4.1.

7 LCD (Liquid crystal display)

LCD displays designed around LCD module are inexpensive, easy to use, and it is even
possible to produce a read out using 16 character*2 lines, 8x10 pixels of the display. Hitachi
LCD display have a standard ASCII set of characters plus Japanese, Greek, and mathematical
symbols.

Fig 4.14 LCD

For an 8 bit bus, the display requires a +5v supply plus 11 I/O lines. For a 4bit data bus
it only requires the supply line plus seven extra lines. When the LCD display is not enabled, data
lines are in tri-state which means they are in static of high impedance and this means they do not
interface with the operation of ARM when the display is not being addressed.

The LCD requires 3 control lines from the ARM. The enable line (E) allows access to the
display through R/W and RS lines. When this line is low, the LCD is disabling and ignores
signals from R/W and RS. When (E) line is high, the LCD checks the state of the two control
lines and responds accordingly. The R/W determines the direction of data between LCD and
ARM.

When it is low, data is written to the LCD. When it is high, data is read from the LCD.
With the help of the register select (RS) line, the LCD interprets the type of data on data lines.
When it is low, an instruction is being written to the LCD. When it is high, a character is being
written to the LCD.

Displays for a small number of individual digits and/or fixed symbols (as in digital
watches, pocket calculators etc.) can be implemented with independent electrodes for each
segment. In contrast full alphanumeric and/or variable graphics displays are usually implemented
with pixels arranged as a matrix consisting of electrically connected rows on one side of the LC
layer and columns on the other side, which makes it possible to address each pixel at the
intersections. The general method of matrix addressing consists of sequentially addressing one
side of the matrix.

LCDs are more energy efficient and offer safer disposal than CRTs. Its low electrical
power consumption enables it to be used in battery-powered electronic equipment. It is an
electronically modulated optical device made up of any number of segments filled with liquid
crystals and arrayed in front of a light source (backlight) or reflector to produce images in color
or monochrome. The most flexible ones use an array of small pixels. The earliest discovery
leading to the development of LCD technology, the discovery of liquid crystals, dates from
1888.[2] By 2008, worldwide sales of televisions with LCD screens had surpassed the sale of
CRT units.

4.1.7.1 Technical Specification

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video
display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals (LCs). LCs does not emit light
directly.

LCDs are used in a wide range of applications, including computer monitors, television,
instrument panels, aircraft cockpit displays, signage, etc. They are common in consumer devices
such as video players, gaming devices, clocks, watches, calculators, and telephones. LCDs have
replaced cathode ray tube (CRT) displays in most applications. They are available in a wider
range of screen sizes than CRT and plasma displays, and since they do not use phosphors, they
cannot suffer image burn-in. LCDs are, however, susceptible to image persistence. [1]
 The surfaces of the electrodes that are in contact with the liquid crystal material are
treated so as to align the liquid crystal molecules in a particular direction. This treatment
typically consists of a thin polymer layer that is unidirectional rubbed using, for example, a cloth.

The direction of the liquid crystal alignment is then defined by the direction of rubbing.
Electrodes are made of a transparent conductor called Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The Liquid
Crystal Display is intrinsically a passive device; it is a simple light valve. The managing and
control of the data to be displayed is performed by one or more circuits commonly denoted
as LCD drivers.

Fig 4.15 Technical specification of LCD

Before applying an electric field, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is
determined by the alignment at the surfaces of electrodes. In a twisted nematic device (still the
most common liquid crystal device), the surface alignment directions at the two electrodes are
perpendicular to each other, and so the molecules arrange themselves in a helical structure, or
twist. This induces the rotation of the polarization of the incident light, and the device
appears grey. If the applied voltage is large enough, the liquid crystal molecules in the center of
the layer are almost completely untwisted and the polarization of the incident light is not rotated
as it passes through the liquid crystal layer. This light will then be mainly
polarized perpendicular to the second filter, and thus be blocked and the pixel will appear black.
By controlling the voltage applied across the liquid crystal layer in each pixel, light can be
allowed to pass through in varying amounts thus constituting different levels of gray.

The optical effect of a twisted nematic device in the voltage-on state is far less dependent
on variations in the device thickness than that in the voltage-off state. Because of this, these
devices are usually operated between crossed polarizers such that they appear bright with no
voltage (the eye is much more sensitive to variations in the dark state than the bright state).
These devices can also be operated between parallel polarizers, in which case the bright and dark
states are reversed. The voltage-off dark state in this configuration appears blotchy, however,
because of small variations of thickness across the device.

Both the liquid crystal material and the alignment layer material contain ionic compounds.
If an electric field of one particular polarity is applied for a long period of time, this ionic
material is attracted to the surfaces and degrades the device performance. This is avoided either
by applying an alternating current or by reversing the polarity of the electric field as the device is
addressed (the response of the liquid crystal layer is identical, regardless of the polarity of the
applied field).

4.1.7.2 Features

5 8 and 5 10 dot matrix possible.

Low power operation support 2.7 to 5.5V.
Wide range of liquid crystal display driver power.
Liquid crystal drives waveform.
A (One line frequency AC waveform).
Correspond to high speed MPU bus interface.
4-bit or 8-bit MPU interface enabled.
80 8-bit display RAM (80 characters max.).
Automatic reset circuit that initializes the controller/driver after power on.
Internal oscillator with external resistors.
Low power consumption.
4.1.7.3 GENERAL EXPLANATION

We have to prepare an LCD properly before the character we need, has to be displayed. For this
a number of commands have to be provided to the LCD before inputting the required data.

RS- Register Select

There are 2 very important registers in LCD

Command Code register

Data Register

If RS=0 Instruction command Code register is selected, allowing user to send command

RS=1 Data register is selected allowing to send data that has to be displayed.

R\W- Read\Write

R\W input allows the user to write information to LCD or read information from it. How do we
read data from LCD????? The data that is being currently displayed will be stored in a buffer
memory DDRAM. This data could be read if necessary.

If R\W=1 Reading

R\W=0 Writing

E- Enable

The enable Pin is used by the LCD to latch information at its data pins. When data is supplied to
data pins, a high to low pulse must be applied to this pin in order for the LCD to latch the data
present in the data pins.

E Toggle.

Data Bus- D0-D7.

VDD-Power 5V.
Vss- GND.

VEE- LCD Contrast Adjustment.