Overview
The 16×2 I2C LCD Display is used with the Raspberry Pi Pico to generate the Billboard Scrolling effect. It is used to display different strings and characters on the display screen of the LCD. The text displayed on the screen of LCD can be scrolled right or left of the screen for advertisement purposes or to gain the attention of the audience.
In this write-up, we will learn the scrolling of text on the 16×2 I2C LCD Display screen which is interfaced with the Raspberry Pi Pico. In one of our earlier post we discussed about interfacing LCD Display with Raspberry Pi Pico. You can follow the guide to learn more.
Components Required
In this guide, I used Elecrow Raspberry Pi Pico Starter Kit to test different Modules. You can buy the kit and perform some other operations as well. From this kit, you can use the following components.
1. Raspberry Pi Pico Board – 1
2. 16×2 I2C LCD Display – 1
3. Breadboard – 1
4. Jumper Wires – 4
5. Micro-USB Cable – 1
JHD162A 16×2 I2C LCD Display
LCD1602, or 1602 character-type liquid crystal display, is a kind of dot matrix module to show letters, numbers, characters, and so on.
It’s composed of 5×7 dot matrix positions; each position can display one character. The Model 1602 means it displays 2 lines of 16 characters. The principle of LCD1602 liquid crystal display is to use the physical properties of liquid crystal to control its display area through voltage, and then display characters.
This display incorporates an I2C interface that requires only 2 pins on a microcontroller to the interface. The I2C interface is a daughterboard attached to the back of the LCD module. The I2C address for these displays is either 0x3F or 0x27.
The adapter has an 8-Bit I/O Expander chip PCF8574. This chip converts the I2C data from a microcontroller into the parallel data required by the LCD display. There is a small trimpot to make fine adjustments to the contrast of the display. In addition, there is a jumper on the board that supplies power to the backlight.
Billboard Scrolling with LCD Display & Raspberry Pi Pico
The connection between the Raspberry Pi Pico and I2C LCD is very simple as shown below in the schematic.
Connect the LCD VCC & GND Pin to Raspberry Pi Pico 5V & GND Pin respectively. Connect the SDA & SCL pins of the LCD to Raspberry Pi Pico GP0 & GP1 pins respectively.
MicroPython Code/Program
The code is divided into three parts. One is i2c_lcd.py, the other is lcd_api.py & thrid one is main.py. The LCD doesn’t work directly as it requires few libraries.
lcd_api.py
Copy the following code and save it as lcd_api.py in Raspberry Pi Pico.
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"""Provides an API for talking to HD44780 compatible character LCDs.""" import time class LcdApi: """Implements the API for talking with HD44780 compatible character LCDs. This class only knows what commands to send to the LCD, and not how to get them to the LCD. It is expected that a derived class will implement the hal_xxx functions. """ # The following constant names were lifted from the avrlib lcd.h # header file, however, I changed the definitions from bit numbers # to bit masks. # # HD44780 LCD controller command set LCD_CLR = 0x01 # DB0: clear display LCD_HOME = 0x02 # DB1: return to home position LCD_ENTRY_MODE = 0x04 # DB2: set entry mode LCD_ENTRY_INC = 0x02 # --DB1: increment LCD_ENTRY_SHIFT = 0x01 # --DB0: shift LCD_ON_CTRL = 0x08 # DB3: turn lcd/cursor on LCD_ON_DISPLAY = 0x04 # --DB2: turn display on LCD_ON_CURSOR = 0x02 # --DB1: turn cursor on LCD_ON_BLINK = 0x01 # --DB0: blinking cursor LCD_MOVE = 0x10 # DB4: move cursor/display LCD_MOVE_DISP = 0x08 # --DB3: move display (0-> move cursor) LCD_MOVE_RIGHT = 0x04 # --DB2: move right (0-> left) LCD_FUNCTION = 0x20 # DB5: function set LCD_FUNCTION_8BIT = 0x10 # --DB4: set 8BIT mode (0->4BIT mode) LCD_FUNCTION_2LINES = 0x08 # --DB3: two lines (0->one line) LCD_FUNCTION_10DOTS = 0x04 # --DB2: 5x10 font (0->5x7 font) LCD_FUNCTION_RESET = 0x30 # See "Initializing by Instruction" section LCD_CGRAM = 0x40 # DB6: set CG RAM address LCD_DDRAM = 0x80 # DB7: set DD RAM address LCD_RS_CMD = 0 LCD_RS_DATA = 1 LCD_RW_WRITE = 0 LCD_RW_READ = 1 def __init__(self, num_lines, num_columns): self.num_lines = num_lines if self.num_lines > 4: self.num_lines = 4 self.num_columns = num_columns if self.num_columns > 40: self.num_columns = 40 self.cursor_x = 0 self.cursor_y = 0 self.backlight = True self.display_off() self.backlight_on() self.clear() self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ENTRY_MODE | self.LCD_ENTRY_INC) self.hide_cursor() self.display_on() def clear(self): """Clears the LCD display and moves the cursor to the top left corner. """ self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_CLR) self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_HOME) self.cursor_x = 0 self.cursor_y = 0 def show_cursor(self): """Causes the cursor to be made visible.""" self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ON_CTRL | self.LCD_ON_DISPLAY | self.LCD_ON_CURSOR) def hide_cursor(self): """Causes the cursor to be hidden.""" self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ON_CTRL | self.LCD_ON_DISPLAY) def blink_cursor_on(self): """Turns on the cursor, and makes it blink.""" self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ON_CTRL | self.LCD_ON_DISPLAY | self.LCD_ON_CURSOR | self.LCD_ON_BLINK) def blink_cursor_off(self): """Turns on the cursor, and makes it no blink (i.e. be solid).""" self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ON_CTRL | self.LCD_ON_DISPLAY | self.LCD_ON_CURSOR) def display_on(self): """Turns on (i.e. unblanks) the LCD.""" self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ON_CTRL | self.LCD_ON_DISPLAY) def display_off(self): """Turns off (i.e. blanks) the LCD.""" self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_ON_CTRL) def backlight_on(self): """Turns the backlight on. This isn't really an LCD command, but some modules have backlight controls, so this allows the hal to pass through the command. """ self.backlight = True self.hal_backlight_on() def backlight_off(self): """Turns the backlight off. This isn't really an LCD command, but some modules have backlight controls, so this allows the hal to pass through the command. """ self.backlight = False self.hal_backlight_off() def move_to(self, cursor_x, cursor_y): """Moves the cursor position to the indicated position. The cursor position is zero based (i.e. cursor_x == 0 indicates first column). """ self.cursor_x = cursor_x self.cursor_y = cursor_y addr = cursor_x & 0x3f if cursor_y & 1: addr += 0x40 # Lines 1 & 3 add 0x40 if cursor_y & 2: addr += 0x14 # Lines 2 & 3 add 0x14 self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_DDRAM | addr) def putchar(self, char): """Writes the indicated character to the LCD at the current cursor position, and advances the cursor by one position. """ if char != '\n': self.hal_write_data(ord(char)) self.cursor_x += 1 if self.cursor_x >= self.num_columns or char == '\n': self.cursor_x = 0 self.cursor_y += 1 if self.cursor_y >= self.num_lines: self.cursor_y = 0 self.move_to(self.cursor_x, self.cursor_y) def putstr(self, string): """Write the indicated string to the LCD at the current cursor position and advances the cursor position appropriately. """ for char in string: self.putchar(char) def custom_char(self, location, charmap): """Write a character to one of the 8 CGRAM locations, available as chr(0) through chr(7). """ location &= 0x7 self.hal_write_command(self.LCD_CGRAM | (location << 3)) time.sleep_us(40) for i in range(8): self.hal_write_data(charmap[i]) time.sleep_us(40) self.move_to(self.cursor_x, self.cursor_y) def hal_backlight_on(self): """Allows the hal layer to turn the backlight on. If desired, a derived HAL class will implement this function. """ pass def hal_backlight_off(self): """Allows the hal layer to turn the backlight off. If desired, a derived HAL class will implement this function. """ pass def hal_write_command(self, cmd): """Write a command to the LCD. It is expected that a derived HAL class will implement this function. """ raise NotImplementedError def hal_write_data(self, data): """Write data to the LCD. It is expected that a derived HAL class will implement this function. """ raise NotImplementedError |
i2c_lcd.py
Copy the following code and save it as i2c_lcd.py in Raspberry Pi Pico.
