(38 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Box|type=l_green_light|text=<br />
+
[[Category:8051_tutorials]]
=Introduction:LCD=
+
In this tutorial we are going to see how to interface a 2x16 LCD with 8051 in 8-bit mode.
 +
As per the name the 2x16 has 2 lines with 16 chars on each lines. It supports all the ascii chars and is basically used for displaying the alpha numeric characters. Here each character is displayed in a matrix of 5x7 pixels.
 +
Apart from alpha numeric chars it also provides the provision to display the custom characters by creating the pattern.
  
Liquid Crystal Display(LCDs) provide a cost effective way to put a text output unit for a microcontroller. As we have seen in the previous tutorial, LEDs or 7 Segments do no have the flexibility to display informative messages.
 
This display has 2 lines and can display 16 characters on each line. Nonetheless, when it is interfaced with the micrcontroller, we can scroll the messages with software to display information which is more than 16 characters in  length.
 
 
== LCD Internal Controller==
 
[[File:HD44780U Block diagram.png|570x250px|framed|Fig 1: LCD Block diagram]]<br />
 
 
The LCD is a simple device to use but the internal details are complex. Most of the 16x2 LCDs use a '''Hitachi HD44780''' or a compatible controller. Yes, a micrcontroller is present inside a Liquid crystal display as shown in figure 1.
 
[[File:LCD Char 5x7 Matrix.jpg|thumbnail]]
 
The Display Controller takes commands and data from a external microcontroller and drivers the LCD panel'''(LCDP)'''.
 
It takes a ASCII value as input and generate a patter for the dot matrix. E.g., to display letter 'A', it takes its value '''0X42(hex)''' or '''66(dec)''' decodes it into a dot matrix of 5x7 as shown in figure 2.
 
 
==Basic Commands==
 
The LCD controller uses RS and RW lines along with E to operate the LCD.
 
*'''Resister Select (RS)''': Determines weather a command(RS = 0) is sent (to set up the display) or actual data(RS=1) is sent.
 
*'''Read/Write''' RW=0; writes to the LCD. RW=1;Reads from the LCD.
 
The commonly used instructions are shown in the instruction set below.
 
Observe the '''Bit names: I/D, S, D, C''' etc at the bottom of instruction set to decode the instructions completely.
 
*Clear Display
 
*Cursor Home
 
*Set Entry Mode
 
*Display on/off control
 
*Cursor/display shift
 
*Function Set
 
*Read Busy Flag
 
*Data Read
 
*Data Write<br />
 
 
}}
 
==Instruction Set==
 
{|class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" align="center"
 
 
|+ '''HD44780U based instruction set'''
 
 
|-
 
 
! style="background: #efefef;" rowspan="2" | Instruction
 
 
! style="background: #efefef;" colspan="10" | Code
 
 
! style="background: #efefef;" rowspan="2" | Description
 
 
|-
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px;" | RS
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | R/W
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;" | B7
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | B6
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | B5
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | B4
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | B3
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | B2
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;" | B1
 
 
! style="background: #efefef; border-left: 0px;" | B0
 
 
|-
 
 
| Clear display
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|| Clears display and returns cursor to the home position (address 0).
 
 
|-
 
 
|| Cursor home
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;"| *
 
 
|| Returns cursor to home position. Also returns display being shifted to the original position. DDRAM content remains unchanged.
 
 
 
|-
 
 
|| Entry mode set
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| I/D
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;"| S
 
 
|| Sets cursor move direction (I/D); specifies to shift the display (S). These operations are performed during data read/write.
 
 
 
|-
 
 
|| Display on/off control
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| D
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| C
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;"| B
 
 
|| Sets on/off of all display (D), cursor on/off (C), and blink of cursor position character (B).
 
 
 
|-
 
 
|| Cursor/display shift
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| S/C
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| R/L
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| *
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;"| *
 
 
|| Sets cursor-move or display-shift (S/C), shift direction (R/L). DDRAM content remains unchanged.
 
