Z80 computer: LCD text display

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Here is the first peripheral for the DrACo/Z80 computer: a two-line LCD text display. The Z80 computer (and this text display) were created for an upcoming Microprocessors course for the AET program at Drexel University's Goodwin College of Professional Studies. The computer is still a work-in-progress, but the basic design is more or less finalized at this point. More information is available at www.paleotechnologist.net .

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Z80
• computer
• LCD
• text
• electronics
• Drexel
• Goodwin

[TheOneToxic]

this is amazing, but the music is just awful

[FlyByPC]

@TheOneToxic It's royalty-free music and I don't exactly have a Hollywood-style budget. I may try composing my own instrumentals one of these days...

[faffaflunkie]

Why not use the Z-80 to control the whole thing, L.E.D.'s and all. It (the Z-80) is fast enough. Open up a modem or a consumer device and half the time you will still find a Z-80 or one of it's clones.

[FlyByPC]

@faffaflunkie True, but I'm more familiar with PIC programming, and interfacing it directly from the Z80 would have entailed support circuitry anyway (since only the 8 data lines are available, and something would have had to toggle the two control lines to the LCD). I know the Z80 is ubiquitous, and still quite capable as an embedded CPU. PICs are just easier to interface directly to peripherals (since they're microcontrollers and intended for that purpose.)

[ZXRulezzz]

How did you hooked LCD module to Z80?

Did you used some kind of PIO chip for this? (i8255?)

I'm assembled simple Z80 system myself, so now I'm trying to hook up KS0108 compatible 128*64 graphics display to it. I tried to connect it directly do Z80 bus, but I had no luck...

[FlyByPC]

@ZXRulezzz I used a PIC microcontroller as a custom LCD interface chip. The PIC handled the LCD logistics -- the Z80 program writes a byte to I/O address 0x00 to send it to the LCD as a "control" byte; it writes to I/O address 0x01 to send it to the LCD as a "data" byte (to be displayed). The PIC handles setup and the LCD control lines.

The 128x64 display sounds harder; if it's like the one I've used (see my other video), it is graphics-only, so you have to create the text manually. Good luck!

[electrodacus]

Love the Z80 CPU my diploma project was using this Z80.

It was and Acquisition equipment with ADC using successive approximations was using 8 resistors connected to 8 digital pins and a comparator to compare the input with the output of the resistors you where starting with 2.5V and see if the input was lower or higher then get the middle voltage from that interval and so in very few steps you get the input voltage.

[Curri3Saan]

@TheOneToxic Get stuffed, sounds awesome to me.

[Keijz74]

I have a gameboy Advance. It has a Z80 related CPU next to the ARM, so you can play the original GameBoy games on it. They're still fun :o)#

[Robobbly]

cool!