LCD Serial Backpack App Note No.

2
Getting Graphic:
Defining Custom LCD Characters
Bl ock graphi cs add new symbol s
and enabl e ani mated effects
ALPHANUMERI C LCDS ar e i nexpensi ve and
easy to use. But there are ti mes when youd l i ke
to add some gr aphi cal pi zzazz to your di spl ay
wi thout the expense and code over head of a
graphi cs di spl ay.
Wi th a l i ttl e i ngenui ty, you may fi nd that the
bl ock-gr aphi cs capabi l i ti es of standar d LCDs
can fi l l the bi l l wi thout busti ng your budget.
Thi s appl i cati on note wi l l show you how to:
Defi ne and use custom characters.
Create si mpl e ani mati ons.
Redefi ne vi si bl e symbol s for compl ex
ani mati ons.
Background. Thi s appl i cati on note i s i ntended
pr i mar i l y for di spl ays equi pped wi th the LCD
Ser i al Backpack

, a daughter boar d that gi ves

14-pi n al phanumeri c LCDs an easy-to-use seri al
i nter face. However , the pr i nci pl es descr i bed
here appl y to standard LCD modul es as wel l .
Character-Generator ROM and RAM. When
you send the ASCI I code for a character l i ke A
to an LCD modul e, the modul es control l er l ooks
up the appr opr i ate 5x8-pi xel patter n i n ROM
(read-onl y memory) and di spl ays that pattern on
the LCD. That char acter -gener ator ROM
contai ns 192 bi t maps cor r espondi ng to the
al phabet, number s, punctuati on, Japanese
Kanji characters, and Greek symbol s.
The ROM i s par t of the mai n LCD contr ol l er
(e.g., HD44780, KS0066, etc.), i s mask -
pr ogr ammed, and cannot be changed by the
user . The manufactur er s do offer al ter nati ve
symbol s sets i n ROM for Eur opean and Asi an
l anguages, but most U.S. di stri butors stock onl y
the standar d char acter set shown i n the LCD
Seri al Backpack manual .
Al phanumer i c LCD contr ol l er s do not al l ow
you to turn i ndi vi dual pi xel s on or offthey just
l et you pi ck a parti cul ar pattern (correspondi ng
to an ASCI I code) and di spl ay i t on the screen.
I f you cant change the ROM and you cant
contr ol pi xel s, how do you cr eate gr aphi cs on
these LCDs? Easy. Ther es a 64-byte hunk of
RAM (r andom-access memor y) that the LCD
contr ol l er uses i n the same way as char acter -
gener ator (CG) ROM. When the contr ol l er
r ecei ves an ASCI I code i n the r ange thats
mapped to the CG RAM, i t uses the bi t patterns
stor ed ther e to di spl ay a patter n on the LCD.
The mai n di fference i s that you can wri te to CG
RAM, ther eby defi ni ng your own gr aphi c
symbol s.
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
2
Use this worksheet to design custom-character bitmaps for alphanumeric LCDs. Color in
the squares representing black pixels. Then, for each row, add the numbers from the tops
of each column in which theres a colored-in square. Write the result in the Data (value)
blank. These are the byte values you will download to CG RAM to create your symbols.
Custom-Symbol Worksheet
Bit Map Data
(value)
1 2 4 8 16
1 2 4 8 16
1 2 4 8 16
1 2 4 8 16
Bit Map Data
(value)
1 2 4 8 16
1 2 4 8 16
1 2 4 8 16
1 2 4 8 16
Figure 2.1 Worksheet for calculating custom-character bitmaps.
Each byte of CG RAM i s mapped to a fi ve-bi t
hori zontal row of pi xel s, and LCD characters are
typi cal l y ei ght r ows hi gh, so 64 bytes of CG
RAM i s enough to defi ne ei ght custom
char acter s. These char acter s cor r espond to
ASCI I codes 0 through 7, whi ch normal l y serve
as contr ol codes for mar ki ng the begi nni ng of a
ser i al tr ansmi ssi on or r i ngi ng the bel l on a
ter mi nal . Si nce these have no meani ng to an
LCD modul e, the desi gner s appr opr i ated them
for CG RAM.
