How to use Monochrome Graphical LCD

Overview

LCD is an optical device made up of a number of pixels filled with liquid crystals and placed in front of a light source (or a reflector) to produce images in color or monochrome.

Use Cases:

• Equipment such as microwave ovens
• Home automation
• Automation Controllers
• Vending machines
• and many more..

This article demonstrates how to interface monochrome graphical LCD with Iris Carrier Board V1.1A.

Schematic diagram

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NOTE: Below mentioned examples can run on Colibri VF50/61 modules, for that you have to use Vybrid GPIO libraries available here.

Demo Applications in C

Demo 1

• Download GLCD Demo code from here.
• Build and deploy the solution.
• Navigate to My Device > Program Files > glcddemo and run the application glcddemo.exe.

Main function code snippet is shown below:

while (TRUE)
    {
        toRepeat = '\0';    
        GlcdToradexLogo();                              ///< Display Toradex Logo on GLCD
        Sleep(5000);
        GlcdRobinApalisColibriLogo();                   ///< Display Toradex Modules Logo on GLCD
        GlcdSetPage(GLCD_PAGE6, 0);
        GlcdDisplayString("   Embedded Computer ");     ///< Display string on GLCD
        GlcdSetPage(GLCD_PAGE8, 0);
        GlcdDisplayString("             Modules");
        Sleep(1000);
        printf("Press Enter to continue and 'e' to exit\n");
        scanf_s("%c", &toRepeat);   
        if (toRepeat == 'e') break;
    }

Output

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Demo 2

This application takes the bitmap image (monochrome, 128x64) as an input and displays it on graphical LCD. We have done a small animation using multiple bmp files.

• Download demo code from here.
• Build and deploy the solution.
• Navigate to My Device > Program Files > glcd_imagedemo and run the application glcd_imagedemo.exe.

Output

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NOTE: Images used are monochrome single layer bitmap images (.bmp file of 128x64 dimension).

Demo Application in CSharp

• Demo application can be downloaded from here.
• Navigate to Solution Explorer in visual studio > Right Click on Solution > Properties > Devices.
• Uncheck "Deploy the Latest version of the .NET Compact Framework (including Service Packs)".
• Build and deploy the project on your WinCE device.
• Download and Install .NET Compact Framework directly to the FlashDisk of the device from here.
• Go to My Device > Program Files > vcsharp_glcd_demo and run the application vcsharp_glcd_demo.exe.

Output

Following GUI will open that will show the same images displaying on the GLCD at that time.

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NOTE: Images used are monochrome single layer bitmap images (.bmp file of 128x64 dimension).

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