Technical Manual
Revision1.1
PCB Revision: 1.0 or greater
Firmware Revision: 1.0 or greater
Revision History
Revision
Description
Author
1.0
Initial Release
Clark
1.1
Added VFD Option
Clark
0.1
Initial Engineering Draft
Clark
0.2
Internal Draft (Henry Release)
Clark
0.3
Internal Reformat
Clark
0.4
Internal Smaller Magazine Text Reformat
Clark
0.5
Internal Re-organization and Connections Addition
Clark
0.6
Step Simplification and Expansion
Clark
0.7
Minor Changes in preparation of Release
Clark
0.8
Command Reformat and Minor Image Fixes (Initial Release)
Clark
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................2
Quick Start...................................................................................................................................................................................3
Parts Included.........................................................................................................................................................................................3
Basic Connections...................................................................................................................................................................................4
USB..........................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Serial.......................................................................................................................................................................................................6
I2C...........................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Software......................................................................................................................................................................................8
Numeric Conversion................................................................................................................................................................................8
Hyperterminal.........................................................................................................................................................................................8
uProject...................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Code (C#).................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Hardware...................................................................................................................................................................................10
Advanced Connections..........................................................................................................................................................................10
Screen...................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Serial DB9 Connector.............................................................................................................................................................................11
USB Connectors.....................................................................................................................................................................................12
Power/Communication Header.............................................................................................................................................................12
AC Power Input.....................................................................................................................................................................................13
Protocol Select......................................................................................................................................................................................13
Keypad..................................................................................................................................................................................................14
General Purpose Output.......................................................................................................................................................................14
Dallas One-Wire....................................................................................................................................................................................15
Manual Override...................................................................................................................................................................................15
Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................................................................16
Power....................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Display...................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Communication.....................................................................................................................................................................................16
Manual Override...................................................................................................................................................................................16
Commands ................................................................................................................................................................................17
Appendix....................................................................................................................................................................................34
Character Set.........................................................................................................................................................................................34
Environmental.......................................................................................................................................................................................35
Electrical................................................................................................................................................................................................35
Optical...................................................................................................................................................................................................35
Dimensional Drawing............................................................................................................................................................................36
Ordering....................................................................................................................................................................................37
Options..................................................................................................................................................................................................37
Accessories............................................................................................................................................................................................38
Production Products..................................................................................................................................................................41
Display Options.....................................................................................................................................................................................41
Definitions.................................................................................................................................................................................43
Contact Info...............................................................................................................................................................................44
1
Introduction
The Matrix Orbital DevDevil is a product development board which provides all of the functionality of an alphanumeric
display in a project development friendly package. A variety of color options are offered for both the 2 row by 20 column
and 4 row by 20 column screen models.
All DevDevil products contain the same 6 general purpose outputs and 5 x 5 keypad input found on their production
counterparts. In addition to the regular 5V, 20mA outputs, indicator LEDs can be enabled beside each GPO to provide
status indication. Alternate keys are also added in a tactile style layout, sharing the same pins as the regular keypad. The
keypad header also has the same power and ground pins to provide optional grounding or backlight support.
The DevDevil also offers RS232, USB, TTL, and I2C protocols through a dynamic switch block, rather than the more rigid
solder jumpers found on the production model. Maximum communication speeds, however, remain the same for these
protocols; 153800bps for Serial protocols and 100,00Kbps for I2C. Standard headers for all protocols are offered on the
board, as well as a variety of input power options.
Powering up the DevDevil can be as easy as connecting to the mini-USB connector on board. Alternate power options
include an AC adapter, power through the DB9 header, and 4 pin data/power input. The basic USB connection can be
used to easily interface to the development board while the additional options are useful for more advanced project
requirements.
The following pages will outline these features in greater detail and provide instruction for connecting and communicating
to the Matrix Orbital DevDevil. Using just the information provided and a little imagination, the DevDevil can open the
door to a world of exciting display possibilities!
2
Quick Start
Parts Included
Illustration 1: Included* and Optional Parts
1 x DevDevil Development Board
DD-20X-XX
1 x 3ft mini-B USB Cable
EXTMUSB3FT
1 x Breadboard Development Cable**
BBC
1 x AC Power Adapter**
ACPC
1 x 4ft Serial Cable**
CSS4FT
Table 1: Included* and Recommend Parts List
*Note: If any parts are missing from your order, please contact a sales associate as quickly as possible using the Contact
Information at the end of this document.
**Note: Recommended optional equipment available for purchase to use in specific applications, see below
3
Basic Connections
Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections
1 USB Connector
5
Protocol Select Switches
2 Serial DB9 Connector
6
Input Select Jumper
3 Power/Communication Header
7
Voltage Select Jumper
4 AC Power Input
Table 2: DevDevil Basic Connections
4
USB
Cables Required EXTMUSB3FT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
X X X
X X X
X X X
X
Table 3: USB Protocol Select
Illustration 3: USB Connection
The USB connection is the quickest, easiest solution for PC development. After driver installation, the DevDevil will be
accessible through a virtual serial port, providing the same result as a serial setup without the cable hassle. To connect to
your DevDevil using USB protocol, please follow the steps below.
1.
2.
Prepare the onboard jumpers.
i.
Ensure that Input Select jumper is set to USB, see highlight 6 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
ii.
Disconnect the Voltage Select jumper, see highlight 7 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Set the Protocol Select switches.
i.
3.
Make the connections.
i.
4.
Place the unit into USB protocol by moving switches 4, 5, and 6 up into the on position, while ensuring the
remainder are down in the off position, see highlight 5 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Plug the mini-B header of your external mini USB cable into the DevDevil and the regular USB header into
your computer USB jack, see highlight 1 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Install the drivers.
i.
Download the latest drivers at www.matrixorbital.ca/drivers, and save them to a known location.
ii.
When prompted, install the USB bus controller driver automatically.
iii. If asked, continue anyway, even though the driver is not signed.
iv. When the driver install is complete, your display will turn on, but communication will not yet be possible.
v.
