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RE: using character LCD as display.

yes.  For example:
http://www.rentron.com/Products/Serial_LCD_Backpack.htm

but you can also purchase some which are ready made for serial interface
from matrixorbital.com
or crystalfontz.com

On Wed, 19 Mar 2003, Jeremy wrote:

> ok gotcha, but my next question is can I
> configure linux to use a Character display
> say on a serial port... by default?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Empey, P.Eng. [mailto:]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 11:28 AM
> To: 
> Subject: Re: using character LCD as display.
>
>
> Character displays have a parallel interface (they all use clones of a
> Hitachi controller developed 20+ years ago).
>
> You can use 8 or 4 data bits, there is one address line (command/data)
> one direction line (read/write) And a data strobe.
>
> It is VERY easy to interface these to a printer port.
> The READ function is only used to poll the busy status, so you can tie
> it to WRITE mode, use only 4 data bits, and connect the address/register
> line to another data line.
> Thus, with 5 data lines and the printer STROBE going to the LCD STROBE
> you have connected the LCD to any device with a parallel printer
> interface.
> Just be sure to add a delay between characters since you can't read the
> busy signal.
>
> I did this back in the 80's ... probably have the code on 5" floppy
> somewhere........
>
> Any device with serial or USB has an additional circuit board in there
> for translating (which will add to the cost).
> A 2x16 large character (1/2") STN with backlight and wide-temp range
> should cost you US$10- or less in low volume (under 1k pieces).
> A similar display in TN, normal temp, no BL is about U$5.50
> (STN LCD is higher contrast than TN -- [super-]twisted nematic liquid
> crystal display)
>
> Brian
>
> PS: NO, you cannot connect your VGA signal to a character display.
> Sorry.
>
> Asher wrote:
> >
> > "Jeremy" wrote:
> > >Has anyone out there used a Character LCD as a display.
> > >
> > >Anyway I was looking at something like:
> > >http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/lcd4041.htm
> > >could be put in a project box and strapped to my arm for
> > >travel.
> >
> > I've used some similiar displays from Scott Edwards Electronics [1] for
> > projects at work and they work well.
> >
> > >I do a lot of hiking and am working on a hiking website...
> > >just thought a wearable could help me take notes and
> > >keep track of way points, etc etc.
> > >
> > >the LCD has a serial interface... anyone ever concert
> > >VGA to serial?
> >
> > This'd be really tricky, you'd need a system running OCR software
> > looking at the VGA video! Far easier to design your user interface
> > device so that it can be hung off a standard serial port - the serial
> > display can be directly connected, and it's pretty trivial to make a
> > simple keyboard that can transmit serial data. Then you'd just need a
> > suitably tweaked termcap entry and getty or similar running on the
> > serial port.
> >
> > Asher.
> >
> > [1] http://www.seetron.com/
> >
> > --
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> --
>
> Brian
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>   Brian Empey, P. Eng.
>       President
>
> Technical Solutions Inc.
> Unit #1 7157 Honeyman St
> Delta BC Canada, V4G 1E2
>      www.techsol.ca
>
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