When an LCD i s fi r st power ed up, CG RAM
contai ns r andom bi tsgar bage. LCDs wi th
newer LCD Ser i al Backpacks ar e i ni ti al i zed
wi th a set of wedge- and bl ock-shaped symbol s
that can be used to draw l arge characters on 4-
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
3
l i ne di spl ays; see app note 1 i n thi s ser i es.
Ei ther way, you may over wr i te the CG RAM
wi th your own symbol s.
Writing to CG RAM. As the Backpack manual
shows, wr i ti ng to CG RAM i s a l ot l i ke movi ng
the cursor to a parti cul ar posi ti on on the di spl ay
and di spl ayi ng char acter s at that new l ocati on.
The steps are:
Send the i nstructi on-prefi x byte (254). For
non-Backpack users, thi s i s the same as
setti ng the RS bi t for the next byte. Wi th the
Backpack, RS i s automati cal l y reset after
one byte.
Set the CG RAM address by sendi ng a byte
from 64 to 127 (l ocati ons 063 i n CG RAM).
Send bytes wi th the bi t patterns for your
symbol (s). The LCD control l er automati cal l y
i ncrements CG RAM addresses, just as i t
does cursor posi ti ons on the di spl ay.
To l eave CG RAM, send the i nstructi on
prefi x (byte 254) fol l owed by a val i d di spl ay
address (e.g. 128, 1st character of 1st l i ne);
the cl ear-screen i nstructi on (byte 1); or the
home i nstructi on (byte 2). Now bytes are
once agai n bei ng wri tten to the vi si bl e
porti on of the di spl ay.
The Backpack manual shows an exampl e that
defi nes char acter 0 as a di amond shape and
di spl ays a r ow of di amonds acr oss the scr een.
Fi gur e 2.1 i s a wor ksheet to hel p you cal cul ate
bi t patter ns for your own symbol s. Fi gur e 2.2
shows an exampl e symbol , whi l e l i sti ngs 2.1
thr ough 2.3 ar e PBASI C (Stamps I and I I ) and
QBASI C exampl es that defi ne and use these
symbol s.
Bit Map Data
(value)
1 2 4 8 16
14
16
16
31
27
27
31
0
Figure 2.2 Example custom symbol.
Simple Animation. You can cr eate a sor t of
ani mati on by rapi dl y pri nti ng a seri es of custom
characters at the same screen posi ti on. Program
l i sti ngs 2.4 through 2.6 (BS1, BS2 and QBASI C)
defi ne a rotati ng sti ck symbol usi ng four graphi c
characters and spi n thi s symbol i n the mi ddl e
of the second l i ne of the di spl ay.
Animation in Multiple Locations. Theres a
useful si de effect to the way the LCD control l er
uses CG RAM. Normal l y, we defi ne a pattern i n
CG RAM, then pri nt the character. But you can
al so change the CG RAM for characters that are
al ready on the screen, and thei r appearance wi l l
change. Thi s opens up two neat possi bi l i ti es:
You can create ani mati ons wi th more frames
than the ei ght CG RAM l ocati ons. Si nce new
bi t patterns are l oaded from an external
computer, the onl y l i mi t on the number of
frames i s that computers storage capaci ty.
You can ani mate mul ti pl e screen l ocati ons
si mul taneousl y. Just pri nt the graphi cs
character you want to ani mate i n mul ti pl e
screen l ocati ons, then cycl e di fferent bi t
patterns through i ts CG RAM. Al l i nstances
of that character wi l l change.
Li sti ngs 2.7 through 2.9 show an exampl e of thi s
ki nd of ani mati on i n BS1, BS2 and QBASI C
programs. The second l i ne of the di spl ay i s fi l l ed
wi th char acter 0, then that char acter i s
r edefi ned i n an expandi ng-box patter n. The
resul t i s 16 si mul taneous ani mati ons.
