dsPIC30F2010 4-bit HD44780 LCD in MikroC

Introduction 

The HD44780 character LCD controller still popular among micro-controller programmer today even in small electronic control projects. Currently there are a lot of Chinese equivalent LCD controller that is very low cost and low power.

 

MikroC LCD Example

It has 8-bit data bus with three control signal - Register Select (RS), Read or Write (R/W) and Enable (E). However it operate is a single 8-bit data transfer mode or 4-bit (two times) data transfer mode. Using its 4-bit data transfer mode is very common today. The 8-bit data is divided into two nibbles, higher nibble is transferred first and then the lower nibble.

 

A 16x4 HD44780 Character LCD

 

MikroC Programming for HD44780 and dsPIC30F2010 

MikroC for dsPIC has an LCD driver for HD44780 that operates in 4-bit data transfer mode with select-able control pins and data pins (D4:D7). The R/W pin must wires to GND as the master MCU only need to send commands or data.

 

MikroC LCD Example

It does not need a schematic as we can read and understand the C source codes.

 

Schematic Diagram

 

I don't need to write my codes due to time constraint. I use the MikroC LCD example in its library manual. There are some major routines in MikroC:

Library Routines

• Lcd_Init
• Lcd_Out
• Lcd_Out_Cp
• Lcd_Chr
• Lcd_Chr_Cp
• Lcd_Cmd

 

MikroC Source Code:

1. // LCD module connections
2. sbit LCD_RS at LATE0_bit;
3. sbit LCD_EN at LATE1_bit;
4. sbit LCD_D4 at LATE2_bit;
5. sbit LCD_D5 at LATE3_bit;
6. sbit LCD_D6 at LATE4_bit;
7. sbit LCD_D7 at LATE5_bit;
8. 
   
9. sbit LCD_RS_Direction at TRISE0_bit;
10. sbit LCD_EN_Direction at TRISE1_bit;
11. sbit LCD_D4_Direction at TRISE2_bit;
12. sbit LCD_D5_Direction at TRISE3_bit;
13. sbit LCD_D6_Direction at TRISE4_bit;
14. sbit LCD_D7_Direction at TRISE5_bit;
15. // End LCD module connections
16. 
    
17. char txt1[] = "mikroElektronika";
18. char txt2[] = "EasydsPIC4A";
19. char txt3[] = "Lcd4bit";
20. char txt4[] = "example";
21. 
    
22. char i; // Loop variable
23. 
    
24. void Move_Delay() { // Function used for text moving
25. Delay_ms(500); // You can change the moving speed here
26. }
27. 
    
28. void main(){
29. ADPCFG = 0xFFFF; // Configure AN pins as digital I/O
30. 
    
31. Lcd_Init(); // Initialize LCD
32. 
    
33. Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR); // Clear display
34. Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CURSOR_OFF); // Cursor off
35. Lcd_Out(1,6,txt3); // Write text in first row
36. 
    
37. Lcd_Out(2,6,txt4); // Write text in second row
38. Delay_ms(2000);
39. Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR); // Clear display
40. 
    
41. Lcd_Out(1,1,txt1); // Write text in first row
42. Lcd_Out(2,5,txt2); // Write text in second row
43. 
    
44. Delay_ms(2000);
45. 
    
46. // Moving text
47. for(i=0; i<4; i++) { // Move text to the right 4 times
48. Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT);
49. Move_Delay();
50. }
51. 
    
52. while(1) { // Endless loop
53. for(i=0; i<8; i++) { // Move text to the left 7 times
54. Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_LEFT);
55. Move_Delay();
56. }
57. 
    
58. for(i=0; i<8; i++) { // Move text to the right 7 times
59. Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT);
60. Move_Delay();
61. }
62. }
63. }