Mounts on rear of 4x20 LCD	Controls LCD backlight
Connects to parallel port	Powered from spare HDD power lead
*** . ***
Info - Connections - Prices
Interface board Shown without LCD module, with 25-D connector Interface board Shown attached to 4x20 LCD module

INTRODUCTION The LCD adapter board interfaces a standard parallel LCD module to a PC parallel port. There are a number of software packages available for download that will drive the LCD displaying system parameters and other information. These can also be used with PC based MP3 players. The interface supports contrast adjustment and LED backlight switching. Power is supplied from a spare hard drive power lead from the PC power supply. Only the 5V supply is used for the LCD and backlight. The interface is designed to attach to the back of our standard 4 line 20 charater LCD module. It could be connected to just about any parallel LCD module with a bit of wiring between the interface and LCD. The ribbon cable connects to the PC parallel port which can be external on the back of the PC or an internal header. Jumpers on the interface board allow adjustments to suit different driver software; see downloads below.

CONNECTIONS There are 2 connector options on the ribbon cable: D-connector: plugs into the 25-pin printer port connector on the back of most PC's Header: plugs into a ribbon cable header socket inside the PC (if you have one). This may not be suitable for some systems. It depends on the pin configuration of the socket inside the PC. The LCD interface ribbon cable can be checked against your mother board or expansion board header if you have a manual with the pin functions for the connector listed. These lists describe the ribbon-cable to PC function and interface to LCD function for each core:
Ribbon 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26	LCD E1 D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 NC NC NC NC RW ** NC RS ** BL ** GND GND GND GND GND GND GND GND NC	LPT strobe D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 ack busy p-error select auto-feed error init select-in GND GND GND GND GND GND GND GND NC			LCD 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16	Function GND +5V VLC RS RW E1 D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 +BL -BL	Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . backlight backlight
** = affected by jumpers NC = not connected Caution: If you're doing your own wiring be careful. Ensure that it is correct before switching on. The PC power supply can deliver a lot of current; enough to melt wiring.

LCD Interface	Connector	part number	1 to 9	10 to 49	50 up
Module (ready to go) with 4 line, 20 char LCD module	25-D	LCD4A5A	$55.00	$50.00	email
Module (ready to go) with 2 line, 16 char LCD module	25-D	LCD4A5E	$31.00	$29.00	email
Module only no LCD	25-D	.LCD4A5C	$25.00	$21.00	email
Module only no LCD	26-header	LCD4A5D	$25.00	$21.00	email

Files available for Download
Jumper settings diagram (pdf)	......	.......
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last updated: 12 May 2004