Projects   /   LCD & Display Projects   /   PIC16F877A

Interfacing Lcd(8×1,8×2,10×1,10×2, 16×2, 16×4, 20×1, 20×2, 40×1,40×2) in 4 Bit Mode with Microchip Pic16f877A Microcontroller

In this project i am going to interface 16×2 lcd display in 4-bit mode with Microchip Pic16f877 microcontroller.

Tags: #microchip#potentiometer#signal
Muhammad Bilal By Muhammad Bilal
Published
Updated

At a glance

CategoryLCD & Display Projects
PIC modelPIC16F877A
Reading time~8 min
Jump to a section
  1. 16×2 lcd in 4-bit mode with pic microcontroller – Project requirements
  2. 16×2 lcd in 4-bit mode
  3. Interfacing 16×2 Lcd with pic microcontroller in 4-bit mode – Project circuit diagram
  4. Interfacing 16×2 lcd in 4-bit mode with pic microcontroller- Project code
  5. Quick Solutions to Questions related to 16x2 LCD Interfacing Project:
  6. Related projects

Summary of Interfacing Lcd(8×1,8×2,10×1,10×2, 16×2, 16×4, 20×1, 20×2, 40×1,40×2) in 4 Bit Mode with Microchip Pic16f877A Microcontroller

This article details interfacing a 16×2 LCD with a Microchip PIC16F877 microcontroller in 4-bit mode to conserve I/O pins. It explains the division of data into nibbles, circuit connections using specific port bits, and provides C code for initialization and display functions. The project demonstrates displaying text like "Microcontroller" on both lines of the screen.

Parts used in the 16x2 LCD Interfacing Project:

  • 16×2 character lcd
  • Pic 16f877 microcontroller
  • Potentiometer (For setting lcd contrast)
  • Crystal(20MHz)
  • Connecting wires
  • Bread board or PCB for the circuit
  • Power Supply

In this project i am going to interface 16×2 lcd display in 4-bit mode with Microchip Pic16f877 microcontroller. We can interface any size of character lcd display (8×1,8×2,10×1,10×2, 16×2,16×2,16×4,20×1,20×2,40×1,40×2 etc) in 4-bit mode with pic microcontrollers. In 4-bit interface mode only 4 lcd data lines are used to display data on lcd screen. Usually lcd is interfaced in 4-bit mode with microcontrollers to save I\O pins of microcontrollers. Before beginning any further i assume that you know difference between 4-bit and 8-bit lcd interfacing mode with microcntrollers. If not just take the below simple tutorial. Tutorial will help you in understating the basic difference, pros and cons of both the modes. It will also help you in understanding the code below easily.

16×2 lcd in 4-bit mode with pic microcontroller – Project requirements

  • 16×2 character lcd.
  • Pic 16f877.
  • Potentiometer (For setting lcd contrast).
  • Crystal(20MHz).
  • Connecting wires.
  • Bread board or PCB for the circuit.
  • Power Supply. ​​

16×2 lcd in 4-bit mode

In 4-bit mode only 4-bit data is send to lcd at a time. Since 8-bit microcontrollers contains data in 8-bit form so we divide our data in to two nibbles(1-nibble=4-bits). First higher 4-bits(nibble) is send to lcd and then the lower 4-bits(nibble) with enable stroke signal. Only D4,D5,D6,D7 data pins of 16×2 lcd are used in 4-bit interface mode. D1,D2,D3,D4 are left empty. D4 is our least significant bit and D7 is highest significant bit in 4-bit interface mode. A typical interfacing diagram is given at the right side. 
 

Interfacing 16×2 Lcd with pic microcontroller in 4-bit mode – Project circuit diagram

Interfacing 16×2 lcd with Pic16f877 microcontroller is simple, if you have taken the above tutorial. The circuit of the project is also very simple. Port-B first 4 bits (RB0,RB1,RB2,RB3) of Pic16f877 microcontroller are used to send 4-bit data and commands to lcd. These four Pins(RB0,RB1,RB2,RB3) are Connected to four data pins of 16×2 lcd(D4,D5,D6,D7). Port-D pin# 5 is connected to rw(read-write) pin of lcd. Port-D pin# 6 is connected to rs(register select) pin of lcd. Port-D pin# 7 is connected to en(Enable) pin of 16×2 lcd. If you are newbie and have to idea about the working and pin configuration of lcd. Below is a good tutorial.

Taking the upper tutorial will led you know how 16×2 lcd works & how to configure it.The circuit diagram of the project is given below. 

Interfacing 16×2 lcd in 4-bit mode with pic microcontroller- Project code

Coming to the code portion. Code is written in c language using Mp-lab ide by Microchip and high tech c compiler is used for compiling and generating hex code file. First header file htc.h is included. This header file must be included if you are using high tech c compiler for compilation of code. delay() function is used here for generating some delay. You can also use predefined delay function like __delay_us() etc.