Sources
Scot t E d wa r d s E l ect r on i cs (SE E )
manufactur es and sel l s the LCD Ser i al
Backpack

, a daughter boar d that gi ves 14-pi n

al phanumer i c LCDs an easy-to-use ser i al
i n ter face. Th e Back pack au tomati cal l y
i ni ti al i zes the LCD, r ecei ves ser i al data at a
user -sel ectabl e r ate of 2400 or 9600 baud and
conver ts r ecei ved data i nto LCD-compati bl e
par al l el output. The Backpack suppor ts al l
standar d al phanumer i c LCDs up to 80
characters total (4x20 or 2x40).
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
4
The Backpack i s avai l abl e by i tsel f for
i nstal l ati on on a user -suppl i ed LCD, or
pr ei nstal l ed to one of sever al hi gh-qual i ty
super twi st LCDs. See the catal og for cur r ent
offeri ngs.
SEE al so offers 4x40 seri al LCD modul es wi th
addi ti onal ter mi nal -emul ati on and speci al -
featur es i ncl udi ng automati c l ar ge-number
di spl ay.
You may downl oad a cur r ent SEE catal og
fr om the customer -suppor t FTP ar chi ve:
ftp.nutsvol ts.com, i n pub/nutsvol ts/scott. Or
contact
Scott Edwards Electronics
PO Box 160
Si erra Vi sta, AZ 85635
ph: 520-459-4802 fax: 520-459-0623
' Listing 2.1: GRPHIX1.BAS
' (Defining custom graphics symbols with LCD Backpack & BS1)
' This program demonstrates how to define and use custom
' symbols through the LCD Serial Backpack. The symbol patterns
' are loaded into the LCD from the Stamp's EEPROM. Thereafter,
' whenever you send an ASCII value of 0 - 7 to the LCD, it
' displays the custom symbol defined (until power is turned off).
SYMBOL lcd = 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
SYMBOL I = 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
SYMBOL lcdCls = 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
SYMBOL cgRAM = 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
SYMBOL line2 = 192 ' Position: start of 2nd line.
SYMBOL count = b11 ' Counter for EEPROM addressing.
SYMBOL char = b10 ' EEPROM byte.
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' Stamp's EEPROM. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). Comments at the end of each EEPROM entry show
' the appearance of the corresponding graphic.
EEPROM (0,4,2,31,2,4,0,0) ' right arrow
EEPROM (0,4,8,31,8,4,0,0) ' left arrow
EEPROM (4,14,21,4,4,0,0,0) ' up arrow
EEPROM (0,0,0,4,4,21,14,4) ' down arrow
EEPROM (8,20,20,8,5,6,5,5) ' single-character "OK"
EEPROM (14,17,17,31,27,27,31,0) ' locked
EEPROM (14,16,16,31,27,27,31,0) ' unlocked
EEPROM (17,18,23,9,19,4,7,0) ' single-character "1/2"
' =====Program begins by downloading custom character patterns
' from EEPROM after a 1-second delay for LCD initialization.
pause 1000 ' Wait a second
serout lcd,n2400,(I,cgRAM) ' Point to character-generator RAM.
for count = 0 to 63 ' For each of 8 chars x 8 bit rows.
read count,char ' Get the bit pattern from EEPROM.
serout lcd,n2400,(char) ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
next
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
5
serout lcd,n2400,(I,lcdCls) ' Clear the LCD.
serout lcd,n2400,("CUSTOM GRAPHICS") ' Label top line.
' ============= DEMO PROGRAM ============
' Move to line 2, show custom-character symbols.
serout lcd,n2400,(I,line2)
for count = 0 to 7
serout lcd,n2400,(count," ") ' Print character, then a space.
next
end
' Listing 2.2: GRPHIX1.BS2
' (Defining custom graphics symbols with LCD Backpack & BS2)
' This program demonstrates how to define and use custom
' symbols through the LCD Serial Backpack. The symbol patterns
' are loaded into the LCD from the Stamp's EEPROM. Thereafter,
' whenever you send an ASCII value of 0 - 7 to the LCD, it
' displays the custom symbol defined (until power is turned off).