 
 
|-
 
 
|| Function set
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| DL
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| N
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| F
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| *
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;"| *
 
 
|| Sets interface data length (DL), number of display line (N), and character font (F).
 
 
|-
 
 
|| Read busy flag &<br> address counter
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 0
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 1
 
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 1px dashed;"| BF
 
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 0px;" colspan="7"| CGRAM/DDRAM address
 
 
|| Reads busy flag (BF) indicating internal operation being performed and reads CGRAM or DDRAM address counter contents (depending on previous instruction).
 
 
|-
 
|| Write CGRAM or<br> DDRAM
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 1
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 1px dashed;" colspan="8"| Write Data
 
|| Write data to CGRAM or DDRAM.
 
|-
 
|| Write CGRAM or<br> DDRAM
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px;"| 1
 
|align="center" style="border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px;"| 0
 
|align="center" style="border-left: 1px dashed;" colspan="8"| Write Data
 
|| Write data to CGRAM or DDRAM.
 
|-
 
|colspan="13" style="font-size: 90%;"| '''Instruction bit names —'''<br>
 
'''I/D''' - 0 = decrement cursor position, 1 = increment cursor position;<br/>
 
 
'''S''' - 0 = no display shift, 1 = display shift;<br/>
 
'''D''' - 0 = display off, 1 = display on;<br/>
 
'''C''' - 0 = cursor off, 1 = cursor on;<br/>
 
'''B''' - 0 = cursor blink off, 1 = cursor blink on ;<br/>
 
'''S/C''' - 0 = move cursor, 1 = shift display;<br/>
 
'''R/L''' - 0 = shift left, 1 = shift right;<br/>
 
'''DL''' - 0 = 4-bit interface, 1 = 8-bit interface;<br/>
 
'''N''' - 0 = 1/8 or 1/11 duty (1 line), 1 = 1/16 duty (2 lines);<br/>
 
'''F''' - 0 = 5×8 dots, 1 = 5×10 dots;<br/>
 
'''BF''' - 0 = can accept instruction, 1 = internal operation in progress.<br/>
 
|}
 
  
 
=LCD UNIT=
 
=LCD UNIT=
{{Box|type=l_green_light|text=
 
 
 
Let us look at a pin diagram of a commercially available LCD like '''JHD162''' which uses a '''HD44780''' controller and then describe its operation.
 
Let us look at a pin diagram of a commercially available LCD like '''JHD162''' which uses a '''HD44780''' controller and then describe its operation.
[[File:PIN_Diagram.PNG]]  
+
[[FILE:Pic16f877aLcdInterface.png]]
All the pins are identically to the lcd internal controller discussed above
+
  
}}
+
{| class="table table-striped table-hover table-condensed table-bordered"
{|class="wikitable floatright"  
+
|-class="info"
 +
| Pin Number || Symbol || Pin Function
 
|-
 
|-
! PIN NUMBER !! FUNCTION
+
|1 || VSS ||Ground
 
|-
 
|-
|1 || Ground
+
| 2|| VCC || +5v
 
|-
 
|-
| 2|| VCC
+
| 3 || VEE || Contrast adjustment (VO)
 
|-
 
|-
| 3 || Contrast adjustment (VO)
+
| 4 || RS || Register Select. 0:Command, 1: Data
 
|-
 
|-
| 4 || Register Select (RS). RS=0: Command, RS=1: Data
+
| 5 || R/W || Read/Write, R/W=0: Write & R/W=1: Read
 
|-
 
|-
| 5 || Read/Write (R/W). R/W=0: Write, R/W=1: Read
+
| 6|| EN || Enable. Falling edge triggered
 
|-
 
|-
| 6|| Clock (Enable). Falling edge triggered
+
| 7 || D0 || Data Bit 0
 +
|-       
 +
| 8 || D1 || Data Bit 1
 +
|-       
 +
| 9 || D2 || Data Bit 2
 
