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1. Whats Liquid Crystals (LC)

2. Introduction to Liquid Crystal Displays
3. Types of lcds
4. Library Functions
5. Operating Principle
6. Display Addressing
7. Applications


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Intermediary substance between a liquid and solid state
of matter.
e.g. soapy water
Light passes through liquid crystal changes when it is
stimulated by an electrical charge.
It is basically an array of LEDs.
Already has a inbuilt driver/controller, so you
just need to specify the location and character
to be printed
Two broad divisions:-
Character LCDs : ex calculators
Graphic LCDs : ex Mobile phones,
Xerox Machines
Commonly available configurations for
character LCDs
16 X 2 , 20 X 2 , 40 X 4
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Consists of an array of tiny segments
(called pixels) that can be manipulated
to present information.
Using polarization of lights to display
objects.
Use only ambient light to illuminate the
display.
Common wrist watch and pocket
calculator to an advanced VGA
computer screen
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Passive Matrix LCDs (AMLCD)
and Active Matrix LCDs
(AMLCD)
Passive Twisted Hematic Displays (TNLCD)
Super Twisted nematic LCD (STNLCD)
Thin Film Transistor LCD (TFT LCD)
Reflective LCD
Rear Projection LCD
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The following variables must be defined in all
projects using Lcd Library :
Description : Example :
extern sfr sbit LCD_RS: Register Select line. sbit LCD_RS at RB4_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_EN: Enable line. sbit LCD_EN at RB5_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D7; Data 7 line. sbit LCD_D7 at RB3_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D6; Data 6 line. sbit LCD_D6 at RB2_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D5; Data 5 line. sbit LCD_D5 at RB1_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D4; Data 4 line. sbit LCD_D4 at RB0_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_RS_Direction; Register Select direction pin. sbit LCD_RS_Direction at TRISB4_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_EN_Direction; Enable direction pin. sbit LCD_EN_Direction at TRISB5_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D7_Direction; Data 7 direction pin. sbit LCD_D7_Direction at TRISB3_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D6_Direction; Data 6 direction pin. sbit LCD_D6_Direction at TRISB2_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D5_Direction; Data 5 direction pin. sbit LCD_D5_Direction at TRISB1_bit;
extern sfr sbit LCD_D4_Direction; Data 4 direction pin. sbit LCD_D4_Direction at TRISB0_bit;
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Prototype void Lcd_Init();
Returns Nothing.
Description Initializes Lcd module.
Requires Global variables:
LCD_D7: Data bit 7
LCD_D6: Data bit 6
LCD_D5: Data bit 5
LCD_D4: Data bit 4
LCD_RS: Register Select (data/instruction) signal pin
LCD_EN: Enable signal pin

LCD_D7_Direction: Direction of the Data 7 pin
LCD_D6_Direction: Direction of the Data 6 pin
LCD_D5_Direction: Direction of the Data 5 pin
LCD_D4_Direction: Direction of the Data 4 pin
LCD_RS_Direction: Direction of the Register Select pin
LCD_EN_Direction: Direction of the Enable signal pin
must be defined before using this function.
Example // Lcd pinout settings sbit LCD_RS at RB4_bit; sbit LCD_EN at RB5_bit; sbit LCD_D7 at RB3_bit; sbit LCD_D6 at
RB2_bit; sbit LCD_D5 at RB1_bit;
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Lcd_Init