At the second driver prompt, install the serial port driver automatically.
vi. Again, if asked, continue anyway.
5.
Create.
i.
Use uProject or hyperterminal to get started, then move on with your own development. Instructions for the
former and a simple C# example is available for the latter can be located in the Software section.
5
Serial
Cables Required ACPC, CSS4FT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
X X X
X X X X X X
X
Table 4: RS232 Protocol Select
Illustration 4: RS232 Connection
Serial protocol provides a classic alternative the the USB method listed above. Two additional cables are required for this
connection; the 4 ft serial cable and AC power adapter. These must be purchased in addition to the DevDevil kit. This set
up will provide constant regulated power to your development board and provide a familiar communication scheme. To
place your board in Serial mode, just adhere to the steps laid out below.
1.
2.
Prepare the onboard jumpers.
i.
Select Input Power on the Input Select jumper, see highlight 6 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
ii.
Remove the Voltage Select jumper, see highlight 7 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Set the Protocol Select switches.
i.
3.
4.
Place the unit into Serial protocol by moving switches 1, 2, and 3 up into the on position, while ensuring the
remainder are down in the off position, see highlight 5 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Make the connections.
i.
Insert the male end of your serial cable into the corresponding header on the unit and mate the female
connector with the desired communication port of your computer, see highlight 3 in Illustration 2: DevDevil
Basic Connections..
ii.
Place the output power plug of your AC power adapter into the onboard barrel jack and connect the business
end of the device into an available wall socket, see highlight 4 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Create.
i.
Again, uProject or hyperterminal will get started, then move on with your own development. Instructions for
the former and a simple C# example is available for the latter can be located in the Software section.
6
I2C
Cables Required BBC
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
X
X
X X X X X X X X
Table 5: I2C Protocol Select
Illustration 5: I2C Connection
The most advanced connection to the DevDevil is provided by the I2C protocol setting. This mode is usually used when
connecting to a controller and serial TTL capability is not available. It requires a connection directly to your project, best
accomplished using a breadboard and the included cable of the same name. Power is usually applied from the
breadboard, but can also be supplied directly to the DevDevil using the optional AC power adapter. To dive right into your
application and use the DeveDevil in I2C mode, get started with the guidelines below.
1.
2.
Prepare the onboard jumpers.
i.
Connect the Input Power side of the Input Select jumper, see highlight 6 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic
Connections..
ii.
Select the appropriate Voltage Select jumper placement according to input voltage supplied, see highlight 7
in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Set the Protocol Select switches.
i.
3.
4.
Place the unit into I2C protocol by moving switches 9 and 10 up into the on position, while ensuring the
remainder are down in the off position, see highlight 5 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Make the connections.
i.
Connect the breadboard cable header to the power/communication header on your DevDevil and plug the
four leads into your breadboard. The red lead will require power, while the black should be connected to
ground. The green and yellow should be connected to your controller clock and data lines respectively, see
highlight 2 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
ii.
If required, power can be drawn from a wall source by removing the Voltage Select jumper. Place the output
power plug of your AC power adapter into the onboard barrel jack and connect the business end of the
device into an available wall socket, see highlight 4 in Illustration 2: DevDevil Basic Connections..
Create.
i.
This time you're on your own. While there are many examples within the Matrix Orbital AppNote section,
www.matrixorbital.ca/appnotes, too many controllers and languages exist to cover them all. If you get stuck
in development, it's a breeze to switch over to another protocol, and fellow developers are always on our
forums, http://www.lcdforums.com/forums, for additional support.
7
Software
Numeric Conversion
All command values listed in the document are shown in decimal notation for continuity and simplicity, however, different
applications my require different numeric systems. The most basic computing numeric system is binary notation. Each
digit is a placeholder for a value equaling 2 to the power of it's position. Decimal notation can be converted using the
table below by placing a one in the largest placeholder value, subtracting that placeholder number from the decimal
number, then using the remaining number to repeat the process. The decimal number 88 is written as follows.
27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
128 64
0
1
32
16
0
1
8
4
2
0
1
1
0
1
1 0 0 0
128 64
32
16
8
1 0 0 0
4
5
Table 6: Binary Conversion
2
1
8
Table 7: Hexadecimal Conversion
From binary, numbers can be easily converted to hexadecimal for quick interpretation and manipulation. Four bits are
converted to a single character from 0 to F, meaning a byte can be written with just two characters. These can then be
used in a look up table to locate corresponding ASCII characters, which represent bytes with a single digit. The website
www.ascii-table.com is a good reference for numeric conversions, including all of those mentioned above.
Hyperterminal
Installed on most Windows computers, hyperterminal can be run by selecting run and typing 'hypertrm' in the command
line. This basic program will allow communication between a PC and your display.
When starting up a name must be given to your connection and an icon may be chosen, neither is consequential. Next,
select the appropriate communication port that your display is connected to. Finally, the port settings below must be
entered to complete the port setup.
BPS
Data Bits
Parity
Stop Bits
Flow Control
19200
8
None
1
None
Table 8: Hyperterminal Settings
Once a port is successfully set up, data can be sent to an attached display by typing on the keyboard. At this point, it may
be helpful to echo keys to the monitor. Select properties from the file menu and open the ASCII settings from settings tab.
Commands can be sent to an attached display by issuing decimal commands using the number pad. While the ALT key is
held down, four digit decimal values can be sent as a single ASCII character. For example, to clear the screen try the
following sequence.
ALT +0254
ALT +0088
Table 9: Hyperterminal Command Format
Any commands or text desired can be sent to the communication port using this method to provide total control of any
Matrix Orbital display.
8
uProject
The Matrix Orbital alphanumeric display tuner, or uProject, is offered as a free download from the www.matrixorbital.ca
support site. It allows the basic functionality of any display* to be tested using a simple graphical user interface system.
