Lesson 16 – Working with an LCD Display (LCD1602)
Booting up the Raspberry Pi
- This section assumes that you have read through “Lesson 0 – Setup” and have a working Raspberry Pi you can connect to remotely using SSH or VNC.
- If that’s not the case please head back to “Lesson 0 – Setup” and work through the instructions provided.
- Let’s now get started and boot up the Raspberry Pi.
- Grab a good quality USB cable and a USB power adaptor (2.5A).
- Plug one end of the USB cable into the plug and the other microUSB end into the Raspberry Pi.
- This should now power up the Raspberry Pi.
- Once the Raspberry Pi has booted up, please ensure that it is able to connect it to the network so that you can access it over VNC.
- If you are using a local monitor connected to the Raspberry Pi, you are all sorted.
- Else get connected to the Raspberry Pi using VNC.
Let’s Get Started
- Our next tutorial is called, “Working with an LCD Display (LCD1602)”.
- We will start off this tutorial by first putting together the circuit using a breadboard.
- Components required for this circuit include –
- 1 * Raspberry Pi
- 1 * Breadboard
- 1 * T-Extension Board
- 1 * LCD1602
- 1 * Potentiometer
- 1 * T-Extension Board
- 1 * 40-Pin GPIO Cable
- Jumper wires
- The below diagram provides a view of what the circuit should look like.
- Click on the following <Link> to open up the tutorial.
- Step through the instructions provided and put together the circuit.
- Once you have put together the circuit, open up the python editor and start writing your code.
PLEASE NOTE – Please make sure you have disconnected your breadboard from the Raspberry Pi before commencing build of the circuit. Once you have put the circuit together, get someone around you to review the circuit and confirm that the connections are proper before you proceed and power up the breadboard.
Let’s Write Some Python Code
Open up the Thonny editor on your Raspberry Pi and let’s start putting together some code……
#!/usr/bin/env python
from time import sleep
class LCD:
# commands
LCD_CLEARDISPLAY = 0x01
LCD_RETURNHOME = 0x02
LCD_ENTRYMODESET = 0x04
LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL = 0x08
LCD_CURSORSHIFT = 0x10
LCD_FUNCTIONSET = 0x20
LCD_SETCGRAMADDR = 0x40
LCD_SETDDRAMADDR = 0x80
# flags for display entry mode
LCD_ENTRYRIGHT = 0x00
LCD_ENTRYLEFT = 0x02
LCD_ENTRYSHIFTINCREMENT = 0x01
LCD_ENTRYSHIFTDECREMENT = 0x00
# flags for display on/off control
LCD_DISPLAYON = 0x04
LCD_DISPLAYOFF = 0x00
LCD_CURSORON = 0x02
LCD_CURSOROFF = 0x00
LCD_BLINKON = 0x01
LCD_BLINKOFF = 0x00
# flags for display/cursor shift
LCD_DISPLAYMOVE = 0x08
LCD_CURSORMOVE = 0x00
# flags for display/cursor shift
LCD_DISPLAYMOVE = 0x08
LCD_CURSORMOVE = 0x00
LCD_MOVERIGHT = 0x04
LCD_MOVELEFT = 0x00
# flags for function set
LCD_8BITMODE = 0x10
LCD_4BITMODE = 0x00
LCD_2LINE = 0x08
LCD_1LINE = 0x00
LCD_5x10DOTS = 0x04
LCD_5x8DOTS = 0x00
def __init__(self, pin_rs=27, pin_e=22, pins_db=[25, 24, 23, 18], GPIO = None):
# Emulate the old behavior of using RPi.GPIO if we haven't been given
# an explicit GPIO interface to use
if not GPIO:
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
self.GPIO = GPIO
self.pin_rs = pin_rs
self.pin_e = pin_e
self.pins_db = pins_db
self.used_gpio = self.pins_db[:]
self.used_gpio.append(pin_e)
self.used_gpio.append(pin_rs)
self.GPIO.setwarnings(False)
self.GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
self.GPIO.setup(self.pin_e, GPIO.OUT)
self.GPIO.setup(self.pin_rs, GPIO.OUT)
for pin in self.pins_db:
self.GPIO.setup(pin, GPIO.OUT)
self.write4bits(0x33) # initialization
self.write4bits(0x32) # initialization
self.write4bits(0x28) # 2 line 5x7 matrix
self.write4bits(0x0C) # turn cursor off 0x0E to enable cursor
self.write4bits(0x06) # shift cursor right
self.displaycontrol = self.LCD_DISPLAYON | self.LCD_CURSOROFF | self.LCD_BLINKOFF
self.displayfunction = self.LCD_4BITMODE | self.LCD_1LINE | self.LCD_5x8DOTS
self.displayfunction |= self.LCD_2LINE
""" Initialize to default text direction (for romance languages) """
self.displaymode = self.LCD_ENTRYLEFT | self.LCD_ENTRYSHIFTDECREMENT
self.write4bits(self.LCD_ENTRYMODESET | self.displaymode) # set the entry mode
self.clear()
def begin(self, cols, lines):
if (lines > 1):
self.numlines = lines
self.displayfunction |= self.LCD_2LINE
self.currline = 0
def home(self):
self.write4bits(self.LCD_RETURNHOME) # set cursor position to zero
self.delayMicroseconds(3000) # this command takes a long time!
