Educational Boosterpack - LCD Issue

On the LCD side, while it seems to be an SPI connection, usually somw more signals are required for proper operation. This includes the reset line and maybe even command/data selector signal. In too many cases, teh so-called SPI was jsut a serialized parallel input and all other signals of the parallel mdoe where still required.

Also, keep an eye on the timings. Such as minimum resetsignal time, minimum delay between reset and first command etc. LCD controllers are the worst examples I've ever seen for implementing simple standards like SPI.

Hello,

I too purchased the Educational BoosterPack (BP-EDUC-01, Rev A2) primarily for the display and to learn more about the MSP430 and C coding.  I was surprised that there are very few software examples, and no LCD examples.  What does Circuitco use to test these units?  I have experience in writing assemble for Microchip micros but the MSP430, C code, SPI, and Energia are all new to me.  Using Energia, I copied the LCD Initialization Example Program from the Newhaven Display datasheet (NHD-C0216CZ-NSW-BBW-3V3) and had no luck getting it to work.  I added several time delays and still had no indication of anything from the LCD other than the backlight working.  The next day, I connected my logic analyzer and all the signals looked great.  I tried setting the contrast at both extremes and yet no response on the LCD.  Today I moved the logic analyzer probes directly to the LCD contacts and when I plugged the USB in, the LCD immediately display characters.

I suspect bad/cold solder joints and will inspect and touchup later using solder with real lead.  As I could not find any example LCD software, here is my Energia code.

/*
    Educational BoosterPack LCD test using Newhaven Display example SW
    Danny Whitson,  2013-01-25
*/
   
int whiteledPin = 13;                 // LED connected to digital pin 13
int RS = 11;                          // Register Select
int SI = 15;                          // Serial data Input
int SCL = 7;                          // Serial data CLock
int serialcounter = 0;
int charcounter = 0;

void setup() {                        // initialize the LCD
  pinMode(whiteledPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RS, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(SI, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(SCL, OUTPUT);
  delay(10);
  writecom(0x30);                     // wake up
  // delay(1);
  writecom(0x30);                     // wake up
  writecom(0x30);                     // wake up
  writecom(0x39);                     // function set
  writecom(0x14);                     // internal osc frequency
  writecom(0x70);                     // contrast 
  writecom(0x56);                     // power control
  writecom(0x6D);                     // follower control
  delay(10);
  writecom(0x0C);                     // display on
  writecom(0x01);                     // clear
  delay(5); 
  writecom(0x06);                     // entry mode
  delay(10);
}

void loop() {
  for(charcounter = 16; charcounter <= 256; charcounter++) {
  digitalWrite(whiteledPin, HIGH);    // set the LED on
  delay(1);                           // wait 1%
  writedata(charcounter);             // print the char
  digitalWrite(whiteledPin, LOW);     // set the LED on
  delay(99);                          // wait 99%
  }
}

void writecom(int d) {
  digitalWrite(RS, LOW);              // A0 = Command
  for(serialcounter = 1; serialcounter <= 8; serialcounter++) {  // send 8 bits
  if((d&0x80)==0x80)                  // get only the Most Significant Bit (MSB)
    digitalWrite(SI, HIGH);           // if 1, then SI=1
  else
    digitalWrite(SI, LOW);            // if 0, then SI=0
    d=(d<<1);                         // shift data byte left
    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);
    digitalWrite(SCL, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);           // SCL
  }
}

void writedata(int d) {
  digitalWrite(RS, HIGH);             // A0 = Data
  for(serialcounter = 1; serialcounter <= 8; serialcounter++) {  // send 8 bits
  if((d&0x80)==0x80)                  // get only the Most Significant Bit (MSB)
    digitalWrite(SI, HIGH);           // if 1, then SI=1
  else
    digitalWrite(SI, LOW);            // if 0, then SI=0
    d=(d<<1);                         // shift data byte left
    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);
    digitalWrite(SCL, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);           // SCL
  }
}

Danny Whitson said:

int whiteledPin = 13;                 // LED connected to digital pin 13
int RS = 11;                          // Register Select
int SI = 15;                          // Serial data Input
int SCL = 7;                          // Serial data CLock

 Hi Danny, these var are constant so better coding can be using define or const clause example:

const int RS = 11;                          // Register Select

or

// Register Select

#define RS 11

 define is a preprocessor clause so string is substituted by, const tell the compiler to store the variable to flash or directly value to code. Probably optimization produce same code but it is more clean use constant to avoid future issue.

