6.3 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY: What is the LCD 162? The term LCD stands for liquid erystal display. It is one kind of electronic display module used in an extensive range of applications like various circuits & devices like mobile phones, calculators, computers, TV sets, ete. These displays are mainly preferred for multi-segment light- emitting diodes and seven segments. The main benefits of using this module are inexpensive, simply programmable, animations, and there are no limitations for displaying custom characters, special and even animations, ete An LCD screen is an electronic display module that uses liquid erystal to produce a visible image. The 16*2 LCD display is a very basic module commonly used in DIYs and circuits. The 162 translates 0 a display 16 characters per line in 2 such lines. In this LCD each character is displayed in a 5*7 pixel matrix. Character LCD’s come in many sizes 8x1, 8x2, 102, 16X1, 16x2, 16x4, 20x2, 20x4, 242, 30x2, 32x2, 40x2 ete. Many multinational companies like Philips, Hitachi, and Panasonic make their own custom type of character LCD's to be used in their products. All character LCD's performs the same functions (display characters numbers special characters, asei characters ete.) Their programming is also same and they all have same 14 pins (0-13) or 16 pins (0 to 15), Upper 16 columns ‘Ast Row (0). 2nd Row (1) Lower 16 columns Figure 6.5. LCD Display 19 © seaeed with OK ScannerLCD 16*2 Pin Diagram = To — LeD+ & LeD- 22222 .8888 888 8 § § <5 Areusedto Sa a ‘switch on and $ & Bide —_ rfibedback Gnd *°Y | Controlling ~, light Pins nag setled To Tum on the back light Contrast here apply Sv at LED* and make LED- Ground. All the Character Icds 8x1, 8x2, 8x4, 20x1, 20x2, 20x4, 24x1, 24x2, 24x4, 32x1, 32x2, 40x1, 40x2 are of same Pinout Given above. Figure 6.6, LCD Pin Diagram 6.3.1 LCD Pinout Description: © Pin] (Ground/Source Pin): This is a GND pin of display, used to connect the GND terminal of the microcontroller unit or power source. © Pin2 (VCC/Source Pin): This is the voltage supply pin of the display, used to connect the supply pin of the power source. * Pin3 (VO/VEE/Control Pin): This pin regulates the difference of the display, used to connect a changeable POT that can supply 0 to SV. ‘© Pind (Register Select/Control Pin): This pin toggles among command or data register, used to connect a microcontroller unit pin and obtains either 0 or 1(0 = data mode, and | = command mode). * Pin (Read/Write/Control Pin): This pin toggles the display among the read or writes operation, and it is connected to a microcontroller unit pin to get either 0 or 1 (0 = Write Operation, and I = Read Operation). 20 © seamed vith one Seamer‘© Pin 6 Enable/Control Pin): This pin should be held high to execute Read/Write process, and it is connected to the microcontroller unit & constantly held high ‘© Pins 7-14 (Data Pins): These pins are used to send data to the display. These pins are connected in two-wire modes like 4-wire mode and 8-wire mode. In 4-wire mode, only four pins are connected to the microcontroller unit like 0 to 3, whereas in 8-wire mode, 8-pins are connected to microcontroller unit like 0 to 7. ‘© Pin15 (+ve pin of the LED): This pin is connected to +5V Pin 16 (-ve pin of the LED) This pin is connected to GND. 6.3.2 Features of LCD16x2 ‘The features of this LCD mainly include the following. * The operating voltage of this LCD is 4.7V-5.3V ‘© Itincludes two rows where each row can produce 16-characters, ©The utilization of current is ImA with no backlight Every character can be built with a 5x8 pixel box ‘© The alphanumeric LCDs alphabets & numbers Is display can work on two modes like 4-bit & 8-bit ‘© These are obtainable in Blue & Green Backlight ‘* It displays a few custom generated characters 6.3.3 Working Princ le ‘The basic working principle of LCD is passing the light from layer to layer through modules. These modules will vibrate & line up their position on 90 that permits the polarized sheet to allow the light to pass through it ‘These molecules are accountable for viewing the data on every pixel. Every pixel utilizes the method of absorbing light to illustrate the digit. To display the value, the position of molecules must be changed to the angle of light. So this light deflection will make the human eye notice the data that will be the ingredient wherever the light gets absorbed. Here, this data will supply to the molecules & will be there till they get changed. At present, LCDs are used frequently in CD/DVD players, digital watches, 21 © seaeed with OK Scannercomputers, etc. In sereen industries, LCDs have replaced the CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) because