16x2 Character LCD (Parallel Interface)

This 16 × 2 LCD packs 32 characters into an outline smaller than that of most two-line displays. This unit uses the HD44780 interface found on most parallel character displays and operates without a backlight.

Not currently available

Our Code: SKU-002407

Supplier Link: [Pololu MPN:773]


Description

Dimensions (in mm) and pinout for the 16x2 character LCD without backlight

Overview

This 16-character, 2-line parallel liquid crystal display achieves a large viewing area in a compact package. It uses the common HD44780 interface (330k pdf), so sample interface code is widely available for a variety of microcontrollers. This LCD is also available with a backlight.

The DDRAM address 0x00 corresponds to the first character of the top line, address 0x0F corresponds to the last character of the top line, address 0x40 corresponds to the first character of the second line, and address 0x4F corresponds to the last character of the second line.

You can find sample HD44780 LCD interface code written for a variety of AVR microcontrollers as part of the Pololu AVR library.

16x2 character LCD (no backlight) (1)

Pinout

Pin Symbol Function
1 Vss ground (0 V)
2 Vdd 5 V logic supply voltage
3 Vo contrast adjustment
4 RS H/L register select signal
5 R/W H/L read/write signal
6 E H/L enable signal
7-14 DB0 – DB7 H/L data bus for 4- or 8-bit mode


Note: No cables or connectors are included with this product, but a 40×2-pin 0.100" male header strip and 20", 16-conductor ribbon cable can be purchased separately. You can break a 7×2 segment from the header strip and solder it to the 14 through-holes on the left side of the LCD PCB; the ribbon cable will then plug into the header pins (leaving two holes empty). The header pins won’t enforce proper orientation of the cable, so you will need to take care to plug it into the correct pins. The 8×2 shrouded box header can be used with this LCD if you use pliers to pull out connector pins 15 and 16, effectively turning it into a 7×2 keyed receptacle for a 16-conductor ribbon cable.


Specifications

Dimensions

Size: 85.0 x 29.5 x 9.5 mm
Viewing area: 64.5 x 16.4 mm
Dot size: 0.56 x 0.61 mm
Character size: 3.00 x 5.23 mm
Weight: 27 g

General specifications

Minimum logic voltage: 4.5 V
Maximum logic voltage: 5.5 V
Supply current: 2 mA

Resources

File downloads

HD44780 interface datasheet (330k pdf)
This document details the HD44780 parallel interface that is an industry standard for dot-matrix LCDs.