DB25 connector pinouts.

PC Printer Port Arduino LCD Control Part 4

by Lewis Loflin

We now come to adding a 2 line by 16 character LCD display to our project. We have full read-write capability with Arduino now we can display results on the LCD display.

Even with all of these connections we still have 5 outputs and 4 inputs for additional uses. The LCD functions are as follows:

pulseCLK() used to clock data into the Sn74164.

pulseE() shifts the parallel data in the display. The RS pin determines if the data is a command/address or ASCII code.

ssrWrite(int) uses a "for" loop with pulsCLK() to shift 8-data into the SN74164.

initLCD(), clearLCD(), and Home() are used to setup the operation of the LCD display. They set RS LOW for command mode, use ssrWrite() to clock byte into 74164, the use pulseE() to enter parallel data into display control circuits.

gotoLocation(address) inputs an address in the internal ram of the display at a select location for display. 0x80 is column 0, line 0 (first character line 1) and 0xC0 is column 0 line 1 (first character line 2).

wrtiteString(text-string) is used with the above functions to write an ASCII string to the display. This must proceeded by gotoLocation(address) to set the position pointer in the display for the text.

convBinary(value) is used to convert an 16-bit number to an ASCII string of 1s and 0s. It doesn't drop leading 0s like the python bin(x) function does.

For the electrical connections see Controlling a Serial LCD Display on a PC Printer Port with Python

The function readDS18B20() not only prints the temperature readings on the terminal but on the LCD display.

To use this one must setup their PC to use my modified pyparallel. See Programming the PC Printer Port in Python.


#!/usr/bin/env python 
# File pportArduinoReadbitsLCD.py
# http://www.bristolwatch.com/pport/index.htm
# By Lewis Loflin - lewis@bvu.net
# Read serial data from Arduino
# Same as TLC548 except 16 bit.

# This version use Data port bits D0-D3

# Data from Arduino displayed on LCD and terminal.

# SW1 is connected from ground to DB25 pin 10 and pulled high
# by a 10k resistor.


# Reset used with Arduino sketch
#  pportArduino1.ino for each read. 

# Reset used once for pportArduino2.ino
# then multiple reads.  

# pportArduino3.ino is setup for read/write.
# Write a code then read back result
# in some case original code.
# 0x5600 blink LED on DP13 returns 0x5600
# 0x5500 analogRead(0) returns 0-1023
# 0x5700 DS18B20 temp sensor return integer
# 0x58XX PWM DP9 - X being 0 to 255 in HEX.
# Arduino returns 0x58XX

import parallel
import time

p = parallel.Parallel()

############################LCD###########################

Line1 = 0x80  # location LCD row 0 col 0 or line 1
Line2 = 0xC0  # location LCD row 1 col 0 or line 2

# Bit_out  Pin 1-2 Sn74164
# CLK  Pin 9 Sn74164 - clock bit - LOW to HIGH to LOW
# RS Pin 4 LCD  - LOW command; HIGH ASCII
# E Pin 6 LCD - clock data into LCD - HIGH to LOW to HIGH

# init i/o pins
p.setDataStrobe(0) # Pin 1 use as CLK orange wire
p.setAutoFeed(0)   # Pin 14 use as data bit for 74164 yellow
p.setInitOut(1)    # Pin 16 use as E  brown wire
p.setSelect(0)     # Pin 17 use as RS white wire
p.getInError()	   # Pin 15 input to DATA OUT Arduino DP4


def pulseCLK():
    p.setDataStrobe(1)
   # time.sleep(.01) 
    p.setDataStrobe(0)
    return

def pulseE():
    p.setInitOut(0)
   # time.sleep(.01)
    p.setInitOut(1)
    return

# MSB out first!
def ssrWrite(value):
    for  x in range(0,8):
        temp = value & 0x80
        if temp == 0x80:
           p.setAutoFeed(1) # set data bit HIGH
        else:
            p.setAutoFeed(0)
        pulseCLK()
        value = value << 0x01 # shift left
        time.sleep(.001)
    p.setDataStrobe(0)
    p.setAutoFeed(0)
    return 


def initLCD():
    p.setSelect(0) # RS LOW
    ssrWrite(0x38) # setup for 2 lines
    pulseE()
    ssrWrite(0x0F) # blinking cursor
    pulseE()
    clearLCD()
    Home()
    return 

def clearLCD():
    p.setSelect(0) # RS LOW
    ssrWrite(0x01) # clear
    pulseE()
    return
    
def Home():
    p.setSelect(0) # RS LOW
    ssrWrite(0x02) # home
    pulseE()
    return 
    

def gotoLocation(val):
    p.setSelect(0) # RS LOW
    #if val < 0x80:
       # val = 0x80
    ssrWrite(val)
    pulseE()
    return


def writeString(myString):
    i = len(myString)
    p.setSelect(1) # Pin 17 RS - HIGH is ASCII
    for  x in range(0,i):
       y = ord(myString[x])
       ssrWrite(y)
       pulseE()
    p.setSelect(0) # Pin 17 RS LOW
    return

initLCD()


##################################################

# Reset Arduino to perform
# whatever reading if needed
# Delay 2 seconds after reset
def resetArduino():
    writeD2(1)
    time.sleep(.001)
    writeD2(0)
    time.sleep(2)


###############Connecting Arduino#################


# data LSB first
# enable CS1 HIGH
# set CLK HIGH
# read data bit shift left
# set CLK LOW
# repeat 15 times
# then once more after loop.
# last bit should not be shifted.