While basic functionality can be tested using the GUI portion of the program, more advanced users will enjoy the scripting
capability found in the uploader tab. Here commands can be stacked, run, and saved for later use. Although many
commands are available to be dragged into the script dialog, perhaps the most powerful is the raw data command found
in the other branch.
This command allows raw bytes to be sent to the display, permitting many different formats for entry and displaying in
decimal notation. Any command from this manual may be entered in decimal notation separated by slashes.
/ 254 // 88 /
Table 10: uProject Raw Data Format
Again, the clear screen command is sent to a connected display, this time using uProject raw data command style. Scripts
can be run as a whole using the execute command from the script menu, or as single commands by selecting execute
once. Before issuing commands, it is a good idea to ensure communication with a display is successful using some of the
more basic GUI functions in the main window.
This program provides scratch pad upon which a tome of display projects and ideas can be assembled.
*Note: The uProject AutoDetect function will not preform correctly when a USB display is connected. Please manually
configure any USB display.
Code (C#)
Full demonstration programs and code are available for the DevDevil in the C# language from Simple C# AppNote Pack in
the Matrix Orbital Application Note section at www.matrixorbital.ca/appnotes. Difficulty increases from beginner, with
the Hello World program, to advanced with the Dallas One-Wire temperature reading application.
These programs are meant to showcase the capability of the DevDevil and are not intended to be integrated into a final
design. For additional information regarding code, please read the On Code document also found on the support site.
9
Hardware
Advanced Connections
Illustration 6: DevDevil Advanced Connections
8 Screen*
15 Keypad Buttons
9 Power Indicator
16 GPO Header
10 Optional Power Through DB9 Jumper** 17 GPO Indicators
11 Serial Communication Indicators
18 GPO Indicator Enable
12 Optional Alternate USB Header**
19 Dallas One-Wire Connector
13 USB Communication Indicators
20 Manual Override
14 Keypad Header
Table 11: DevDevil Advanced Connections
*Note: The 4x20 LCD screen shown, the DevDevil is also available with a 2x20 sized display
**Note: Non-standard headers that can be populated by custom request only
10
Screen
Illustration 7: Screen Location and Power Indicator
The DevDevil provides a twenty character column alphanumeric display that is either two or four rows high. Both of these
popular screens are available in an array of colours on a variety of Production modules listed in the appendix below. The
initial power up message, contrast, and brightness settings are customizable.
Serial DB9 Connector
Mating Cables CSS1FT, CSS4FT
Illustration 8: Serial DB9 Connector, Power Option, and Indicators
The serial protocol is most easily accessed using DB9 serial header onboard. This connection provides receive, transmit,
and ground pins with an option to supply power to the entire board as well. Using a custom cable with power supplied to
pin 9, either 5V or 9-15V can be supplied to the board once the ‘D’ jump is soldered. It is also important to set the
appropriate pins on the Voltage Select jumper and ensure the Power Select jumper is set to input.
11
USB Connectors
Mating Cables EXTMUSB3FT, INTMUSB3FT
Illustration 9: Mini and Alternate USB Connections with Indicators
The mini USB configuration is supplied for communication and power input. To order the DevDevil with the alternate USB
header populated for more advanced applications, contact a Matrix Orbital sales representative. In order to power the
DevDevil using USB, ensure that the Voltage Select jumper is removed and the Power Select jumper is set to USB. Please
see the USB quick start guide for additional information.
Power/Communication Header
Mating Cables BBC, SCCPC5V, PCUSB, PC5V, PC12V
Illustration 10: Power/Communication Header and Voltage Select
The Power and Communication Header is the most versatile connector on the DevDevil. As mentioned in the quick start
guide, It can provide a serial or I2C communication connection and offers power and ground inputs for power. Input
power to this connector can be either 5V or 9-15V, however, it is important that the Voltage Select jumper is set to match.
The Power Select jumper should also be set to input. Please see the serial quick start guide for more information.
12
AC Power Input
Mating Cables ACPC
Illustration 11: AC Power Jack and Input Select
In addition to the methods mentioned above, the DevDevil can be powered with an AC to DC adapter. The output voltage
of any device must be between 9 and 15 volts DC and the barrel used must be center positive. For this configuration, the
Voltage Select jumper must be placed on the 9-15V Input side and the Power Select jumper set to input. This input can be
useful when communicating to the device via a computer serial port.
Protocol Select
Illustration 12: Protocol Select Switches
To change the communication protocol used on the DevDevil, easy to use switches are provided. Three switches are
required for both RS232 and USB protocols, while only two are needed for TTL or I2C communication. To make a
selection, push all the switches in the desired block up, toward the centre of the board while pulling all others down.
13
Keypad
Mating Cables KPP4X4
Illustration 13: Keypad Header and Buttons
Facilitating user input, the keypad interface header allows a Matrix Orbital or any other passive matrix style input device
to be attached to the DevDevil in a 5x5 row, column format. A customizable value is returned to the host each time one of
the five row pins is connected to a column pin. Two additional pins are offered on either side of these inputs to provide a
single ground and a selectable ground or power pin to provide grounding or backlight capabilities to an external input
device. Alternatively, some of the row and column inputs are doubled on the keypad layout onboard for quick testing as
per the legend provided on the module.
General Purpose Output
Illustration 14: General Purpose Outputs, Indicators, and Indicator Enable
A total of six devices can be driven using the general purpose outputs available on the DevDevil. Each output 5V, 20mA
output can be software toggled. Indicator LEDs can be activated by jumping LED Enable. These outputs are most
commonly drive transistor circuitry to provide switching capability.
14
Dallas One-Wire
Mating Cables Temperature Probe
Illustration 15: Dallas One-Wire Connector
The Dallas One-Wire header affords the ability to add a variety of devices to the DevDevil for purposes ranging from
temperature sensing to external memory. Multiple devices can be connected to this bus and accessed using the DevDevil.
Only non-parasitic devices, those drawing power from the dedicated pin rather than the data line, have been tested,
however, the data line has been pulled high through the nearby resistor to facilitate parasitic operation. A simple
temperature monitoring application has been provided using the Matrix Orbital probe.
