A large number of embedded project require some type of user interface. This includes displaying numerical, textual and graphical data to user. For very simple numerical display we can use 7 segment displays. If the requirement is little more than that, like displaying some alphanumeric text, we can use LCD Modules. They are cheap enough to be used in low cost projects. They come in various sizes for different requirement. A very popular one is 16x2 model. It can display 2 lines of 16 characters. Other models are 16x4,20x4, 8x1,8x2 etc.

In this tutorial we will learn how we can use such modules with Microchip PIC Microcontrollers. Here I will present my LCD library which you can use to create LCD based application/projects quickly. For demo I will use PIC18F4520 Microcontroller but you can use any PIC18 MCU. But you have to calculate the CONFIG values for correct setting and CPU clock selection etc. That means the chip should be configured correctly. See datasheet for more info on CONFIG bytes.

MPLAB Project Creation

First create a MPLAB project as described in this tutorial. Name the project LCD. Also add a main file called "lcd_test.c". To use my LCD library you need to add it to your project. Just copy/paste the following files to your project folder.

Header Files

• lcd.h
• myutils.h

Source File

• lcd.c

How to add files to MPLAB Project is described here.

Now you are ready to the library functions to interact with the LCD module.

Sample Program (lcd_test.c)

/********************************************************************

16X2 ALPHANEUMERIC LCD INTERFACING LIBRARY TEST PROGRAM

---------------------------------------------------------

A testing program for our LCD library.

Easy to use library for interfacing 16x2 lcd in 4 bit mode.
MCU: PIC18FXXXX Series from Microchip.
Compiler: HI-TECH C Compiler for PIC18 MCUs (http://www.htsoft.com/)

Copyrights 2008-2009 Avinash Gupta
eXtreme Electronics, India

For More Info visit
http://www.eXtremeElectronics.co.in

Mail: me@avinashgupta.com

********************************************************************/
#include <htc.h>

#include "lcd.h"

//Chip Settings
__CONFIG(1,0x0200);
__CONFIG(2,0X1E1F);
__CONFIG(3,0X8100);
__CONFIG(4,0X00C1);
__CONFIG(5,0XC00F);


//Simple Delay Routine
void Wait(unsigned int delay)
{
   for(;delay;delay--)
      __delay_us(100);
}

void main()
{
   //Let the Module start up

   Wait(100);

   //Initialize the LCD Module
   LCDInit(LS_BLINK);

   //Clear the Module
   LCDClear();

   //Write a string at current cursor pos
   LCDWriteString("Good Is Great !!");

   Wait(20000);

   //Now Clear the display

   LCDClear();

   LCDWriteString("God Bless all !!");

   //Goto POS (X=0,Y=1 i.e. Line 2)
   //And Write a string
   LCDWriteStringXY(0,1,"<**************>");

   Wait(20000);

   //Write Some Numbers

   for(char i=0;i<100;i++)
   {
         LCDClear();
         LCDWriteInt(i,3);
         Wait(3000);
   }

   LCDClear();
   LCDWriteString("    The  End    ");

   //Loop Forever

   while(1);


}

The First thing you should do is to Initialize the LCD Module by calling the fuction LCDInit(). This will setup the LCD module. Now you can use the various functions like...

• LCDClear() - For Clearing the screen.
• LCDWriteString(unsigned char *) - For Writing Text Message at Current cursor position.
• LCDWriteStringXY(x,y,msg) - For Writing Text Message at position x,y
• LCDWriteInt() - For printing integer numbers at Current cursor position.
• LCDWriteIntXY() - For printing integer numbers at position x,y.

For detailed information on these functions please refer to this tutorial. It is for the AVR microcontrollers but the functions are same for PIC mcus also.

Hardware Connections

Connect the LCD Module with PIC Microcontroller as shown below.

Fig.: LCD Module Interface with PIC Microcontroller.

If you are using our PIC development board then you don't need to care for crystal or power supply (they are already on board). You just need to connect the LCD to PIC micro by using 7 i/o lines. 5v supply for LCD and Variable Resistor (10K) can be easily drawn from the board.

Fig.: LCD Module Interface with PIC Microcontroller.

Fig.: LCD Module Interface with PIC Microcontroller.

Program the Micro controller with the HEX code using the ICSP method described here. Then adjust the Variable resistor until the display is clearly visible.

Videos

Coming Up !!!

Downloads

All files required for this experiment.

• PIC18_LCDlib.zip

Microchip PIC Essential Tutorials

• Getting Started
• Low Cost USB Programmer
• Hello World Project Part I
• Hello World Project Part II