Using telephone LCDs

Many of our projects make use of LCDs. The PDS supports both text and graphic types and the manual should be read to understand how this is done. There are many good BASIC examples there and in the samples folder.

Not everyone has deep pockets and so wrecked office telephones can provide a source of free 2 line 16 character LCDs and other interesting parts including DTMF encoders.

Unfortunately the telephone LCDs don't necessarily match the pinouts of the 'standard' HD44780 compatibles.

Here is a file with the connections for the NEC LCD as used in many office telephones. Attach:NEC_LCD.pdf

A site with some excellent information on HD44780 LCDs is located at http://home.iae.nl/users/pouweha/lcd/lcd.shtml

from John Drew.