Optrex DMC20434: Anyone successful in using it?

system · September 27, 2012, 11:21pm

Hi,
I have a brand new Oprex DMC20434 LCD module, 20 characters X 4 lines, standard 14 pin interface, Hitachi HD44700A00, with four driver chips, which consist of two OKI M5259 and two unmarked, but same form factor as the OKIs, and am trying to use it with the 'Hello World' lcd example.

I have set up the LCD column and rows correctly ( lcd.begin(20, 4)

But when running, the entire display shows the same character, then it changes to another, and it keeps changing.

For example, it will show all pound character #, then 3, then D, S, c, etc.

Other LCDs that I have tried (16 x 1 and 16 x2 types with Hitachi and Samsung interface chips) have worked fine.
Am using a Mega 2560 R3 with these LCDs.

Has anyone used this type of display successfully with an Arduino?

floresta · September 28, 2012, 1:33pm

There's no reason why that display should not be working. Optrex DMC series displays have been around for decades. I have an Optrex data book dated October 1990 that lists your display.

Since your other displays work properly and since you can display something on this display then your software and basic setup are most likely correct.

You should start by looking at something that is different with this display and to me what comes to mind are the connections at the LCD.

Don

system · September 28, 2012, 10:57pm

Hi floresta, Thanks for your reply.
I have fixed the problem. It seems that the older Hitachi HD44700A00 chips were slower than newer versions.
I modified LiquidCrystal.cpp by increasing the delays between commands.
I hope that this helps others who may run into a rare, similar '‘slow’ LCD.
The date code on mine is 9885RI, so it was made in August 1998.

#include "LiquidCrystal.h"

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <inttypes.h>
#include "Arduino.h"

// When the display powers up, it is configured as follows:
//
// 1. Display clear
// 2. Function set: 
//    DL = 1; 8-bit interface data 
//    N = 0; 1-line display 
//    F = 0; 5x8 dot character font 
// 3. Display on/off control: 
//    D = 0; Display off 
//    C = 0; Cursor off 
//    B = 0; Blinking off 
// 4. Entry mode set: 
//    I/D = 1; Increment by 1 
//    S = 0; No shift 
//
// Note, however, that resetting the Arduino doesn't reset the LCD, so we
// can't assume that its in that state when a sketch starts (and the
// LiquidCrystal constructor is called).

LiquidCrystal::LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t rw, uint8_t enable,
			     uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3,
			     uint8_t d4, uint8_t d5, uint8_t d6, uint8_t d7)
{
  init(0, rs, rw, enable, d0, d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7);
}

LiquidCrystal::LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t enable,
			     uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3,
			     uint8_t d4, uint8_t d5, uint8_t d6, uint8_t d7)
{
  init(0, rs, 255, enable, d0, d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7);
}

LiquidCrystal::LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t rw, uint8_t enable,
			     uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3)
{
  init(1, rs, rw, enable, d0, d1, d2, d3, 0, 0, 0, 0);
}

LiquidCrystal::LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs,  uint8_t enable,
			     uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3)
{
  init(1, rs, 255, enable, d0, d1, d2, d3, 0, 0, 0, 0);
}

void LiquidCrystal::init(uint8_t fourbitmode, uint8_t rs, uint8_t rw, uint8_t enable,
			 uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3,
			 uint8_t d4, uint8_t d5, uint8_t d6, uint8_t d7)
{
  _rs_pin = rs;
  _rw_pin = rw;
  _enable_pin = enable;
  
  _data_pins[0] = d0;
  _data_pins[1] = d1;
  _data_pins[2] = d2;
  _data_pins[3] = d3; 
  _data_pins[4] = d4;
  _data_pins[5] = d5;
  _data_pins[6] = d6;
  _data_pins[7] = d7; 

  pinMode(_rs_pin, OUTPUT);
  // we can save 1 pin by not using RW. Indicate by passing 255 instead of pin#
  if (_rw_pin != 255) { 
    pinMode(_rw_pin, OUTPUT);
  }
  pinMode(_enable_pin, OUTPUT);
  
  if (fourbitmode)
    _displayfunction = LCD_4BITMODE | LCD_1LINE | LCD_5x8DOTS;
  else 
    _displayfunction = LCD_8BITMODE | LCD_1LINE | LCD_5x8DOTS;
  
  begin(16, 1);  
}

void LiquidCrystal::begin(uint8_t cols, uint8_t lines, uint8_t dotsize) {
  if (lines > 1) {
    _displayfunction |= LCD_2LINE;
  }
  _numlines = lines;
  _currline = 0;