' Install a jumper at BPS on Backpack for 9600 baud operation
lcd con 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
I con 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
lcdCls con 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
cgRAM con 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
line2 con 192 ' Position: start of 2nd line.
N9600 con $4054 ' 9600 baud output to Backpack.
cnt var byte ' Counter for EEPROM addressing.
char var byte ' EEPROM byte.
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' Stamp's EEPROM. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). Comments at the end of each EEPROM entry show
' the appearance of the corresponding graphic.
RA data 0,4,2,31,2,4,0,0 ' right arrow
LA data 0,4,8,31,8,4,0,0 ' left arrow
UA data 4,14,21,4,4,0,0,0 ' up arrow
DA data 0,0,0,4,4,21,14,4 ' down arrow
OK data 8,20,20,8,5,6,5,5 ' single-character "OK"
LK data 14,17,17,31,27,27,31,0 ' locked
UL data 14,16,16,31,27,27,31,0 ' unlocked
HF data 17,18,23,9,19,4,7,0 ' single-character "1/2"
' =====Program begins by downloading custom character patterns
' from EEPROM after a 1-second delay for LCD initialization.
pause 1000 ' Wait a second
serout lcd,n9600,[I,cgRAM] ' Point to character-generator RAM.
for cnt = 0 to 63 ' For each of 8 chars x 8 bit rows.
read cnt,char ' Get the bit pattern from EEPROM.
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
6
serout lcd,n9600,[char] ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
next
serout lcd,n9600,[I,lcdCls] ' Clear the LCD.
serout lcd,n9600,["CUSTOM GRAPHICS"] ' Label top line.
' ============= DEMO PROGRAM ============
' Move to line 2, show custom-character symbols.
serout lcd,n9600,[I,line2]
for cnt = 0 to 7
serout lcd,n9600,[cnt," "] ' Print character, then a space.
next
end
' Listing 2.3: QGRPHX1.BAS
' (Defining custom graphics with LCD Backpack and QBASIC)
' This program demonstrates how to define and use custom
' symbols through the LCD Serial Backpack. The symbol
' patterns are loaded into the LCD from data tables at the
' end of this QBASIC program. Once the symbols are downloaded,
' they can be displayed by sending an ASCII value of 0 - 7.
' Symbols are stored in the LCD's cg RAM, so they stay in
' memory until LCD power is turned off.
' Install a jumper at BPS on the Backpack to configure it
' for 9600 baud. Connect serial input to PC COM1 (or change
' "OPEN" instruction to other COM port below).
CONST I = 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
CONST lcdCls = 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
CONST cgRAM = 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
CONST line2 = 192 ' Position: start of 2nd line.
CLS : PRINT "Running custom-graphics demo for LCD Serial Backpack..."
' Set up the serial port: COM1, baud, parity, data bits, stop bits,
' disable all handshaking (CD, CS, DS, OP).
OPEN "com1:9600,N,8,1,CD0,CS0,DS0,OP0" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(cgRAM); ' Point to CG RAM.
' Write the bit patterns stored in DATA statements below
' into the LCD's CG RAM.
FOR count = 1 TO 64 ' For each of 8 chars x 8 bit rows.
READ char% ' Get the bit pattern from DATA.
PRINT #1, CHR$(char%); ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
NEXT
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(lcdCls); ' Clear the LCD.
SLEEP 1 ' Delay a second.
PRINT #1, "CUSTOM GRAPHICS"; ' Print label.
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(line2); ' Move to line 2.
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
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FOR count = 0 TO 7
PRINT #1, CHR$(count); " "; ' Print custom symbols 0-7.
NEXT
END
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' DATA statements. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). Comments before each DATA entry describe the
' appearance of the corresponding graphic.
