Please help with EDE702 - Serial to LCD interface

Hi,
I've been looking at creating a serial LCD for a while and came across an EDE702 - Serial to LCD Interface IC by Elabinc:

http://www.elabinc.com/Semiconductor...7/Default.aspx

It's a very sexy idea I thought using just a single line on the PIC to drive the LCD display (and it only costs around $7)

So finally it arrives and I'm trying to get it to work. I've been strugling for a couple of days and searched the forums for the subject.

Hooked up an oscilloscope to the PIC and it looks like it's sending some data, but the EDE702 isn't doing much (and the LCD is blank).
Here's a test program

Code:

---

'*****************************************************************
' Using PortB.2 to serially transfer data to EDE702
'
' PortB.2 going to EDE702's RCV port (pin 17)
' LCD connected to EDE702
' Internal OSC used for 16F628A
' 4 MHZ cristal used for EDE702
'*****************************************************************
@ DEVICE PIC16F628A, INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT, WDT_OFF, LVP_OFF, PWRT_OFF, PROTECT_OFF, BOD_OFF

CMCON = 7                        ' Set portA to i/o
TRISA = %00000000                ' outputs
TRISB = %00000000                ' outputs

BAUD            con 2            ' Serout T9600=2, N9600=6

WAIT_TIME      con 1000
BLINK_DELAY    con 1000
NUM_OFF_LASHES  con 3

Serial_LCD      var PortB.2    ' Serial signal to EDE702
Led            var PortB.5    ' heartbeat led to make sure PIC's alive
ctr            var byte
 
INS            con 254        ' LCD command mode parameter
CLR            con 1          ' LCD clear command
LINE1          con 128        ' LCD line 1 
LINE2          con 192        ' LCD line 2 
 
Main:

  pause wait_time
 
  ' Clear the LCD and print some text on it
  serout serial_lcd, BAUD, [ins,clr]
  serout serial_lcd, baud, [ins,line1,"Test"]

  ' Flash Led 3 times (to see PIC working) and turn EDE702's Digital port ON/OFF
  for ctr = 1 to num_off_lashes
 
    led = 1                                        ' led ON
    pause blink_delay
    serout serial_lcd, baud, [ins,%11111101]        ' Digital Output ON EDE702
   
    led = 0                                        ' led OFF
    pause blink_delay
    serout serial_lcd, baud, [ins,%11111100]        ' Digital Output OFF EDE702

  next ctr

goto Main

end

---

Any help greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Tom

Hi,

You did not use the SEARCH function :

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...ghlight=EDE702

Lol ...

Alain

Hi Alain,
I did use the search and found the topic you show along with 5 other topics. I also used the datasheet that came with the EDE702. Hooked everything up and tripple-checked it. (Maybe it's time to check it again...)

I've never send serial data through the Pic's line before. So I'm thinking my program has bugs in it. That's why I was hoping that someone who used the EDE702 could shed some light on the thing.

Thanks,
Tom

Code:

---

'*****************************************************************
' Using PortB.2 to serially transfer data to EDE702
' PortB.2 going to EDE702's RCV port (pin 17)
' LCD connected to EDE702
' Internal OSC used for 16F628A
' 4 MHZ cristal used for EDE702
'*****************************************************************
@ DEVICE PIC16F628A, INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT, WDT_OFF, LVP_OFF, PWRT_OFF, PROTECT_OFF, BOD_OFF

---

Use an external crystal and see what happens.
And if you don't have one, since you DO have an o-scope, might want to change the program, make it change the portb.2 line at a known rate, check it with the o-scope and see how far off (if any) your internal oscillator is.
Also, check Appendix A of your PBP manual. 9600 baud at 4mhz is a bit iffy. Try 2400 baud, try a higher clock, try using the hardware UART, try anything.

Tom,
Can you post a schematic of the way you have things connected.

And

Try connecting to a PC using hyper terminal or something, this will test your PIC and code.

Check out this post, code in post 16.
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4972

mackrackit,
I didn't draw a schematic, just used/modified the one from the EDE702 datasheet. I'm attaching both the datasheet and a simplified schematic.
Note the schematic shows line coming from the PS's serial port but in my case the line is coming from the PIC.
Joe,
I read the whole topic and while the code works, it is too complex for me. Plus I'd have to have MPASM and compile using that... Not sure how to go about that.
Post #25 looks promissing and I can actually understand it! :)
I'll try that one first and if it's loosing characters then I'll try to use yours.

Thanks,
Tom

In your original program, change BAUD CON 2 to BAUD CON 6 and see what happens...
Key phrase here is:

Quote:

---

Note the schematic shows line coming from the PS's serial port but in my case the line is coming from the PIC.

---

The PBP manual will tell you why this matters...

If you are using the schematic posted... you did ground the OSC? The schematic is missing that.

MPASM is simple. Just install MPLAB from microchip (it is on your PBP CD) and tell MCS to use MPASAM.

The only thing you may need to do is change your configs for MPASM. Not a big deal.
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=543

Your problem is the internal oscillator. As already suggested in post#4, use a 4 MHz xtal or a resonator also for the pic, and you will see that the serial communication will work.

Al.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aratti

Your problem is the internal oscillator. As already suggested in post#4, use a 4 MHz xtal or a resonator also for the pic, and you will see that the serial communication will work.
Al.

---

Might not be the internal osc though...
As has been pointed out somewhere (don't remember where) before, those internal oscillators aren't as loose as they used to be...unless of course it's an older chip in the first place.

The schematic for the EDE702 uses a ceramic resonator, but your code comment suggests you are using a crystal.

Did you add two 22-27pF capacitors on the crystal?
<br>

Hi,
1. Tried BAUD CON 6 (instead of 2)..... no go
2. The crystal on the EDE702 has two 22pF caps going to ground
3. Haven't tried a crystal for the Pic (sender) but it's a '628A

Will make the correct schematic and post it (right now I don't have access to a drawing program that will do schematics). Maybe I'll get access to Orcad tomorrow.

I start to get a feeling that the EDE702 is just dead

Till then thanks for your suggestions,
Tom

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tomexx

3. Haven't tried a crystal for the Pic (sender) but it's a '628A

---

That's what I said to try in post 4.