How to display text on 16x2 LCD using PIC18F4550 Microcontroller- (Part 6/25)

Several automated and semi-automated devices require a message to be displayed in order to indicate their working status. In continuation to LCD interfacing with PIC18F4550, this article explains how to display a message or string on a 16x2 character LCD.

Programming steps:

· Configure the LCD.

· Store a string in a character array.

unsigned char data[20]=“EngineersGarage”;

· Run a loop till the loop counter encounters the null character ‘’ of the string.

· Use lcddata() function to send individual character values of the string to be displayed on LCD.

Code:

while(data[i]!=’’)
    {
        lcddata(data[i]);
        i++;
        Delay_ms(300);
    }

Project Source Code

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// Program to display text on 16x2 LCD using PIC18F4550 Microcontroller

// Configuration bits
/* _CPUDIV_OSC1_PLL2_1L,  // Divide clock by 2
   _FOSC_HS_1H,           // Select High Speed (HS) oscillator
   _WDT_OFF_2H,           // Watchdog Timer off
   MCLRE_ON_3H            // Master Clear on
*/

//LCD Control pins
#define rs LATA.F0
#define rw LATA.F1
#define en LATA.F2

//LCD Data pins
#define lcdport LATB

void lcd_ini();
void lcdcmd(unsigned char);
void lcddata(unsigned char);
unsigned char data[20]="EngineersGarage";
unsigned int i=0;

void main(void)
{
	TRISA=0;		// Configure Port A as output port
	LATA=0;
	TRISB=0;		// Configure Port B as output port
	LATB=0;
	lcd_ini();		// LCD initialization
	while(data[i]!='')
	{
		lcddata(data[i]);	// Call lcddata function to send characters
					// one by one from "data" array
		i++;
		Delay_ms(300);
	}

}
void lcd_ini()
{
	lcdcmd(0x38);		// Configure the LCD in 8-bit mode, 2 line and 5x7 font
	lcdcmd(0x0C);		// Display On and Cursor Off
	lcdcmd(0x01);		// Clear display screen
	lcdcmd(0x06);		// Increment cursor
	lcdcmd(0x80);		// Set cursor position to 1st line, 1st column
}

void lcdcmd(unsigned char cmdout)
{
	lcdport=cmdout;		//Send command to lcdport=PORTB
	rs=0;						
	rw=0;
	en=1;
	Delay_ms(10);
	en=0;
}

void lcddata(unsigned char dataout)
{
	lcdport=dataout;	//Send data to lcdport=PORTB
	rs=1;
	rw=0;
	en=1;
	Delay_ms(10);
	en=0;
}

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