|-
 
|-
| 7 || Bit 0 (Not used in 4-bit operation)
+
| 10 || D3 || Data Bit 3
 
|-
 
|-
| 8 || Bit 1 (Not used in 4-bit operation)
+
| 11 || D4 || Data Bit 4
 +
|-        
 +
| 12 || D5 || Data Bit 5
 +
|-         
 +
| 13 || D6 || Data Bit 6
 +
|-         
 +
| 14 || D7 || Data Bit 7/Busy Flag
 
|-
 
|-
| 9 || Bit 2 (Not used in 4-bit operation)
+
| 15 || A/LED+ || Back-light Anode(+)
 
|-
 
|-
| 10 || Bit 3 (Not used in 4-bit operation)
+
| 16 || K/LED- || Back-Light Cathode(-)  
|-
+
| 11 || Bit 4
+
|-
+
| 12 || Bit 5
+
|-
+
| 13 || Bit 6
+
|-
+
|  14|| Bit 7
+
|-
+
|  15|| Back-light Anode(+)
+
|-
+
| 16 || Back-Light Cathode(-)  
+
 
|}
 
|}
<br/>
+
<br><br>
<br/>
+
 
 +
Apart from the voltage supply connections the important pins from the programming perspective are the data lines(8-bit Data bus), Register select, Read/Write and Enable pin.<br><br> 
 +
<b>Data Bus:</b> As shown in the above figure and table, an alpha numeric lcd has a 8-bit data bus referenced as D0-D7.
 +
As it is a 8-bit data bus, we can send the data/cmd to LCD in bytes. It also provides the provision to send the the data/cmd in chunks of 4-bit, which is used when there are limited number of GPIO lines on the microcontroller.<br><br> 
 +
<b>Register Select(RS):</b> The LCD has two register namely a Data register and Command register. Any data that needs to be displayed on the LCD has to be written to the data register of LCD. Command can be issued to LCD by writing it to Command register of LCD.
 +
This signal is used to differentiate the data/cmd received by the LCD.<br>
 +
If the RS signal is <b>LOW</b> then the LCD interprets the 8-bit info as <b>Command</b> and writes it <b>Command register</b> and performs the action as per the command.<br> 
 +
If the RS signal is <b>HIGH</b> then the LCD interprets the 8-bit info as <b>data</b> and copies it to <b>data register</b>. After that the LCD decodes the data for generating the 5x7 pattern and finally displays on the LCD.<br><br> 
 +
<b>Read/Write(RW):</b> This signal is used to write the data/cmd to LCD and reads the  busy flag of LCD.
 +
For write operation the RW should be <b>LOW</b> and for read operation the R/W should be <b>HIGH</b>.<br><br> 
 +
<b>Enable(EN):</b> This pin is used to send the enable trigger to LCD.
 +
After sending the data/cmd, Selecting the data/cmd register, Selecting the Write operation. A HIGH-to-LOW pulse has to be send on this enable pin which will latch the info into the LCD register and triggers the LCD to act accordingly.
 
<br/>
 
<br/>
 
<br/>
 
<br/>
  
=Interfacing LCD with 8051=
+
=Schematic=
{{Box|type=l_green_light|text=
+
Below schematic shows the minimum connection required for interfacing the LCD with the microcontroller.
LCD can be interfaced with the 8051 micrcontroller in two modes, 8 bit and 4 bit.
+
<br><br>
Let us Interface it in 8 bit mode first.
+
}}
+
==8 bit Mode==
+
{{Box|type=l_green_light|text=<br />
+
===Objective===
+
[[File:LCD_output.PNG|thumbnail|fig LCD display ]]
+
There is lot of stuff that can be done with the LCDs, to start with we will simple display a couple of strings on the 2 lines of the LCD as shown in the image.
+
===Schematic Discription===
+
*'''Data  Lines:''' In this mode, all of the 8 datalines DB0 to DB7 are connected from the micrcontroller to a LCD module as shown the schematic.
+
*'''Control Lines:'''' The RS, RW and E are control lines, as discussed earlier.
+
*'''Power & contrast''':Apart from that the LCD should be powered with 5V between '''PIN 2(VCC)''' and  '''PIN 1(gnd)'''. '''PIN 3''' is the contrast pin and is output of center terminal of potentiometer(voltage divider) which varies voltage between 0 to 5v to vary the contrast.
+
*'''Back-light:''' The PIN 15 and 16 are used as backlight. The led backlight can be powered through a simple current limiting resistor as we do with normal leds.
+
}}
+
  
