LCD 4X40 Futurlec

[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

[murali]

Dear Mr.Bill Legge,
I need the correct datasheet for 40*4 lcd which you got finally from futurelec. I am not able to trace the exact datasheet. kindly help me in this regard

murali

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

[murali]

Dear Mr.Bill Legge,
I need the correct datasheet for 40*4 lcd which you got finally from futurelec. I am not able to trace the exact datasheet. kindly help me in this regard

murali

[rixter]

Murali,

If you are not able to locate the datasheet, what information are you seeking for this LCD? I have successfully attached this LCD to a processor as I explained in an earlier thread on this post. I have gotten another LCD from this company and it is yet a different LCD than the one I received the first time and different than the datasheet. Their information is not correct for the model mentioned in Bill's post or the second one I received.

I found other similar pin diagrams for 4x40 LCDs that did the trick for me. The key lays not only in knowing which pins are for what, but also understanding that these units have two controllers.... one for the top two lines and the other for the bottom two lines. Pins 1-8 are for data (DB7 down to DB0 respectively). In my case I only use 1-4 because I am using 4 bit mode. Pin 9 is the enable for controller #1, Pin 10 is RW, Pin 11 is RS, Pin 12 is Contrast, Pin 13 is Ground (VSS), Pin 14 is VDD, Pin 15 is enable for controller #2 and Pin 16 is no connection. Pins A & K over at the opposite end are for the LED backlight..... A being positive and K being negative.

So to write to lines 1 or 2 on the LCD, you must enable at Pin 9 before your write and to write to lines 3 and 4, you must enable Pin 15 before a write. In the case of BASIC Stamp that I am using, I just specify a different parameter in the LCDOUT command to activate the other enable pin in my outputs to the LCD. The concept should apply in your implementation as well.

Anything I can do to help out, just ask.

Rick

[Bill Legge]

Murali,

1. The pin-out on the Futurlec site is wrong - a 4X40 MUST have two ENABLE pins.

2. Rixter says he has got the device working using the pin-outs on my first post of this thread. They didn't work for me but I may have made some wiring/software error. These are the revised pin-outs sent to me by Futurlec.

3. Take up his offer of assistance - after months of messing around with 4X40 LCDs I am starting to think they are not worth the trouble.

4. It's quite irritating that Futurlec can not be bothered to put up the correct data on the web. I know their prices are rock bottom and they need to keeep costs down but it's only a few minutes of work?

Regards Bill Legge