these displays use more power as compared to LCD, heavier & larger. ‘The displays of LCDs are thinner as compared to CRTs. As compared to LED sereens, LCD has less power consumption because it functions on the fundamental principle of blocking light instead of dissipating, i. Registers of LCD A 16*2 LCD has two registers like data register and command register. The RS (register select) is mainly used to change from one register to another, When the register set is ‘0’, then it is known as command register. Similarly, when the register set is ‘I’, then it is known as data register, ii, Command Register ‘The main function of the command register is to store the instructions of command which are given to the display. So that predefined tasks ean be performed such as clearing the display, initializing, set the cursor place, and display control. Here commands processing can occur within the register. iii, Data Register ‘The main function of the data register is to store the information which is to be exhibited on the LCD screen. Here, the ASCII value of the character is the information which is to be exhibited on the screen of LCD. Whenever we send the information to LCD, it transmits to the data register, and then the process will be starting there. When register set =I, then the data register will be selected. iv, 16*2 LCD Commands ‘The commands of LCD 16X2 include the following. + For Hex Code-01, the LCD command will be the clear LCD sereen * For Hex Code-02, the LCD command will be returning home © For Hex Code-04, the LCD command will be decrement cursor © For Hex Code-06, the LCD command will be Increment cursor © For Hex Code-05, the LCD command will be Shift display right 2 © seaeed with OK Scanner© For Hex Code-07, the LCD command will be Shift display left © For Hex Code-08, the LCD command will be Display off, cursor off * For Hex Code-0A, the LCD command will be cursor on and display off * For Hex Code-0C, the LCD command will be cursor off, display on For Hex Code-OE, the LCD command will be cursor blinking, Display on * For Hex Code-OF, the LCD command will be cursor blinking, Display on * For Hex Code-10, the LCD command will be Shift cursor position to left * For Hex Code-14, the LCD command will be Shift cursor position to the right © For Hex Code-18, the LCD command will be Shift the entire display to the left © For Hex Code-1C, the LCD command will be Shift the entire display to the right © For Hex Code-80, the LCD command will be Force cursor to the beginning ( Ist line) © For Hex Code-C0, the LCD command will be Force cursor to the beginning ( 2nd line) © For Hex Code-38, the LCD command will be 2 lines and 5*7 matrix 6.4. SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR: Soil moisture sensors measure the water content in soil. A soil moisture probe is made up of multiple soil moisture sensors. Since analytical measurement of fiee soil moisture requires removing a sample and drying it to extract moisture, soil moisture sensors measure some other property, such as electrical resistance, dielectric constant, or interaction with neutrons, as a proxy for moisture content. The relation between the measured property and soil moisture must be calibrated and may vary depending on soil type. Reflected micro wave radiation is affected by the soil moisture and is used for remote sensing in hydrology and agriculture, Portable probe instruments are used by farmers or gardeners. 23 © seaeed with OK ScannerFigure 6.7. Soil Moisture Sensor ‘Technology: ‘Technologies commonly used in soil moisture sensors include + Frequency domain sensor such as a capacitance sensor, + Neutron moisture gauges, utilize the moderator properties of water for neutrons. + electrical resistance of the soil + Time domain transmission (TDT) and time domain reflectometry (TDR), water has a high dielectric constant; a higher water concentration causes a higher average dielectric constant for the soil. The average dielectric constant can be sensed by measuring the speed Of propagation along a buried transmission line. + Heat dissipation sensors rely on the effective thermal conductivity of soil, Soil with additional water conducts heat more readily than dry soil. Heat dissipation sensors that include a porous intermediate water holding element are subject to errors of up to 30% during the wet and dry cycles. + Tensiometer Agriculture: Measuring soil moisture is important in agriculture to help farmers manage their irrigation systems more efficiently. Not only are farmers able to generally use less water to grow a crop, they are able to increase yields and the quality of the crop by better management of soil moisture during critical plant growth stages 24 © seaeed with OK Scanner