===Schematic===
+
=Port Connection=
[[File:8051 LCD8BIT Interface.PNG|Fig 3: Schematic LCD 8 bit mode]]
+
This section shows how to configure the GPIO for interfacing the LCD.<br>
 +
The below configuration is as per the above schematic. You can connect the LCD to any of the PORT pins available on your boards and update this section accordingly
 +
<html>
 +
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/1d7babfd4b67463ce5cf7b4a92f2805e.js"></script>
 +
</html>
 +
<br><br>
  
 +
=LCD Operation=
 +
In this section we are going to see how to send the data/cmd to the LCD along with the timing diagrams.
 +
First lets see the timing diagram for sending the data and the command signals(RS,RW,EN), accordingly we write the algorithm and finally the code.
  
{{Box|type=l_green_light|text=<br />
+
===Timing Diagram===
===Code===
+
The below image shows the timing diagram for sending the data to the LCD.<br>
As with all the interfaces to simplify thing we have separated code into two files, main.c and lcd_8_bit.c. You may go through the [[8051 ToolsSetup|tools setup]] tutorial on configuring the code.
+
As shown in the timing diagram the data is written after sending the RS and RW signals. It is still ok to send the data before these signals.<br>
 +
The only important thing is the data should be available on the databus before generating the High-to-Low pulse on EN pin.
 +
[[File:LCD CmdWrite.jpg|figure: command write]]
 +
<br><br>
  
The main.c is very simple it includes the standard library files.
 
Then it uses several functions from the lcd_8_bit.c file to set up and display messages. As you can see, it makes things very simple when the libraries are well written. We will discuss the implementation while discussing the lcd_8_bit.c file.
 
}}
 
====The main file main.c====
 
<syntaxhighlight>
 
/* Reg51.h contains the defnition of all ports and SFRs */
 
#include <reg51.h>
 
  
#include "lcd.h" //Xplore labz LCD library
+
===Steps for Sending Command:===  
#include "delay.h" //Xplore Labz Delay library
+
 
+
/* start the main program */
+
void main()
+
{
+
 
+
  /* Initilize the lcd before displaying any thing on the lcd */
+
    LCD_Init();
+
 
+
  /* Display "hello, world" on first line*/
+
  LCD_DisplayString("hello, world");
+
 
+
  /*Go to second line and display "good morning" */
+
  LCD_GoToLineTwo();
+
  LCD_DisplayString("good morning");
+
 
+
    while(1);
+
}
+
</syntaxhighlight>
+
 
+
====lcd_8_bit.c: 8 bit lcd library file====
+
{{Box|type=l_green_light|text=
+
Let us look at three important functons  in ''' lcd_8_bit.c'''<br />
+
1. '''void LCD_CmdWrite( char cmd)'''<br />
+
Commands are required to sent to lcd in order to set it up or initialize.
+
The timing diagrams for command write are shown in the figure,
+
[[File:LCD CmdWrite.jpg|figure: command write]]<br />
+
 
*step1: Send the I/P command to LCD.
 
*step1: Send the I/P command to LCD.
 
*step2: Select the Control Register by making RS low.
 
*step2: Select the Control Register by making RS low.
 
*step3: Select Write operation making RW low.
 
*step3: Select Write operation making RW low.
 
*step4: Send a High-to-Low pulse on Enable PIN with some delay_us.
 
