LCD_AnyPin.pbp

[PICn-It]

I'm still not getting anywhere with this.

At this point I've tried so many things I can't tell where I'm at anymore.

I think the LCD_Anypin code is working, it compiles w/o error and when I probe the circuit (the 16F883 is in) with my oscilloscope while its supposed to be running, I am seeing the "E" pin going up and down, but not seeing anything on the data pins LCD_DB4 through LCD_DB7.

I'm trying to get this LCD onto PortB. I understand the 16F883 has a comparator on pins 22-(aka; RB1) and pin 24-(aka; RB3) and that can be a problem so I've tried to use CM1CON0=%00000000 to disable them.

I'm trying to get my LCD (H44780 type) to be hooked up to the 16F883 as follows:

RB7->RS
RB6->E
RB5->D4
RB4->D5
RB3->D6
RB2->D7

so far no joy.

In many threads here and elsewhere I see people saying I should have my own __CONFIG line instead of relying on the default PBP one, so I tried that. Also people say to disable the WDT so I tried that too.

My PICKit2 programmer and software seem to working properly, it can run the tests fine and seems to read/write to the PIC.

When I switch on my test circuit all I get on the 16x2 LCD is the first row of pixel-blocks and nothing else...ever.

Any help would be very much ppreciated, I'm just starting out with PIC programming I'll appologise in advance if I'm doing something stupid in my code:

@ __config _CONFIG1, _INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT & _WDT_OFF & _MCLRE_ON & _LVP_OFF & _CP_OFF & _HS_OSC

CLEAR
DEFINE OSC 4                 ; set oscillator speed

; Setup Ports and Pins
PORTA  = %00000000
TRISA  = %00000011           ; set AN0 and AN1 to inputs
PORTB  = %00000000
TRISB  = %00000000           ; set all PORTB pins to outputs
IOCB   = %00000000           ; disable IOCB on PortB
PORTC  = %00000000
TRISC  = %00000000           ; set all PORTC pins to outputs
 
; Initialize I/O 
ADCON0  = %00000111          ; enable and set up AN0 input as ADC
ADCON1  = %10000000          ; right justify and use power rails as Vref
ANSEL   = %00000001          ; A/D enabled for ANS0, disabled for ANS1->ANS7
ANSELH  = %00000000          ; A/D disabled for ANS8->ANS13
CM1CON0 = %00000000          ; Disable comparators
CM2CON0 = %00000000          ; These default to disabled at POR, but just in case

; Initialize your Hardware first, set CONFIGs, OSC, Turn off A/D etc
;----[ Change these to match your LCD ]---------------------------------------
LCD_DB4   VAR PORTB.5
LCD_DB5   VAR PORTB.4
LCD_DB6   VAR PORTB.3
LCD_DB7   VAR PORTB.2
LCD_RS    VAR PORTB.7
LCD_E     VAR PORTB.6
LCD_Lines     CON 2    ' # of Lines on LCD,  1 or 2 (Note: use 2 for 4 lines)
LCD_DATAUS    CON 50   ' Data delay time in us 
LCD_COMMANDUS CON 2000 ' Command delay time in us 

INCLUDE "LCD_AnyPin.pbp"  ' *** Include MUST be AFTER LCD Pin assignments ****
 
;HIGH PORTB.6

;----[ Your Main program starts here ]----------------------------------------

PAUSE 500
LCDOUT $FE, 1
PAUSE 250                            ; Initialize LCD (You may not need this,
                                     ;  but some displays are picky)
Main:
    LCDOUT $FE, 1                    ; clear screen
    PAUSE 2000
    LCDOUT $FE, $87, "Hello,", $FE, $C8, "From DT!"  
    PAUSE 2000

GOTO Main

END

I'd love to just hook up the LCD like PBP normally wants it, but I have no control over the PCB it's an existing design and I have to get it to work as-is (LCD on PortB:RB2-7)

Please x'cuse me while I go pull what's left of my hair out....

[Ioannis]

Are you sure LCD is OK?

Ioannis

[Darrel Taylor]

Is the RW pin on the LCD connected to the PIC, or is it grounded?
<br>

[PICn-It]

Are you sure LCD is OK?

Ioannis

Yes, when I plug it into another pic controlled unit I get both lines of verbiage expected.

Is the RW pin on the LCD connected to the PIC, or is it grounded?
<br>

The circuit board has the RW line hard-wired to ground.

Would it be better to re-post this Q over in the regular part of the forum since it's doesn't seem related directly to the LCD_Anypin extension? my thinking is it might be something peculiar to the 16F883 that someone may see and chime-in about.

[PICn-It]

Schematic attached.
(Note that in the code I'm not doing anythng with the sensor yet, and it's disconected from AN0 right now)

[PICn-It]

(sound of crickets chirping....)

[Melanie]

Just curious why you have LCD Data on RB2,3,4 & 5. If you simply moved them up two pins and moves E and RS down, you could use the standard PICBasic product with no modifications. I can understand if you have a PIC which doesn't have four consecutive pins available on a port, but why go to all the inconvenience when there is no need?