Large font, problems clearing display

system · May 11, 2013, 3:36am

Good day folks. I need a hand just finishing up my code for a 16x2 display that is displaying large fonts. I have it displaying 0-360 for a analog pot input. It works mostly except for clearing off the display for the "1" I notice. It still displays pieces of the old numbers. It is working except for that.
I would like a suggestion or a code edit to make it display cleanly.

Have a look and see what you think.

Thanks!!

const int analogInPin = A0;  // Analog input pin that the potentiometer is attached to

int sensorValue = 0;        // value read from the pot
int outputValue = 0; // value output to the PWM (analog out)
//char outputValueChar[5];
int hundreds;
int tens;
int ones;
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);


// the 8 arrays that form each segment of the custom numbers
byte LT[8] = 
{
  B00111,
  B01111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111
};
byte UB[8] =
{
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000
};
byte RT[8] =
{
  B11100,
  B11110,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111
};
byte LL[8] =
{
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B01111,
  B00111
};
byte LB[8] =
{
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111
};
byte LR[8] =
{
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11110,
  B11100
};
byte UMB[8] =
{
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B11111,
  B11111
};
byte LMB[8] =
{
  B11111,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B00000,
  B11111,
  B11111,
  B11111
};

// loop counter
int x = 0;


void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  // assignes each segment a write number
  lcd.createChar(0,LT);
  lcd.createChar(1,UB);
  lcd.createChar(2,RT);
  lcd.createChar(3,LL);
  lcd.createChar(4,LB);
  lcd.createChar(5,LR);
  lcd.createChar(6,UMB);
  lcd.createChar(7,LMB);
  
 
  // sets the LCD's rows and colums:
  lcd.begin(16, 2);
        
}

void custom0()
{ // uses segments to build the number 0
  lcd.setCursor(x, 0); // set cursor to column 0, line 0 (first row)
  lcd.write((byte)0);  // call each segment to create
  lcd.write(1);  // top half of the number
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x, 1); // set cursor to colum 0, line 1 (second row)
  lcd.write(3);  // call each segment to create
  lcd.write(4);  // bottom half of the number
  lcd.write(5);
}

void custom1()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write(1);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x+1,1);
  lcd.write(5);
}

void custom2()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x, 1);
  lcd.write(3);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(7);
}

void custom3()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x, 1);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(5); 
}

void custom4()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write(3);
  lcd.write(4);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x+2, 1);
  lcd.write(5);
}

void custom5()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write((byte)0);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.setCursor(x, 1);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(5);
}

void custom6()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write((byte)0);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.setCursor(x, 1);
  lcd.write(3);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(5);
}

void custom7()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write(1);
  lcd.write(1);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x+1, 1);
  lcd.write((byte)0);
}

void custom8()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write((byte)0);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x, 1);
  lcd.write(3);
  lcd.write(7);
  lcd.write(5);
}

void custom9()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write((byte)0);
  lcd.write(6);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x+2, 1);
  lcd.write(5);
}


  


void loop() {
  // read the analog in value:
  sensorValue = analogRead(analogInPin);            
  // map it to the range of the analog out:
  outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 360);  
  
  // print the results to the serial monitor:
  Serial.print("sensor = " );                       
  Serial.print(sensorValue);      
  Serial.print("\t output = ");      
  Serial.println(outputValue);
  
  String stringOne =  String(outputValue);  
  // prints the value of outputValue 
  //Serial.print("Output value string is ");
  //Serial.println(stringOne);
  x=0;
  hundreds = outputValue /100;
  //Serial.print(hundreds);
  delay(500);
  
  switch (hundreds) {
    case 3:
      lcd.print("    ");
      custom3();
      break;
  
  case 2:
    lcd.print("    ");
    custom2();
    break;
 
  case 1:
   lcd.print("    ");
   custom1();
   break;
   
  case 0:
  lcd.print("   ");
  custom0();
  break;
   
