LCD Display

Question

DJ, I am out of Digital Ports and I want to use a LCD Display. Can I use a 12C port and if so do I need to purchase a special interface and how would I input the text since the only control available under 12C is blinkin and nothing that I can see in Script? I await your input.

DJ Sures · Answer

You sure can use the I2C ... The script command SendI2C will allow you to output to a I2C display. There are problems i've found with I2C displays though. They are usually poorly documented or have strange initialization commands. If you find a nice easy one, I'd love for you to share it.

Bookmaker · Answer

Thanks DJ, I will start the hunt.

Bookmaker · Answer

I think I found a good one. I will let you know when it gets here. I do not see 12C marked on the EZ-B. Where do you plug into the board for 12C?

DJ Sures · Answer

Bookmaker, which version of the EZ-B do you have? v2, v2.1 or v3? The I2C ports on the V3 are located under the Analog ADC inputs

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, I am running V3 and it is just amazing what you can find if one just looks. Yup, sure enough, there it is as big as life, 12C.

DJ Sures · Answer

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, I received my 12C LCD and tried the script command and I keep getting a syntex error. Can you give me an example?

DJ Sures · Answer

You'll have to check your datasheet for the specific commands that it will accept. You can post a link to the datasheet and i can take a look for you. This is how you send an I2C command:
 sendi2c(0x0a, "Hello world")

Keep in mind, that it is I (as in the vowel). it is not a number one.. It's EYE TWO SEE

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, You were absolutly correct "There are problems i've found with I2C displays though. They are usually poorly documented or have strange initialization commands." I ran the code you wrote above and nothing happened. I have found the documentation but it reads like Greek to me. Any advise?

DJ Sures · Answer

The code I pasted was an example of how I assumed it would work, but there are two things that are missing... 1) You'll need to know the address. the 0x0a was just a sample 2) It might not accept merely a string of text. You might have to send it an initialization string first

Bookmaker · Answer

Thanks for the input DJ, I found the address. It is 0x27. I tried that and all that happened was the screen turned from a lit blue (on power up) to a blank (no power). Any idea how to find out what the initialization string might be?

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, This is what I found. Makes no sense to me but it may to you. Can you translate? ///Arduino Sample Code ///www.DFRobot.com ///Last modified on 17th September 2010 #include #include LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,16,2); // set the LCD address to 0x27 for a 16 chars and 2 line display void setup() { lcd.init(); // initialize the lcd // Print a message to the LCD. lcd.backlight(); //lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Hello, world!"); } void loop() { // when characters arrive over the serial port... if (Serial.available()) { // wait a bit for the entire message to arrive delay(100); // clear the screen lcd.clear(); // read all the available characters while (Serial.available() > 0) { // display each character to the LCD lcd.write(Serial.read()); }

DJ Sures · Answer

You know, i'm entirely unsure what that mess is. I'll have to probe the Arduino library to see what they're doing. Does your LCD have a serial interface also? You can use that instead maybe.... Now that ARC supports more than one EZ-B Board You have lots of free I/O! I2C is great if your hardware is documented. Doesn't look like that I2C LCD is documented very well

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, I found an add that has alot of documentation. Can you please take a look and see if maybe there is a solution at hand? E Bay add Many thanks in advance.

DJ Sures · Answer

try
 sendI2C(0x50, 0x80, "Hello world")

also, make sure the interface is indeed I2C and not SPI. The pins should be marked as: - SDA - +5 - GND - SCL

DJ Sures · Answer

Ah after fustrating searches... Look at this link: Proper Datasheet Your device address is 0x27 it seems. Now I still don't know what command is sent to write a string.. you can try this first
 sendI2C(0x27, "Hello World")

DJ Sures · Answer

I also just read that the default address could be 0x4C ... Geez this LCD is not documented well so maybe this will work..
 sendI2C(0x4C, "Hello World")

PS.. I'd cycle the LCD power before trying different commands. Each command might get to the LCD but do something that makes the next command not work.

Bookmaker · Answer

Thanks a bunch DJ, I am at work now but I will try it when I get home. It is definitely i2C. I did try the sendI2C(0x27, "Hello World") but all that happened was the screen went dead. Thanks for all your time!