  // for some 1 line displays you can select a 10 pixel high font
  if ((dotsize != 0) && (lines == 1)) {
    _displayfunction |= LCD_5x10DOTS;
  }

  // SEE PAGE 45/46 FOR INITIALIZATION SPECIFICATION!
  // according to datasheet, we need at least 40ms after power rises above 2.7V
  // before sending commands. Arduino can turn on way befer 4.5V so we'll wait 50
  delayMicroseconds(50000); 
  // Now we pull both RS and R/W low to begin commands
  digitalWrite(_rs_pin, LOW);
  digitalWrite(_enable_pin, LOW);
  if (_rw_pin != 255) { 
    digitalWrite(_rw_pin, LOW);
  }
  
  //put the LCD into 4 bit or 8 bit mode
  if (! (_displayfunction & LCD_8BITMODE)) {
    // this is according to the hitachi HD44780 datasheet
    // figure 24, pg 46

    // we start in 8bit mode, try to set 4 bit mode
    write4bits(0x03);
    delayMicroseconds(5500); // wait min 4.1ms

    // second try
    write4bits(0x03);
    delayMicroseconds(5500); // wait min 4.1ms
    
    // third go!
    write4bits(0x03); 
    delayMicroseconds(200);

    // finally, set to 4-bit interface
    write4bits(0x02); 
  } else {
    // this is according to the hitachi HD44780 datasheet
    // page 45 figure 23

    // Send function set command sequence
    command(LCD_FUNCTIONSET | _displayfunction);
    delayMicroseconds(5500);  // wait more than 4.1ms

    // second try
    command(LCD_FUNCTIONSET | _displayfunction);
    delayMicroseconds(200);

    // third go
    command(LCD_FUNCTIONSET | _displayfunction);
  }

  // finally, set # lines, font size, etc.
  command(LCD_FUNCTIONSET | _displayfunction);  

  // turn the display on with no cursor or blinking default
  _displaycontrol = LCD_DISPLAYON | LCD_CURSOROFF | LCD_BLINKOFF;  
  display();

  // clear it off
  clear();

  // Initialize to default text direction (for romance languages)
  _displaymode = LCD_ENTRYLEFT | LCD_ENTRYSHIFTDECREMENT;
  // set the entry mode
  command(LCD_ENTRYMODESET | _displaymode);

}

/********** high level commands, for the user! */
void LiquidCrystal::clear()
{
  command(LCD_CLEARDISPLAY);  // clear display, set cursor position to zero
  delayMicroseconds(5000);  // this command takes a long time!
}

void LiquidCrystal::home()
{
  command(LCD_RETURNHOME);  // set cursor position to zero
  delayMicroseconds(5000);  // this command takes a long time!
}

void LiquidCrystal::setCursor(uint8_t col, uint8_t row)
{
  int row_offsets[] = { 0x00, 0x40, 0x14, 0x54 };
  if ( row >= _numlines ) {
    row = _numlines-1;    // we count rows starting w/0
  }
  
  command(LCD_SETDDRAMADDR | (col + row_offsets[row]));
}

// Turn the display on/off (quickly)
void LiquidCrystal::noDisplay() {
  _displaycontrol &= ~LCD_DISPLAYON;
  command(LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | _displaycontrol);
}
void LiquidCrystal::display() {
  _displaycontrol |= LCD_DISPLAYON;
  command(LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | _displaycontrol);
}

// Turns the underline cursor on/off
void LiquidCrystal::noCursor() {
  _displaycontrol &= ~LCD_CURSORON;
  command(LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | _displaycontrol);
}
void LiquidCrystal::cursor() {
  _displaycontrol |= LCD_CURSORON;
  command(LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | _displaycontrol);
}

// Turn on and off the blinking cursor
void LiquidCrystal::noBlink() {
  _displaycontrol &= ~LCD_BLINKON;
  command(LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | _displaycontrol);
}
void LiquidCrystal::blink() {
  _displaycontrol |= LCD_BLINKON;
  command(LCD_DISPLAYCONTROL | _displaycontrol);
}

// These commands scroll the display without changing the RAM
void LiquidCrystal::scrollDisplayLeft(void) {
  command(LCD_CURSORSHIFT | LCD_DISPLAYMOVE | LCD_MOVELEFT);
}
void LiquidCrystal::scrollDisplayRight(void) {
  command(LCD_CURSORSHIFT | LCD_DISPLAYMOVE | LCD_MOVERIGHT);
}