Prototype void Lcd_Out(char row, char column, char *text);
Returns Nothing.
Description Prints text on Lcd starting from specified position. Both string
variables and literals can be passed as a text.
Parameters :
row: starting position row number
column: starting position column number
text: text to be written
Requires The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.
Example // Write text "Hello!" on Lcd starting from row 1, column 3:
Lcd_Out(1, 3, "Hello!");
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Prototype void Lcd_Chr(char row, char column, char out_char);
Returns Nothing.
Description Prints character on Lcd at specified position. Both variables and literals can be passed as a character.
Parameters :
row: writing position row number
column: writing position column number
out_char: character to be written
Requires The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.
Example // Write character "i" at row 2, column 3: Lcd_Chr(2, 3, 'i');
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Prototype void Lcd_Chr_Cp(char out_char);
Returns Nothing.
Description Prints character on Lcd at current cursor position. Both variables and
literals can be passed as a character.
Parameters :
out_char: character to be written
Requires The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init routine.
Example // Write character "e" at current cursor position: Lcd_Chr_Cp('e');
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Prototype void Lcd_Cmd(char out_char);
Returns Nothing.
Description Sends command to Lcd.
Parameters :
out_char: command to be sent
Note : Predefined constants can be passed to the function, see Available Lcd Commands.
Requires The Lcd module needs to be initialized. See Lcd_Init table.
Example // Clear Lcd display: Lcd_Cmd(_LCD_CLEAR);
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LCD_FIRST_ROW Move cursor to the 1st row
_LCD_SECOND_ROW Move cursor to the 2nd row
_LCD_THIRD_ROW Move cursor to the 3rd row
_LCD_FOURTH_ROW Move cursor to the 4th row
_LCD_CLEAR Clear display
_LCD_RETURN_HOME Return cursor to home position, returns a shifted display to its
original position. Display data RAM is unaffected.
_LCD_CURSOR_OFF Turn off cursor
_LCD_UNDERLINE_ON Underline cursor on
_LCD_BLINK_CURSOR_ON Blink cursor on
_LCD_MOVE_CURSOR_LEFT Move cursor left without changing display data RAM
_LCD_MOVE_CURSOR_RIGHT Move cursor right without changing display data RAM
_LCD_TURN_ON Turn Lcd display on
_LCD_TURN_OFF Turn Lcd display off
_LCD_SHIFT_LEFT Shift display left without changing display data RAM
_LCD_SHIFT_RIGHT Shift display right without changing display data RAM
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// LCD module connections sbit LCD_RS at RB4_bit;
sbit LCD_EN at RB5_bit;
sbit LCD_D4 at RB0_bit;
sbit LCD_D5 at RB1_bit;
sbit LCD_D6 at RB2_bit;
sbit LCD_D7 at RB3_bit;
sbit LCD_RS_Direction at TRISB4_bit;
sbit LCD_EN_Direction at TRISB5_bit;
sbit LCD_D4_Direction at TRISB0_bit;
sbit LCD_D5_Direction at TRISB1_bit;
sbit LCD_D6_Direction at TRISB2_bit
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The parallel arrangement of liquid crystal
molecules along grooves
When coming into contact with grooved surface
in a fixed direction, liquid crystal molecules line
up parallel along the grooves.
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Molecules movement
Offline (no voltage is applied)
Along the upper plate : Point
in direction 'a'
Along the lower plate : Point
in direction 'b
Forcing the liquid crystals into
a twisted structural
arrangement. (Resultant
force)
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Light movement
Offline (no voltage is applied)
Light travels through the
spacing of the molecular
arrangement.
The light also "twists" as it
passes through the twisted
liquid crystals.
Light bends 90 degrees as it
follows the twist of the
molecules.
Polarized light pass through
the analyzer (lower polarizer).
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Polarization of light
When unpolarized light passes through a polarizing filter, only
one plane of polarization is transmitted. Two polarizing
filters used together transmit light differently depending on
their relative orientation.
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Online Offline
Two bounding plates (usually
glass slides), each with a
transparent conductive coating
(such as indium tin oxide) that
acts as an electrode;
A polymer alignment layer :
undergoes a rubbing process as
grooves.
Spacers to control the cell gap
precisely;
Two crossed polarizers (the
polarizer and the analyzer);
Polarizers are usually
perpendicular to each other.
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Properties of LCD Display
Small footprint (approx 1/6 of CRT)
Light weight (typ. 1/5 of CRT)
power consumption (typ. 1/4 of CRT)
Completely flat screen - no geometrical
errors
Crisp pictures - digital and uniform colors
No electromagnetic emission
Fully digital signal processing possible
Large screens (>20 inch) on desktops
High price (presently 3x CRT)
Poor viewing angle (typ. 50 degrees)
Low contrast and luminance (typ. 1:100)
Low luminance (typ. 200 cd/m2)

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Maximum luminosity : 50%
of CRT as 50% of light is
blocked by the upper
polarizer.
Advantage of LCD over CRT
Smaller sizeAMLCDs occupy approximately 60
percent less space than CRT displaysan
important feature when office space is limited.
Lower power consumptionAMLCDs typically
consume about half the power and emit much
less heat than CRT displays.
Lighter weightAMLCDs weigh approximately
70 percent less than CRT displays of comparable
size.
No electromagnetic fieldsAMLCDs do not
emit electromagnetic fields and are not
susceptible to them. Thus, they are suitable for
use in areas where CRTs cannot be used.
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Maximum luminosity : 50%
as 50% of light is blocked by
the upper polarizer.
Addressing is the process by which pixels are turned
on and off in order to create an image.
There are two main types of addressing, direct and
multiplexing.
Direct addressing is convenient for displays where
there are only a few elements that have to be activated.
With direct addressing, each pixel in the display has
its own drive circuit. A microprocessor must
individually apply a voltage to each element. A
common application of direct addressing is the
traditional seven segment liquid crystal display,
found in wristwatches and similar devices.
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In multiplex addressing, a larger number of pixels
are involved. When the elements are in a regular
order, they can be addressed by their row and
column instead of each element being driven
separately. This reduces the complexity of the
circuitry because each pixel no longer needs its
own driver circuit.
If you have a 10x10 matrix of pixels, with direct
addressing, you need 100 individual drivers.
However, if you use multiplex addressing, you only
need 20 drivers, one for each row and one for each
column.
This is a tremendous advantage!!
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A) Thin Film Transistor (TFT)
Constructed on a glass surface using a photolithographic process.
The source and gate are the control electrodes. The drain electrode connects
to the liquid crystal pixel. The thin layer of amorphous silicon is the
semiconducting material that allows the TFT to function. The capacitor is
attached to the pixel electrode, but is not an integral part of the TFT.
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