' right arrow:
DATA 0,4,2,31,2,4,0,0
' left arrow:
DATA 0,4,8,31,8,4,0,0
' up arrow:
DATA 4,14,21,4,4,0,0,0
' down arrow:
DATA 0,0,0,4,4,21,14,4
' single-character "OK"
DATA 8,20,20,8,5,6,5,5
' locked (padlock closed)
DATA 14,17,17,31,27,27,31,0
' unlocked (padlock open)
DATA 14,16,16,31,27,27,31,0
' single-character "1/2"
DATA 17,18,23,9,19,4,7,0
' Listing 2.4: ANIM1.BAS (Animation demo with LCD Backpack & BS1)
' This program demonstrates how to create animation by cycling
' through custom graphics characters at a single screen location.
SYMBOL lcd = 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
SYMBOL I = 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
SYMBOL lcdCls = 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
SYMBOL cgRAM = 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
SYMBOL animPos = 199 ' Position: middle of 2nd line.
SYMBOL char = b11 ' Pointer to animation 'frame.'
SYMBOL count = b10 ' Counter for EEPROM addressing.
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' Stamp's EEPROM. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). Comments at the end of each EEPROM entry show
' the appearance of the corresponding graphic.
EEPROM (4,4,4,4,4,0,0,0) ' |
EEPROM (16,8,4,2,1,0,0,0) ' \
EEPROM (0,0,31,0,0,0,0,0) ' -
EEPROM (1,2,4,8,16,0,0,0) ' /
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
8
' =====Program begins by downloading custom character patterns
' from EEPROM after a 1-second delay for LCD initialization.
pause 1000 ' Wait a second
serout lcd,n2400,(I,cgRAM) ' Point to character-generator RAM.
for count = 0 to 31 ' For each of 8 chars x 8 bit rows.
read count,char ' Get the bit pattern from EEPROM.
serout lcd,n2400,(char) ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
next
serout lcd,n2400,(I,lcdCls) ' Clear the LCD.
serout lcd,n2400,(" ANIMATION") ' Label top line.
' ============= DEMO PROGRAM LOOP ============
again:
serout lcd,n2400,(I,animPos,char) ' Move to line 2, show char.
char = char + 1 // 4 ' Next character, range 0-3.
pause 50 ' Short pause.
goto again ' Repeat endlessly.
' Listing 2.5: ANIM1.BS2 (Animation demo with LCD Backpack & BS2)
' This program demonstrates how to create animation by cycling
' through custom graphics characters at a single screen location.
' Install a jumper at BPS on Backpack for 9600 baud operation.
lcd con 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
I con 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
lcdCls con 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
cgRAM con 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
animPos con 199 ' Position: middle of 2nd line.
n9600 con $4054 ' 9600 baud.
char var byte ' Pointer to animation 'frame.'
cnt var byte ' Counter for EEPROM addressing.
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' Stamp's EEPROM. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). Comments at the end of each EEPROM entry show
' the appearance of the corresponding graphic.
one data 4,4,4,4,4,0,0,0 ' |
two data 16,8,4,2,1,0,0,0 ' \
three data 0,0,31,0,0,0,0,0 ' -
four data 1,2,4,8,16,0,0,0 ' /
' =====Program begins by downloading custom character patterns
' from EEPROM after a 1-second delay for LCD initialization.
pause 1000 ' Wait a second
serout lcd,n9600,[I,cgRAM] ' Point to character-generator RAM.
for cnt = 0 to 31 ' For each of 8 chars x 8 bit rows.
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
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read cnt,char ' Get the bit pattern from EEPROM.
serout lcd,n9600,[char] ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
next
serout lcd,n9600,[I,lcdCls] ' Clear the LCD.
serout lcd,n9600,[" ANIMATION"] ' Label top line.
' ============= DEMO PROGRAM LOOP ============
again:
serout lcd,n9600,[I,animPos,char] ' Move to line 2, show char.
char = char + 1 // 4 ' Next character, range 0-3.
pause 75 ' Short pause.
goto again ' Repeat endlessly.
