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graphic LCDs

A

Andrew R Mitz

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have used character-based LCDs for a number of embedded designs (e.g. 2
lines x 16 characters), but have never used a graphics LCD. There seem to
be two basic types, parallel and serial. I think I am interested in a
serial version. I don't want to do fancy windowing on the display. I
would like multiple fonts and perhaps a bar or line graph. The display
size should support the equivalent of 8 lines by 40 characters.
Questions:
1) Where do I find specs for the controllers used in these displays?
2) Can you suggest a display to start with (for learning).
3) Is there a good book or web site that provides programming information
and examples? My current favorite processor is a Rabbit, but I can read
almost any code.
4) Any suggestions, tricks, gotchas, that I should know about before I
start designing and programming with this type of display?

Thanks.
andy
[email protected]
 
M

Marcellus Pereira

Jan 1, 1970
0
C

Costas Vlachos

Jan 1, 1970
0
Andrew R Mitz said:
I have used character-based LCDs for a number of embedded designs (e.g. 2
lines x 16 characters), but have never used a graphics LCD. There seem to
be two basic types, parallel and serial. I think I am interested in a
serial version. I don't want to do fancy windowing on the display. I
would like multiple fonts and perhaps a bar or line graph. The display
size should support the equivalent of 8 lines by 40 characters.
Questions:
1) Where do I find specs for the controllers used in these displays?
2) Can you suggest a display to start with (for learning).
3) Is there a good book or web site that provides programming information
and examples? My current favorite processor is a Rabbit, but I can read
almost any code.
4) Any suggestions, tricks, gotchas, that I should know about before I
start designing and programming with this type of display?

Thanks.
andy
[email protected]



There are many different graphic LCDs that you can try. A popular controller
is the Seiko/Epson SED1335. It has built-in character generator (standard
5x7 fixed-width font) and can handle up to three graphics layers, which
helps with complex graphics. I've used it on a 240x128 pixels display with
no problems. Do a Google search for "SED1335" and you should be able to find
plenty of links and info. I think it has a parallel interface, but there are
other SEDs with serial. For example. the Nokia 7110 mobile phone uses the
SED1565 which has a serial interface. One thing to note, some LCDs come with
NO built-in controller, so make sure you get one that has.

Good luck.

Costas
 
C

Costas Vlachos

Jan 1, 1970
0
Robert Lacoste said:
As an alternative it is also possible, for some applications, to drive
directly a parallel-type graphics LCD WITHOUT any graphics controller chip
and even without any bitmap memory, with a well optimized bit-banging
firmware... I've used this technique for a project that won a prize in the
last Ciruit Cellar's contest (XY Plotter), you can have a look at it here :
http://www.circuitcellar.com/flash2002/honorable.htm

Cheers,

Robert Lacoste - ALCIOM : The mixed signals experts
http://www.alciom.com



Very smart, well done! I've done something similar a while ago with some
Planar 320x240 EL graphic display modules which had no controller or RAM.
These required the pixel data to be sent one bit at a time (like a serial
stream), and horizontal/vertical sync pulses too. I used a PIC, a dual-port
RAM, and some discrete logic, which I drove from the PIC's clock oscillator
so that they were all in sync. It was quite a challenge, worked fine. No
fancy graphics layers and character generators like the SED, but still a
very rewarding design experience.

Regards,
Costas
_________________________________________________
Costas Vlachos Email: [email protected]
SPAM-TRAPPED: Please remove "-X-" before replying
 
A

Andrew R Mitz

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have decided to try a Hantronix 240x64 pixel graphics LCD available from Mouser
Electronics. It uses the Toshiba T6963C controller. I have documentation and
some idea of the displays to generate, but no hands-on experience yet.
I will be using the Rabbit RCM2200 "RabbitCore" controller and matching
prototyping board. Anyone have sample code for driving the T6963C from a
Rabbit? The code examples I have seen so far should be good enough, but I
get the impression that (like character LCDs) nothing works untill the
initialization routine is operating properly.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions, emails, and links.

Andy




Costas Vlachos ([email protected]) wrote:
: : > As an alternative it is also possible, for some applications, to drive
: > directly a parallel-type graphics LCD WITHOUT any graphics controller chip
: > and even without any bitmap memory, with a well optimized bit-banging
: > firmware... I've used this technique for a project that won a prize in the
: > last Ciruit Cellar's contest (XY Plotter), you can have a look at it here
: :
: > http://www.circuitcellar.com/flash2002/honorable.htm
: >
: > Cheers,
: >
: > Robert Lacoste - ALCIOM : The mixed signals experts
: > http://www.alciom.com
:
:
:
: Very smart, well done! I've done something similar a while ago with some
: Planar 320x240 EL graphic display modules which had no controller or RAM.
: These required the pixel data to be sent one bit at a time (like a serial
: stream), and horizontal/vertical sync pulses too. I used a PIC, a dual-port
: RAM, and some discrete logic, which I drove from the PIC's clock oscillator
: so that they were all in sync. It was quite a challenge, worked fine. No
: fancy graphics layers and character generators like the SED, but still a
: very rewarding design experience.
:
: Regards,
: Costas
: _________________________________________________
: Costas Vlachos Email: [email protected]
: SPAM-TRAPPED: Please remove "-X-" before replying
:
:
 
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