# Arduino
# define CLK 6
# define CS1 5
# define dataBit 4
# Pin 15 input to DATA OUT Arduino DP4


# Connect pport pin 2 to Arduino CLK DP6
def writeD0(bit_val):
    if bit_val == 1:
        p.setData(p.data() | 1) # set bit 0
    else: # clear bit 0
        p.setData(p.data() & (255 - 1))
    return



# Connect pport pin 3 to Arduino CS1 DP5
def writeD1(bit_val):
    if bit_val == 1:
        p.setData(p.data() | 2) #set bit 1
    else: # clear bit 1
        p.setData(p.data() & (255 - 2))
    return


# Connect pport pin 4 to Arduino Reset
def writeD2(bit_val):
    if bit_val == 1:
        p.setData(p.data() | 4) #set bit 1
    else: # clear bit 1
        p.setData(p.data() & (255 - 4))
    return


# Connect pport pin 5 to Arduino DP2
def writeD3(bit_val):
    if bit_val == 1:
        p.setData(p.data() | 8) #set bit 1
    else: # clear bit 1
        p.setData(p.data() & (255 - 8))
    return

# init Arduino:
writeD0(0) # Arduino DP6 CLK for read data for write 
writeD1(0) # Arduino CS1 DP5
writeD2(0) # Arduino Reset
writeD3(0) # Arduino DP2 IRQ CLK for write



#################Write Arduino#######################

# MSB out first!
def writeArduino(value):
    writeD3(1) # tell Arduino write is coming
    writeD1(1) # CS1 HIGH
    for  x in range(0,15):       
        temp = value & 0x8000
        if temp == 0x8000:
           writeD0(1) # set data bit HIGH
        else:
            writeD0(0)
        value = value << 0x01 # shift left
        time.sleep(.001)
        writeD3(0)
        # time.sleep(.001)
        writeD3(1)
    temp = value & 0x8000
    if temp == 0x8000:
        writeD0(1)
    else:
        writeD0(0)
    writeD1(0)
    writeD3(0)
    return

    
###################Read Arduino######################

def readArduino(delayT):
        temp = 0
        writeD1(1) # enable CS
        time.sleep(delayT)
        for i in range(0,15): # loop here 7 times
                writeD0(1) # CLK HIGH
                time.sleep(.001)
                temp = temp + p.getInError() # get bit
                temp = temp << 1 # shift 1 bit left
                writeD0(0) # CLK LOW
        writeD0(1) # CLK HIGH
        time.sleep(.001)
        temp = temp + p.getInError() # get bit 8 
        writeD0(0) # CLK LOW
        writeD1(0) # CS LOW
        return temp

#####################################################

# Print a 16-bit number (integer) in binary. 
# Returns string.
# unlike python bin() this doesn't drop leading zeros
def convBinary(value):
    binaryValue = 'b'
    for  x in range(0, 16):
        temp = value & 0x8000
        if temp == 0x8000:
           binaryValue += '1'
        else:
            binaryValue += '0'
        value = value << 1
    return binaryValue
    
	
# SW1 is connected from ground to DB25 pin 10 and pulled high
# by a 10k resistor.
def SW1():
	return p.getInAcknowledge()  
   # check pin 10 DB25 when pressed returns 0



def degC(val): # convert value DS18B20 read
	return val * 0.0625
	

def degF(val): # convert value DS18B20 read
	return (val * 0.0625) * 9 / 5 + 32



# 0x5600 blink LED 13
# 0x5500 analogRead(0)
# 0x5700 DS18B20 temp sensor
# 0x58XX PWM 0 - 255 pin 9 Arduino

#writeArduino(0x587f)

def readDS18B20():
    gotoLocation(Line1)
    writeString("Wait for T:")
    print "Please wait for T reading..."
    writeArduino(0x5700)
    Treading = readArduino(.5) # delay .5 sec. DS18B20
    print degC(Treading), "deg. C"
    print degF(Treading), "deg. F"
    gotoLocation(Line1)
    writeString(str(degC(Treading)) + " deg. C")
    gotoLocation(Line2)
    writeString(str(degF(Treading)) + " deg. F")
    return Treading


def readAnalog0():
    writeArduino(0x5500)
    return readArduino(.1)


# resetArduino() 


for k in range(0,20):
    j = readDS18B20()
    print "Reading number ", k
    print "j = ", hex(j), " in HEX."
    print "j = ", convBinary(j), "in binary."
    print "j = ", j, "in decimal."
    time.sleep(5)
    clearLCD()


print "Exit now."      
        
exit

Projects

Below are listed a series of projects using pyparallel and electronics. Starting with routines I wrote to aid students I'd advise walking through this in sequence. Have fun and send comments and/or corrections to lewis@bvu.net.

Linux Videos

Live Linux Distro for Using Printer Port with Electronics
Using the powerful Rox-Filer system in Linux
Use FEH under Linux for a Wallpaper Setter
How to create Symbolic links in Linux

Printer Port Interfacing Videos:
Connect Electronics to PC printer Port with Python
Setup PC Printer Port with Python-Linux
Use PC Printer Port to Read Analog Voltage


Read-Write Arduino ADC PWN with Printer Port
Printer Port to Serial LCD Display
Connect Arduino to PC Printer Port for advanced control

Printer Port in C

Web site Copyright Lewis Loflin, All rights reserved.
If using this material on another site, please provide a link back to my site.