Manual Override
Illustration 16: Manual Override
A Manual Override feature is available on the DevDevil to override all settings to their factory defaults. This override can
be extremely useful if the device becomes unresponsive or behaves in an undesirable fashion. To override the unit to the
values below, see the Manual Override entry in the Troubleshooting section below. Please note that the settings will be
temporary and will revert when power is cycled once more, so it is recommended that desired settings are saved.
Baud Rate 19200
2
I C Address 0x50
Backlight 255
Contrast 128
Table 12: Manual Override Settings
15
Troubleshooting
Power
In order for the DevDevil to function correctly, it must be supplied with the appropriate power. If the D10 power LED near
the AC power adapter input is not illuminated, power is not applied correctly. Try following the tips below.
●
●
●
●
●
●
When using the mini USB header for power, ensure that no jumper is present on the J6 Input Voltage selection.
The AC power adapter input also requires no jumper on the Input Voltage Select jumper.
If power is applied through the DB9 connector, ensure 'D' is connected and the appropriate 5V or 9-15V Input
Voltage Selection is jumped at J6.
Power applied through the 4 pin power/communication header must also be specified using the appropriate 5V
or 9-15V Voltage selection.
Ensure all the appropriate protocol select switches are pressed up into the on position and all unused protocol
switches are down.
Select the appropriate power source by selecting USB power at J14 for a USB connection or Input power for all
other sources.
Display
If the DevDevil is powered successfully, the Matrix Orbital logo, or user created screen should display on start up. If this is
not the case, check out these tips.
●
●
Ensure the contrast is not too high or too low. This can result in a darkened or blank screen respectively. See
manual override below.
Make sure that the start screen is not blank. It is possible to overwrite the Matrix Orbital logo start screen, if this
happens the screen may be blank. Try writing to the display to ensure it is functional, after checking the contrast
above.
Communication
When communication of either text or commands is interrupted, try the steps below.
●
●
●
Ensure the baud rate of the DevDevil and host match.
Unlock the display. See the Set and Save Data Lock command for more info.
Match Rx from the DevDevil to the transmitting pin from your host and the Tx pin to the receiving pin.
Manual Override
Should the settings of the DevDevil become altered in a way that dramatically impacts usability, the defaults can be
temporarily restored. To override the display, please follow the steps below.
1.
Disconnect power from your DevDevil.
2.
Place a jumper on the middle two pins of the keypad header, R5 and C1.
3.
Reconnect power to your unit, and wait for the start screen before removing the override jumper.
4.
Settings will be temporarily overridden to the defaults listed in Table 12: Manual Override Settings. At this point
any important settings, such as contrast, backlight, or baud rate, should not only be set but saved so they remain
when the override is removed.
16
Commands
1. Communications
1.1.Changing the I2C Dec
Slave Address
Hex
ASCII
254 51 Address
FE 33 Address
■ 3 Address
Immediately changes the I2C write address.
Address 1 byte, even value
1.2.Changing the Dec
Baud Rate
Hex
ASCII
254 57 Speed
FE 39 Speed
■ 9 Speed
Immediately changes the baud rate. Can be temporarily forced to 19200 with manual override.
Speed 1 byte, valid settings shown below
Rate
1200
2400
4800
9600
19200
28800
38400
57600
Speed
83
41
207
103
51
34
25
16
1.3.Setting a NonDec
Standard Baud Rate Hex
254 164 Speed
FE A4 Speed
Immediately changes the baud rate to a non-standard value. Range is 977 to 153800. Speed must be a whole number.
Due to rounding, error increases with baud rate, actual baud must be within 3% of desired baud to ensure accurate
communication. Baud rate can be temporarily forced to 19200 by a manual override.
Speed 2 byte, calculations shown below
Speed =
CrystalSpeed
−1
8× DesiredBaud
ActualBaud =
CrystalSpeed
8× Speed 1
∣DesiredBaud − ActualBaud∣
0.03
DesiredBaud
1.4.Transmission Dec
Protocol Select Hex
254 160 Protocol
FE A0 Protocol
Selects the protocol used for data transmission to the host. Data transmission from the host is not affected. Must be set
to the protocol in use to receive data correctly.
Protocol 1 byte, 1 for Serial (RS232/TTL/USB) or 0 for I2C
17
2. Text
2.1.Control Characters*
8 (08Hex) Backspace 10 (0AHex) Line feed/New line 12 (0CHex) Clear screen/New page 13 (0DHex) Carriage return
*Note: Regular text can be sent using regular alphanumeric strings or individual character values, starting at 65.
2.2.Auto Scroll Dec
On
Hex
ASCII
254 81
FE 51
■Q
Entire contents of screen are shifted up one line when the end of the screen is reached. Display default is auto scroll on.
2.3.Auto Scroll
Off
Dec
Hex
ASCII
254 82
FE 52
■R
New text is written over the top line when the end of the screen is reached. Display default is auto scroll on.
2.4.Clear Screen Dec
Hex
ASCII
254 88
FE 58
■X
Clears the contents of the screen.
2.5.Changing the Dec
Startup Screen Hex
ASCII
254 64 Characters
FE 40 Characters
■ @ Characters
Changes the message displayed on startup. Custom characters can be included by adding their decimal value (0-7).
Characters will automatically wrap on the display.
Characters 40 bytes for 20x2 screen, 80 bytes for 20x4
18
2.6.Set Auto Line Dec
Wrap On
Hex
ASCII
254 67
FE 43
■C
Text will wrap to the next consecutive line once a row becomes full. Display default is auto line wrap on.
2.7.Set Auto Line Dec
Wrap Off
Hex
ASCII
254 68
FE 44
■D
Text will skip one line when wrapping once a row becomes full. 20X4 screens will write to rows 1, 3, 2, then 4 while 20x2
screens will write to rows 1 then 2 but hide one row of characters after each line. Display default is auto line wrap on.
