Lcd Library

mikroBasic PRO for dsPIC30/33 and PIC24 provides a library for communication with Lcds (with HD44780 compliant controllers) through the 4-bit interface. An example of Lcd connections is given on the schematic at the bottom of this page.

For creating a set of custom Lcd characters use Lcd Custom Character Tool.

Library Dependency Tree

Lcd Library Dependency Tree

External dependencies of Lcd Library

The following variables must be defined in all projects using Lcd Library : Description : Example :
dim LCD_RS as sbit sfr external Register Select line. dim LCD_RS as sbit at LATD0_bit
dim LCD_EN as sbit sfr external Enable line. dim LCD_EN as sbit at LATD1_bit
dim LCD_D4 as sbit sfr external Data 4 line. dim LCD_D4 as sbit at LATB0_bit
dim LCD_D5 as sbit sfr external Data 5 line. dim LCD_D5 as sbit at LATB1_bit
dim LCD_D6 as sbit sfr external Data 6 line. dim LCD_D6 as sbit at LATB2_bit
dim LCD_D7 as sbit sfr external Data 7 line. dim LCD_D7 as sbit at LATB3_bit
dim LCD_RS_Direction as sbit sfr external Register select direction pin. dim LCD_RS_Direction as sbit at TRISD0_bit
dim LCD_EN_Direction as sbit sfr external Enable direction pin. dim LCD_EN_Direction as sbit at TRISD1_bit
dim LCD_D4_Direction as sbit sfr external Data 4 direction pin. dim LCD_D4_Direction as sbit at TRISB0_bit
dim LCD_D5_Direction as sbit sfr external Data 5 direction pin. dim LCD_D5_Direction as sbit at TRISB1_bit
dim LCD_D6_Direction as sbit sfr external Data 6 direction pin. dim LCD_D6_Direction as sbit at TRISB2_bit
dim LCD_D7_Direction as sbit sfr external Data 7 direction pin. dim LCD_D7_Direction as sbit at TRISB3_bit

Library Routines

Lcd_Init

Prototype

sub procedure Lcd_Init()

Description

Initializes Lcd module.

Parameters

None.

Returns

Nothing.

Requires

Global variables:

  • LCD_RS: Register Select (data/instruction) signal pin
  • LCD_EN: Enable signal pin
  • LCD_D4: Data bit 4
  • LCD_D5: Data bit 5
  • LCD_D6: Data bit 6
  • LCD_D7: Data bit 7

  • LCD_RS_Direction: Direction of the Register Select pin
  • LCD_EN_Direction: Direction of the Enable signal pin
  • LCD_D4_Direction: Direction of the Data 4 pin
  • LCD_D5_Direction: Direction of the Data 5 pin
  • LCD_D6_Direction: Direction of the Data 6 pin
  • LCD_D7_Direction: Direction of the Data 7 pin
must be defined before using this function.

Example
' LCD module connections
dim LCD_RS as sbit at LATD0_bit
dim LCD_EN as sbit at LATD1_bit
dim LCD_D4 as sbit at LATB0_bit
dim LCD_D5 as sbit at LATB1_bit
dim LCD_D6 as sbit at LATB2_bit
dim LCD_D7 as sbit at LATB3_bit

dim LCD_RS_Direction as sbit at TRISD0_bit
dim LCD_EN_Direction as sbit at TRISD1_bit
dim LCD_D4_Direction as sbit at TRISB0_bit
dim LCD_D5_Direction as sbit at TRISB1_bit
dim LCD_D6_Direction as sbit at TRISB2_bit
dim LCD_D7_Direction as sbit at TRISB3_bit
' End LCD module connections
...
Lcd_Init()
Notes

None.

Lcd_Out

Prototype

sub procedure Lcd_Out(dim row, column as word, dim byref text as string)

Description

Prints text on Lcd starting from specified position. Both string variables and literals can be passed as a text.

Parameters
  • row: starting position row number
  • column: starting position column number
  • text: text to be written
Returns

Nothing.

Requires

The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.

Example
' Write text "Hello!" on Lcd starting from row 1, column 3:
Lcd_Out(1, 3, "Hello!")
Notes

None.

Lcd_Out_Cp

Prototype

sub procedure Lcd_Out_Cp(dim byref text as string)

Returns

Nothing.

Description

Prints text on Lcd at current cursor position. Both string variables and literals can be passed as a text.

Parameters
  • text: text to be written
Requires

The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.

Example
' Write text "Here!" at current cursor position:
Lcd_Out_Cp("Here!")
Notes

None.

