Serial LCD vs. Parallel (HD 44780) LCD

Comments

• Archiver Posts: 46,084

  2001-07-23 01:40 edited 2001-07-23 01:40

  Hi
  
  The term OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.
  
  The serial LCD is much easier to use. Using the SEROUT command you
  send data to the LCD directly. Of course the LCD still requires
  initialization, the data sent to the LCD has to be placed where you
  want it on the display. Using a serial display is almost as easy as
  sending data to the screen using DEBUG.
  
  The serial display taxes the Stamp less, the display does more of the
  work.
  
  The serial display is WAY more expensive than a parallel LCD alone.
  The serial display sends data over one stamp pin.
  
  The parallel display requires that the Stamp does all the work. The
  parallel display to the stamp requires 6 stamp pins. Characters to be
  displayed are typically stored in EEPROM, then read from EEPROM. Once
  read they are assigned a variable. A subroutine sends this character
  to the LCD. This subroutine converts the character to 2 4bit nibbles,
  then sends the nibbles to the LCD to be displayed. A few other things
  happen along the way.
  
  Say the time was "12:32:06" or something like that. You could not
  sent that string to the LCD easily using a parallel LCD. The data
  would have to go one digit at a time to the display. That goes for
  the colon as well. Accomplishing this task would require a bit of
  code. It would also tie up the processor. Depending on your
  application this may or may not be a problem.
  
  Me, I hate spending money. I figure 50 bucks for the stamp is enough.
  I have managed to accomplish all I have set out to do using surplus
  (5 dollars or less) LCD displays. I would try to get the thing to
  work using the parallel LCD display before I popped for the serial
  display.
  
  Of course if this is a "time is money" deal then the serial display
  is the hands down winner.
  
  Regards
  
  Rich
  
  --- In basicstamps@y..., rpshah79@h... wrote:
  > I am trying to build a radio-controlled talking clock with the BS2.
  I
  > am trying to use the LCD to display time. What are the advantages
  and
  > disadvantages of using both? Which would be better? I am also
  hooking
  > up the BS2 to the receiver and voice chip as well. I know that
  serial
  > uses one I/O port of the BS2 and that the parallel requires at
  least
  > 6. Also, www.seetron.com has a special deal on a serial LCD fro
  $39.
  > I heard that serial LCD are more expensive to purchase than
  parallel
  > LCDs such as HD 44780. Is this a fact or a myth?
  >
  > Any helpful replies would be appreciated.
  >
  > Thanks,
  > RP
  >
  > P.S. What does OEM stand for?
• Archiver Posts: 46,084

  2001-07-23 02:16 edited 2001-07-23 02:16

  Check out the Serial LCD Kit from Professor Anderson which lets you
  talk to a parallel display using the serout command.
  
  Only $9.95 (without the display) and the shipping is very
  reasonable.
  
  www.phanderson.com
  
  
  --- In basicstamps@y..., rpshah79@h... wrote:
  > I am trying to build a radio-controlled talking clock with the BS2.
  I
  > am trying to use the LCD to display time. What are the advantages
  and
  > disadvantages of using both? Which would be better? I am also
  hooking
  > up the BS2 to the receiver and voice chip as well. I know that
  serial
  > uses one I/O port of the BS2 and that the parallel requires at least
  > 6. Also, www.seetron.com has a special deal on a serial LCD fro $39.
  > I heard that serial LCD are more expensive to purchase than parallel
  > LCDs such as HD 44780. Is this a fact or a myth?
  >
  > Any helpful replies would be appreciated.
  >
  > Thanks,
  > RP
  >
  > P.S. What does OEM stand for?