I searched around the forums, but failed to find the answer to my question:
What's the best LCD screen to use with the Arduino? I'd like a cheap one that doesn't use too many pins. The ones I have have over 20 pins each... so they won't work.
Thanks!
the best lcds are based on the HD44780 chip. These are the most widely avaiable ones and avaiable from a variety of manafacturers. Check ebay, you should eb abelt o get them for under 10 bux.
These screens do have 16 pins in them (14 without a backlight).
TO reduce the umber of pins you use you can use libraries like the LCD4Bit (around 6 pins I think), or get a backpack that will take serial or I2C signals and write to the LCD. These backpacks use 2 to 3 data pins on your arduino.
Moderndevice.com has a serial backpack. I haven't used his, but I've used the chip and code his backpack is based on.
The ordinary 'LiquidCrystal' library can work in 4-bit mode, too:
Any of the DOGM modules will work fine :
They are 4-wire, 5V and 3.3V compatible.
I need bigger but fewer digits, so I'm looking for a 2.5-3 digits numeric LCD display. Usually they come without a driver IC and has too many inputs to be directly controlled by the arduino.
(e.g. Lumex LCD-S2X1C50TF sorry I can not yet post a link here)
Can you suggest a circuit, or a web shop who sells a module like that? Also, my project would prefer an LCD/circuit running on 3.3V...
Thank you in advance,
g.
If you can deal with the extra few bucks, id say to go with the backpack for the LCD.
They really only use one pin of your arduino (plus 5v and ground) and all you have to do is write to it with standard serial output. It doesn't get much easier.
Recommended by the playground and myself.
Sparkfun also has a bigger range of LCDs and a backpack which is much much smaller but they cost more all round.
yep, I know the ones you have suggested. my issues are the following:
1, the letters are way smaller. it would have to be readable in a moving kayak... (in sunlight!)
2, the device still has to be small. so a 16x2 LCD already a gratuitous luxury I can not afford. (space wise!)
3, it has to be very-very low power and my guess is that these alfanumeric, multiple line LCD-s consume a slightly bit more power than 2-3 digit LCDs.
I'm looking for something rather easier to work with and willing to pay more, just that is matches my above requirements.
Ah, i see.
So you want a field effect LCD instead. Something like:
Im sure you already know about displays like this, it seems to be exactly what youre after, but you will need some additional hardware to make interfacing with it easy.
Unfortunatly, i dont know what magic chip will do this for you, you could use a 7 segment decoder chip (or two) i guess, but im sure there is a better solution that someone else knows about.
product 27977
Serial LCD +5, Com, Rxd
Serial LCDs are very convenient, but MUCH more expensive than their parallel conterparts. ($20+ vs $10, and that's not including the surplus parallel LCDs down in the $5 range.)
The original poster needs to be a bit more specific. Are you wanting ONE character mode LCD to experiment with, form factor and exact size unimportant? Or do you need a part number for something that can be bought in bulk eventually, with exact requirements for physical size, character size, backlight color, power consumption, and so on? Or like Greg, are you looking for some sort of large display with just a few 7-segment digits? Or a color graphics display?
A cheap 1x16 character LCD display with (apparently) standard controller but "awkward" mechanics is available from http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10730 (and has been for a long time; they must have a bunch!)
Similar 2x16 display here: http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G16081