ATMega32 interfaces to HD44780 Character LCD in 4-bit mode

Overview

In the previous post, I showed a 8-bit parallel port LCD interfacing with ATMega32 digital ports. However, as it's stated in the datasheet of HD44780, this controller could interface using only its four upper data bits (D4 to D7). 

x2

x1.5

x1

x0.5

00:00 / 00:00

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An example of using the LCD in 4-bit data lines.

In 4-bit data transfer mode, however the controller requires its full 8-bit instruction or LCD data. To send the 8-bit instruction or data, the connected MCU needs to send it twice. 

1. The MCU sends the high nibble first
2. Finally the lower nibble shift left for four times and send it to the LCD D7:4 pins.

Timing diagram for 4-bit interfacing mode

By following, the JHD162A the step-by-step 4-bit LCD interfacing configuration shown below.

Both data and instruction bytes send the controller is the same to one's in the 8-bit mode. But they are separated to send twice as described above.

LCD Interfacing And Programming In 4-bit Mode

Using Two Distinct Ports  

At this beginning example, I use two distinct port for LCD control pins and LCD data/instruction pins, respectively.

Schematic diagram for 4-bit LCD interfacing

The program display the time in days and HH:MM:SS since the MCU powered up. I fetch the source code from my GitHub gist respiratory below.

	/*
	* main.c
	*
	* Created: 8/31/2020 8:57:06 AM
	* Author : aki-technical
	*/
	#include <avr/io.h>
	#include <stdio.h>
	#define F_CPU 16000000UL
	#include <util/delay.h>
	#define lcdControl PORTC
	#define lcdData PORTD
	#define controlDir DDRC
	#define dataDir DDRD
	#define RS 0
	#define EN 1
	void lcdPortInit(void){
	/*PORTC and PORTD Are Output To LCD*/
	controlDir=0xFF;
	dataDir=0xFF;
	}
	void writeCommand(char command){
	//Set RS to 0
	lcdControl&=~(1<<RS);
	//Set EN to 1 to latch data
	lcdControl|=(1<<EN);
	//Put MSB Of The Command
	lcdData=command;
	//Clear EN to finish
	lcdControl&=~(1<<EN);
	_delay_us(50);
	//Set EN to 1 to latch data
	lcdControl|=(1<<EN);
	//Put LSB Of The Command
	lcdData=command<<4;
	//Clear EN to finish
	lcdControl&=~(1<<EN);
	_delay_ms(3);
	}
	void writeChararacter(char character){
	//Set RS to 1
	lcdControl|=(1<<RS);
	//Set EN to 1 to latch data
	lcdControl|=(1<<EN);
	//Put MSB Of The Character
	lcdData=character;
	//Clear EN to finish
	lcdControl&=~(1<<EN);
	_delay_us(50);
	//Set EN to 1 to latch data
	lcdControl|=(1<<EN);
	//Put LSB Of The Character
	lcdData=character<<4;
	//Clear EN to finish
	lcdControl&=~(1<<EN);
	_delay_ms(3);
	}
	void writeString(char *text){
	while(*text) writeChararacter(*text++);
	}
	/*This function ease of setting the cursor position*/
	void setXy(int x,int y){
	char numberOfLines[2]={0x80,0xC0};
	/* The position starts from (x,y)=(0,0) */
	writeCommand(numberOfLines[x]+y);
	}
	int main(void)
	{
	char cnt[16]="";
	char dayCnt=0,secondCnt=0,minuteCnt=0,hourCnt=0;
	/*Initialize the LCD PORT*/
	lcdPortInit();
	/*Writing the instructions
	4-bit mode, 2-line,5x8 dot*/
	writeCommand(0b00110011);
	writeCommand(0b00110010);
	writeCommand(0b00101000);
	writeCommand(0x01);
	/*Turn On Display, Cursor Off*/
	writeCommand(0b00001100);
	/*Cursor Shift in Increment Mode*/
	writeCommand(0b00000110);
	while (1)
	{
	secondCnt++;
	if(secondCnt>=60){
	secondCnt=0;
	minuteCnt++;
	}
	if (minuteCnt>=60)
	{
	minuteCnt=0;
	hourCnt++;
	}
	if (hourCnt>=24)
	{
	hourCnt=0;
	minuteCnt=0;
	secondCnt=0;
	}
	//Convert timeCnt to String
	sprintf(cnt,"%d days %d:%d:%d ",dayCnt,hourCnt,minuteCnt,secondCnt);
	//Select the upper right
	setXy(0,0);
	/*Writing the text to the display*/
	writeString("Running Time:");
	/*Select Second Line*/
	setXy(1,0);
	writeString(cnt);
	_delay_ms(1000);
	}
	}

view raw m32hd44780bit4Ex1.c hosted with ❤ by GitHub

The simulation shows 1 minute and 38 seconds since the MCU powered up.

