Hello,
I have virtually unlimited access to these LCDs. When looking at various LCD tutorials, I notice they usually refer to different pin labels than on this LCD. For example, it may say pin D1 from the LCD to pin "X" on the arduino. Can I assume D1 would be the same as pin DB1 on mine? When looking at the datasheet for this lcd, what are some of the key points I need to look at? Or are there any tutorials for generic LCD use, identification, how to read the datasheet, etc.? Or should i stick to LED's until I have those mastered and leave the LCDs until I have more general knowledge?
LCD http://www.orientlcd.com/product_p/amc2002cr-b-g6wfdw-sp.htm
Datasheet http://www.comet.bg/datasheets/LCD/OD-AMC2002CR-B-B6WTDW.pdf
Which tutorial? Provide a link so someone can check whether D1 is DB1 or else. I guess it is but it's just a guess. Give this display a try with the HD44780 tutorial of your choice and good luck! (again I'm not expert on this but some google searches hints they are compatible).
Can I assume D1 would be the same as pin DB1 on mine?
Yes.
That looks like a generic character mode LCD. The ones with 14 or 16 pins in a single row are a bit more convenient to use in a breadboard but other than the physical implementation you can use either the Arduino tutorial at http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/LiquidCrystal or the more complete Adafruit tutorial at Arduino Tutorial - connecting a parallel LCD. You should also get a copy of the Hitachi datasheet which is more or less the holy grail for these LCDs. Here's one source http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/HD44780.pdf.
When looking at the datasheet for this lcd, what are some of the key points I need to look at?
If you are using a library such as LiquidCrystal then the only things you really need from the datasheet are the pinouts and the information needed to calculate the series dropping resistor for the backlight. If you are writing your own code then you also need the instruction set, the timing diagrams, the initialization sequence, etc.
Don
[Edit] I see that one of the 'features' of your device is a 'Wide Temperature Range'. Unfortunately this may mean that you need a negative voltage supply to use with your potentiometer circuit (to pin 3). If you have trouble getting the contrast to work then this is the first thing I would check.
Thanks for the input. After trying the Adafruit tutorial it worked as I hoped. But with the dual rows of pins, it's a pain to breadboard. Can't complain too much about free i guess...
Thanks again for the assistance
a_m_922:
Thanks for the input. After trying the Adafruit tutorial it worked as I hoped. But with the dual rows of pins, it's a pain to breadboard. Can't complain too much about free i guess...
Thanks again for the assistance
You can use a 40-wire 40-connector IDE hard drive cable for connection but be careful NOT to use the 80-wire 40-connector cables:
Or you can find some male/female jumper wires so you can connect the display to your breadboard and from there to arduino.