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from lcd_api import LcdApi from machine import I2C from time import sleep_ms # The PCF8574 has a jumper selectable address: 0x20 - 0x27 DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR = 0x27 # Defines shifts or masks for the various LCD line attached to the PCF8574 MASK_RS = 0x01 MASK_RW = 0x02 MASK_E = 0x04 SHIFT_BACKLIGHT = 3 SHIFT_DATA = 4 class I2cLcd(LcdApi): """Implements a HD44780 character LCD connected via PCF8574 on I2C.""" def __init__(self, i2c, i2c_addr, num_lines, num_columns): self.i2c = i2c self.i2c_addr = i2c_addr self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([0])) sleep_ms(20) # Allow LCD time to powerup # Send reset 3 times self.hal_write_init_nibble(self.LCD_FUNCTION_RESET) sleep_ms(5) # need to delay at least 4.1 msec self.hal_write_init_nibble(self.LCD_FUNCTION_RESET) sleep_ms(1) self.hal_write_init_nibble(self.LCD_FUNCTION_RESET) sleep_ms(1) # Put LCD into 4 bit mode self.hal_write_init_nibble(self.LCD_FUNCTION) sleep_ms(1) LcdApi.__init__(self, num_lines, num_columns) cmd = self.LCD_FUNCTION if num_lines > 1: cmd |= self.LCD_FUNCTION_2LINES self.hal_write_command(cmd) def hal_write_init_nibble(self, nibble): """Writes an initialization nibble to the LCD. This particular function is only used during initialization. """ byte = ((nibble >> 4) & 0x0f) << SHIFT_DATA self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte | MASK_E])) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte])) def hal_backlight_on(self): """Allows the hal layer to turn the backlight on.""" self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([1 << SHIFT_BACKLIGHT])) def hal_backlight_off(self): """Allows the hal layer to turn the backlight off.""" self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([0])) def hal_write_command(self, cmd): """Writes a command to the LCD. Data is latched on the falling edge of E. """ byte = ((self.backlight << SHIFT_BACKLIGHT) | (((cmd >> 4) & 0x0f) << SHIFT_DATA)) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte | MASK_E])) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte])) byte = ((self.backlight << SHIFT_BACKLIGHT) | ((cmd & 0x0f) << SHIFT_DATA)) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte | MASK_E])) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte])) if cmd <= 3: # The home and clear commands require a worst case delay of 4.1 msec sleep_ms(5) def hal_write_data(self, data): """Write data to the LCD.""" byte = (MASK_RS | (self.backlight << SHIFT_BACKLIGHT) | (((data >> 4) & 0x0f) << SHIFT_DATA)) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte | MASK_E])) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte])) byte = (MASK_RS | (self.backlight << SHIFT_BACKLIGHT) | ((data & 0x0f) << SHIFT_DATA)) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte | MASK_E])) self.i2c.writeto(self.i2c_addr, bytearray([byte])) |
main.py
Copy the following code and save it as main.py in Raspberry Pi Pico.
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from machine import I2C, Pin from i2c_lcd import I2cLcd from utime import sleep DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR = 0x27 # LCD 1602 I2C address i2c = I2C(0,sda=Pin(0),scl=Pin(1),freq=400000) lcd = I2cLcd(i2c, DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR,2, 26) # Initialize(device address, backlight settings) text = ' Hello Pico' # Show scrolling information if __name__ == '__main__': while True: tmp = text # Get the display information for i in range(0, len(text)): lcd.move_to(len(text),1) # Position cursor lcd.putstr(tmp) # Display one by one tmp = tmp[1:] sleep(0.8) # Delay 800ms lcd.clear() # Clear display |
Now click on the Run button to run the library and main file.
The first line of LCD1602 scrolls from right to left to display the string “Hello Pico”, simulating the effect of billboard scrolling.
