These displays are available in a number of different configurations. These low-cost monochrome displays are ideal for use with microcontrollers like the Arduino and micro computers like the Raspberry Pi. LCD Displays for ExperimentersĪ number of LCD displays are available for experimenters. LCD televisions have been available since the beginning of the 21st century and by 2007 the image quality of LCD surpass that of CRTs. By the late 1990s LCD displays were quite common.
The first color LCD displays were developed in the early 1980s but production units were not commonly available until the mid-1990s. a number of patents were filed in the early 1970s and in 1973 the Sharp Corporation introduced LCD displays for calculators. The principles of liquid crystals were discovered in the late 1880s but work on Modern LCD displays did not begin until the mid-1960s. The low cost and versatility of LCD displays makes them suitable for a number of different applications. This type of display is often found in digital watches. these days the most common form of backlight is an LED, in fact so-called LED televisions are usually just LCD screens with an LED backlight system.Īnother type of LCD display, the passive-matrix display, does not require a backlight, it works using reflected light. Several methods have been used to create back lights including electroluminescent panels and fluorescent tubes. By changing the orientation of the liquid crystals they allow light to pass or they block the light entirely.īecause transmissive LCD displays (the type we will be using) work by blocking light they require a backlight. The liquid crystals used inside LCD displays are sandwiched between two layers of polarized material.
#Arruino weather display windows#
Instead they block the passage of light, like little windows which open and shut the let light through. They’re inexpensive and versatile, this makes them ideal for all sorts of designs.
Today LCD displays are used in a variety of items from test equipment to televisions. I’ll also show you a very popular Arduino Shield that has a keypad which you can use in your projects as well. In this article and in the accompanying video I’ll show you how easy it is to add an LCD display to your next Arduino design.