2.8.Set Cursor Dec
Position
Hex
ASCII
254 71 Column Row
FE 47 Column Row
■ G Column Row
Sets the cursor to a specific position where the next transmitted character is printed.
Column 1 byte, value between 1 and 20
Row
1 byte, value between 1 and 2 for 20x2 screen or 1 and 4 for 20x4 screen
2.9.Go Home Dec
Hex
ASCII
254 72
FE 48
■H
Returns the cursor to the top left of the screen.
2.10.Move
Dec
Cursor Back Hex
ASCII
254 76
FE 4C
■L
Moves cursor one position to the left. Cursor will obey wrap settings.
2.11.Move Cursor Dec
Forward
Hex
ASCII
254 77
FE 4D
■M
Moves cursor one position to the right. Cursor will obey wrap settings.
19
2.12.Underline Dec
Cursor On Hex
ASCII
254 74
FE 4A
■J
Displays a line under the current cursor position. Can be used with block cursor.
2.13.Underline Dec
Cursor Off Hex
ASCII
254 75
FE 4B
■K
Removes line under current cursor position.
2.14.Blinking Block Dec
Cursor On
Hex
ASCII
254 83
FE 53
■S
Displays a blinking block over the current cursor position. Can be used with underline.
2.15.Blinking Block Dec
Cursor Off
Hex
ASCII
254 84
FE 54
■T
Removes blinking block over current cursor position.
20
3. Special Characters
3.1.Create a Custom Dec
Character
Hex
ASCII
254 78 ID Data
FE 4E ID Data
■ N ID Data
Creates a custom character. Each character is divided into 8 rows of 5 pixels, each data byte represents one row. Each
byte is padded by three zero bits followed by five bits representing each pixel state. A one represents an on condition
while a zero is off. Characters are lost when a new memory bank is loaded, unless they are saved.
ID
1 byte, character ID 0-7
Data 8 bytes, character pixel data as shown below
Data1 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00001000 8
Data2 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00010100 20
Data3 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00001000 8
Data4 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00000011 3
Data5 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00000100 4
Data6 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00000100 4
Data7 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00000011 3
Data8 000 p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 00000000 0
3.2.Save Custom Dec
Characters
Hex
254 193 Bank ID Data
FE C1 Bank ID Data
Provides access to all memory banks to create and save custom characters, graph bars, and large digits. Any new
characters saved will overwrite the old, so care should be taken when writing to any bar or digit memory bank. Bank
structure is shown below.
Bank 1 byte, memory bank ID (0-4)
ID
1 byte, character ID (0-7)
Data 8 bytes, character pixel data
0 Start-up Characters 1 Horizontal Bars 2 Vertical Bars 3 Medium Digits 4 Large Digits
21
3.3.Load Custom Dec
Characters
Hex
254 192 Bank
FE C0 Bank
Loads a bank of custom characters into memory for use. Must be issued before using a bank of characters. Alternatively,
an appropriate initialize command can be used.
Bank 1 byte, memory bank ID (0-4)
3.4.Save Startup Screen Dec
Custom Characters Hex
254 194 ID Data
FE C2 ID Data
Saves a custom character to memory for the start up screen or repeated use. Start up characters are displayed by
sending their ID to the screen.
ID
1 byte, character ID (0-7)
Data 8 bytes, character pixel data, see custom character example
3.5.Initialize Medium Dec
Numbers
Hex
ASCII
254 109
FE 6D
■m
Loads the medium number custom character bank into memory. Medium numbers must be initialized before use.
3.6.Place Medium Dec
Numbers
Hex
ASCII
254 111 Row Column Digit
FE 6F Row Column Digit
■ o Row Column Digit
Places a single medium decimal digit of 2 row height and 1 column width on the display at the position specified.
Medium numbers must be initialized before being placed.
Row
1 byte, value between 1 and 20
Column 1 byte, value between 1 and 2 for 20x2 screen or 1 and 4 for 20x4 screen
Digit
1 byte, single decimal digit to display
22
3.7.Initialize Large Dec
Numbers*
Hex
ASCII
254 110
FE 6E
■n
Loads the large number custom character bank into memory. Large numbers must be initialized before use.
3.8.Place Large Dec
Number*
Hex
ASCII
254 35 Column Digit
FE 23 Column Digit
■ # Column Digit
Places a single large decimal digit of 4 row height and 3 column width on the display at the position specified. Medium
numbers must be initialized before being placed.
Column 1 byte, value between 1 and 4
Digit
1 byte, single decimal digit to display
3.9.Initialize
Dec
Horizontal Bar Hex
ASCII
254 104
FE 68
■h
Loads the horizontal bar graph custom character bank into memory. Horizontal bar characters must be initialized before
a graph is displayed.
3.10.Place Horizontal Dec
Bar Graph
Hex
254 124 Column Row Direction Length
FE 7C Column Row Direction Length
Places a horizontal bar graph on the screen beginning at the column and row specified. The bar extends either right or
left to the length indicated. New bars will overwrite old.
Column
1 byte, value between 1 and 2 for 20x2 screen or 1 and 4 for 20x4 screen
Row
1 byte, value between 1 and 20
Direction 1 byte, 0 for right and 1 for left
Length
1 byte, length in pixels of the graph (0-100)
*Note: This command is available for 20x4 screens only
23
3.11.Initialize Dec
Vertical Bar Hex
ASCII
254 118
FE 76
■v
Loads the horizontal bar graph custom character bank into memory. Horizontal bar characters must be initialized before
a graph is displayed.
3.12.Place
Dec
Vertical Bar Hex
ASCII
254 61 Column Length
FE 3D Column Length
■ = Column Length
Places a vertical bar graph on the screen beginning at the column and row specified. The bar extends upwards to the
length indicated. A new bar will over write the old.
