patented?
Yes. Penny Pixel is a patented / patent pending technology owned by Penny Pixel, Inc.
Do I need special development tools?
No special tools are required. You can develop and debug Penny Pixel applications using your existing IDE and toolchain for your chosen MCU family.
What industries can benefit from Penny Pixel?
Penny Pixel is ideal for:
- Industrial HMIs and control panels
- Consumer appliances
- IoT devices with modern UIs
- Automotive and instrumentation displays
- Portable and battery-powered systems
Why choose Penny Pixel?
Because it gives you freedom – from high hardware costs, from vendor lock-in and from closed ecosystems. Penny Pixel lets you design modern, high-quality visual interfaces at lowest cost possible.
Is Penny Pixel difficult to program?
Not at all. Penny Pixel is fully written in standard C – no assembly, no vendor-specific extensions and no complicated setup. It’s designed to be easy to integrate, even for small teams or individual developers.
Does Penny Pixel require a lot of processing power?
No. Penny Pixel typically uses only a few percent of the MCU’s CPU load, leaving plenty processing capacity for your main application to run comfortably on the same chip.
How do I obtain a license?
Use the contact form.