' Listing 2.6: QANIM1.BAS (Animation demo with LCD Backpack & QBASIC)
' This program demonstrates how to create animation by cycling
' through custom graphics characters at a single screen location.
' Install a jumper at BPS on the Backpack to configure it
' for 9600 baud. Connect serial input to PC COM1 (or change
' "OPEN" instruction to other COM port below).
CONST I = 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
CONST lcdCls = 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
CONST cgRAM = 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
CONST animPos = 199 ' Position: middle of 2nd line.
CLS : PRINT "Running animation demo for LCD Serial Backpack..."
PRINT "Press ctrl-BREAK to end"
' Set up the serial port: COM1, baud, parity, data bits, stop bits,
' disable all handshaking (CD, CS, DS, OP).
OPEN "com1:9600,N,8,1,CD0,CS0,DS0,OP0" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(cgRAM); ' Point to CG RAM.
' Write the bit patterns stored in DATA statements below
' into the LCD's CG RAM.
FOR count = 1 TO 32 ' For each of 8 chars x 8 bit rows.
READ char% ' Get the bit pattern from DATA.
PRINT #1, CHR$(char%); ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
NEXT
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(lcdCls); ' Clear the LCD.
SLEEP 1 ' Delay a second.
PRINT #1, " ANIMATION"; ' Print label.
again:
' Move to middle of line 2 and show animation symbol.
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(animPos); CHR$(char%);
char% = (char% + 1) MOD 4 ' Next character, range 0-3.
PLAY "P16" ' Play silent note to pause.
GOTO again ' Repeat endlessly (until Break).
END
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
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' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' DATA statements. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). Comments before each DATA entry describe the
' appearance of the corresponding graphic.
' symbol: |
DATA 4,4,4,4,4,0,0,0
' symbol: \
DATA 16,8,4,2,1,0,0,0
' symbol: -
DATA 0,0,31,0,0,0,0,0
' symbol: /
DATA 1,2,4,8,16,0,0,0
' Listing 2.7: ANIM2.BAS (Animation demo with LCD Backpack & BS1)
' This program demonstrates how to create animation by cycling
' different bit patterns through a single cg RAM location.
' This lets you animate multiple screen locations simultaneously.
SYMBOL lcd = 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
SYMBOL I = 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
SYMBOL lcdCls = 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
SYMBOL cgRAM = 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
SYMBOL line2 = 192 ' Position: middle of 2nd line.
SYMBOL frame = b11 ' Pointer to animation 'frame.'
SYMBOL count = b10 ' Counter for EEPROM addressing.
SYMBOL cgStart = b9 ' Location of cgRAM data in EEPROM.
SYMBOL cgEnd = b8 ' End of cgRAM data in EEPROM.
SYMBOL cgData = b7 ' Individual byte of cgRAM data.
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' Stamp's EEPROM. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). It's hard to simulate these patterns in text,
' but the progression of patterns is meant to look like an
' expanding square that starts as a dot and grows.
EEPROM (0,0,0,4,0,0,0,0) ' Dot.
EEPROM (0,0,10,4,10,0,0,0) ' larger..
EEPROM (0,0,14,10,14,0,0,0) ' larger..
EEPROM (0,21,10,21,10,21,0,0) ' larger..
EEPROM (0,31,17,17,17,31,0,0) ' larger..
EEPROM (0,21,0,17,0,21,0,0) ' larger.
' =====Program begins by clearing the screen after a 1-second
' delay for LCD initialization. It then downloads first graphic,
' labels the top line of the screen, and prints 15 character 0s
' across the second line. The character 0s will be animated.
pause 1000 ' Wait a second
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
11
serout lcd,n2400,(I,lcdCls) ' Clear the LCD.
frame = 0: gosub newPattern
serout lcd,n2400,(" ANIMATION") ' Label top line.
serout lcd,n2400,(I,line2) ' Move to 2nd line.
for frame = 0 to 15
serout lcd,n2400,(0) ' Print character 0 across 2nd line.
next
' ============= DEMO PROGRAM LOOP ============
again:
frame = frame + 1 // 6 ' Next pattern, range 0-5.
gosub newPattern ' Change character-0 pattern.
pause 100 ' Short pause.
goto again ' Repeat endlessly.
