Dot Matrix LCD Display
- JohnCrow
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Dot Matrix LCD Display
This weekend was the 2012 National Hamfest at the Newark Showground (Nottinghamshire)
One of the bargins I picked up was a 2 x 20 Dot Matrix LCD display.
I was assured it was compatible with the Hitachi HD44780 display controller, i.e will work with flowcode.
I did notice the display has 18 physical connections, the second pin being labeled as pin 1
The first & last connections not being used.
A 16pin SIL header was soldered to the board and it was connected to the EB006 by means of a protoboard.
The usual "Hello World" program was loaded into the PIC, and the display burst into life.
The only minor problem is it does have quite a high current drain (260 mA) compared with a standard LCD e-block.
The 5V regulator on the EB006 was getting quite warm, so I think a seperate PSU will be needed to use it with the programmer.
The size can be judged by comparing it with the Matrix Protoboard
I have so far been unable to find any more data on the board.
It would be useful if the edge connector could be utilised.
One of the bargins I picked up was a 2 x 20 Dot Matrix LCD display.
I was assured it was compatible with the Hitachi HD44780 display controller, i.e will work with flowcode.
I did notice the display has 18 physical connections, the second pin being labeled as pin 1
The first & last connections not being used.
A 16pin SIL header was soldered to the board and it was connected to the EB006 by means of a protoboard.
The usual "Hello World" program was loaded into the PIC, and the display burst into life.
The only minor problem is it does have quite a high current drain (260 mA) compared with a standard LCD e-block.
The 5V regulator on the EB006 was getting quite warm, so I think a seperate PSU will be needed to use it with the programmer.
The size can be judged by comparing it with the Matrix Protoboard
I have so far been unable to find any more data on the board.
It would be useful if the edge connector could be utilised.
1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn't !
- Enamul
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Hi John,
I was just wondering how you are controlling contrast in the LCD..I can't see any POT in the picture. Is there any option to control the back-light of the LCD i.e., A and K of the back-light? In that case current requirement could be easily controlled..Bcz I have had a look in the user guide of the LCD it doesn't say that it requires so high current.
May be I am wrong but 260 mA is lot of current for just an LCD
I was just wondering how you are controlling contrast in the LCD..I can't see any POT in the picture. Is there any option to control the back-light of the LCD i.e., A and K of the back-light? In that case current requirement could be easily controlled..Bcz I have had a look in the user guide of the LCD it doesn't say that it requires so high current.
May be I am wrong but 260 mA is lot of current for just an LCD
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Enamul,
It looks like a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display), not an LCD, to me. The current is not out of the ball park for those displays.
Regards,
Jac
It looks like a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display), not an LCD, to me. The current is not out of the ball park for those displays.
Regards,
Jac
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
― C.S. Lewis
― C.S. Lewis
- JohnCrow
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Hi
Ive not tried putting a pot on to control the brightness yet. I assume as it is compatible with the Hitachi controller, a pot will go across the normal pins.
I just wanted to try it and see if it powered up. Will try that later. Just nice to see it works.
As Jac points out it does look like a VFD.
The main chip on the back is a PT6314-001 which is a (confirms Jacs post) VFD driver.
Will have another dig on Google see if I can find any more data on it first.
There are 3 part numbers on the back.
VFM202MDA2-1
PC-0458-01-DS
F0503003
Ive just noticed the socket on the LHS is actually for test points.
Ive not tried putting a pot on to control the brightness yet. I assume as it is compatible with the Hitachi controller, a pot will go across the normal pins.
I just wanted to try it and see if it powered up. Will try that later. Just nice to see it works.
As Jac points out it does look like a VFD.
The main chip on the back is a PT6314-001 which is a (confirms Jacs post) VFD driver.
Will have another dig on Google see if I can find any more data on it first.
There are 3 part numbers on the back.
VFM202MDA2-1
PC-0458-01-DS
F0503003
Ive just noticed the socket on the LHS is actually for test points.