Column 1 byte, value between 1 and 2 for 20x2 screen or 1 and 4 for 20x4 screen
Length
1 byte, length in pixels of the graph (0-16 for 20x2 and 0-32 for 20x4)
24
4. General Purpose Output
4.1.General Purpose Dec
Output Off
Hex
ASCII
254 86 Number
FE 56 Number
■ V Number
Turns the specified GPO off. Will only affect onboard LEDs if LED enable is jumped.
Number 1 byte, GPO (1-6) to be turned off
4.2.General Purpose Dec
Output On
Hex
ASCII
254 87 Number
FE 57 Number
■ W Number
Turns the specified GPO on. Will only affect onboard LEDs if LED enable is jumped.
Number 1 byte, GPO (1-6) to be turned off
4.3.Set Startup Dec
GPO State
Hex
254 195 Number State
FE C3 Number State
Sets the start up state of the specified GPO. Changes will only be seen on start up.
Number 1 byte, GPO (1-6) to be turned off
State
1 byte, 1 for ON or 0 for OFF
25
5. Dallas 1-Wire
5.1.Search for a Dec
1-Wire Device Hex
254 200 2
FE C8 02
Sends a search query to all of the up to 32 devices on the one wire bus. Any connected device will respond with a
identification packet.
Response 14 bytes, identification packet as shown below
Offset Length Value Description
0
2
9002
Preamble
2
1
138
Another device packet will follow OR
10
Last device packet
3
1
49
Packet Type
4
1
0
Error Code (0 indicates success)
5
8
13
1
Device Address
0
CRC8 address check (0 indicates validity)
26
5.2.Dallas 1-Wire Dec
Transaction
Hex
254 200 1 Flags Send Bits Receive Bits Data
FE C8 01 Flags Send Bits Receive Bits Data
Preforms a single Dallas 1-Wire transaction. Consult your device documentation for information regarding device
specific protocols. If an error is encountered, a corresponding value will be returned by the device.
Flags
1 byte, flags for transaction, see below
Send Bits
1 byte, number of bytes to be sent to the device
Receive Bits 1 byte, number of bytes expected to be received from the device
Data
Variable, data to be transmitted LSB to MSB
Bit Flag Description
Code Error Description
7
0
Success
6 Unused
1
Unknown Command
5
2
No Devices Found
4 0 (Future Compatibility)
3
Fatal Search Error
3 Add CRC8 to transaction
2 0 (Future Compatibility)
1 Read CRC8 from transaction
0 Reset Bus prior to transaction
27
6. Keypad
6.1.Auto Transmit Dec
Key Presses On Hex
ASCII
254 65
FE 41
■A
Key presses are automatically sent to the host when received by the display. Default is auto transmit on.
6.2.Auto Transmit Dec
Key Presses Off Hex
ASCII
254 79
FE 4F
■O
Key presses are held in the 10 key buffer to be polled by the host. Use this mode for I2C transactions. Default is on.
6.3.Poll Key Dec
Press
Hex
ASCII
254 38
FE 26
■&
Reads the last unread key press from the 10 key display buffer. If another key is stored in the buffer the MSB will be 1,
the MSB will be 0 when the last key press is read. If there are no stored key presses a value of 0 will be returned. Auto
transmit key presses must be turned off for this command to be successful.
Response 1 byte, value of key pressed (MSB determines additional keys to be read)
6.4.Clear Key Dec
Buffer
Hex
ASCII
254 69
FE 45
■E
Clears all key presses from the display buffer.
6.5.Set
Debounce
Time
Dec
Hex
ASCII
254 85 Time
FE 55 Time
■ U Time
Sets the time between a key press and a key read by the display. Most switches will bounce when pressed, the debounce
time allows the switch to settle for an accurate read. Default is 8 representing a debounce time of approximately 52ms.
Time 1 byte, debounce increment (debounce time = time * 6.554ms)
28
6.6.Set Auto
Dec
Repeat Mode Hex
254 126 Mode
FE 7E Mode
Sets key press repeat mode to typematic or hold. In typematic mode if a key press is held, the key value is transmitted
immediately, then 5 times a second after a 1 second delay. In hold mode, the key down value is transmitted once when
pressed, then the key up value is sent when the key is released. Default is typematic.
Mode 1 byte, 1 for hold mode or 0 for typematic
6.7.Auto Repeat Dec
Mode Off
Hex
254 96
FE 60
Turns auto repeat mode off. Default is on (typematic).
6.8.Assign
Dec
Keypad Codes Hex
254 213 Key Down Key Up
FE D5 Key Down Key Up
Assigns the key down and key up values sent to the host when a key press is detected. Defaults are shown below and
can be reset by setting all values to 255.
Key Down 25 bytes, key down values
Key Up
25 bytes, key up values
KeyDown
KeyUp
A(65) B(66) C(67) D(68) E(69)
a(97)
F(70) G(71) H(72) I(73)
J(74)
f(102) g(103) h(104) i(105) j(106)
K(75) L(76) M(77) N(78) O(79)
k(107) l(108) m(109) n(110) o(111)
P(80) Q(81) R(82) S(83) T(84)
p(112) q(113) r(114) s(115) t(116)
U(85) V(86) W(87) X(88) Y(89)
u(117) v(118) w(119) x(120) y(121)
29
b(98)
c(99)
d(100) e(101)
7. Display Functions
7.1.Display On Dec
Hex
ASCII
254 66 Minutes
FE 42 Minutes
■ B Minutes
Turns the display backlight on for a specified length of time. If an inverse display color is used this command will
essentially turn on the text.
Minutes 1 byte, number of minutes to leave backlight on (0 for infinite)
7.2.Display Off Dec
Hex
ASCII
254 70
FE 46
■F
Turns the display backlight off indefinitely. If an inverse display colour is used this command will turn off the text.
7.3.Set VFD
Dec
Brightness* Hex
ASCII
254 89 Brightness
FE 59 Brightness
■ Y Brightness
Immediately sets the VFD text brightness. Default is 0.
