Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

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LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)

A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is an electronically-modulated optical device shaped


into a thin, flat panel made up of any number of colour or monochrome pixels filled with
liquid crystals and arrayed in front of a light source (backlight) or reflector. It is often utilized
in battery-powered electronic devices because it uses very small amounts of electric power.
LCD has material, which continues the properties of both liquids and crystals. Rather than
having a melting point, they have a temperature range within which the molecules are almost
as mobile as they would be in a liquid, but are grouped together in an ordered from similar to
a crystal. They are used in similar applications where LEDs are used. These applications are
display of display of numeric and alphanumeric characters in dot matrix and segmental
displays.
LCD consists of two glass panels, with the liquid crystal materials sandwiched in
between them. The inner surface of the glass plates is coated with transparent electrodes
which define in between the electrodes and the crystal, which makes the liquid crystal
molecules to maintain a defined orientation angle. When a potential is applied across the cell,
charge carriers flowing through the liquid will disrupt the molecular alignment and produce
turbulence.
When the liquid is not activated, it is transparent. When the liquid is activated the
molecular turbulence causes light to be scattered in all directions and the cell appears to be
bright. Thus the required message is displayed. When the LCD is in the off state, the two
polarizer’s and the liquid crystal rotate the light rays, such that they come out of the LCD
without any orientation, and hence the LCD appears transparent. The fig. 6.1 shows the LCD
display.
Fig. 6.1 LCD Display

6.2 WORKING OF LCD DISPLAY

When sufficient voltage is applied to the electrodes the liquid crystal molecules
would be aligned in a specific direction. The light rays passing through the LCD would be
rotated by the polarizer, which would result in activating/highlighting the desired characters.
The power supply should be of +5V, with maximum allowable transients of 10mV. To
achieve a better/suitable contrast for the display the voltage (V) at pin 3 should be adjusted
properly. A module should not be removed from a live circuit.
The ground terminal of the power supply must be isolated properly so that voltage is
induced in it. The module should be isolated properly so that stray voltages are not induced,
which could cause a flicking display. LCD is lightweight with only a few, millimetres
thickness since the LCD consumes less power, they are compatible with low power electronic
circuits, and can be powered for long durations. LCD does not generate light and so light is
needed to read the display. By using backlighting, reading is possible in the dark. LCDs have
long life and a wide operating temperature range. Before LCD is used for displaying proper
initialization should be done. LCD is used to display the blood group and blood glucose level.
6.2.1 LCD Pin description
The function of each pins of LCD is described below VCC, VSS and VEE while VDD and
VSS provide +5V and ground, respectively, VEE is used for controlling LCD contrast.
6.2.2 Register select
There are two important registers inside the LCD. The RS pin is used for selection as
follows. If RS=0, the instruction code register is selected, allowing the user to send a
command such as clear display, cursor at home, etc. If RS=1 the data register is selected,
allowing the user to send data to be displayed on the LCD.
6.2.3 Read/Write
R/W input allows the user to write information to the LCD or read information from
it. R/W=1 when reading; R/W=0 when writing.
6.2.4 Enable
The enable pin is used by the LCD to latch information presented on its data pins.
When data is supplied to data pins, a high to low pulse must be applied to this pin in order for
the LCD to latch in the data present at the data pins.
6.2.5 D0 - D7
The 8-bit data pins, D0 – D7, are used to send information to the LCD or read
contents of the LCD’S internal registers. There are also instruction codes that can be sent to
the LCD to clear the display or force the cursor to the home position or blink the cursor.
RS=0 is used to check the busy flag bit to see if the LCD is ready to receive information. The
busy flag is D7 and can be read when R/W=1 and RS=0, as follows: if R/W=1, RS=0.when
D7=1, the LCD is busy taking care of internal operation and will not accept any new
information, when D7=0, the LCD is ready to receive new information.

6.3 PIN DESCRIPTION FOR LCD

The table 6.1 illustrate the pin descriptions of LCD.

Table: 6.1 Pin Descriptions of LCD


Pin No. Symbol Function

1 Vss Ground terminal of Module

2 Vdd Supply terminal of Module, +5v

3 Vo Power supply for liquid crystal drive

4 RS Register select

RS=0…Instruction register

RS=1…Data register

5 R/W Read/Write

R/W=1…Read

R/W=0…Write

6 EN Enable

7-14 DB0-DB7 Bi-directional Data Bus. Data Transfer


is performed once, through DB0-
DB7,incase of interface data length is 8-
bits;and twice, thru DB4-DB7 in the case
of interface data length is 4-bits.Upper
four bits first then lower four bits.

15 LAMP-(L-) LED or EL lamp power supply


terminals

16 LAMP+(L+) (E2) Enable

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