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products:i2cspilcdbackpack:index.html [2010/11/01 16:52] ladyada |
products:i2cspilcdbackpack:index.html [2016/01/28 18:05] |
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- | ====== Which LCD to use ====== | ||
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- | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/variety_t.jpg |http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/variety.jpg}} | ||
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- | This backpack will work with any 'standard'/'classic' **character** LCD. It does not work with **graphic** LCDs. Character LCDs come in sizes ranging from 8x1 (8 characters, one line) to 40x4 (40 characters, four lines). The backpack will also only fit LCDs that have a single line of pins at the top, not the ones that have a 2x10 or 2x8 connector on the side. Those are much rarer these days but just keep a look out for that! | ||
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- | ====== Assembly ====== | ||
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- | Putting together the backpack onto an LCD is a quick process, and should take only a few minutes with a soldering iron. | ||
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- | ===== Parts check ===== | ||
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- | Verify you have everything in the bag, there should be an assembled and tested PCB, a 2-pin and 3-pin 3.5mm terminal block. The backpack does not come with header or an LCD. | ||
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- | ===== Terminal blocks ===== | ||
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- | The [[http://www.ladyada.net/wiki/partfinder/terminals|terminal blocks]] allow you to easily attach and remove the LCD from your wiring, which we think is awfully handy. If you dont want the terminal blocks (they stick out a bit) you can always skip this step. | ||
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- | [[http://www.ladyada.net/wiki/partfinder/terminals|The terminal blocks come in 2 and 3-pin pieces]]. Slide them together. | ||
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- | Place the blocks over the corner area of the backpack so that the holes stick out (unless for some reason you want them to face the other way) | ||
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- | Solder them into place | ||
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- | ===== Attach LCD ===== | ||
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- | Next we will attach the backpack to the LCD. First we must put header onto the LCD, if you bought the LCD from us, it will come with a stick of header. Otherwise, pick up some [[http://www.ladyada.net/wiki/partfinder/header#male_header|standard 0.1" male header]] | ||
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- | These photos shows a 10K potentiometer, you can ignore it | ||
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- | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/parts_t.jpg |http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/parts.jpg}} | ||
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- | If the header is too long, just cut/snap it short so that it is 16 pins | ||
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- | Next you'll need to solder the header to the LCD.You must do this, it is not OK to just try to 'press fit' the LCD! | ||
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- | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/headersize_t.jpg |http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/headersize.jpg}} | ||
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- | The easiest way we know of doing this is sticking the header into a breadboard and then sitting the LCD on top while soldering. this keeps it steady. | ||
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- | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/lcdbb_t.jpg |http://www.ladyada.net/images/arduino/lcdtut/lcdbb.jpg}} | ||
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- | Now we will attach the backpack. We will show how to do this in a permanent fashion. If you think you would like to remove and replace the LCD at some time, you can use [[http://www.ladyada.net/wiki/partfinder/header#female_header|a piece of 16-pin long 0.1" female header]] as a socket but be aware it will stick out a lot. | ||
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- | ===== Download ===== | ||
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- | ==== Arduino Library ==== | ||
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- | We made a modification to the LiquidCrystal library so you can use it for i2c, spi or straight-up-6-pin connections. [[http://github.com/adafruit/LiquidCrystal|You can get the modified library that supports SPI/i2c from GitHub.]] | ||
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- | To download and install it: | ||
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- | * Click the **Downloads** button in the top right of the GitHub page | ||
- | * You will need to **remove** the old library, find the folder **ArduinoIDE/libraries/LiquidCrystal** and put it somewhere else for safekeeping. | ||
- | * Uncompress the downloaded library, the folder will be called something like **adafruit-LiquidCrystal-xxxxx**. Look inside and verify you see a file called **MCP23008.h**. Rename the folder **LiquidCrystal** and drag it into your personal library folder which is in **arduinosketchfolder/libraries** | ||
- | * Quit and restart the Arduino IDE | ||
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- | If you have a hankering to use the backpack as a general purpose i2c expander, you should use the plain [[http://github.com/adafruit/MCP23008-library|**MCP23008** library, also at github]]. Its for more advanced users, by the way. | ||
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