Brightness 1 byte, brightness level from 3(Dim)-0(Bright)
7.4.Set and Save
Dec
VFD Brightness* Hex
254 145 Brightness
FE 91 Brightness
Immediately sets and saves the VFD text brightness. Although brightness can be changed using the set command, it is
reset to saved value on start up. Default is 255.
Brightness 1 byte, brightness level from 3(Dim)-0(Bright)
*Note: VFD model only command
30
7.5.Set
Dec
Brightness* Hex
254 153 Brightness
FE 99 Brightness
Immediately sets the backlight brightness. If an inverse display color is used this represents the text brightness instead.
Default is 255.
Brightness 1 byte, brightness level from 0(Dim)-255(Bright)
7.6.Set and Save Dec
Brightness* Hex
254 152 Brightness
FE 98 Brightness
Immediately sets and saves the backlight brightness. If an inverse display colour is used this represents the text instead.
Although brightness can be changed using the set command, it is reset to saved value on start up. Default is 255.
Brightness 1 byte, brightness level from 0(Dim)-255(Bright)
7.7.Set
Dec
Contrast* Hex
ASCII
254 80 Contrast
FE 50 Contrast
■ P Contrast
Immediately sets the contrast between background and text. If an inverse display color is used this also represents the
text brightness. Default is 128.
Contrast 1 byte, contrast level from 0(Light)-255(Dark)
7.8.Set and Save Dec
Contrast*
Hex
254 145 Contrast
FE 91 Contrast
Immediately sets and saves the contrast between background and text. If an inverse display color is used this also
represents the text brightness. Although contrast can be changed using the set command, it is reset to saved value on
start up. Default is 128.
Contrast 1 byte, contrast level from 0(Light)-255(Dark)
*Note: LCD model only command
31
8. Data Security
8.1.Set
Dec
Remember Hex
254 147 Switch
FE 93 Switch
Allows changes to specific settings to be saved to the display memory. Writing to memory can be slow and each change
consumes 1 write of approximately 100,000 available. Set and save functions are always remembered. Off is default.
Switch 1 byte, 1 for on or 0 for off
8.2.Data Lock Dec
Hex
254 202 245 160 Level
FE CA F5 A0 Level
Temporarily locks certain aspects of the display to ensure no inadvertent changes are made. A new level overrides the
old, and levels can be combined. Default is 0.
Level 1 byte, each bit representing a level, see table below
Unlock Reserved Reserved Reserved Setting Reserved Command Display
0
1
2
3
4
5
Unlock
Unlocks all setting locks
Reserved
Place holders only, should be 0
Setting
Locks settings such as backlight and contrast
6
7
Command Locks all commands
Display
8.3.Set and Save Dec
Data Lock
Hex
Locks entire display, no new information can be displayed
254 203 245 160 Level
FE CB F5 A0 Level
Permanently locks certain aspects of the display to ensure no inadvertent changes are made. A new level overrides the
old, and levels can be combined. Default is 0.
Level 1 byte, see data lock table
32
9. Miscellaneous
9.1.Read Version Dec
Number
Hex
ASCII
254 54
FE 36
■6
Causes display to respond with it's firmware version number.
Response 1 byte, convert to hexadecimal to view major and minor revision numbers
9.2.Read Module Dec
Type
Hex
ASCII
254 55
FE 37
■7
Causes display to respond with it's module number.
Response 1 byte, module number, see partial list below
23 DD-DB1-AL202 24 DD-DB1-AV202 25 DD-DB1-AL204 26 DD-DB1-AV204
33
Appendix
Character Sets
Illustration 17: DevDevil LCD Series Character Table
34
Illustration 18: DevDevil VFD Series Character Table
35
Environmental
Operating Temperature
Storage Temperature
Standard
VFD Standard
0oC to +50oC
-20oC to +70oC
-10oC to +60oC
-40oC to +80oC
Operating Relative Humidity Maximum 90% non-condensing
Maximum 80% non-condensing
Table 13: DevDevil Environmental Specifications
Electrical
Current Consumption
Board
50mA
+
Backlight
20-115mA
+
Indicator GPOs
+
1.25mA each
Header GPOs
20mA each maximum
Table 14: DevDevil Current Consumption
Backlight Consumption
10.
YG
GW
WB
20x2 105mA 40mA 45mA
IY
N/A
IR
FW
FB
VFD*
115mA 30mA 30mA 100mA
20x4 70mA 20mA 20mA 70mA
N/A
N/A
N/A
100mA
Table 15: Backlight Current Consumption by Model
Optical
20x2
20x4
20x4 VFD
units
Screen Size 116.0 x 37.0 98.0 x 60.0 116.0 x 37.0 98.0 x 60.0
mm
Viewing Area 83.0 x 18.6 76.0 x 25.2
20x2 VFD
N/A
mm
Active Area 73.5 x 11.5 70.4 x 20.8 70.8 x 11.5 70.8 x 20.9
mm
Character Size 3.20 x 5.55 2.95 x 4.75 2.50 x 4.70 2.40 x 4.70
mm
Character Pitch 3.70 x 5.95 3.55 x 5.35 3.60 x 6.10 3.60 x 5.40
mm
Pixel Size 0.60 x 0.65 0.55 x 0.55 0.40 x 0.50 0.40 x 0.50
mm
Pixel Pitch 0.65 x 0.70 0.60 x 0.60 0.50 x 0.70 0.50 x 0.70
mm
Viewing Angle
Luminance
Backlight Half-Life
-30 to +30
N/A
o
N/A
350
cd/m2
50,000
N/A
Hours
Table 16: DevDevil Optical Characteristics
*Note: A VFD style display will draw up to twice the normal operating current at start up inrush.