def clear(self):
self.write4bits(self.LCD_CLEARDISPLAY) # command to clear display
self.delayMicroseconds(3000) # 3000 microsecond sleep, clearing the display takes a long time
def setCursor(self, col, row):
self.row_offsets = [ 0x00, 0x40, 0x14, 0x54 ]
if ( row > self.numlines ):
row = self.numlines - 1 # we count rows starting w/0
self.write4bits(self.LCD_SETDDRAMADDR | (col + self.row_offsets[row]))
def noDisplay(self):
# Turn the display off (quickly)
self.displaycontrol &= ~self.LCD_DISPLAYON
self.write4bits(self.LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | self.displaycontrol)
def display(self):
# Turn the display on (quickly)
self.displaycontrol |= self.LCD_DISPLAYON
self.write4bits(self.LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | self.displaycontrol)
def noCursor(self):
# Turns the underline cursor on/off
self.displaycontrol &= ~self.LCD_CURSORON
self.write4bits(self.LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | self.displaycontrol)
def cursor(self):
# Cursor On
self.displaycontrol |= self.LCD_CURSORON
self.write4bits(self.LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | self.displaycontrol)
def noBlink(self):
# Turn on and off the blinking cursor
self.displaycontrol &= ~self.LCD_BLINKON
self.write4bits(self.LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | self.displaycontrol)
def noBlink(self):
# Turn on and off the blinking cursor
self.displaycontrol &= ~self.LCD_BLINKON
self.write4bits(self.LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | self.displaycontrol)
def DisplayLeft(self):
# These commands scroll the display without changing the RAM
self.write4bits(self.LCD_CURSORSHIFT | self.LCD_DISPLAYMOVE | self.LCD_MOVELEFT)
def scrollDisplayRight(self):
# These commands scroll the display without changing the RAM
self.write4bits(self.LCD_CURSORSHIFT | self.LCD_DISPLAYMOVE | self.LCD_MOVERIGHT);
def leftToRight(self):
# This is for text that flows Left to Right
self.displaymode |= self.LCD_ENTRYLEFT
self.write4bits(self.LCD_ENTRYMODESET | self.displaymode);
def rightToLeft(self):
# This is for text that flows Right to Left
self.displaymode &= ~self.LCD_ENTRYLEFT
self.write4bits(self.LCD_ENTRYMODESET | self.displaymode)
def autoscroll(self):
# This will 'right justify' text from the cursor
self.displaymode |= self.LCD_ENTRYSHIFTINCREMENT
self.write4bits(self.LCD_ENTRYMODESET | self.displaymode)
def noAutoscroll(self):
# This will 'left justify' text from the cursor
self.displaymode &= ~self.LCD_ENTRYSHIFTINCREMENT
self.write4bits(self.LCD_ENTRYMODESET | self.displaymode)
def write4bits(self, bits, char_mode=False):
# Send command to LCD
self.delayMicroseconds(1000) # 1000 microsecond sleep
bits=bin(bits)[2:].zfill(8)
self.GPIO.output(self.pin_rs, char_mode)
for pin in self.pins_db:
self.GPIO.output(pin, False)
for i in range(4):
if bits[i] == "1":
self.GPIO.output(self.pins_db[::-1][i], True)
self.pulseEnable()
for pin in self.pins_db:
self.GPIO.output(pin, False)
for i in range(4,8):
if bits[i] == "1":
self.GPIO.output(self.pins_db[::-1][i-4], True)
self.pulseEnable()
def delayMicroseconds(self, microseconds):
seconds = microseconds / float(1000000) # divide microseconds by 1 million for seconds
sleep(seconds)
def pulseEnable(self):
self.GPIO.output(self.pin_e, False)
self.delayMicroseconds(1) # 1 microsecond pause - enable pulse must be > 450ns
self.GPIO.output(self.pin_e, True)
self.delayMicroseconds(1) # 1 microsecond pause - enable pulse must be > 450ns