Some functions and their working.
It is assumed that you know all about operators like (>>,& etc) and their functions. 

lcdcmd()

  • This function is sending high and low bytes of a command one by one to llcdcmd() function.
  • The statement llcdcmd(c>>4); is moving our high Byte (four high bits) to right and then sends them to llcdcmd function.
  • The statement llcdcmd(c); is sending our low Byte(four low bits) to llcdcmd function.

display()

  • This function is also working in the same way as lcdcmd(). The difference is it is sending data to ddisplay() function.

llcdcmd()
This function is separating four bits from our command and puts them on RB0,RB1,RB2,RB3 line and then sends them to lcd. The following instructions are separating four bits.
RB0=(value >> 0) & 0x01;
RB1=(value >> 1) & 0x01;
RB2=(value >> 2) & 0x01;
RB3=(value >> 3) & 0x01;

ddisplay()
This function is separating four bits from our 8-bit data and puts the 4-bit data on RB0,RB1,RB2,RB3 pins and then sends them to lcd. Following instructions are separating four bits.
RB0=(value >> 0) & 0x01;
RB1=(value >> 1) & 0x01;
RB2=(value >> 2) & 0x01;
RB3=(value >> 3) & 0x01;

If you dont know what is meant by commands and data send to 16×2 lcd here is a simple tutorial.

In the main function i first called lcdint() function. This function is initializing our lcd. Refer to the data sheet of lcd if you dont know what is lcd initialization. Then i am sending data to 16×2 lcd which i want to display on lcd screen. I am displaying word “Microcontroller” on lcd display screen. 

   
  #include <htc.h>
  #define _XTAL_FREQ 20e6
  #define en RD7
  #define rs RD6
  #define rw RD5
   
  void delay(unsigned int time) //Time delay function - Arbitrary delay
  {
  unsigned int i,j;
  for(i=0;i< time;i++)
  for(j=0;j< 5;j++);
  }
   
  //Function sending commands to the command register of LCD
  void llcdcmd(unsigned char value)
  {
  RB0=(value >> 0) & 0x01;
  RB1=(value >> 1) & 0x01;
  RB2=(value >> 2) & 0x01;
  RB3=(value >> 3) & 0x01;
   
  en = 1; //enable-e
  delay(500);
  en=0; //enable-e
  delay(500);
  }
  //Function sending data to the data register of LCD
  void ddisplay(unsigned char value)
  {
  RB0=(value >> 0) & 0x01;
  RB1=(value >> 1) & 0x01;
  RB2=(value >> 2) & 0x01;
  RB3=(value >> 3) & 0x01;
   
  en= 1; //enable-e
  delay(500);
  en=0; //enable-e
  delay(500);
  }
   
   
  void display(unsigned char c){
  rs= 1; //register select-rs
  rw= 0; //read-write-rd
  delay(150);
  ddisplay(c>>4); //Send Higher nibble 4-bits of 8-bit data
  delay(150);
  ddisplay(c); //Send Lower nibble 4-bits of 8-bit data
   
  }
  void lcdcmd(unsigned char c){
  rs= 0; //register select-rs
  rw = 0; //read-write-rd
  delay(150);
  llcdcmd(c>>4); //Send Higher nibble 4-bits of 8-bit command
  delay(150);
  llcdcmd(c); //Send Lower nibble 4-bits of 8-bit command
  }
  //Function to initialize the registers and pins of LCD
  //always use with every lcd of Hitachi
  void lcdint(void)
  {
  TRISB0=0;
  TRISB1=0;
  TRISB2=0;
  TRISB3=0; //Port-B is used as output port
  TRISD5=0; //Read-Write pin as output
  TRISD6=0; //Register select pin as output
  TRISD7=0; //Enable pin as output
  rw=0;
  rs=0;
  PORTB &= 0xF0;
  PORTB |= (0x03&0x0F); // Write 0x3
  en = 1;
  delay(150);
  en = 0;
  delay(150);
  delay(4500);
   
  PORTB &= 0xF0;
  PORTB |= (0x03&0x0F); // Write 0x3
  en = 1;
  delay(150);
  en = 0;
  delay(150);
  delay(300);
   
  PORTB &= 0xF0;
  PORTB |= (0x03&0x0F); // Write 0x3
  en = 1;
  delay(150);
  en = 0;
  delay(150);
  delay(650);
   