' ============= RELOAD CUSTOM CHARACTER PATTERN ============
' This subroutine accepts a frame value from 0 to 5 and writes the
' corresponding data from Stamp EEPROM into the cg RAM location for
' LCD character 0 (not "0" but ASCII 0; the pattern that prints
' when you send a byte containing %00000000 to the LCD). This causes
' any screen location containing character 0 to change appearance
' to match the new pattern! The technique lets you animate multiple
' screen locations simultaneously.
newPattern:
cgStart = frame * 8 ' First bit pattern to load.
cgEnd = cgStart + 7 ' Last bit pattern to load.
serout lcd,n2400,(I,cgRAM) ' Point to character 0 of cgRAM.
for count = cgStart to cgEnd ' For each of eight bit patterns..
read count,cgData ' Get the bit pattern from EEPROM..
serout lcd,n2400,(cgData) ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
next
serout lcd,n2400,(I,128) ' Return to display RAM, top line.
return
' Listing 2.8: ANIM2.BS2 (Animation demo with LCD Backpack & BS2)
' This program demonstrates how to create animation by cycling
' different bit patterns through a single cg RAM location.
' This lets you animate multiple screen locations simultaneously.
' Install a jumper at BPS on Backpack for 9600 baud operation.
lcd con 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
I con 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
lcdCls con 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
cgRAM con 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
n9600 con $4054 ' 9600 baud.
line2 con 192 ' Position: middle of 2nd line.
frame var byte ' Pointer to animation 'frame.'
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
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cnt var byte ' Counter for EEPROM addressing.
cgStart var byte ' Location of cgRAM data in EEPROM.
cgEnd var byte ' End of cgRAM data in EEPROM.
cgData var byte ' Individual byte of cgRAM data.
' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' Stamp's EEPROM. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). It's hard to simulate these patterns in text,
' but the progression of patterns is meant to look like an
' expanding square that starts as a dot and grows.
frame1 data 0,0,0,4,0,0,0,0 ' Dot.
frame2 data 0,0,10,4,10,0,0,0 ' larger..
frame3 data 0,0,14,10,14,0,0,0 ' larger..
frame4 data 0,21,10,21,10,21,0,0 ' larger..
frame5 data 0,31,17,17,17,31,0,0 ' larger..
frame6 data 0,21,0,17,0,21,0,0 ' larger.
' =====Program begins by clearing the screen after a 1-second
' delay for LCD initialization. It then downloads first graphic,
' labels the top line of the screen, and prints 15 character 0s
' across the second line. The character 0s will be animated.
pause 1000 ' Wait a second
serout lcd,n9600,[I,lcdCls] ' Clear the LCD.
frame = 0: gosub newPattern
serout lcd,n9600,[" ANIMATION"] ' Label top line.
serout lcd,n9600,[I,line2] ' Move to 2nd line.
for frame = 0 to 15
serout lcd,n9600,[0] ' Print character 0 across 2nd line.
next
' ============= DEMO PROGRAM LOOP ============
again:
frame = frame + 1 // 6 ' Next pattern, range 0-5.
gosub newPattern ' Change character-0 pattern.
pause 150 ' Short pause.
goto again ' Repeat endlessly.
' ============= RELOAD CUSTOM CHARACTER PATTERN ============
' This subroutine accepts a frame value from 0 to 5 and writes the
' corresponding data from Stamp EEPROM into the cg RAM location for
' LCD character 0 (not "0" but ASCII 0; the pattern that prints
' when you send a byte containing %00000000 to the LCD). This causes
' any screen location containing character 0 to change appearance
' to match the new pattern! The technique lets you animate multiple
' screen locations simultaneously.
newPattern:
cgStart = frame * 8 ' First bit pattern to load.
cgEnd = cgStart + 7 ' Last bit pattern to load.
serout lcd,n9600,[I,cgRAM] ' Point to character 0 of cgRAM.
