User Manual

65
Lesson 13 LCD1602
Introduction
In this lesson, we will learn how to use LCD1602 to display characters and strings.
Components
- 1 * Raspberry Pi
- 1 * Breadboard
- 1 * LCD1602
- 1 * Potentiometer
- Jumper wires
Principle
LCD1602, or character type LCD1602, is a dot matrix LCD module specially used to display
letters, figures, symbols, and so on. It consists of many 16*2 dot matrixes, and each one is
composed of 5*7 or 5*11 character bit. Each character bit can display one character.
There is a dot space between each adjacent character bit. Also there is a dot space
between each row. The dot space functions as a character space or line space; thus,
LCD1602 cannot display graphics very well. It is widely used in pocket instruments and low
power application systems due to its micro power consumption, small size, richness in
contents, ultra-thinness and lightness.
LCD1602 uses the standard 16-pin port, among which:
Pin 1 (GND): connected to Ground
Pin 2 (Vcc): connected to 5V power supply
Pin 3 (Vo): used to adjust the contrast of LCD1602; the level is lowest when it’s connected to
a positive power supply, and highest when connected to ground (you can connect a
10K potentiometer to adjust its contrast when using LCD1602)
Pin 4 (RS): register select pin that controls where in the LCD’s memory you are writing data
to. You can select either the data register, which holds what goes on the screen, or an
instruction register, which is where the LCD’s controller looks for instructions on what to
do next.
Pin 5 (R/W): to read/write signals; it reads signals when supplied with high level (1), and
writes when low level (0) (in this experiment, you only need to write data to LCD1602, so
just connect this pin to ground)