*step4: Send a High-to-Low pulse on Enable PIN with some delay_us.
<syntaxhighlight>
+
<html>
void LCD_CmdWrite( char cmd)
+
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/9e8c6f42511355062789a69cace9f980.js"></script>
{
+
</html>
  databus=cmd;    // Send the command to LCD
+
<br><br>
    rs=0;          // Select the Command Register by pulling RS LOW
+
    rw=0;          // Select the Write Operation  by pulling RW LOW
+
    en=1;          // Send a High-to-Low Pusle at Enable Pin
+
    delay_us(10);
+
    en=0;
+
  delay_ms(1);
+
}
+
</syntaxhighlight>
+
  
'''2. void LCD_DataWrite( char dat)'''
+
===Steps for Sending Data:===
This function sends a character to be displayed on LCD in the following steps.
+
 
*step1: Send the character to LCD.
 
*step1: Send the character to LCD.
 
*step2: Select the Data Register by making RS high.
 
*step2: Select the Data Register by making RS high.
 
*step3: Select Write operation making RW low.
 
*step3: Select Write operation making RW low.
 
*step4: Send a High-to-Low pulse on Enable PIN with some delay_us.
 
*step4: Send a High-to-Low pulse on Enable PIN with some delay_us.
The timings are similar as above only change is that '''RS''' is made high.
+
The timings are similar as above only change is that '''RS''' is made high for selecting Data register.
<syntaxhighlight>
+
void LCD_DataWrite( char dat)
+
{
+
  databus=dat;   // Send the data to LCD
+
    rs=1;   // Select the Data Register by pulling RS HIGH
+
    rw=0;        // Select the Write Operation by pulling RW LOW
+
    en=1;   // Send a High-to-Low Pusle at Enable Pin
+
    delay_us(10);
+
    en=0;
+
  delay_ms(1);
+
}
+
</syntaxhighlight>
+
 
+
'''3. void LCD_Init()'''<br />
+
Looking at the instruction set of the LCD controller, we can initialize the LCD with following steps
+
* Set the display mode as 2 lines, 5 x 7 matrix
+
* Turn On the dislay, and cursor.
+
* Clear the LCD
+
* Get the cursor to first line first position.
+
The code is listed below.
+
 
+
<syntaxhighlight>
+
void LCD_Init()
+
{
+
  delay_us(5000);
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x38);  // LCD 2lines, 5*7 matrix
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x0E); // Display ON cursor ON  Blinking off
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x01); // Clear the LCD
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x80); // Cursor to First line First Position
+
}
+
</syntaxhighlight>
+
}}
+
 
+
{{scroll box|width=700px|height=500px|text=<br />
+
<syntaxhighlight>
+
#include<reg51.h>
+
#include "delay.h"
+
#include "lcd.h"
+
 
+
#define databus P2  // LCD databus connected to PORT2
+
 
+
sbit rs= P0^0; // Register select pin connected to P0.0
+
sbit rw= P0^1; // Read Write pin connected to P0.1
+
sbit en= P0^2; // Enable pin connected to P0.2
+
 
+
 
+
/* 16x2 LCD Specification */
+
#define LCDMaxLines 2
+
#define LCDMaxChars 16
+
#define LineOne 0x80
+
#define LineTwo 0xc0
+
 
+
#define BlankSpace ' '
+
 
+
 
+
void LCD_Init()
+
{
+
    delay_us(5000);
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x38);  // LCD 2lines, 5*7 matrix
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x0E); // Display ON cursor ON  Blinking off
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x01); // Clear the LCD
+
  LCD_CmdWrite(0x80); // Cursor to First line First Position
+
}
+
 
+
  
void LCD_CmdWrite( char cmd)
+
<html>
{
+
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/fd021a189be20644c37541d75de144e4.js"></script>
    databus=cmd;        // Send the command to LCD
+
</html>
    rs=0;            // Select Command Register by pulling RS LOW
+
<br><br>
    rw=0;            // Select Write Operation  by pulling RW LOW
+
    en=1;            // Send a High-to-Low Pusle at Enable Pin
+
    delay_us(10);
+
    en=0;
+
    delay_ms(1);
+
}
+
  
