Serial LCD Questions
Buck Rogers
Posts: 2,190
Hello!
Yesterday I bought this fellow 2x16 Serial LCD Backlit, with Speaker, from Radio Shack, but on clearance, instead of costing its listing price of $29.99, they were selling it at $9.97. I suspect its being on clearance was the fault of the company's complete lack of understanding the market. (Just an opinion.)
After tracking down the pages for it here, http://www.parallax.com/product/27977 I was able to get it working in a matter of minutes on the Basic Stamp2 board that I'm currently using.
Of course I also notice that it wears a unique three pin connector, and track down through my collection to see if I have any who come close. It's a long, actually a very long shot there. Now I notice that RS is also selling, or thinks they are selling the cables I might need to make it work, they show 800-00041-RT as the cataloging number from Parallax, and naturally there's no stock anywhere in the area that they think is appropriate. In fact the Parallax site is thinking that the number there isn't part of the catalog. Is RS making that up or are there other issues? But oddly enough Microcenter who does sell Parallax items a heck of a lot better then RS does sell them. This still doesn't explain why the search functions for the Parallax site didn't respond. And as it happens I did find a related item under the display, which was the same cable idea. Strange.......
However I did recall that the pins on the display resemble the same style pins as the ones to be used to connect these cables to a breadboard, and I do have the things that they can be plugged into. So I'm off to assemble a break-out board that has on it just such a connector and one for the cable I plan on using. The cable was last found inside a computer connecting a CD[DVD]-ROM drive to a sound card.....
Next on to the display:
To show text I simply make use of the example for loading my text onto the display:
And then logically what I would want done goes inside the labels of Main and the GOTO command? Or am I missing something. Please advise.
Incidentally if anyone is interested in why I am going through all of this upset concerning the display, please track back through my postings/musings on using the Stamps to communicate with programmable logic devices.
An update, even though this thread has been solved, I felt that my original statement needed more information, that of having purchased the cable set (retail kit) from Microcenter, I have since confirmed that the code displayed above works. It will show characters crawling across the display by simply inserting the appropriate serial output expressions inside that GOTO block.
Yesterday I bought this fellow 2x16 Serial LCD Backlit, with Speaker, from Radio Shack, but on clearance, instead of costing its listing price of $29.99, they were selling it at $9.97. I suspect its being on clearance was the fault of the company's complete lack of understanding the market. (Just an opinion.)
After tracking down the pages for it here, http://www.parallax.com/product/27977 I was able to get it working in a matter of minutes on the Basic Stamp2 board that I'm currently using.
Of course I also notice that it wears a unique three pin connector, and track down through my collection to see if I have any who come close. It's a long, actually a very long shot there. Now I notice that RS is also selling, or thinks they are selling the cables I might need to make it work, they show 800-00041-RT as the cataloging number from Parallax, and naturally there's no stock anywhere in the area that they think is appropriate. In fact the Parallax site is thinking that the number there isn't part of the catalog. Is RS making that up or are there other issues? But oddly enough Microcenter who does sell Parallax items a heck of a lot better then RS does sell them. This still doesn't explain why the search functions for the Parallax site didn't respond. And as it happens I did find a related item under the display, which was the same cable idea. Strange.......
However I did recall that the pins on the display resemble the same style pins as the ones to be used to connect these cables to a breadboard, and I do have the things that they can be plugged into. So I'm off to assemble a break-out board that has on it just such a connector and one for the cable I plan on using. The cable was last found inside a computer connecting a CD[DVD]-ROM drive to a sound card.....
Next on to the display:
To show text I simply make use of the example for loading my text onto the display:
=========================================================================[FONT=helvetica][SIZE=3][FONT=times new roman]
[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]'
' File...... Serial_LCD_Template.BS2
' Purpose... Template for Parallax Serial LCD
' Author.... (c) Parallax, Inc. -- All Rights Reserved
' E-mail.... support@parallax.com
' Started...