1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn't !
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
I would not connect a pot before finding a data sheet. VFDs tend to have software brightness control, not hardware.
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
― C.S. Lewis
― C.S. Lewis
- JohnCrow
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Thanks for that.
It does not really need brightness control anyway, so unless I can be sure what it will do I'll leave it as it is.
At least its working, apart from the high current needed I'm happy as it is.
It does not really need brightness control anyway, so unless I can be sure what it will do I'll leave it as it is.
At least its working, apart from the high current needed I'm happy as it is.
1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn't !
- Steve001
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
here you go john have a look at this . . not sure if it yours or not
http://www.ec21.com/product-details/20- ... 65657.html
or
http://www.zboe.cn/ShowProducts_en.asp?id=80
There is some contact details on the pages
Steve
http://www.ec21.com/product-details/20- ... 65657.html
or
http://www.zboe.cn/ShowProducts_en.asp?id=80
There is some contact details on the pages
Steve
Success always occurs in private and failure in full view.
- Steve001
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Found this data sheet hope it's of some use
Files are compressed with 7-Zip Please change .txt to .7z as the file ext as wasn't allowed to upload attachment
http://www.7-zip.org/
Steve
Files are compressed with 7-Zip Please change .txt to .7z as the file ext as wasn't allowed to upload attachment
http://www.7-zip.org/
Steve
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- JohnCrow
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Thanks for the feedback
The data sheets seem to cover the display module itself, so I have some info to look at.
The data sheets seem to cover the display module itself, so I have some info to look at.
1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn't !
- Steve001
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
i have another data sheet for a 2 x 8 display which i am told is the same apart from the obvious change in lines
and have also been informed that the socket on the side connnects to the sil header so that you can use either
i can post it if you wish
steve
and have also been informed that the socket on the side connnects to the sil header so that you can use either
i can post it if you wish
steve
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- JohnCrow
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Hi Steve
Yes please, always usful to see alternate datasheets.
Looking at the tracks on the back of my board, I though the connector on the side was for test points.
Think what im going to do is mount it on a seperate board, with a 5V regulator. Then I can connect it to the 12V power on the programmer and draw power from the psu itself.
That way its not drawing power through the 5V reg on the EB006.
Yes please, always usful to see alternate datasheets.
Looking at the tracks on the back of my board, I though the connector on the side was for test points.
Think what im going to do is mount it on a seperate board, with a 5V regulator. Then I can connect it to the 12V power on the programmer and draw power from the psu itself.
That way its not drawing power through the 5V reg on the EB006.
1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn't !
- Steve001
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Here you go john,
got the info from techincal sales at midas they have some interesting stuff i could really upset my other half and my bank manager
a good idea to power it from a seperate regulator i use a big 5 volt power supply now so i don't have to worry about current draw too much
http://www.midascomponents.co.uk
Files are compressed with 7-Zip Please change .txt to .7z as the file ext as wasn't allowed to upload attachment
http://www.7-zip.org/
got the info from techincal sales at midas they have some interesting stuff i could really upset my other half and my bank manager
a good idea to power it from a seperate regulator i use a big 5 volt power supply now so i don't have to worry about current draw too much
http://www.midascomponents.co.uk
Files are compressed with 7-Zip Please change .txt to .7z as the file ext as wasn't allowed to upload attachment
http://www.7-zip.org/
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Success always occurs in private and failure in full view.
- JohnCrow
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Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Thanks Steve
Looks like some interesting stuff on that site. Ive bookmarked it in my component suppliers section.
Looks like some interesting stuff on that site. Ive bookmarked it in my component suppliers section.
1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn't !
Re: Dot Matrix LCD Display
Thanks for posting the information. Especially about pin 2 being pin 1.
I thought I had bought a dud, but all looks OK.
(Sorry it's an Arduino!)
I thought I had bought a dud, but all looks OK.
(Sorry it's an Arduino!)
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