SPI Lcd8 Library

SPI Lcd8 (8-bit interface) Library

The mikroBasic PRO for dsPIC30/33 and PIC24 provides a library for communication with Lcd (with HD44780 compliant controllers) in 8-bit mode via SPI interface.

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

Important :

When using this library with dsPIC33 and PIC24 family MCUs be aware of their voltage incompatibility with certain number of Lcd modules.
So, additional external power supply for these modules may be required.
The library uses the SPI module for communication. The user must initialize the appropriate SPI module before using the SPI Lcd8 Library.
For MCUs with multiple SPI modules it is possible to initialize all of them and then switch by using the SPI_Set_Active() routine. See the SPI Library functions.
This Library is designed to work with the mikroElektronika's Serial Lcd/Glcd Adapter Board pinout, see schematic at the bottom of this page for details.

Library Dependency Tree

External dependencies of SPI Lcd Library

The implementation of SPI Lcd Library routines is based on Port Expander Library routines.

External dependencies are the same as Port Expander Library external dependencies.

SPI_Lcd8_Config

Prototype	sub procedure SPI_Lcd8_Config(dim DeviceAddress as byte)
Description	Initializes the Lcd module via SPI interface.
Parameters	`DeviceAddress:` SPI expander hardware address, see schematic at the bottom of this page
Returns	Nothing.
Requires	Global variables : `SPExpanderCS`: Chip Select line `SPExpanderRST`: Reset line `SPExpanderCS_Direction`: Direction of the Chip Select pin `SPExpanderRST_Direction`: Direction of the Reset pin must be defined before using this function. The SPI module needs to be initialized. See SPIx_Init and SPIx_Init_Advanced routines.
Example	' Port Expander module connections dim SPExpanderRST as sbit at LATF0_bit SPExpanderCS as sbit at LATF1_bit SPExpanderRST_Direction as sbit at TRISF0_bit SPExpanderCS_Direction as sbit at TRISF1_bit ' End Port Expander module connections ... SPI1_Init() ' Initialize SPI interface SPI_Lcd8_Config(0) ' Intialize Lcd in 8bit mode via spi
Notes	None.

SPI_Lcd8_Out

Prototype	sub procedure SPI_Lcd8_Out(dim row, column as byte, 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	Lcd needs to be initialized for SPI communication, see SPI_Lcd8_Config routine.
Example	' Write text "Hello!" on Lcd starting from row 1, column 3: SPI_Lcd8_Out(1, 3, "Hello!")
Notes	None.

SPI_Lcd8_Out_Cp

Prototype	sub procedure SPI_Lcd8_Out_CP(dim byref text as string)
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
Returns	Nothing.
Requires	Lcd needs to be initialized for SPI communication, see SPI_Lcd8_Config routine.
Example	' Write text "Here!" at current cursor position: SPI_Lcd8_Out_Cp("Here!")
Notes	None.

SPI_Lcd8_Chr

Prototype	sub procedure SPI_Lcd8_Chr(dim row, column, out_char as byte)
Description	Prints character on Lcd at specified position. Both variables and literals can be passed as character.
Parameters	`row:` writing position row number `column:` writing position column number `out_char:` character to be written
Returns	Nothing.
Requires	Lcd needs to be initialized for SPI communication, see SPI_Lcd8_Config routine.
Example	' Write character "i" at row 2, column 3: SPI_Lcd8_Chr(2, 3, "i")
Notes	None.

SPI_Lcd8_Chr_Cp

Prototype	sub procedure SPI_Lcd8_Chr_CP(dim out_char as byte)
Description	Prints character on Lcd at current cursor position. Both variables and literals can be passed as character.
Parameters	`out_char:` character to be written
Returns	Nothing.
Requires	Lcd needs to be initialized for SPI communication, see SPI_Lcd8_Config routine.
Example	Print “e” at current cursor position: ' Write character "e" at current cursor position: SPI_Lcd8_Chr_Cp("e")
Notes	None.

SPI_Lcd8_Cmd

Prototype	sub procedure SPI_Lcd8_Cmd(dim out_char as byte)
Description	Sends command to Lcd.
Parameters	`out_char:` command to be sent
Returns	Nothing.
Requires	Lcd needs to be initialized for SPI communication, see SPI_Lcd8_Config routine.
Example	' Clear Lcd display: SPI_Lcd8_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR)
Notes	Predefined constants can be passed to the routine, see Available SPI Lcd8 Commands.

Available SPI Lcd8 Commands

SPI Lcd8 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

This example demonstrates how to communicate Lcd in 8-bit mode via the SPI module, using serial to parallel convertor MCP23S17.

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program Spi_Lcd8

dim text as char[16]
dim counter as byte

' Port Expander module connections
dim SPExpanderRST as sbit at LATF0_bit
dim SPExpanderCS  as sbit at LATF1_bit
dim SPExpanderRST_Direction as sbit at TRISF0_bit
dim SPExpanderCS_Direction  as sbit at TRISF1_bit
' End Port Expander module connections

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

main:
  text = "mikroElektronika"
  ADPCFG = 0xFFFF                     ' initialize AN pins as digital
  SPI1_Init()                         ' Initialize SPI
  Spi_Lcd8_Config(0)                  ' Initialize LCD over SPI interface
  Spi_Lcd8_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR)            ' Clear display
  Spi_Lcd8_Cmd(_LCD_CURSOR_OFF)       ' Turn cursor off
  Spi_Lcd8_Out(1,6, "mikroE")         ' Print text to LCD, 1st row, 6th column
  Spi_Lcd8_Chr_CP("!")                ' Append '!'
  Spi_Lcd8_Out(2,1, text)             ' Print text to LCD, 2nd row, 1st column

  '  Spi_Lcd8_Out(3,1,'mikroE')       ' For LCD with more than two rows
  '  Spi_Lcd8_Out(4,15,'mikroE')      ' For LCD with more than two rows

  ' Moving text
  for counter = 0 to 3                ' Move text to the right 4 times
    Spi_Lcd8_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT)
    Move_Delay()
  next counter

  while TRUE                          ' Endless loop
    for counter = 0 to 6              ' Move text to the left 7 times
      Spi_Lcd8_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_LEFT)
      Move_Delay()
    next counter

    for counter = 0 to 6              ' Move text to the right 7 times
      Spi_Lcd8_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT)
      Move_Delay()
    next counter
  wend
end.

SPI Lcd8 HW connection

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