36
Dimensional Drawing
Illustration 19: DevDevil Dimensional Drawing
37
Ordering
Options
DD -DB1 -AL 202 C -GW
1
2
3
4
5
6
# Designator
Options
1 Product Line
DevDevil
2 Product Type
Development Board, Revision 1.0
3 Display Type
-AL: Alphanumeric Liquid Crystal Display
-AV: Alphanumeric Vacuum Florescent Display
4 Display Size
202: 20 rows by 2 columns
204: 20 rows by 4 columns
5 Screen Size
A: 98.0mm x 60.0mm (204 only)
C: 116.0mm x 37.0mm (202 only)
6 Color
NP: Standard Yellow-green background with grey text
-GW: White background with grey text
-WB: Blue background with white text (inverse display)
-IY**: Yellow-green background with black text (inverse display)
-IR*: Red background with black text (inverse display)
-FW*: Black background with white text (inverse FFSTN display)
-FB*: Black background with blue text (inverse FFSTN display)
*Note: Available on 20x2 display models only
**Note: Available on 20x4 display models only
38
Accessories
Power
ACPC*
AC Power Converter
PC5V
5V Power Cable
PC12V
12V Power Cable
PCUSB
USB Power Cable
Table 17: DevDevil Power Accessories
*Note: Recommended Optional Accessory
39
Communication
CSS1FT
1 ft. Serial Cable
CSS4FT**
4 ft. Serial Cable
EXTMUSB3FT*
Mini-USB Cable
INTMUSB3FT
Internal Mini-USB Cable
SCCPC5V
Serial Communication/5V Power Cable
BBC**
Breadboard Cable
Table 18: DevDevil Communication Accessories
*Note: Included Accessory
**Note: Recommended Optional Accessory
40
Peripherals
KPP4X4
16 Button Keypad
Temperature Probe
Dallas One-Wire Temperature Probe
Table 19: DevDevil Peripheral Accessories
41
Production Products
Display Options
Protocol*
LK/VK202-25 LK/VK202-25-USB LK/VK204-45 LK/VK204-25-USB
USB
Not Available
Default
Not Available
Default
RS232
Default
Not Available
Default
Not Available
TTL
Available
Not Available
Available
Not Available
I2C
Available
Not Available
Available
Not Available
Table 20: Production Protocol Options
Input Voltage
LK/VK202-25 LK/VK202-25-USB LK/VK204-45 LK/VK204-25-USB
5V (Regular)
Default
Default
Default
Default
9-15V (-V)
Available
Not Available
Available
Not Available
Not Available
Available
Not Available
9-35V (-VPT) Not Available
Table 21: Production Voltage Options
Connectors
LK/VK202-25 LK/VK202-25-USB LK/VK204-45 LK/VK204-25-USB
DB9 Serial
Default
Not Available
Default
Not Available
Mini-USB** Not Available Default (Vertical) Not Available Default (Vertical)
Power/Data
Default
Not Available
Default
Not Available
AC Power
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Default
Not Available
Default
PC Power*** Not Available
Table 22: Production Connector Options
*Note: Protocol is selected using zero ohm jumper resistors, soldering is required change protocol. Available protocols
can be selected at purchase.
**Note: Mini-USB header is orientated vertically rather than horizontally.
***Note: PC or floppy cable power is not available on the DevDevil but offered on the production USB displays.
42
Peripherals
LK/VK202-25 LK'VK202-25-USB LK/VK204-45 LK/VK204-25-USB
Keypad* 1x12 Header
1x12 Header
1x12 Header
1x12 Header
GPO**
2x7 Header
2x7 Header
2x7 Header
2x7 Header
DOW***
Available
Default
Available
Default
Table 23: Production Peripheral Options
*Note: Only the 1x12 keypad header is available on production units, a keypad such as the KPP4X4 unit must be purchased
to interface with the display.
**Note: Only the 2x7 GPO header is available on production units, indicator LEDs are not available. Additional indicators
such as Rx, Tx, and power LEDS are also not offered on production models.
***Note: The Dallas One-Wire header is available on production USB units, but must be specially ordered for non-USB
models.
43
Definitions
ASCII: American standard code for information interchange used to give standardized numeric codes to alphanumeric
characters.
BPS: Bits per second, a measure of transmission speed.
DOW: Dallas One-Wire protocol is similar to I2C providing reduced data rates at a greater distance. One wire is provided
for data, while two others supply power and ground. Matrix Orbital displays are only tested with non-parasitic
devices, those that do not draw power from the data line, however, some parasitic devices may work.
FFSTN: Double film super-twisted nematic in reference to an LCD. The addition of two layers of film between the STN
display and polarizer improves contrast.
GPO: General purpose output, used to control peripheral devices from a display.
GUI: Graphical user interface.
Hexadecimal: A base 16 number system utilizing the numerals and letters 0 through F to represent the values 0-15.
I2C: Inter-integrated circuit protocol employing a clock and data line to communicate a short distance at slow speeds
between a master and up to 128 addressable slave devices. A Matrix Orbital display is a slave device.
LCD: Liquid crystal display.
LSB: Least significant bit or byte in a transmission, the rightmost when read.
MSB: Most significant bit or byte in a transmission, the leftmost when read.
RS232: Recommended standard 232, a widely used serial protocol. A low level is -30V while a high is +30V.
SDA: Serial data line used to transfer data in I2C protocol. This open drain line should be pulled high through a resistor.
Nominal values are between 2K and 10K Ω.
SCL: Serial clock line used to designate data bits in I2C protocol. This open drain line should be pulled high through a
resistor. Nominal values are between 2K and 10K Ω.
STN: Super-twisted nematic in reference to an LCD. In a relaxed or nematic state, crystals orientate themselves in the
same direction and allow light to pass. In an excited state these crystals align to block light. Super-twisted crystals
move from 180 to 270 degrees between phases to providing contrast than TN models.
TTL: Transistor-transistor logic applied to a serial protocol. A low level is 0V while high logic is 5V.
USB: Universal Serial Bus protocol widely used in PCs.
VFD: Vacuum florescent display.
44
Contact Info
Sales
Phone: 403.229.2737
Email: sales@matrixorbital.ca
Support
Phone: 403.204.3750
Email: support@matrixorbital.ca
Online
Purchasing: www.matrixorbital.com
Support: www.matrixorbital.ca
45