Hey,

Thanks for the help, as I am new to C programming and Energia!  In assembly you just bit bang by setting and clearing bits which is fairly easy for simple tasks.  However, not that easy if you need to read a serial temperature sensor like the DS18S20 in degrees C and convert to degrees F and the temperature is below freezing.  I am still working throught the Arduino terms like Shield, Sketch, Fork, Commit, and Blame.  On the C side, I did add "const" to the code as these are indeed constants that don't change and not variables.

Thanks again for you help, I appreciate it!

Hi guys,

Danny Whitson I copied your code made a couple of quick modifications and got it working:

You may have to press the reset button to start seeing characters.

Thank you so much for making the code available.  I was not able to find anything from circuitco and started to get disappointed about this boosterpack deal.  Now I am off to try other things:

Here is your code with the modifications:

/*

    Educational BoosterPack LCD test using Newhaven Display example SW

    Danny Whitson,  2013-01-25

*/

const int whiteledPin = 13;                 // LED connected to digital pin 13 ** changed to constant Mantoles 01/30/13

const int RS = 11;                          // Register Select               ** changed to constant Mantoles 01/30/13

int SI = 15;                          // Serial data Input

int SCL = 7;                          // Serial data CLock

int serialcounter = 0;

int charcounter = 0;

void setup() {                        // initialize the LCD

  pinMode(whiteledPin, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(RS, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(SI, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(SCL, OUTPUT);

  delay(10);

  writecom(0x30);                     // wake up

  delay(1);                           //added delay back.  Mantoles 01/30/13

  writecom(0x30);                     // wake up

  writecom(0x30);                     // wake up

  writecom(0x39);                     // function set

  writecom(0x14);                     // internal osc frequency

  writecom(0x70);                     // contrast 

  writecom(0x56);                     // power control

  writecom(0x6D);                     // follower control

  delay(10);

  writecom(0x0C);                     // display on

  writecom(0x01);                     // clear

  delay(5); 

  writecom(0x06);                     // entry mode

  delay(10);

}

void loop()

{

  for(charcounter = 16; charcounter <= 256; charcounter++)

  {

  digitalWrite(whiteledPin, HIGH);    // set the LED on

  delay(1);                           // wait 1%

  writedata(charcounter);             // print the char

  digitalWrite(whiteledPin, LOW);     // set the LED on

  delay(99);                          // wait 99%

  }

}

void writecom(int d)

{

  digitalWrite(RS, LOW);              // A0 = Command

  for(serialcounter = 1; serialcounter <= 8; serialcounter++) {  // send 8 bits

  if((d&0x80)==0x80)                  // get only the Most Significant Bit (MSB)

    digitalWrite(SI, HIGH);           // if 1, then SI=1

  else

    digitalWrite(SI, LOW);            // if 0, then SI=0

    d=(d<<1);                         // shift data byte left

    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);

    digitalWrite(SCL, HIGH);

    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);           // SCL

  }

}

void writedata(int d)

{

  digitalWrite(RS, HIGH);             // A0 = Data

  for(serialcounter = 1; serialcounter <= 8; serialcounter++) {  // send 8 bits

  if((d&0x80)==0x80)                  // get only the Most Significant Bit (MSB)

    digitalWrite(SI, HIGH);           // if 1, then SI=1

  else

    digitalWrite(SI, LOW);            // if 0, then SI=0

    d=(d<<1);                         // shift data byte left

    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);

    digitalWrite(SCL, HIGH);

    digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);           // SCL

  }

}

Okay, I have now added a couple of custom LCD characters.  These get loaded into the first two of eight user defined character positions in CGRAM using the following code which replaces the original "void Setup (void)" code.  Note that the bit patterns are shown in binary so the degree symbol and C (degree symbol and F) are seen.

void setup() {                        // initialize the LCD
  pinMode(whtled, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RS, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(SI, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(SCL, OUTPUT);
  delay(10);
  writecom(0x30);                        // wake up
  delay(1);
  writecom(0x30);                        // wake up
  writecom(0x30);                        // wake up
  writecom(0x39);                        // function set, IS=1
  writecom(0x14);                        // internal osc frequency
  writecom(0x70);                        // contrast 
  writecom(0x56);                        // power control
  writecom(0x6D);                        // follower control
  delay(10);
  writecom(0x0C);                        // display on

  writecom(0x38);                        // function set, IS=0
  writecom(0x80);                        // set DDRAM addr = 0
  writecom(0x40);                        // set CGRAM addr = 0
  writedata(0b00001000);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00010100);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00001000);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000111);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000100);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000100);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000100);                  // write bit pattern 
  writedata(0b00000111);                  // write bit pattern 

  writecom(0x38);                        // function set, IS=0
  writecom(0x80);                        // set DDRAM addr = 0
  writecom(0x48);                        // set CGRAM addr = 1
  writedata(0b00001000);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00010100);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00001000);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000111);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000100);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000110);                  // write bit pattern
  writedata(0b00000100);                  // write bit pattern 
  writedata(0b00000100);                  // write bit pattern 

  writecom(0x01);                        // clear
  delay(1);  
  writecom(0x06);                        // entry mode
}