' Updated... 11 FEB 2005
'
' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}
'
' =========================================================================
' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------
' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------
' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------
TX PIN 0 ' serial output to LCD
' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------
#SELECT $STAMP
#CASE BS2, BS2E, BS2PE
T2400 CON 396
T9600 CON 84
T19K2 CON 32
#CASE BS2SX, BS2P
T2400 CON 1021
T9600 CON 240
T19K2 CON 110
#ENDSELECT
LcdBaud CON T19K2
LcdBkSpc CON $08 ' move cursor left
LcdRt CON $09 ' move cursor right
LcdLF CON $0A ' move cursor down 1 line
LcdCls CON $0C ' clear LCD (use PAUSE 5 after)
LcdCR CON $0D ' move pos 0 of next line
LcdBLon CON $11 ' backlight on
LcdBLoff CON $12 ' backlight off
LcdOff CON $15 ' LCD off
LcdOn1 CON $16 ' LCD on; cursor off, blink off
LcdOn2 CON $17 ' LCD on; cursor off, blink on
LcdOn3 CON $18 ' LCD on; cursor on, blink off
LcdOn4 CON $19 ' LCD on; cursor on, blink on
LcdLine1 CON $80 ' move to line 1, column 0
LcdLine2 CON $94 ' move to line 2, column 0
LcdCC0 CON $F8 ' define custom char 0
LcdCC1 CON $F9 ' define custom char 1
LcdCC2 CON $FA ' define custom char 2
LcdCC3 CON $FB ' define custom char 3
LcdCC4 CON $FC ' define custom char 4
LcdCC5 CON $FD ' define custom char 5
LcdCC6 CON $FE ' define custom char 6
LcdCC7 CON $FF ' define custom char 7
' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------
' -----[ EEPROM Data ]-----------------------------------------------------
' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------
Reset:
HIGH TX ' setup serial output pin
PAUSE 100 ' allow LCD to initialize
' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------
Main:
' your code here
GOTO Main
END
' -----[ Subroutines ]-----------------------------------------------------
And then logically what I would want done goes inside the labels of Main and the GOTO command? Or am I missing something. Please advise.
Incidentally if anyone is interested in why I am going through all of this upset concerning the display, please track back through my postings/musings on using the Stamps to communicate with programmable logic devices.
An update, even though this thread has been solved, I felt that my original statement needed more information, that of having purchased the cable set (retail kit) from Microcenter, I have since confirmed that the code displayed above works. It will show characters crawling across the display by simply inserting the appropriate serial output expressions inside that GOTO block.
Comments
The three pin connector is used on many Parallax devices; Ping, PIR, to name two. All the serial LCD's have had three pin connectors for quite some time. And it is a common servo connection scheme.
The reason you did not find part number 800-00041-RT on the Parallax site, it is a unique product developed for retail outlets, (BTW that's what the RT means..Retail). It is a package of three cables. Parallax sells single cable on their site. Turn the 800-00041 into 800-00041, and you will find one of the cables in the package.
You can find all the retail products at http://www.parallax.com/RT
You can also get the plastic housings in various housings e.g. from Pololu http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1902 or
just use 1/16" heatshrink instead http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?lang=en&site=us&KeyWords=A116B-4-ND
I have a crimp tool but tend to solder the pins (soldering can interfere with using the plastic housings).
The Parallax LCD warns not to send data on the TX line unless power is applied first, so have nice soldered connections can help prevent the wires from pulling out of the pins and causing a problem.
