[Need Help] with EA DIP204B-4NLW (4x20 LCD)

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 3rd, 2008, 3:46 am

Hi , i am a new noob on your forum

, Im really interrested about LCD SMARTIE .I search information about wiring the EA DIP204B-4NLW on the LPT safely. This screen are a KS0073 Controller (Near 100% Compatible with HD44780) the compagnie said.
Its a 4x20 LCD with a Blue Blacklight. It have 18 Pins.
URL DATASHEET.
http://www.lcd-module.de/eng/pdf/doma/dip204-4e.pdf
PINOUT:
01. VSS (GND)
02. VDD (+5V)
03. VEE (Contrast adjustement,input)
04. RS(CS) (H=Command,L=Data)
05. R/W(SID) (H=Read,L=Read)
06. E(SCLK) (Enable (falling edge)
07. D0(SOD) (Display Data,LSB)
08. D1 (Display Data)
09. D2 (Display Data)
10. D3 (Display Data)
11. D4 (Display Data)
12. D5 (Display Data)
13. D6 (Display Data)
14. D7 (Display Data)
15. -- NC
16. RES Reset (internal Pullup 10k)
17. A LED B/L+ Resistor Required
18. C LED B/L-

I search a way to connect it on LPT i see 2 diagram :

and

I buy the part for the two diagram.
but when i going to assemble it i see on the datasheet :

CONTRAST ADJUSTMENT
PIN 3 Require driving voltage for contrast VEE.
4NLW model have a built-in temperature compensation;so there's no more need for contrast adjustment while operation anymore.

I see a diagram with VEE enter a pot of 2.5k and to to VDD.
I see

BLACKLIGHTUsing the LED Backlight repquire an current source or external current-limiting resistor.
yellow/green backlight is 3.8-4.2v ad for white LED backlight is 3.0-3.6V.
Blue-White displays do always need a backlight for contrast(min 5mA).

iam not really good to understand this kind of doc. Iam a really good solder and programmer but for the electronic..hmm.

I dont know if the Voltage is the same of the White Backlight.. and the contrast stuff give me a headache.

It is possible to someone to give me the correct connection for my LCD and the correct Resistance. for this one if possible. http://lcdsmartie.sourceforge.net/LCDconnect.jpg
i don't want to scrap the LCD hehe.

Thx alot and sorry for me horrible english

iam speaking french.

Post by **caesar** » May 3rd, 2008, 6:40 am

Hi and welcome to the forums!

Here is the wiring diagram personalized for your display:

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 3rd, 2008, 6:47 am

Wow,Thx alot

I will try it tomorow! And i will give a feedback.

Just one question : is it not possible to ajust the contrast or is not nessecery ?

Post by **caesar** » May 3rd, 2008, 6:54 am

It is possible but the display is set up to automagically set the best contrast for the environment in which it is being used so there really is no point in messing around with it!

Don't forget to set up the display address as LPT1,a2 !!! a2 means that LCDSmartie will use KS0073 addressing.

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 19th, 2008, 3:57 am

Hi,i don't know what i make wrong the Backlight light up but i have no text on the screen.

i put
Display Plugin : HD44780.dll
Startup parameter : LPT1,a2

just nothing but light are ok

Post by **caesar** » May 19th, 2008, 10:11 am

Use LPT1,5,a2 as startup parameters, if it still doesn't work then try this:
look in your motherboard BIOS and put LPT address to default/auto and port type to ECP/EPP.
See if that gets it working.

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 19th, 2008, 1:27 pm

Ok
Still don't work

System Config :

Windows XP SP3

Printer Port : ECP/EPP
IO : 0378/037F
0778/077B
DMA : 3

LCD SMARTIE:
Display Plugin : HD44780.dll
Startup parameter : LPT1,5,a2

I Try in SPP mode too.
There a way to start LCD SMARTIE or its play animation when it start ?

Post by **caesar** » May 19th, 2008, 2:46 pm

You do have port95nt installed, right? Without it smartie can't access the printer port.

Smartie can autostart with windows, see the Startup/shutdown tab.
When it starts it automatically starts displaying its screens.

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 19th, 2008, 3:08 pm

i have port95nt installed but i try to listen the LPT1 Port with Portmon but i can't see anything

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 19th, 2008, 7:21 pm

This is my installation :

I test all the connection on the LCD (3 times) with the LPT PINS and all are ok.

I don't know if i make the right choice for the GND.

Post by **caesar** » May 19th, 2008, 8:29 pm

Nice pics!

It is a good idea/practice to tie all grounds together at LPT and USB.

Do you see block chars on the first line of the lcd when you plug it in just on USB for power?

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 19th, 2008, 9:34 pm

Ok i will put the 2 ground together but i check it with the multimeter usb and lpt beeep

For the other question about if i see something on the screen.