DJ Sures · Answer

Wait!!! It responded with 0x27? That might be it!! See if it goes dead with 0x4C also... Does it normally go dead? Or only that time? Chinese stuff like this is never documented well

Bookmaker · Answer

Actually that is the one and only responce I have gotten.

DJ Sures · Answer

Okay then we're on the right track for address ID i think

Bookmaker · Answer

Hello, I just got home and tried everything you mentioned. The only one that did anything was the sendI2C(0x27, "Hello world") which blanked the screen.

DJ Sures · Answer

Okay, that's a start. Now we need to find out how to send commands. How about
 SendI2C(0x27, 0x80, "Hello World")

DJ Sures · Answer

For reference:
 // commands (these are sent either alone or as an identifier #define LCD_CLEARDISPLAY 0x01 #define LCD_RETURNHOME 0x02 #define LCD_ENTRYMODESET 0x04 #define LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL 0x08 #define LCD_CURSORSHIFT 0x10 #define LCD_FUNCTIONSET 0x20 #define LCD_SETCGRAMADDR 0x40 #define LCD_SETDDRAMADDR 0x80 // flags for display entry mode (LCD_ENTRYMODESET) #define LCD_ENTRYRIGHT 0x00 #define LCD_ENTRYLEFT 0x02 #define LCD_ENTRYSHIFTINCREMENT 0x01 #define LCD_ENTRYSHIFTDECREMENT 0x00 // flags for display on/off control (LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL) #define LCD_DISPLAYON 0x04 #define LCD_DISPLAYOFF 0x00 #define LCD_CURSORON 0x02 #define LCD_CURSOROFF 0x00 #define LCD_BLINKON 0x01 #define LCD_BLINKOFF 0x00 // flags for display/cursor shift (LCD_CURSORSHIFT) #define LCD_DISPLAYMOVE 0x08 #define LCD_CURSORMOVE 0x00 #define LCD_MOVERIGHT 0x04 #define LCD_MOVELEFT 0x00 // flags for function set (LCD_FUNCTIONSET) #define LCD_8BITMODE 0x10 #define LCD_4BITMODE 0x00 #define LCD_2LINE 0x08 #define LCD_1LINE 0x00 #define LCD_5x10DOTS 0x04 #define LCD_5x8DOTS 0x00 // flags for backlight control (LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL) #define LCD_BACKLIGHT 0x08 #define LCD_NOBACKLIGHT 0x00

DJ Sures · Answer

So looks like you can do this for initialization....
 sendI2C(0x27, 0x20, 0x10) # put in 8 bit mode sendI2C(0x27, 0x20, 0x08) # configure for 2 line display sendI2C(0x27, 0x01) # clear display sendI2C(0x27, 0x02) # return home (not sure if this is needed)

I'm not sure, but looks like you need to put it in some Enable mode to begin writing after you initialize
 sendI2C(0x27, 0x10) # enable high sendI2C(0x27, "Hello World") sendI2C(0x27, 0xEF) # enable low

Bookmaker · Answer

Ah, ha I will give it a try as soon as I get home. Are you sure that last line of code (0xEF) is correct? All the others are numbers???

DJ Sures · Answer

All numbers that have a 0x in front of them are called Hexidecimal 0xEF is a number. It is hexidecimal. It is another way to count, but it is base 16. Normal counting is Base 10 and it is called Decimal (for 10) Hexidecimal counts like this: 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F .... So the least significant digit (the digit on the right) increases from 0 to F before the next digit increases. You can count to 255 with Hex by having only two digits. Decimal 255 is FF Hex Hex 0xEF is 239 in decimal You could write that same peice of code without the 0x and specify decimal instead...
 sendI2C(39, 239)

Look at this link: https://www.cdrummond.qc.ca/cegep/informat/Professeurs/Alain/files/ascii.htm

Bookmaker · Answer

Thanks for the ASCII lesson. I tried the code above and the screen blinked. Without the last line of code the screen went blank. What now?

DJ Sures · Answer

Keep trying Ill post something soon as I can think of anything else... hmm

Bookmaker · Answer

Hello DJ, Love V13. Does the read I2C help any to find out how to print with my LCD?

