LCD 4X40 Futurlec

[rhino]

Bill - If it does happen to have 2 controllers, here is an excellent way to control it.
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=626

Hope it helps.

[Bill Legge]

Rhino,

Thanks for the info. I have got a different 4X40 (DisplayTech LTd closing down sale for $5, how's that for a bargain) and - IT ALL WORKS OK - along with the code/circuits for driving two ENABLE pins.

I would still like to track down the pin-out for the Futurlec JHD404A1 if anyone out there has the info.

Regards Bill Legge

[RussMartin]

I use a lot of Crystalfontz displays with good (great!) success.

http://www.crystalfontz.com/

[rixter]

Hello,

I managed to get the Futurlec 4 x 40 LCD working. In my case, I did this with a BASIC Stamp. I hope I'm not escorted to the door from this forum. I found this forum to find a solution for communicating with an LCD. See attached photo.

Bill's initial thread actually had the correct pin assignments that were the key to getting me started, although the Futurlec LCD has no pins 17 & 18. Internet research had consistent documentation on 4 x 40 LCD with two rows of pins having different assignments than those posted on Futurlec's site. Those are clearly WRONG! Also, A and K connections are for the back light and are straightforward.

The second challenge was understanding how to address the 3rd and 4th lines on the display. My experience with LCD displays was limited to 2 x 16 and 4 x 20 serial units that have an entirely different way to address the screen coordinates. The 3rd and 4th lines are addressed with the second enable pin. This forum clued me in on that .. thank you. So I had to initialize both controllers in the LCD and communicate with the device as basically a stack of two 2 x 40 LCDs in one unit. The LCDCMD command in PBASIC allows me to address a set of pins in 4 bit mode while allowing some flexibility on which pin is the enable pin. This permitted me to address both sets of lines by adding the one additional connection to the LCD for the extra enable connection.

I am not versed on PIC language, but I'm sure it's doable if I've done it with the BASIC Stamp.... code attached.

Rick

[Bill Legge]

Rixter,

Thanks for your message and I'm pleased to learn that the pin-outs in the first post are correct. I must have made some wiring error because they would not work for me? I will have another go.

I have, since then, got some different 4X40 LCDs, with correct tech details, and they work well using the method posted by RHINO - a couple of resistors on the two ENABLE pins and a bit of code.

One mistake that took me a long time to find was using the PBP command "CLEAR" after the definition on the LCD1-Enable and LCD2-Enable pins - the CLEAR command clears the definition:

This won't work:
LCD1-Enable VAR PORTD.1
LCD2-Enable VAR PORTD.2
CLEAR

This will work:
CLEAR
LCD1-Enable VAR PORTD.1
LCD2-Enable VAR PORTD.2

Good luck - get off the Basic Stamps and into PICs soonest!

Regards Bill Legge

[rixter]

Thanks for the response Bill. Out of curiosity, what other 4 x 40 LCDs are you working with? When I ordered the Futurlec LCD I got a bit of tunnel vision and didn't pay attention to the true dimensions. Some how I didn't expect the unit to basically be twice the size of a 4 x 20, even though that would seem logical. I would rather trade for a bit smaller character size and be a smaller package overall for my implementation, which is a bicycle electronic route sheet device. Are any of the 4 x 40 LCD you've seen in smaller physical packages?

As far as moving off of the BASIC Stamp, it would only be to take on another challenge or to address a particular issue not attainable with the Stamp rather than putting it down. As limited as they can be, they are easy to use for most of what I have asked of them. Like eating ice cream with handcuffs on, they are enjoyable to work with despite some discomfort and limitations. I am a programmer first, a fabricator second and an electronics expert last. I've learned much in the past two years on the electronics part. Despite learning many programming languages over the years, I come from an extensive background in BASIC and keep coming back to it. Does anyone remember Micro 80 magazine and the contests to solve a challenge in the fewest lines of code? Generally, one line programs won the contest. While I don't use it anymore, the "Trash 80" is still here and the spirit and fun of simple BASIC lives on. If I ever got into production level of my projects, I would definitely develop using a different platform, but that is not the case at present.

Rick

[Bill Legge]

Rick,
My Displaytech 4X40s are about the same size as the Futurlec devices and I think you will find that most manufacturers will be the same.

Many electronic magazines (e.g. Everyday Practical Electronics-December 2009. www.epemag.com) have recently carried articles on 'OLED'. These are Organic LED displays and are the type used in mobile phones. They appear to be:

1. Smaller that the typical LCD.
2. Much better resolution and colour: e.g. 160X128 pixel.
3. Talk to the devices by SPI comms.
4. Don't cost much.
5. Pixel data is easy, text/figs difficult.
5. But are a bugger to connect to-small pads/special connectors etc.
6. Have a dig around the 'Spark Fun' web site - I bet they have something useful?

I've not used one - only read a few articles - an 'armchair expert!'

STAMP/PIC - I retired a few years ago and after 40 years away from electronics decided to re-visit it for a hobby. After a few months it became obvious that electronics these days centers on MCUs - I entered the field by getting the StampWorks kit. I've moved to PIC because of the price of chips and processing speed.

I live in the back of beyond in South West Australia and have to get all my bits by post. I've settled on a few suppliers:

1. Futurlec in Asia - Low cost boards and components. Documentation is sometimes terrible but I can now translate the 'Minglish.'
2. MikroElektronica in Serbia - Good value developement boards.
3. Olimex in Belgrade - Good value boards.

My latest project is a sports pitch line marking robot positioned by counting wheel revs and getting direction by tracking the sun (lots of that here in Australia). I'm a year into the project and I'm sure it will work - but how well I don't yet know.

Regards Bill Legge