I try to plug just the LCD with the USB port.

The Backlight light start but nothing on the LCD.

I see sometime when the computer start if the usb power are not pluged:
the backlight light but with lower intensity
and when i plug the usb its light at full power.

IF i plug the LPT with the USB and i remove the power from the USB the backlight shutdown.

IF i plug the LPT with the USB and i remove the LPT plug the backlight shutdown.

But if i just plug the USB cable without wire on the LPT the backlight start but nothing on the matrix.

I just see the backlight without anything on the lcd. in any case.

Post by **caesar** » May 19th, 2008, 10:16 pm

Ok. HD44780 displays show block characters on the first line when powered up. If they don't do it then either they are dead or the contrast pin isn't tied the right way.

I want to think that your display only needs a 2,5K potentiometer between pin 3 and +5V. I also use a blue display from that producer and it works fine with that pin left floating.

Please put a 10k potentiometer between +5V and pin VEE (3) on the display. Use the middle tap and one end on the pot.
Trim it after powering up the display and starting Smartie.
I really hope this will solve it!

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 21st, 2008, 2:24 am

Yes!!!! thx its work. At 2.5k i see a light display, i gently turn it to have a good contrast.

Thx alot! i go to test some script right now

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 21st, 2008, 3:54 am

Ok i have a little problem mayble its just a config.

problem with the display.

Case 01
Line 01: 12345678901234567890

Result:
Line 01: 12345678901234567890
Line 02: 34567890

Case 02
Line 01: 12345678901234567890
Line 02: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST

Result :
Line 01: 12345678901234567890
Line 02: 34567890
Line 03: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST
Line 04: MNOPQRST

Case 03
Line 01: 12345678901234567890
Line 02: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST
Line 03: A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8I9J0
Line 04: 1A2B3C4D5E6F7G8H9I0J

Result:
Line 01: 12345678901234567890
Line 02: 34567890A1B2C3D4E5F6
Line 03: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST
Line 04: MNOPQRST1A2B3C4D5E6F

I set lcd smaties with the default setting when it come and i change this:
Display Plugin : HD44780.dll
Startup parameter : LPT1,5,a2
Screen Size : 4x20

I try just LPT1 or LPT1,a2 or LPT1,5 with same result

Post by **caesar** » May 21st, 2008, 9:01 am

I'll look into it and keep you posted.

Later edit: I can't find anything wrong with positioning in the display source code. Please be sure to set the display size as 4x20, and startup parameters as LPT1,3,a2 then close Smartie and start it again.

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 21st, 2008, 3:39 pm

Ok, i put LPT1,3,a2 replace 5 by 3 but its make same the error.

I try LCDCenter 2.0 too see if the display are ok but its make the same thing some information are in a other line.

i don't know if it a small incompatibility with the HD44780 standard (in the datasheet its says:
KS0073 (Near 100% compatible with HD44780)

or the a2 param fix this ?

There a ways to check if the data are correctly sent ? PortMan don't look to work. Or with a multimeter ?

I buy this LCD initially for by Xbox to plug with my SmartXX Modchip.
When i listen some music with XBMC the SmartXX suposse to send the Tag information in the LCD. If the troubleshooting don't work i will solder it to my modchip to see if this work correctly.

I thx you for all support you give me.

and sorry for my terrible english its not my native language hehe.

Post by **caesar** » May 21st, 2008, 7:50 pm

a2 is taking care of KS0073 chip, it is specifically designed for that chip. I checked the source code but all the addressing is done correctly IF the display is set up as 4x20.
All the commands are as stated in the datasheet so it should work.

Please check again that your display size is selected as 4x20.

Because data is sent to the display it means that everything is fine with the connection and you problem is in addressing.

As a last resort, if your modchip supports KS0073 then you could try it and see it it works.

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 21st, 2008, 8:05 pm

Yes the LCD SIZE on the applet SCREEN its alreally set to 4x20.

Post by **caesar** » May 21st, 2008, 10:27 pm

Sorry to shout, but you didn't mention it earlier.
I am out of ideas for now...

wildblack · Post by **wildblack** » May 22nd, 2008, 12:15 am

Ok i will installed it on my xbox when i have the time.

steffeno · Post by **steffeno** » March 27th, 2009, 9:32 pm

I'm stuck too..

I have the same LCD, and some characters is shown on the wrong line..
The text comes on the LCD, but someting is going wrong, it seems like text is too long and runs down on the next line....

I've tested with another LCD display, that works fine.

Post by **caesar** » March 28th, 2009, 9:36 am

can you try this startup parameter then: LPT1,5,1

steffeno · Post by **steffeno** » March 28th, 2009, 1:49 pm

No difference

It looks like the last 8 characters of the text in a line, is copied to the next line, like this:

Code: Select all

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