  }
  
  tens=outputValue /10;
  tens=tens%10;
  //Serial.println(tens);
  
  switch (tens) {
    case 9:
      x=x+3;
      lcd.print("   ");
      custom9();
      break;
      
     case 8:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom8();
     break;
     
     case 7:
     x=x+2;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom7();
     break;
     
     case 6:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom6();
     break;
     
     case 5:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom5();
     break;
     
     case 4:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom4();
     break;
     
     case 3:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom3();
     break;
     
     case 2:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom2();
     break;
     
     case 1:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom1();
     break;
     
     if (outputValue<10)
     {
     //case 0:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom0();
     break;
     } 

    case 0:
    x=x+3;
    lcd.print("   ");
    custom0();
    break;    
  }
  
  ones=outputValue%10;
  //ones=ones%100;
 // Serial.println(ones);
  
    switch (ones) {
    case 9:
      x=x+3;
      lcd.print("   ");
      custom9();
      break;
      
     case 8:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom8();
     break;
     
     case 7:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom7();
     break;
     
     case 6:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom6();
     break;
     
     case 5:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom5();
     break;
     
     case 4:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom4();
     break;
     
     case 3:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom3();
     break;
     
     case 2:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom2();
     break;
     
     case 1:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom1();
     break;
     
     case 0:
     x=x+3;
     lcd.print("   ");
     custom0();
     break;
    
    }
 /*
  delay(500);
  lcd.setCursor(0,1);  
  lcd.print(outputValue); */
  //delay(300);
  //lcd.clear();
  
  if (outputValue < 100)
    {
      x=0;
      lcd.print("   ");
    }
 
  // wait 2 milliseconds before the next loop
  // for the analog-to-digital converter to settle
  // after the last reading:
  //delay(10);   

  
}

MAS3 · May 11, 2013, 8:53am

When you're printing, you erase by sending " "(4 spaces).
This way you are clearing one line.
I'm guessing your characters are 2 lines high.
In that case you would also need to clear the second line, and i don't see that happening.
So the bottom part of your characters aren't erased.

Also, i wouldn't erase and then call your printing routine.
I would put the erasing part inside the printing routine.
All characters are equally wide, so you know where to put an empty space just as well as where to put a filled space.
Just edit the printing of your characters to also include the empty space, by sending a space instead of not sending anything and leaving whatever is there to stay.

system · May 11, 2013, 12:56pm

Thanks MAS3, I tried that and it didn't work at all. The characters didn't print at all. Hmmm I put it in where it prints the characters like this,

void custom1()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write("   ");
  lcd.write(1);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x+1,1);
  lcd.write("   ");
  lcd.write(5);
}

and it stopped printing them. I thought it would just clear them as well.
If use the lcd.clear it erases it too fast to make the characters legible, or it's too slow and it blinks.

Anyone have any ideas please?

MAS3 · May 11, 2013, 1:02pm

Ehm.
After clearing, you need to go back to where you wanted to print.
So try this:

void custom1()
{
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);
  lcd.write("   ");       //Erasing
  lcd.setCursor(x,0);     //Reset cursor
  lcd.write(1);
  lcd.write(2);
  lcd.setCursor(x+1,1);
  lcd.write("   ");        //Erasing
  lcd.setCursor(x+1,1);    //Reset cursor
  lcd.write(5);
}

system · May 13, 2013, 8:40pm

Thanks MAS3 I'll give it a go.

Topic		Replies	Views
LCD Large Font Help Programming Questions	12	3721	May 5, 2021
Program help LCD 16x2 Programming Questions	14	3722	May 5, 2021
Large Font Help Syntax & Programs	5	1415	May 6, 2021
Large fonts with I2C interface to 1602 LCD Displays	2	4424	May 6, 2021
Weird values using a Potentiometer Programming Questions	5	339	September 14, 2023

Large font, problems clearing display

Related Topics