 +
=Hardware Connections=
 +
[[File:Lcd8bit.png]]<br>
  
void LCD_DataWrite( char dat)
+
= Code Examples =
{
+
Here is the complete code for displaying the data on 2x16 LCD in 8-bit mode.
 +
<html>
 +
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/1ac04a9ae5112efdbe338f994d7a1af3.js"></script>
 +
</html>
 +
<br><br>
  
  databus=dat;   // Send the data to LCD
+
=Using Explore Embedded Libraries :=
    rs=1;    // Select the Data Register by pulling RS HIGH
+
In the above tutorial we just discussed how to interface 2x16Lcd in 8-bit mode.<br>
    rw=0;  // Select the Write Operation  by pulling RW LOW
+
Once you know the working of lcd, you can directly use the ExploreEmbedded libraries to play around with your LCD.<br>
    en=1; // Send a High-to-Low Pusle at Enable Pin
+
For that you need to include the lcd.c/lcd.h and the associated files(delay/stdutils).<br>
    delay_us(10);
+
After including these files, the only thing you got to do is to configure the PORTs in lcd.h as per your hardware connection.<br>
    en=0;
+
The below sample code shows how to use the already available LCD functions.
    delay_ms(1);
+
}
+
  
void LCD_GoToXY(char row, char col)
+
==LCD 1x16==
{
+
<html>
  char pos;
+
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/778c519d1babc5659c71086e81da0381.js"></script>
 +
</html>
  
    if(row<LCDMaxLines)
+
==LCD 2x16==
      {
+
<html>
pos= LineOne | (row << 6); // take the line number
+
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/f75119155d6e79321e222f8b611a6d34.js"></script>
                  //row0->pos=0x80  row1->pos=0xc0
+
</html>
  
if(col<LCDMaxChars)
+
==LCD 4x20==
            pos= pos+col;      //take the char number
+
<html>
              //now pos points to  XY pos
+
<script src="https://gist.github.com/SaheblalBagwan/1b1a7846b1e0376f55bb5aedc8617dfe.js"></script>
 +
</html>
  
  LCD_CmdWrite(pos)
+
[[FILE:01LCD 8bit.png]]
      }
+
}
+
  
 +
=Downloads=
 +
Download the sample code and design files from [https://github.com/ExploreEmbedded/8051_DevelopmentBoard this link].
  
void LCD_DisplayString(char *string_ptr)
 
{
 
  while(*string_ptr)
 
    LCD_DataWrite(*string_ptr++);
 
}
 
</syntaxhighlight>
 
}}
 
  
==4 bit Mode==
+
Have a opinion, suggestion , question or feedback about the article let it out here!
[[File:8051 LCD4BIT Interface.PNG|Fig 4: Schematic LCD 4 bit mode]]
+
{{DISQUS}}

Latest revision as of 10:14, 2 September 2016

In this tutorial we are going to see how to interface a 2x16 LCD with 8051 in 8-bit mode. As per the name the 2x16 has 2 lines with 16 chars on each lines. It supports all the ascii chars and is basically used for displaying the alpha numeric characters. Here each character is displayed in a matrix of 5x7 pixels. Apart from alpha numeric chars it also provides the provision to display the custom characters by creating the pattern.


LCD UNIT

Let us look at a pin diagram of a commercially available LCD like JHD162 which uses a HD44780 controller and then describe its operation. Pic16f877aLcdInterface.png

Pin Number Symbol Pin Function
1 VSS Ground
2 VCC +5v
3 VEE Contrast adjustment (VO)
4 RS Register Select. 0:Command, 1: Data
5 R/W Read/Write, R/W=0: Write & R/W=1: Read
6 EN Enable. Falling edge triggered
7 D0 Data Bit 0
8 D1 Data Bit 1
9 D2 Data Bit 2
10 D3 Data Bit 3
11 D4 Data Bit 4
12 D5 Data Bit 5
13 D6 Data Bit 6
14 D7 Data Bit 7/Busy Flag
15 A/LED+ Back-light Anode(+)
16 K/LED- Back-Light Cathode(-)



Apart from the voltage supply connections the important pins from the programming perspective are the data lines(8-bit Data bus), Register select, Read/Write and Enable pin.

