So i got a 40x4 off ebay...

MikeHunt79 · 06-25-2003, 06:14 AM

I've wired up 16x2 character lcd's fine before, but this lcd is wierd. I hoped to wire it up using the following diagram, since this LCD has HD44780 controllers:

But, when I opened the box, I found some wierd daughterboard attached, which looked like a parallel to serial adaptor. It looked homemade, and the only two chips on it were a MAX232 and a PIC16C54. Once I got the daughterboard off, I then went to solder everything like the diagram above, except I could see that the pin coniguration was not the same. Heres a picture:

Pin 1 is the 1st pin on the left of the lcd, and I think it is meant to be ground since you can see the trace is connected to the LCD mounting point. Yet if you look at the wiring disgram above, you can see that pin 1 on the LCD is meant to be DB7, a data line. Also, pin 6 on the LCD appears to be not connected to anything on the LCD. There are no traces to the pin on either side of the PCB.

I have absolutely no info on this LCD, it appears to be manufactured by "UFC", since thier logo is on it.

By thier logo, "UFC101" and "94V0" is written. I've tried searching for datasheets based on these model numbers (?), but with no luck. I've also tried asking the e-bay seller, but he hasn`t replied yet.

I've even tried to find a site detailing how to build that daughterboard thing, so I could find how it was connected to the lcd, and determine the pinout.

I was wondering if anyone has encountered this LCD before (the e-bay seller has sold more than one), or does anyone here know how to see what pin does what by looking at the traces on the LCD? Maybe someone knows of some big LCD datasheet database that I don`t know about?

Rob Withey · 06-25-2003, 07:01 AM

If you can't find a datasheet on the display, I suggest tracing the tracks to find out what some of the pins are.

Datasheet on the 44780 : http://draco.rotol.ramk.fi/~crope/el...sheet/HD44780/

Rob

MikeHunt79 · 06-25-2003, 08:38 AM

Cheers rob, thats exactly the sort of thing I was after...

Even tho my display has HD44780A00 controllers and not HD44780U controllers, the pinout is apparently the same. With any luck I should have this damn thing working by tonight!

MikeHunt79 · 06-25-2003, 05:07 PM

After spending most of the day soldering.... I got it going! I managed to work all but one of the pins out, but the process of elimination soon sorted it.

At the moment, I can only get lcdprint.exe to use the whole display. Both MPXPLAY and markus' winamp plug-in refuse to work properly... but I should be able to sort it with time.

Also, I'm not sure why the display seems so streaky?... I`m not sure of the age of this display, but I`m sure I should be getting better quality than the pic above. Has anyone else had similar results to this?

peter3 · 06-25-2003, 05:30 PM

With the plugin from markus:

start winamp
press ctrl-p
select general purpose
highlite LC Display XXXXXXX
press configure
select display type (HD44780 win9x or win nt )
press configure
and select 8bit and 2 controller and the rest

and this will do the trick

good luck with this great plug-in

davesaudio2 · 06-25-2003, 08:24 PM

so did you end up with non standard wiring?
does the smearing go away when you reduce the contrast?

Rob Withey · 06-26-2003, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeHunt79
Also, I'm not sure why the display seems so streaky?... I`m not sure of the age of this display, but I`m sure I should be getting better quality than the pic above. Has anyone else had similar results to this?

I think LCD displays go like that when they get old. I've got a very old monochrome laptop that has gone streaky in a similar way.

Rob

MikeHunt79 · 06-26-2003, 06:08 AM

peter3: I tried all of that, with no luck... I`m gonna check my wiring again, and see then. I`m not too worried about winamp use at the moment, this is gonna be for MPXplay. I managed to find the latest version today, and apparently it has better support for 4x40 LCD's, so I`m gonna have a go at it today. Thanx for the tips tho.

Quote:

Originally posted by davesaudio2
so did you end up with non standard wiring?
does the smearing go away when you reduce the contrast?

