products:i2cspilcdbackpack:index.html
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products:i2cspilcdbackpack:index.html [2010/11/02 01:48] ladyada |
products:i2cspilcdbackpack:index.html [2016/01/28 18:05] (current) |
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| ====== Introduction ====== | ====== Introduction ====== | ||
| - | Next to LEDs, LCDs are a fun and easy way to have your microcontroller project talk back to you. Character LCDs are common, and easy to get, available in tons of colors and sizes. We've written tutorials on using character LCDs with an Arduino (or similar microcontroller) but find that with smaller microcontrollers, the number of pins necessary to control the LCD can be restrictive. We wanted to make a 'backpack' (add-on circuit) that would reduce the number of pins without a lot of expense. | + | {{ /products/i2cspilcdbackpack/i2cconnect_t.jpg |/products/i2cspilcdbackpack/i2cconnect.jpg}} |
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| + | LCDs are a fun and easy way to have your microcontroller project talk back to you. Character LCDs are common, and easy to get, available in tons of colors and sizes. [[http://www.ladyada.net/learn/lcd/charlcd.html|We've written tutorials on using character LCDs with an Arduino]] (or similar microcontroller) but find that the number of pins necessary to control the LCD can be restrictive, especially with ambitious projects. We wanted to make a 'backpack' (add-on circuit) that would reduce the number of pins without a lot of expense. | ||
| By using simple i2c and SPI input/output expanders we have reduced the number of pins (only 2 pins are needed for i2c) while still making it easy to interface with the LCD. For Arduino users, we provide a easy-to-use library that is backwards compatible with projects using the '6 pin' wiring. | By using simple i2c and SPI input/output expanders we have reduced the number of pins (only 2 pins are needed for i2c) while still making it easy to interface with the LCD. For Arduino users, we provide a easy-to-use library that is backwards compatible with projects using the '6 pin' wiring. | ||
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| + | {{ /products/i2cspilcdbackpack/i2cwire_t.jpg |/products/i2cspilcdbackpack/i2cwire.jpg}} | ||
| For advanced users, this project can be used for general purpose I/O expansion, the MCP23008 has 8 i/o pins (7 are connected) with optional pullups, the SPI 74HC595 has 7 outputs. | For advanced users, this project can be used for general purpose I/O expansion, the MCP23008 has 8 i/o pins (7 are connected) with optional pullups, the SPI 74HC595 has 7 outputs. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
| + | ==== Optimized i2c library ==== | ||
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| + | **FalconFour** posted up a [[http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=21586&p=113177|ultra-optimized high-speed i2c library, check it out for better performance!]] | ||
| ===== Hardware files ===== | ===== Hardware files ===== | ||
| [[http://github.com/adafruit/i2c-SPI-LCD-backpack|Eagle CAD format schematic and board layout file (as well as a PNG of the schematic) are all available in the GitHub repository]] | [[http://github.com/adafruit/i2c-SPI-LCD-backpack|Eagle CAD format schematic and board layout file (as well as a PNG of the schematic) are all available in the GitHub repository]] | ||
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