Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!rex!ukma!vlsi!ulkyvx.bitnet!meharp01
From: meharp01@ulkyvx.bitnet
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Favorite LCD display?
Message-ID: <1991Mar4.131814.874@ulkyvx.bitnet>
Date: 4 Mar 91 13:18:14 GMT
References: <1267@soleil.UUCP> <1991Mar4.044845.18652@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU> <1991Mar4.143802.18640@spool.cs.wisc.edu>
Organization: University of Louisville
Lines: 46

In article <1991Mar4.143802.18640@spool.cs.wisc.edu>, kolstad@jomby.cs.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad) writes:
> In article <1991Mar4.044845.18652@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU> steveq@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU (Stephen Quigg) writes:
>>In article <1267@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes:
>>>
>>>I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232
>>>output.   I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display
>>>to show the status and current position textually (at least at first).
>>>I shouldn't need more than about 16x4 characters.
>>--- stuff deleted---
>>>
>>>Rich Gopstein
>>>
>>You'll need a micro to do the serial to parallel for you: If you use an
>>8051, drop me a line and I'll post you the software I wrote for one of these
>>things.
> 
> And if you're still back in the stone ages using 8748/9's (or their EPROMless
> brothers), drop _me_ a line and I'll post what I wrote for one. :-)
> 
> (I should note that mine use 4 bit mode... didn't want to give the controller
> any more lines than I had to...)
> 
> 						---Joel Kolstad
> 						kolstad@jomby.cs.wisc.edu

Check out TimeLine Electronics or DigiKey.  They sell integrated LCD displays
with the Hitachi chip for about $25.  TimeLine sells surplus 16x1 alphanumeric
displays 3/$25.  A good deal and you don't have to worry about blowing one up. 
As far as I can tell, DigiKey and TimeLine sell the same displays, Timeline is
just cheaper and I think the ones they have are surplus.

One thing that I had to deal with: Those displays are SLOW.  It takes anywhere
from 40 uS to 120 uS for a single command to happen.  I was doing a six-digit
clock on one and the timing for it was a bear.  I used a Motorola MC68HC11
controller with one.  Once I got the timing right, it was great!  They are very
high quality displays.  Also, the data sheets are translated from Japanese so
they are very laborious reading.

Good luck and have fun!

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Michael Harpe, N4PLE                   | BITNET: MEHARP01@ULKYVX
North Computer Center                  | VOICE:  502-588-6882
University of Louisville               | FAX:    502-588-5048
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