Yep, I did end up with non-standard for this LCD. I might aswell post a pinout incase anyone has the same problem in the future, or I ever loose my sheet of paper with it on.

LCD Pin 1: Vss (GND)
LCD Pin 2: Vcc (5V)
LCD Pin 3: Vee/Vlc
LCD Pin 4: RS
LCD Pin 5: R/W
LCD Pin 6: Not Connected
LCD Pin 7: DB0
LCD Pin 8: DB1
LCD Pin 9: DB2
LCD Pin 10: DB3
LCD Pin 11: DB4
LCD Pin 12: DB5
LCD Pin 13: DB6
LCD Pin 14: DB7
LCD Pin 15: E1
LCD Pin 16: E2

The point you raised about contrast... Well, I didn`t bother with the 10k pot, I simply wired pin3 to ground (full contrast). So, sometime today, I`m gonna put in a 10k pot for the contrast, and see if I can get rid of the streaky problem. Thanx for the idea davesaudio2.

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob Withey
I think LCD displays go like that when they get old. I've got a very old monochrome laptop that has gone streaky in a similar way.

Was the laptop STN? I'm really hoping this isn`t the case, and I can sort this thing... Otherwise I`m gonna have to start searching for another 40x4... And it would have to be after spending all this time getting it going wouldn`t it.

MikeHunt79 · 06-26-2003, 08:51 AM

The contrast pot sorted it right out. The streakyness was because I had the contrast set to full. I backed it off a bit, and now it looks perfect. Also with a bit of tinkering, I got it going with Markus' Winamp Plugin. Heres a pic:

Thanx for all your help guys - I wouldn't have managed it without you. I should be able to get this in the car today, then I should be able to post some pics in the "show of your project" forum.

theedge · 06-28-2003, 09:13 PM

Where are you mounting it in your car? Could you get some pics of it as youre sitting normally in the drivers seat please?

Im thinking of doing a 5.6" lcd + 20x4 or 40x4 character setup, with the character display mounted in my field of view. Im just curious as to how readable it is from a distance

MikeHunt79 · 06-29-2003, 05:53 AM

I`d say it's perfectly readable... No complaints at all.

I mounted it were my headunit used to go... it seems like an ideal location really.

Anyway, the pics. I took them yesterday, when it was pretty sunny. For some reason, the camera seems to pick up the reflection on the LCD pretty well, it looks a lot less reflective in real life. Here they are.

theedge · 07-01-2003, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the pics!

Does yours have a backlight? Hows the night visibility? Assuming youve used it at night

MikeHunt79 · 07-02-2003, 04:43 PM

No problem.

It does have a backlight, but you only ever notice it at night. It looks fine at night, perfectly readable.

Infact the pics of the LCD in this thread when it was out the car were taken when it was pretty dark, if I remember correctly.

toadster123 · 03-02-2004, 03:12 PM

I know this thread is old... but i am having a problem similar to mikehunt79's...

I too have 4x40 lcd (Kl SN102 94V-0)... and i tried connected it with the diagram above (first post) minus pins 17 and 18 and the 10k pot...

However i have a backlight...and there are two pins on the opposite side of the 16 pins that i have not connected....

Do i need to connect the backlight up???? For the contrast i just connected pin 12->13...which is suppose to set it at max or something i believe..

here is a quick MSpaint diagram of what the back of the lcd looks like -
http://www.patmedia.net/daveoskin1/lcd-diagram.JPG

also.. if i do try to connect the backlight...is there anyway i can do it without the pots???

peter3 · 03-02-2004, 04:01 PM

12->13 will set it to max or to Min don't know for sure.
But i believe that it is better to use the 10K and set it at about 75%.
You should see some bloks if you look at the lcd.(mine whas the firts row)

And you don't have to use the backlight if you don't whant to.
The ones you "highlighted"in your drawing are the ones for the backlight.
The one marked with the + is pin 17. the one with - is pin 18.