Data Bus: As shown in the above figure and table, an alpha numeric lcd has a 8-bit data bus referenced as D0-D7. As it is a 8-bit data bus, we can send the data/cmd to LCD in bytes. It also provides the provision to send the the data/cmd in chunks of 4-bit, which is used when there are limited number of GPIO lines on the microcontroller.

Register Select(RS): The LCD has two register namely a Data register and Command register. Any data that needs to be displayed on the LCD has to be written to the data register of LCD. Command can be issued to LCD by writing it to Command register of LCD. This signal is used to differentiate the data/cmd received by the LCD.
If the RS signal is LOW then the LCD interprets the 8-bit info as Command and writes it Command register and performs the action as per the command.
If the RS signal is HIGH then the LCD interprets the 8-bit info as data and copies it to data register. After that the LCD decodes the data for generating the 5x7 pattern and finally displays on the LCD.

Read/Write(RW): This signal is used to write the data/cmd to LCD and reads the busy flag of LCD. For write operation the RW should be LOW and for read operation the R/W should be HIGH.

Enable(EN): This pin is used to send the enable trigger to LCD. After sending the data/cmd, Selecting the data/cmd register, Selecting the Write operation. A HIGH-to-LOW pulse has to be send on this enable pin which will latch the info into the LCD register and triggers the LCD to act accordingly.

Schematic

Below schematic shows the minimum connection required for interfacing the LCD with the microcontroller.

Port Connection

This section shows how to configure the GPIO for interfacing the LCD.
The below configuration is as per the above schematic. You can connect the LCD to any of the PORT pins available on your boards and update this section accordingly

LCD Operation

In this section we are going to see how to send the data/cmd to the LCD along with the timing diagrams. First lets see the timing diagram for sending the data and the command signals(RS,RW,EN), accordingly we write the algorithm and finally the code.

Timing Diagram

The below image shows the timing diagram for sending the data to the LCD.
As shown in the timing diagram the data is written after sending the RS and RW signals. It is still ok to send the data before these signals.
The only important thing is the data should be available on the databus before generating the High-to-Low pulse on EN pin. figure: command write


Steps for Sending Command:

  • step1: Send the I/P command to LCD.
  • step2: Select the Control Register by making RS low.
  • step3: Select Write operation making RW low.
  • step4: Send a High-to-Low pulse on Enable PIN with some delay_us.



Steps for Sending Data:

  • step1: Send the character to LCD.
  • step2: Select the Data Register by making RS high.
  • step3: Select Write operation making RW low.
  • step4: Send a High-to-Low pulse on Enable PIN with some delay_us.

The timings are similar as above only change is that RS is made high for selecting Data register.



Hardware Connections

Lcd8bit.png

Code Examples

Here is the complete code for displaying the data on 2x16 LCD in 8-bit mode.

Using Explore Embedded Libraries :

In the above tutorial we just discussed how to interface 2x16Lcd in 8-bit mode.
Once you know the working of lcd, you can directly use the ExploreEmbedded libraries to play around with your LCD.
For that you need to include the lcd.c/lcd.h and the associated files(delay/stdutils).
After including these files, the only thing you got to do is to configure the PORTs in lcd.h as per your hardware connection.
The below sample code shows how to use the already available LCD functions.

LCD 1x16

LCD 2x16

LCD 4x20

01LCD 8bit.png

Downloads

Download the sample code and design files from this link.


Have a opinion, suggestion , question or feedback about the article let it out here!