128x64 Graphical LCD

The above image was created using this code:

        lcd_init();			// init the LCD, clear the buffer
        print_to_lcd = 1;		// printf_fast to LCD buffer
        buf_set_font(font_timBI24);
        buf_set_position(6, 0);
        printf_fast("128 x 64");	// first line: 128 x 64
        buf_set_font(font_7x13B);
        buf_set_position(25, 30);
        printf_fast("Graphic LCD");	// second line: Graphic LCD
        buf_set_font(font_4x6);
        buf_set_position(0, 58);
        printf_fast("Font sizes from large to tiny...");
        for (i=4; i<120; i+=20) {
                buf_line(i, 42, i+20,  55);	// diagonal line
                buf_line(i+20, 42, i+20,  55);	// vertical line
        }
        lcd_update();			// copy buffer to LCD

Example Code (for 8051 processors)

Fonts (beta test):
lcd_fonts_02.tar.gz
lcd_fonts_01.tar.gz

Diagnostic Utility:
diag_128x64_01.tar.gz

Accessing The LCD (lcd_driver.c)

lcd_init()
Initialize the LCD hardware, clear the LCD and the off-screen buffer. This function should be called before using any others.

lcd_update()
Copy the off-screen buffer to the LCD. This function uses an optimized copy which interleaves access to the two chips on the LCD and minimizes overhead for minimal flicker.

Off-Screen Buffer Operations (lcd_buffer.c)

buf_set_position(x, y)
Set the position where text & shapes will be drawn.

buf_set_font(font)
Set the font. To use a font, #include "lcd_fonts.h" (which has definitions for all available fonts). Just pass the font name to buf_set_font. You must also compile and link the corresponding .c font file into your program.

buf_putchar(ch)
Print a character. Normally this is called from putchar() and putchar() is called from printf(), so printf can write directly to the LCD. The character is rendered using the current font, and the X position is advanced by the character width. The Y position is NOT advanced.

buf_draw(shape_ptr)
Draw a shape at the current X,Y position. This is used by buf_putchar() to render the character. The binary data format required is only documented (so far) in the source code and a perl script "bdf2c.pl". Perhaps someday an easy-to-use tool will allow user created shape data to be created?

buf_pixel(x, y)
Turn on a single pixel at X, Y.

buf_line(x1, y1, x2, y2)
Draw a line between two points.

buf_clear()
Clear the buffer. This does not clear the actual LCD, only the off-screen buffer.

Connections To 8051 Board

How to connect to the 8051 board:

LCD             8051    Notes:
---             ----    -----
 1: Vss         Ground  (pin 1 on LCD connector)
 2: Vdd         +5V     (pin 2 on LCD connector)
 3: Vo                  Connect to 5K POT wiper
 4: D/I         A1      (pin 4 on LCD connector)
 5: R/W         A0      (pin 5 on LCD connector)
 6: E           E       (pin 6 on LCD connector)
 7: D0          D0      (pin 7 on LCD connector)
 8: D1          D1      (pin 8 on LCD connector)
 9: D2          D2      (pin 9 on LCD connector)
10: D3          D3      (pin 10 on LCD connector)
11: D4          D4      (pin 11 on LCD connector)
12: D5          D5      (pin 12 on LCD connector)
13: D6          D6      (pin 13 on LCD connector)
14: D7          D7      (pin 14 on LCD connector)
15: CS1         A2
16: CS2         A3
17: Reset               10uF cap to ground, 22K resistor to +5V (see schematic)
18: Vee                 Connect to POT side (other side to ground)
19: A           +5V
20: K           Ground

As an alternative to using a 5K pot for the contrast adjust, you can use higher impedance values with a PNP transistor. A 2N3906 or almost any other small general purpose PNP transistor should work, allowing any pot value between 10K to 250K.

Update: Pin 17 can be connected directly to +5 volts. The 22K resistor and 10µF capacitor are not necessary. Extensive testing has shown this LCD works fine without a pulse on its reset line.