I am now off to get the MTK3339 GPS to work.  Hyperterm shows that the NMEA data is on COM17 and Earth Bridge only allows selecting COM1 - COM16.

Please find a library for the Energia IDE at http://embeddedcomputing.weebly.com/educational-boosterpack.html with three examples.

The Educational Boosterpack (BP-EDUC-01) is missing the CSB connection to the LCD display.  The ST7032 controller (buried in the Booster Pack's LCD) is reset only during power-up.  Especially during code development, the ST7032 can easily get out of frame rendering it unable to recognize data.  Add a jumper wire between the CSB pin and a spare pin on J1-3.  Toggling the MSP430's P1.1 during a byte transfer will cause positive registration every byte, and the display works fine.

Larry

I got the lcd program from Danny Whitson to work on the v 1.4 2231 chip.

I used two proto boards. one for each row of pins.

Connected all pins on booster pack to equivalent pins on launchpad except RS and Led

I connected the RS pin 11 on booster to pin 14 on old version 1.4 launchpad.

Changed energia sketch to reflect that pin change.

Characters cycle and led flash!!!

/*

   Educational BoosterPack LCD test using Newhaven Display example SW

   Danny Whitson,  2013-01-25
   Modfied By Tim Mathis--Changed RS and LED connection to work with launchpad v1.4 2231 chip
*/

const int whiteledPin = 6;                 // LED connected to digital pin 13 ( pin 6 on v1.4 launchpad)

const int RS = 14;                          // Register Select ( pin 11 on booster to pin 14 on launchpad

const int SI = 15;                          // Serial data Input

const int SCL = 7;                          // Serial data CLock

int serialcounter = 0;

int charcounter = 0;

void setup() {                        // initialize the LCD

 pinMode(whiteledPin, OUTPUT);

 pinMode(RS, OUTPUT);

 pinMode(SI, OUTPUT);

 pinMode(SCL, OUTPUT);

 delay(10);

 writecom(0x30);                     // wake up

 // delay(1);

 writecom(0x30);                     // wake up

 writecom(0x30);                     // wake up

 writecom(0x39);                     // function set

 writecom(0x14);                     // internal osc frequency

 writecom(0x70);                     // contrast  

 writecom(0x56);                     // power control

 writecom(0x6D);                     // follower control

 delay(10);

 writecom(0x0C);                     // display on

 writecom(0x01);                     // clear

 delay(5);  

 writecom(0x06);                     // entry mode

 delay(10);

}

void loop() {

 for(charcounter = 16; charcounter <= 256; charcounter++) {

 digitalWrite(whiteledPin, HIGH);    // set the LED on

 delay(1);                           // wait 1%

 writedata(charcounter);             // print the char

 digitalWrite(whiteledPin, LOW);     // set the LED on

 delay(99);                          // wait 99%

 }

}

void writecom(int d) {

 digitalWrite(RS, LOW);              // A0 = Command

 for(serialcounter = 1; serialcounter <= 8; serialcounter++) {  // send 8 bits

 if((d&0x80)==0x80)                  // get only the Most Significant Bit (MSB)

   digitalWrite(SI, HIGH);           // if 1, then SI=1

 else

   digitalWrite(SI, LOW);            // if 0, then SI=0

   d=(d<<1);                         // shift data byte left

   digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);

   digitalWrite(SCL, HIGH);

   digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);           // SCL

 }

}

void writedata(int d) {

 digitalWrite(RS, HIGH);             // A0 = Data

 for(serialcounter = 1; serialcounter <= 8; serialcounter++) {  // send 8 bits

 if((d&0x80)==0x80)                  // get only the Most Significant Bit (MSB)

   digitalWrite(SI, HIGH);           // if 1, then SI=1

 else

   digitalWrite(SI, LOW);            // if 0, then SI=0

   d=(d<<1);                         // shift data byte left

   digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);

   digitalWrite(SCL, HIGH);

   digitalWrite(SCL, LOW);           // SCL

 }

}