DJ Sures · Answer

Having no datasheet on that lcd isn't making this easy. Have you tried anything since then? Just keep poking at it. We know that the screen clears when we send any data to 0x27 .. So we have to assume the LCD address is 0x27. Try sending more data to 0x27 and see what you get. Try different things like
 sendI2C(0x27, "Hello World")

and other things like..
 sendI2C(0x27, 0x01, "hello world")

and try incrementing 0x01 by 1 .. try 0x02, 0x03, 0x04... etc

Bookmaker · Answer

Thanks DJ, I will give that a try.

DJ Sures · Answer

Let's hope v13 makes it a bit easier for you by using the script console. PS, i ordered one. So i'll be able to help you when i get it

Bookmaker · Answer

As usual you always go above and beyond. WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND. It is more of a chalange now than a practacality since I have an additonal 20 digital ports to work with I could simply order a serial LCD but like I said it is more of a chalange at this point.

DJ Sures · Answer

LOL, we'll figure it out

Bookmaker · Answer

Well, I tried a bunch to noavail.

DJ Sures · Answer

Does the screen still go blank with the anything send to the address 0x27?

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, sendI2C(0x27, "Hello World") Blanks the screen.

I get a lit screen with the curser flashing in position one when I send: sendI2C(0x27, 0x20, 0x10) # put in 8 bit mode sendI2C(0x27, 0x20, 0x08) # configure for 2 line display sendI2C(0x27, 0x01) # clear display

DJ Sures · Answer

Well that's good news! After those commands, try sending something like sendI2C(0x27, 0x80, "Hello World")

Bookmaker · Answer

No such luck. May be we should wait until you get yours. Don't need taking everyones time up.

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, I downloaded the new version and firmware. Tried sending I2Cwrite(0x27,"test") and it blacked out the EZ-B. NEXT?

DJ Sures · Answer

You need to i2cStart() first. The i2c command structure has changed to support more devices, including debugging your device. In order to "talk" to a slave from the master (Ez-b), a Ttart sequences is one of two special sequences defined by the i2c bus. The other sequences is the Stop sequence. So a master must send a Start or a Stop. The master in our case is the EZ-B. The EZ-B plays the roll of a master on the i2c network. Your LCD device would be the slave. So in your case, you would now need to do this...
 i2cStart() i2cWrite(0x4E, "test") i2cStop()

But that's not going to do much. I doubt it would even blank the screen. This is because the first bit (also called the least significant bit or LSB) is set to a 1. What? Ha, let me tell you... So how I originally implemented the i2c was for simple devices like stepper motor controls, blinkm and one of the lcd's i have. Lately there have been people using different i2c devices that require special care. That means I had to dramatically change the i2c command structure. We have an ez-robot member, for example that is building a flying drone and needs to talk to a specific g sensor. What's this about bits? It's an i2c thing... Here's how it works. So the address of i2c devices or functions are really 7 bit, and the 8th bit is used for the direction (kinda). So let's say your LCD address is 0x27. Well that's 00100111 in binary IF it was an 8 bit number. But because the address is 7 bit and we use the 8th bit to determine the communication direction (Read/Write), we need to shift the bits over by 1. So you always need your first bit to be a 0 when writing. That means your address is actually 0x4E and not 0x27. Because you have to shift the bits over of 0x27. When you shift bits from left to the right, you multiple the number by 2. 0x27 = 0010 0111 0x4E = 0100 1110 See how the last bit is now a 0 with the 0x4E? That means "write to the device". Read more here www.robot-electronics.co.uk/acatalog/I2C_Tutorial.html

Bookmaker · Answer

Well, it made the screen go blank. Guess I have some studying to do!!!

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, Did you receive your LCD yet? If so any progress on getting something to print? Buster wants to know. Gosh, it has only been a week. It seemed like alot longer. Anyway, after our Etiquette lesson I am feeling realy stupid. Please disregard my impatients. I will just wait.

DJ Sures · Answer

No, sadly i have not received it yet

Troy · Answer

I was tinkering with the blinkM I just got and wanted to try things out. I noticed when making a script that the 'auto complete' doesnt have "sendI2C". Theres the I2CWrite and SendSerial. There are a few references to SendI2C as examples under the script help on the right side. Im new to this so am I missing something?

Bookmaker · Answer

DJ, Did you ever figure out how to get the LCD to work? Mine is still blank.

Bookmaker

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