How to display text on 16×2 LCD using PIC18F4550 Microcontroller

Several automated and semi-automated devices require a message to be displayed in order to indicate their working status. In continuation to LCD interfacing with PIC18F4550, this article explains how to display a message or string on a 16×2 character LCD.

Programming steps:

· Configure the LCD.

· Store a string in a character array.

unsigned char data[20]=“EngineersGarage”;

· Run a loop till the loop counter encounters the null character ‘’ of the string.

· Use lcddata() function to send individual character values of the string to be displayed on LCD.

Code:

while(data[i]!=’’)
    {
        lcddata(data[i]);
        i++;
        Delay_ms(300);
    }

Project Source Code

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// Program to display text on 16×2 LCD using PIC18F4550 Microcontroller

// Configuration bits
/* _CPUDIV_OSC1_PLL2_1L, // Divide clock by 2
_FOSC_HS_1H, // Select High Speed (HS) oscillator
_WDT_OFF_2H, // Watchdog Timer off
MCLRE_ON_3H // Master Clear on
*/

//LCD Control pins
#define rs LATA.F0
#define rw LATA.F1
#define en LATA.F2

//LCD Data pins
#define lcdport LATB

void lcd_ini();
void lcdcmd(unsigned char);
void lcddata(unsigned char);
unsigned char data[20]=”EngineersGarage”;
unsigned int i=0;

void main(void)
{
TRISA=0; // Configure Port A as output port
LATA=0;
TRISB=0; // Configure Port B as output port
LATB=0;
lcd_ini(); // LCD initialization
while(data[i]!=”)
{
lcddata(data[i]); // Call lcddata function to send characters
// one by one from “data” array
i++;
Delay_ms(300);
}

}
void lcd_ini()
{
lcdcmd(0x38); // Configure the LCD in 8-bit mode, 2 line and 5×7 font
lcdcmd(0x0C); // Display On and Cursor Off
lcdcmd(0x01); // Clear display screen
lcdcmd(0x06); // Increment cursor
lcdcmd(0x80); // Set cursor position to 1st line, 1st column
}

void lcdcmd(unsigned char cmdout)
{
lcdport=cmdout; //Send command to lcdport=PORTB
rs=0;
rw=0;
en=1;
Delay_ms(10);
en=0;
}

void lcddata(unsigned char dataout)
{
lcdport=dataout; //Send data to lcdport=PORTB
rs=1;
rw=0;
en=1;
Delay_ms(10);
en=0;
}

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