Click here to download this example archive. 

Using A Single Port

We can use a single port for LCD interfacing in some situations. The overall process is the same. But we must select any control pins in the same port.

Using A Single Port - Here I use a 20x4 LCD.

Source code fetched from gist.

	/*
	* hd44780_4bit_Example_2.c
	*
	* Created: 8/31/2020 7:06:47 PM
	* Author : aki-technical
	*/
	#include <avr/io.h>
	#include <stdio.h>
	#define F_CPU 16000000UL
	#include <util/delay.h>
	#define lcdPort PORTD
	#define lcdDir DDRD
	#define RS 0
	#define E 1
	void lcdPortInit(void){
	//Only PORTD Is LCD Port
	lcdDir=0xFF;
	}
	void writeCommand(char command){
	lcdPort=(command&0xF0)|(1<<E);
	lcdPort=(command&0xF0);
	_delay_us(50);
	lcdPort=(command<<4)|(1<<E);
	lcdPort=(command<<4);
	_delay_ms(3);
	}
	void writeChararacter(char character){
	lcdPort=(character&0xF0)|(1<<E)|(1<<RS);
	lcdPort=(character&0xF0)|(1<<RS);
	_delay_us(50);
	lcdPort=(character<<4)|(1<<E)|(1<<RS);
	lcdPort=(character<<4)|(1<<RS);
	_delay_ms(3);
	}
	void writeString(char *text){
	while(*text) writeChararacter(*text++);
	}
	/*This function ease of setting the cursor position*/
	void setXy(int x,int y){
	/*Select A 40x4 LCD*/
	char numberOfLines[4]={0x80,0xC0,0x94,0xD4};
	/* The position starts from (x,y)=(0,0) */
	writeCommand(numberOfLines[x]+y);
	}
	int main(void)
	{
	char cnt[8];
	char dayCnt=0,secondCnt=0,minuteCnt=0,hourCnt=0;
	/*Initialize the LCD PORT*/
	lcdPortInit();
	/*Writing the instructions
	4-bit mode, 2-line,5x8 dot*/
	writeCommand(0b00110011);
	writeCommand(0b00110010);
	writeCommand(0b00101000);
	writeCommand(0x01);
	/*Turn On Display, Cursor Off*/
	writeCommand(0b00001100);
	/*Cursor Shift in Increment Mode*/
	writeCommand(0b00000110);
	while (1)
	{
	secondCnt++;
	if(secondCnt>=60){
	secondCnt=0;
	minuteCnt++;
	}
	if (minuteCnt>=60)
	{
	minuteCnt=0;
	hourCnt++;
	}
	if (hourCnt>=24)
	{
	hourCnt=0;
	minuteCnt=0;
	secondCnt=0;
	}
	//Convert HH:MM:SS To String
	sprintf(cnt,"%d:%d:%d ",hourCnt,minuteCnt,secondCnt);
	//Select the upper right
	setXy(0,0);
	/*Writing the time to LCD*/
	writeString("Powered Duration:");
	/*Select Second Line*/
	setXy(1,0);
	writeString(cnt);
	/*Convert days count to string*/
	sprintf(cnt,"%d days",dayCnt);
	/*Select Third Line*/
	setXy(2,0);
	writeString("Days Since Turned On:");
	/*Select Forth Line*/
	setXy(3,0);
	writeString(cnt);
	_delay_ms(1000);
	}
	}

view raw hd44780_4bit_Example_2.c hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Schematic Diagram For A Single Port Interfacing

Click here to download example archive. This character LCD can be driven by a serial to parallel shift registers. We can use these two chips - the SN74HC595 and the SN74HC164.