Also here is a pic showing the Parallax LCD and GPS module with a BS2P
' {$STAMP BS2} ' {$PBASIC 2.5} #SELECT $STAMP #CASE BS2, BS2E, BS2PE T2400 CON 396 T9600 CON 84 T19K2 CON 32 #CASE BS2SX, BS2P T2400 CON 1021 T9600 CON 240 T19K2 CON 110 #ENDSELECT LcdBkSpc CON $08 ' move cursor left LcdRt CON $09 ' move cursor right LcdLF CON $0A ' move cursor down 1 line LcdCls CON $0C ' clear LCD (use PAUSE 5 after) LcdCR CON $0D ' move pos 0 of next line LcdBLon CON $11 ' backlight on LcdBLoff CON $12 ' backlight off LcdOff CON $15 ' LCD off LcdOn1 CON $16 ' LCD on; cursor off, blink off LcdOn2 CON $17 ' LCD on; cursor off, blink on LcdOn3 CON $18 ' LCD on; cursor on, blink off LcdOn4 CON $19 ' LCD on; cursor on, blink on LcdLine1 CON $80 ' move to line 1, column 0 LcdLine2 CON $94 ' move to line 2, column 0 LcdCC0 CON $F8 ' define custom char 0 LcdCC1 CON $F9 ' define custom char 1 LcdCC2 CON $FA ' define custom char 2 LcdCC3 CON $FB ' define custom char 3 LcdCC4 CON $FC ' define custom char 4 LcdCC5 CON $FD ' define custom char 5 LcdCC6 CON $FE ' define custom char 6 LcdCC7 CON $FF ' define custom char 7 LcdBaud CON T19K2 TxPin CON 15 scl VAR Byte idx VAR Byte HIGH TxPin ' Set serial pin port high PAUSE 2000 ' Pause to initialize SEROUT TxPin, LcdBaud, [LcdCls] ' Clear PAUSE 5 SEROUT TxPin, LcdBaud, [LcdBLon, LcdOn1] ' Clear, turn on backlight 'SEROUT TxPin, LcdBaud, [LcdLine2+15] FOR idx = 0 TO 7 SEROUT TxPin, LcdBaud, [idx] PAUSE 50 NEXT FOR idx = 32 TO 127 SEROUT TxPin, LcdBaud, [idx] PAUSE 50 NEXT PAUSE 3000 ' Wait 3 seconds 'SEROUT TxPin, LcdBaud, [LcdBLoff] ' Turn backlight offHello!
Oddly enough the pins they are showing are the same ones that are used for the connectors originally used for connecting stuff to a sound card. Which tells me I am definitely on to something there.
Tracked down four in my area, but one store could not find theirs even though his computer said he had one in inventory.
$9.97 ! All their clearance prices end in .97 cents. If you pay $9.99, you're getting ripped off!
Somebody stop me - I've bought five of them since they went on sale!
Hello!
I can't. You're too far away from me.
However I just finished an interesting research study of the Jameco website. I have just discovered that the connectors Parallax has waiting for us to use with these displays and several other items are indeed part of the same family that get shoehorned into cables for tying together soundcards and CD[DVD]-ROM drives in desktops. The big difference is in the plastic bodies that the metal connectors are inserted into. And this wasn't erco's or xanadu's faults either.
Just over a year earlier I bought from Jameco two TTL grab bags and several items of the sort that made up these cables. I, ah, had an idea. It never accumulated into anything sadly, but the TTL parts were and still are a big help.
Now that I'm returning to the Parallax style of doing something, who knows? I might need those bags....
I have also bought the same pins and plastic housing from Jameco - the pins are part numbers 145358 (male) and 100766 (female).\
You can also get some nice ribbon cable at Sparkfun https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10646
You and I are tied at five LCDs each, Ron.
Ain't no hoarder like a Parallax hoarder!
I must not be a "true" hoarder - I left one on the shelf last night
Hello!
Technically yes, since I'm buying the cable set tomorrow from our friends at Microcenter, even though Parallax's site can't show me the page because of technology fatigue.
Hello!
It was? I encourage off-topic discussions as long as they are within the frame of reference that the thread was originally fixed on. If it drifts even further far afield then usual then I'll insist we close it and move elsewhere.
Especially since Ron C. was very right about those cables and connectors and header pins. So with that this thread is definitely solved and even closed.