LCD2041
Technical Manual
Revision: 2.0
Contents
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 What to Expect From the LCD2041 . .
1.2 What Not to Expect From the LCD2041
1.3 Setup for Testing . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4 Trying out the LCD2041 . . . . . . . .
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2 Connections
2.1 Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1.1 Power Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1.2 Five Volt Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1.3 Wide Voltage Range Modules . . . . . . . .
2.1.4 Applying Power through the DB-9 Connector
2.2 RS-232 Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2.1 DB9 Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2.2 Alternate Serial Connection . . . . . . . . .
2.2.3 TTL communications . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2.4 Configuring RS-232 and I
2
C . . . . . . . .
2.3 I
2
C Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.3.1 ACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.4 General Purpose Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 Displaying Text
3.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2 The built in Character Font . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.3 Writing Text to the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.4 Text Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.4.1 Auto line wrap on (254 67) . . . . . . . .
3.4.2 Auto line wrap off (254 68) . . . . . . . .
3.4.3 Auto scroll on (254 81) . . . . . . . . . .
3.4.4 Auto scroll off (254 82) . . . . . . . . . .
3.4.5 Set cursor position (254 71 [column] [row])
3.4.6 Send cursor home (254 72) . . . . . . . . .
3.4.7 Turn on underline cursor (254 74) . . . . .
3.4.8 Turn off underline cursor (254 75) . . . . .
3.4.9 Turn on block (blinking) cursor (254 83) .
3.4.10 Turn off block (blinking) cursor (254 84) .
3.4.11 Cursor left (254 76) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.4.12 Cursor right (254 77) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Matrix Orbital
LCD2041
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4 Bar Graphs and Special Characters
4.1 Command List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1.1 Initialize wide vertical bar graph (254 118) . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1.2 Initialize narrow vertical bar graph (254 115) . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1.3 Draw vertical bar graph (254 61 [column] [height]) . . . . . . . .
4.1.4 Initialize horizontal bar graph (254 104) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1.5 Draw horizontal bar graph (254 124 [column] [row] [dir] [length])
4.1.6 Initialize large digits (254 110) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1.7 Place large digit 254 35 [col] [digit] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.1.8 Define custom character (254 78 [c] [8 bytes]) . . . . . . . . . .
5 Miscellaneous Commands
5.1 Command List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.1.1 Clear display (254 88) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.1.2 Set contrast (254 80 [contrast]) . . . . . . . . .
5.1.3 Backlight on (254 66 [minutes]) . . . . . . . .
5.1.4 Backlight off (254 70) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.1.5 General purpose output off (254 86) . . . . . .
5.1.6 Set backlight brightness (254 153 [brightness])
5.1.7 General purpose output on (254 87) . . . . . .
5.1.8 Read module type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 Appendix; Command Summary
6.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.2 Issuing Commands . . . . . . . .
6.3 On Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.3.1 ASCII Characters . . . . .
6.4 Text Commands . . . . . . . . . .
6.5 Bar Graphs and Special Characters
6.6 Miscellaneous Commands . . . .
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7 Appendix: Specifications
7.1 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.2 Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 Appendix: Glossary
Matrix Orbital
LCD2041
iii
1 Introduction
The LCD2041 comes equipped with the following features;
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20 column by 4 line text display
Built in font with provision for up to 8 user defined characters
Speeds from 1200 bps to a lighting fast 19.2 Kbps over RS-232
Communication over RS-232 or I
2
C
Software controlled contrast
Backlight with configurable time out setting up to 180 minutes
One general purpose output for a variety of applications
Horizontal or Vertical bar graphs
Variable power options, +5V or +8V to +15V
Extended temperature option
Fits Matrix Orbital’s Dual PC Bay insert without any modifications
1.1 What to Expect From the LCD2041
The LCD2041 is designed as the display unit for an associated controller. The controller may be anything
from a single board, special purpose micro-controller to a PC, depending on the application. This controller
is responsible for what is displayed on the screen of the display.
The display provides a simple command structure to allow text and bar graphs to be displayed on the
screen. Text fonts are built in, and use standard ASCII mapping. Provision is made for up to 8 user defined
characters.
The screen is backlit for low light situations. Backlighting may be turned on or off under program
control. Contrast is adjustable to compensate for differing lighting conditions and viewing angles.
A general purpose output allows the controller to switch an electronic or electro-mechanical device by
issuing commands to the display unit. This can be used for controlling LEDs, relays, etc.
1.2 What Not to Expect From the LCD2041
The display does not include bitmap graphics capability, except that permitted by defining special char-
acters. The display does not include a keypad interface.
1.3 Setup for Testing
Before setting up the application the user may want to try out the display. This is easily done with a PC.
If not equipped with a dual bay PC mounting kit, the following will be required;
•
A 4-pin power connector of the type used to connect 3.5” floppy drive. Take care not to connect the
display to an unmodified spare power connector in a PC
•
A spare RS-232 port. (Either COM1 or COM2)
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A 5V power supply.
For wide voltage models, an 8 - 15 V supply will be required
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A 9 or 25 pin RS-232 serial cable. If using a 25 conductor cable, a 9 to 25 pin adapter will be required
Matrix Orbital
LCD2041
1
Figure 1: Connections for Testing
1. Refer to the Figure above for the following steps.
2. Wire the connector to the power supply. On most connectors the RED lead will go to +5V and the
BLACK lead to GND.
NOTE
The Manufacturer’s Warranty becomes void if the unit is subjected to over-voltage
or reversed polarity.
3. Connect the display to the PC using the serial cable and adapter if required. Make sure the RS-232
cable includes the required ground lead. There must be no voltage differential between the RS-232
ground and the power supply ground.
4. Connect the power connector, making sure that the +5V goes to V+ . Turn on the power; the display
backlight should come on and a blinking cursor at the top left should appear.
1.4 Trying out the LCD2041
The unit should be connected to power and the PC and backlight should be on. To experiment with
typing text, run a PC program such as Display Tuner or AlphaDemo. Make sure it’s configured to use the
correct port. Set the baud rate to 19,200.
To exercise some of the other features of the display, a program (in any convenient language such as
Basic or C) will need to be written in order to issue the required command strings. Most terminal programs
are unable to issue the 0xFE character needed as a command prefix.
2 Connections
2.1 Connector Pinout
Refer to the Figure below for this chapter.
Matrix Orbital
LCD2041
2