self.GPIO.output(self.pin_e, False)
self.delayMicroseconds(1) # commands need > 37us to settle
def message(self, text):
# Send string to LCD. Newline wraps to second line
print "message: %s"%text
for char in text:
if char == '\n':
self.write4bits(0xC0) # next line
else:
self.write4bits(ord(char),True)
def destroy(self):
print "clean up used_gpio"
self.GPIO.cleanup(self.used_gpio)
def print_msg():
print ("========================================")
print ("| LCD1602 |")
print ("| ------------------------------ |")
print ("| D4 connect to BCM25 |")
print ("| D5 connect to BCM24 |")
print ("| D6 connect to BCM23 |")
print ("| D7 connect to BCM18 |")
print ("| RS connect to BCM27 |")
print ("| CE connect to bcm22 |")
print ("| RW connect to GND |")
print ("| |")
print ("| Control LCD1602 |")
print ("| |")
print ("| SunFounder|")
print ("========================================\n")
print 'Program is running...'
print 'Please press Ctrl+C to end the program...'
raw_input ("Press Enter to begin\n")
def main():
global lcd
print_msg()
lcd = LCD()
line0 = " sunfounder.com"
line1 = "---SUNFOUNDER---"
lcd.clear()
lcd.message("Welcome to --->\n sunfounder.com")
sleep(3)
msg = "%s\n%s" % (line0, line1)
while True:
lcd.begin(0, 2)
lcd.clear()
for i in range(0, len(line0)):
lcd.setCursor(i, 0)
lcd.message(line0[i])
sleep(0.1)
for i in range(0, len(line1)):
lcd.setCursor(i, 1)
lcd.message(line1[i])
sleep(0.1)
sleep(1)
if __name__ == '__main__':
try:
main()
except KeyboardInterrupt:
lcd.clear()
lcd.destroy()
About the Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers developed in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools and in developing countries. It is a capable little computer which can be used in electronics projects, and for many of the things that your desktop PC does, like spreadsheets, word processing, browsing the internet, and playing games. The original model became far more popular than anticipated, selling outside its target market for uses such as robotics.
The Raspberry Pi does not include peripherals (such as keyboards, mice and cases). However, some accessories have been included in several official and unofficial bundles. According to the Raspberry Pi Foundation, over 5 million Raspberry Pis were sold by February 2015, making it the best-selling British computer. By November 2016 they had sold 11 million units, and 12.5m by March 2017, making it the third best-selling “general purpose computer”. In July 2017, sales reached nearly 15 million.In March 2018, sales reached 19 million. Most Pis are made in a Sony factory in Pencoed, Wales; some are made in China or Japan.
You can read more about the Raspberry Pi here – RaspberryPi.org.
Prerequisites
- This development track is based on the Rasbperry Pi and the SunFounder Super Starter Kit v3.0 for the Raspberry Pi.
- You will need access to both the Raspberry Pi 3 B and the electronics components part of the SunFounder Super Starter Kit v3.0 for the Raspberry Pi kit to be able to work on these tutorials.
- If you haven’t purchased the Raspberry Pi 3 B yet please head over to our store and purchase one now. You can pick up the SunFounder Super Starter Kit v3.0 for the Raspberry Pi from SunFounder’s website.
- Depending on where you live you might also be able to pick up the Raspberry Pi and SunFounder Super Starter Kit v3.0 for the Raspberry Pi at your local electronics hobby store.
- You can read more about the Raspberry Pi here – RaspberryPi.org.