  PORTB &= 0xF0;
  PORTB |= (0x02&0x0F); // Write 0x2
  en = 1;
  delay(150);
  en = 0;
  delay(150);
   
  display(0x20); //Lcd in 4-bit mode, 1 line and 5x7 font character
  delay(1000);
  lcdcmd(0x28); //Lcd in 4-bit mode, 2 Line and 5x7 font character
  delay(50);
  lcdcmd(0x0C); //Display on cursor off
  delay(50);
  lcdcmd(0x01); //Clear Lcd Screen
  delay(50);
  lcdcmd(0x06); //Entry Mode
  delay(50);
  lcdcmd(0x80); //Start from first line
  delay(50);
  }
   
  void main()
  {
  lcdint(); //Initialize character lcd
  display('M'); display('i'); display('c'); display('r'); display('o'); display('c');
  display('o'); display('n'); display('t'); display('r'); display('o'); display('l');
  display('l'); display('e'); display('r');
  lcdcmd(0xC0); //Jump to second line
  display('M'); display('i'); display('c'); display('r'); display('o'); display('c');
  display('o'); display('n'); display('t'); display('r'); display('o'); display('l');
  display('l'); display('e'); display('r');
  lcdcmd(0x01); //Clear lcd
  delay(500);
  }
 
Note: Although i declared the R/W pin in code (RD-5) but i am not using it. I made the lcd R/W pin directly ground. So now it remains always in write mode.
Download the project files and code with simulation. Simulation is made in proteaus and code is written using MP-lab ide and high tech c compiler. Please give us Your feed back on the project. If you have any questions regarding post or you dont understand any instruction please leave your comments below.
 
Source: Interfacing Lcd(8×1,8×2,10×1,10×2, 16×2, 16×4, 20×1, 20×2, 40×1,40×2) in 4 Bit Mode with Microchip Pic16f877A Microcontroller
  • Why is the 4-bit interface mode usually chosen for microcontrollers?
    Lcd is interfaced in 4-bit mode with microcontrollers to save IO pins of microcontrollers.
  • Which data pins of the 16×2 lcd are utilized in 4-bit interface mode?
    Only D4,D5,D6,D7 data pins of 16×2 lcd are used in 4-bit interface mode while D1,D2,D3,D4 are left empty.
  • How are the Port-B pins of Pic16f877 connected to the lcd?
    Port-B first 4 bits RB0,RB1,RB2,RB3 of Pic16f877 microcontroller are Connected to four data pins of 16×2 lcd D4,D5,D6,D7.
  • What specific pins on Port-D connect to the lcd control signals?
    Port-D pin# 5 is connected to rw pin, pin# 6 to rs pin, and pin# 7 to en pin of 16×2 lcd.
  • Which compiler is specified for compiling the project code?
    High tech c compiler is used for compiling and generating hex code file.
  • How does the llcdcmd function handle command transmission?
    The statement llcdcmd(c>>4) moves our high Byte to right and sends them to llcdcmd function before sending the low Byte.
  • What is the default state of the R/W pin in this specific implementation?
    I made the lcd R/W pin directly ground so it remains always in write mode.
  • What command is sent to clear the lcd screen during initialization?
    Lcdcmd 0x01 is used to Clear Lcd Screen.
Beginner Tutorials · PIC16F877A

PIC16F877 Driving LCD in 4-Bit Mode using PIC16F877 with Proteus Simulation

Introduction This microcontroller project shows how a PIC16F877 can drive an LCD display using 4-bit mode inside a Proteus simulation.The project demonstrates...

 Programmers & ICSP · PIC16F877A

EPE PIC/LCD Demo using PIC16F877 with Proteus Simulation

IntroductionThe EPE PIC/LCD Demo is a classic microcontroller project that demonstrates how a PIC16F877 can fully control a PG12864F graphical LCD.Designed as...

 Motors & Robotics · PIC16F877A

Efficient Sun-Following Robot: A Solar Tracker with Microcontroller Control

Abstract The impending global challenge of dwindling non-renewable fuel resources underscores the urgency of transitioning towards renewable energy alternatives like solar power....

 LCD & Display Projects

Leveraging Blockout Banners for Effective Electronics and Tech Product Displays

Blockout banners have become a popular and effective tool for displaying electronics and tech products in various settings, from trade shows and...

 LCD & Display Projects · PIC18F4520

Interfacing PIC18F4520 microcontroller with an HD44780 LCD

Introduction Being able to display data from a microcontroller visually has many advantages. It allows for menus, status indicators, and instructions to...

 LCD & Display Projects

Video Project Development in the Midst of an Impromptu Online Semester

Receiving robot parts in the mail was an unexpected conclusion to the Winter 2020 semester for students. However, when faced with a...
Muhammad Bilal

Muhammad Bilal

I am a highly skilled and motivated individual with a Master's degree in Computer Science. I have extensive experience in technical writing and a deep understanding of SEO practices.