// This is for text that flows Left to Right
void LiquidCrystal::leftToRight(void) {
  _displaymode |= LCD_ENTRYLEFT;
  command(LCD_ENTRYMODESET | _displaymode);
}

// This is for text that flows Right to Left
void LiquidCrystal::rightToLeft(void) {
  _displaymode &= ~LCD_ENTRYLEFT;
  command(LCD_ENTRYMODESET | _displaymode);
}

// This will 'right justify' text from the cursor
void LiquidCrystal::autoscroll(void) {
  _displaymode |= LCD_ENTRYSHIFTINCREMENT;
  command(LCD_ENTRYMODESET | _displaymode);
}

// This will 'left justify' text from the cursor
void LiquidCrystal::noAutoscroll(void) {
  _displaymode &= ~LCD_ENTRYSHIFTINCREMENT;
  command(LCD_ENTRYMODESET | _displaymode);
}

// Allows us to fill the first 8 CGRAM locations
// with custom characters
void LiquidCrystal::createChar(uint8_t location, uint8_t charmap[]) {
  location &= 0x7; // we only have 8 locations 0-7
  command(LCD_SETCGRAMADDR | (location << 3));
  for (int i=0; i<8; i++) {
    write(charmap[i]);
  }
}

/*********** mid level commands, for sending data/cmds */

inline void LiquidCrystal::command(uint8_t value) {
  send(value, LOW);
}

inline size_t LiquidCrystal::write(uint8_t value) {
  send(value, HIGH);
  return 1; // assume sucess
}

/************ low level data pushing commands **********/

// write either command or data, with automatic 4/8-bit selection
void LiquidCrystal::send(uint8_t value, uint8_t mode) {
  digitalWrite(_rs_pin, mode);

  // if there is a RW pin indicated, set it low to Write
  if (_rw_pin != 255) { 
    digitalWrite(_rw_pin, LOW);
  }
  
  if (_displayfunction & LCD_8BITMODE) {
    write8bits(value); 
  } else {
    write4bits(value>>4);
    write4bits(value);
  }
}

void LiquidCrystal::pulseEnable(void) {
  digitalWrite(_enable_pin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(1);    
  digitalWrite(_enable_pin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(1);    // enable pulse must be >450ns
  digitalWrite(_enable_pin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(100);   // commands need > 37us to settle
}

void LiquidCrystal::write4bits(uint8_t value) {
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    pinMode(_data_pins[i], OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(_data_pins[i], (value >> i) & 0x01);
  }

  pulseEnable();
}

void LiquidCrystal::write8bits(uint8_t value) {
  for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
    pinMode(_data_pins[i], OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(_data_pins[i], (value >> i) & 0x01);
  }
  
  pulseEnable();
}

floresta · September 29, 2012, 12:23am

It seems that the older Hitachi HD44700A00 chips were slower than newer versions.

I have found at least one timing parameter in the DMC manual that is worse than those shown on the more or less 'standard' Hitachi HD44780U datasheet on which the LiquidCrystal library delays are based. The minimum cycle time (between Enable pulses) specified in the Optrex data book is 1000nSec whereas the later Hitachi data sheet shows 500nSec.

The date code on mine is 9885RI, so it was made in August 1998.

Mine, which are probably 10 years older, have a different form of date code. Several are '0H3' and others are '6M3' '0C1', and '4K18'.

Don

acheide · December 8, 2013, 1:46am

Hi floresta,
Would your Optrex data book have a listing for a DMC50264N display? If so, would you be able to forward that info to me.
Thanks,
Abraham

floresta · December 8, 2013, 2:49am

acheide:
Would your Optrex data book have a listing for a DMC50264N display? If so, would you be able to forward that info to me.

Sorry Abraham, there's nothing higher than the DMC40401N series.

Don

mcs51mc · August 5, 2016, 11:39am

Digging up old posts - OR - Keeping everything together: Your choice!

Anyway, thanks a lot for this timing issue, I’ll try it asap.
I have an Optrex with manufacturing code September ’89.

Please note that I got it to work in 4 bit mode but NOT in 8 bit mode.

Curious if this solves my problem too… …

floresta · August 5, 2016, 2:48pm

@mcs51mc

I guess by now you have seen my suggestions in the thread that you started after posting this.

Don

mcs51mc · August 6, 2016, 4:20pm

In my case it was a hardware problem, full story HERE

system · May 6, 2021, 3:23am