LCD defines?

[RUBiksCUbe]

Im using a PIC18F252 with a 16x2 LCD with a 44780 controller and I cant get LCDOut to work. I just get a row of black boxes on the second line of the LCD. Ive been using the basic MicroCode Studio example for an LCD display:

' LCD should be connected as follows:
' LCD PIC
' DB4 PortA.0
' DB5 PortA.1
' DB6 PortA.2
' DB7 PortA.3
' RS PortA.4 (add 4.7K pullup resistor to 5 volts)
' E PortB.3
' RW Ground
' Vdd 5 volts
' Vss Ground
' Vo 20K potentiometer (or ground)
' DB0-3 No connect

@ __CONFIG _CONFIG1H, _OSCS_OFF_1H & _HS_OSC_1H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_128_2H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG4L, _LVP_OFF_4L

Pause 500 ' Wait for LCD to startup
loop:
Lcdout $fe, 1 ' Clear LCD screen
Lcdout "Hello" ' Display Hello
Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

Lcdout $fe, 1 ' Clear LCD screen
Lcdout "World"
Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

Goto loop ' Do it forever

But it does not work. Do I need to define a bunch of "LCD_xxxx" things?

[Bruce]

Turn off A/D on portA.

ADCON1 = 7

[RUBiksCUbe]

I added ADCON1 = 7 right after I define OSC, but I still get the same results.

[mister_e]

you'll have to use those define to change PBP defaults.

@ __CONFIG _CONFIG1H, _OSCS_OFF_1H & _HS_OSC_1H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_128_2H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG4L, _LVP_OFF_4L

' LCD should be connected as follows:
' LCD PIC
' DB4 PortA.0
' DB5 PortA.1
' DB6 PortA.2
' DB7 PortA.3
' RS PortA.4 (add 4.7K pullup resistor to 5 volts)
' E PortB.3
' RW Ground
' Vdd 5 volts
' Vss Ground
' Vo 20K potentiometer (or ground)
' DB0-3 No connect

DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTA
DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0
DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTA
DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 4
DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTB
DEFINE LCD_EBIT 3
ADCON1=7

AND SINCE you use HS osc you'll have to add

Define OSC 20
or the right crystal speed at the top of your code under the fuse setting

[RUBiksCUbe]

Still not working. I have a 10 MHz resonator, so I added Define OSC 10 under the fuses. My code is now:

'@ INCLUDE "P18F252.INC" ; MPASM Header
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG1H, _OSCS_OFF_1H & _HS_OSC_1H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_128_2H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG4L, _LVP_OFF_4L
Define OSC 10

DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTA
DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0
DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTA
DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 4
DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTB
DEFINE LCD_EBIT 3
ADCON1=7

Pause 500 ' Wait for LCD to startup

loop:
Lcdout $fe, 1 ' Clear LCD screen
Lcdout "Hello" ' Display Hello
Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

Lcdout $fe, 1 ' Clear LCD screen
Lcdout "World"
Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

Goto loop ' Do it forever

[Bruce]

Try this;

@ __CONFIG _CONFIG1H, _OSCS_OFF_1H & _HS_OSC_1H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_128_2H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG4L, _LVP_OFF_4L

Define OSC 20 ' change to osc freq you use if different
Define LCD_BITS 4   ' 4-bit interface
Define LCD_LINES 2 ' 2 line LCD

' LCD should be connected as follows:
' LCD PIC
' DB4 PortA.0
' DB5 PortA.1
' DB6 PortA.2
' DB7 PortA.3
Define  LCD_DREG  PORTA
Define  LCD_DBIT  0

' RS PortA.4 (add 4.7K pullup resistor to 5 volts)
Define  LCD_RSREG  PORTA
Define  LCD_RSBIT  4

' E PortB.3
Define  LCD_EREG  PORTB
Define  LCD_EBIT  3

' RW Ground
' Vdd 5 volts
' Vss Ground
' Vo 20K potentiometer (wire wiper to Vo, adjust for contrast)
' DB0-3 No connect

Define LCD_COMMANDUS  2000 ' Adjust for slower LCD modules
Define LCD_DATAUS 50

ADCON1 = 7 ' portA digital

Pause 500 ' Wait for LCD to startup
loop: 
    Lcdout $fe, 1 ' Clear LCD screen
    Lcdout "Hello" ' Display Hello
    Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

    Lcdout $fe, 1 ' Clear LCD screen
    Lcdout "World"
    Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

    Goto loop ' Do it forever

[RUBiksCUbe]

I tried that code and I still only see the black boxes on the second row. Im going to check all of the connections and try a potentiometor on Vo

Edit:

The connections are all good and my contrast is fine without a potentiometor. I think my LCD might be dead, but Im not sure because the backlight works and I can see the boxes it displays.