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
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for cnt = cgStart to cgEnd ' For each of eight bit patterns..
read cnt,cgData ' Get the bit pattern from EEPROM..
serout lcd,n9600,[cgData] ' Write the data to LCD CG RAM.
next
serout lcd,n9600,[I,128] ' Return to display RAM, top line.
return
' Listing 2.9: QANIM2.BAS (Animation demo with LCD Backpack & QBASIC)
' This program demonstrates how to create animation by cycling
' different bit patterns through a single cg RAM location.
' This lets you animate multiple screen locations simultaneously.
' Install a jumper at BPS on the Backpack to configure it
' for 9600 baud. Connect serial input to PC COM1 (or change
' "OPEN" instruction to other COM port below).
DECLARE SUB newPattern (frame%)
CONST lcd = 0 ' Serial output to LCD.
CONST I = 254 ' Instruction prefix for LCD.
CONST lcdCls = 1 ' Clear-screen instruction for LCD.
CONST cgRAM = 64 ' Starting point of CG RAM.
CONST line2 = 192 ' Position: start of 2nd line.
CONST home = 128 ' Position: start of 1st line.
DIM SHARED bitPats(47) AS INTEGER ' Storage for bit patterns.
CLS : PRINT "Running animation demo for LCD Serial Backpack..."
PRINT "Press ctrl-BREAK to end"
FOR count% = 0 TO 47 ' For each of 6 chars x 8 bit rows.'
READ bitPats(count%) ' Get the bit pattern from DATA..
NEXT ' ..and store it in bitPats array.
' Set up the serial port: COM1, baud, parity, data bits, stop bits,
' disable all handshaking (CD, CS, DS, OP).
OPEN "com1:9600,N,8,1,CD0,CS0,DS0,OP0" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(lcdCls); ' Clear the LCD.
SLEEP 1 ' Delay a second.
PRINT #1, " ANIMATION"; ' Print label.
count% = 0: newPattern (count%) ' Set bit pattern.
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(line2); ' Move to 2nd line.
FOR count% = 1 TO 16 ' Print 16 ASCII-0
PRINT #1, CHR$(0); ' ..graphics across
NEXT ' ..line 2.
count% = 0 ' Clear count.
again:
count% = (count% + 1) MOD 6 ' Cycle count, 0-5.
newPattern (count%) ' Change bit pattern to animate.
PLAY "P16" ' Play silent note to pause.
GOTO again
Scott Edwards Electronics / LCD App Note No. 2
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' Custom-character definitions stored as bit patterns in the
' DATA statements. Each character is made up of 8 bytes. Each byte
' represents a row of 5 pixels (only the lowest 5 bits are
' actually used). It's hard to simulate these patterns in text,
' but the progression of patterns is meant to look like an
' expanding square that starts as a dot and grows.
DATA 0,0,0,4,0,0,0,0
DATA 0,0,10,4,10,0,0,0
DATA 0,0,14,10,14,0,0,0
DATA 0,21,10,21,10,21,0,0
DATA 0,31,17,17,17,31,0,0
DATA 0,21,0,17,0,21,0,0
SUB newPattern (frame%)
' Given a frame number from 0 to 5, select the appropriate 8 bytes
' of bit patterns stored in bitPats array and write those bytes to
' the LCD's cg RAM.
cgStart% = frame% * 8
cgEnd% = cgStart% + 7
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(cgRAM); ' Point to cg RAM.
FOR count% = cgStart% TO cgEnd% ' Write the bit pattern.
PRINT #1, CHR$(bitPats(count%));
NEXT
PRINT #1, CHR$(I); CHR$(home); ' Cursor to line 1, char 0.
END SUB