Lcd_Chr

Prototype

sub procedure Lcd_Chr(dim row, column as word, dim out_char as byte)

Description

Prints character on Lcd at specified position. Both variables and literals can be passed as a character.

Parameters
  • row: writing position row number
  • column: writing position column number
  • out_char: character to be written
Returns

Nothing.

Requires

The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.

Example
' Write character "i" at row 2, column 3:
Lcd_Chr(2, 3, "i")
Notes

None.

Lcd_Chr_Cp

Prototype

sub procedure Lcd_Chr_Cp(dim out_char as byte)

Description

Prints character on Lcd at current cursor position. Both variables and literals can be passed as a character.

Parameters
  • out_char: character to be written
Returns

Nothing.

Requires

The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.

Example
' Write character "e" at current cursor position:
Lcd_Chr_Cp("e")
Notes

None.

Lcd_Cmd

Prototype

sub procedure Lcd_Cmd(dim out_char as byte)

Description

Sends command to Lcd.

Parameters
  • out_char: command to be sent
Returns

Nothing.

Requires

The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init table.

Example
' Clear Lcd display:
Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR)
Notes

Predefined constants can be passed to the function, see Available Lcd Commands.

Available Lcd Commands

Lcd Command Purpose
_LCD_FIRST_ROW Move cursor to the 1st row
_LCD_SECOND_ROW Move cursor to the 2nd row
_LCD_THIRD_ROW Move cursor to the 3rd row
_LCD_FOURTH_ROW Move cursor to the 4th row
_LCD_CLEAR Clear display
_LCD_RETURN_HOME Return cursor to home position, returns a shifted display to its original position. Display data RAM is unaffected.
_LCD_CURSOR_OFF Turn off cursor
_LCD_UNDERLINE_ON Underline cursor on
_LCD_BLINK_CURSOR_ON Blink cursor on
_LCD_MOVE_CURSOR_LEFT Move cursor left without changing display data RAM
_LCD_MOVE_CURSOR_RIGHT Move cursor right without changing display data RAM
_LCD_TURN_ON Turn Lcd display on
_LCD_TURN_OFF Turn Lcd display off
_LCD_SHIFT_LEFT Shift display left without changing display data RAM
_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT Shift display right without changing display data RAM

Library Example

The following code demonstrates usage of the Lcd Library routines:

Copy Code To ClipboardCopy Code To Clipboard
program  Lcd_Test

' LCD module connections
dim LCD_RS as sbit at LATD0_bit
dim LCD_EN as sbit at LATD1_bit
dim LCD_D4 as sbit at LATB0_bit
dim LCD_D5 as sbit at LATB1_bit
dim LCD_D6 as sbit at LATB2_bit
dim LCD_D7 as sbit at LATB3_bit

dim LCD_RS_Direction as sbit at TRISD0_bit
dim LCD_EN_Direction as sbit at TRISD1_bit
dim LCD_D4_Direction as sbit at TRISB0_bit
dim LCD_D5_Direction as sbit at TRISB1_bit
dim LCD_D6_Direction as sbit at TRISB2_bit
dim LCD_D7_Direction as sbit at TRISB3_bit
' End LCD module connections

dim txt1 as char[16]
    txt2 as char[9]
    txt3 as char[8]
    txt4 as char[7]
    i as byte                      ' Loop variable

sub procedure Move_Delay()         ' Function used for text moving
  Delay_ms(500)                    ' You can change the moving speed here
end sub

main:
  ADPCFG = 0xFFFF                  ' Configure AN pins as digital I/O

  txt1 = "mikroElektronika"
  txt2 = "EasydsPIC4A"
  txt3 = "Lcd4bit"
  txt4 = "example"

  Lcd_Init()                       ' Initialize LCD
  Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR)              ' Clear display
  Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CURSOR_OFF)         ' Cursor off
  LCD_Out(1,6,txt3)                ' Write text in first row
  LCD_Out(2,6,txt4)                ' Write text in second row
  Delay_ms(2000)
  Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR)              ' Clear display

  LCD_Out(1,1,txt1)                ' Write text in first row
  Lcd_Out(2,3,txt2)                ' Write text in second row
  Delay_ms(500)

  ' Moving text
  for i = 0 to 4                   ' Move text to the right 4 times
    Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT)
    Move_Delay()
  next i

  while TRUE                       ' Endless loop
    for i = 0 to 8                 ' Move text to the left 7 times
      Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_LEFT)
      Move_Delay()
    next i

    for i = 0 to 8                 ' Move text to the right 7 times
      Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT)
      Move_Delay()
    next i
  wend
end.

Lcd HW connection

Lcd HW connection

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