[mister_e]

out of curiosity...
what kind of programmer do you use?
Are you sure your programmer software program the fuses to the PIC?

And... of course, is a simple LED blink work on all the pin you use???

[RUBiksCUbe]

Im using a JDM programmer (the one called "Serial Port Programmer - Socketed" at http://www.sparkfun.com/shop/index.p...=323317&cat=3&) and IC-Prog as my downloading program. I just tested the IO lines and they all work.

I have also tried the program on another PIC18F252 and I get the same results.

EDIT:

The LCDOut command is for 44780 controllers right??

[Dave]

RUBiksCUbe, If I may ask, What type of LCD display is it? Who makes it? Part number?

Dave Purola,
N8NTA

[Dwayne]

I Noticed that your comment was the black squares were on the second line... I also noticed the examples presented looked like they were all for the first line of your LCD.

1. Since you only have 1 line of squares on your LCD, then I would suspect your line 1 is bad... test another LCD.

2. If you want, try writing to your second line on your LCD...

I believe the command is a $C0?

Somthing like :
LCDOUT $FE,$C0,“Hello”

If this works on your second line... then you may have found your problem.

Dwayne

[RUBiksCUbe]

The LCD is a 16 character by 2 line display. Although it says "UNIQ/eVision" on the back, it has the part number GC-1602I1 Ver: C, which is a part number for Solomon Goldentek display company. They don't have the exact datasheet on their website, but the closest one they have is here: http://www.goldentek.com/english/pdf...B0SBL1B%20.pdf

I was told when I bought it (on ebay) that the display driver is 44780 compatible.

[RUBiksCUbe]

I put the LCDOUT $FE,$C0,“Hello” into the program but it did not work either. This LCD must be busted.

[mister_e]

They use samsung controller KS0066 wich is really compatible with Hitachi, in fact i have some LCD here with the same controller and i used the same code... as is and it's work...mmm weird

Yuk, probably not really handy but, worth a try...

@ __CONFIG _CONFIG1H, _OSCS_OFF_1H & _HS_OSC_1H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_128_2H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG4L, _LVP_OFF_4L

Define OSC 10

TRISA=0
TRISB=0
Define LCD_BITS 4   ' 4-bit interface
Define LCD_LINES 2 ' 2 line LCD

' LCD should be connected as follows:
' LCD PIC
' DB4 PortA.0
' DB5 PortA.1
' DB6 PortA.2
' DB7 PortA.3
Define  LCD_DREG  PORTA
Define  LCD_DBIT  0

' RS PortA.4 (add 4.7K pullup resistor to 5 volts)
Define  LCD_RSREG  PORTA
Define  LCD_RSBIT  4

' E PortB.3
Define  LCD_EREG  PORTB
Define  LCD_EBIT  3

' RW Ground
' Vdd 5 volts
' Vss Ground
' Vo 20K potentiometer (wire wiper to Vo, adjust for contrast)
' DB0-3 No connect

Define LCD_COMMANDUS  2000 ' Adjust for slower LCD modules
Define LCD_DATAUS 50

ADCON1 = 7 ' portA digital
Pause 1000
FLAGS=0
Pause 1000 
loop: 
    Lcdout $fe, 1,"Hello"
    Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

    Lcdout $fe, 1,"World"
    Pause 500 ' Wait .5 second

    Goto loop ' Do it forever

I heard few time, but never encouter the problem, that some LCDs are noise sensitive, what about if you add a 0.1uF and a 10uF(or higher) on the VDD line close to the LCD(as close as you can)???

Now if nothing works... it could be a blowed one... On EBay... not a surprise

[RUBiksCUbe]

I tried capacitors with no success, so Im going to try to get another. Thanks for all the diagnostic help!

[Daniel]

Hello RUBiksCUbe,

I have just bought the same display as you and I was searching the net for datasheet and found this page.

I have not received this display and I hope I will get it working.
But it doesnt sound good to read your problem.

I hope to get it in a week or two, then I will test it and come back to you guys.

Good luck now...

[Daniel]

I have tested same display...
WORKING GREAT!

[RUBiksCUbe]

Yep. I got a replacement and it worked fine. I mustve had a defective one

[G8RPI]

Hi,
Most of the intellegent LCD displays are very sensitive to static.
They are the only components I've used were I've had failures directly attributable it ESD.

Robert G8RPI.