'TextStar' has been designed to be a small, easy to use and adaptable LCD display for connection to a UART or serial-enabled device. It will work at speeds between 2400 and 115200 baud and with both TTL and RS232 level signals - no RS232 conveter required! Built using ultra-thin 'chip-on-glass' (CoG) technology it is supplied in a transparent heat-shrink covering and can be used in a number of different ways, e.g. mounted in an enclosure, held in the hand or even stuck onto surfaces with double-sided/Velcro® tape.

Set-up is extremely simple; there are no DIP switches or jumpers to configure and connecting the module the wrong way will not damage it which means it is ideal for educational and experimental applications. It will also operate with power supplies varying between 3.5 and 20 Volts making it extremely adaptable.

• 'GraphSmart' Technology A unique feature of the module is its 'GraphSmart' automatic bar graph facility which makes graphical display of data incredibly easy. No need to devise complicated routines in your microcontroller - it can all be done with just two bytes of data - the length of the graph and the percentage to be displayed. The TextStar does the rest!
• Incredible Size! TextStar is really thin compared to a typical LCD module. Using Chip-on-Glass technology, surface mount components and 0.8mm thin PCB the TextStar takes up hardly any room in your product or project box! With a maximum thickness of just 6mm, TextStar is the thinnest product of its kind on the market.
• Easy Setup! The TextStar is incredibly easy to set up - no jumpers to lose or special programming in your microcontroller. The TextStar can be set up in a few moments using the four tactile buttons - two on each side of the screen. Not only can these buttons be used to set up the screen but they can also be programmed to send user-defined characters back to the host device.
• Stick it on! TextStar is so thin that it can be stuck on with Velcro or double-sided tape. This means you can put a display in places you've never been able to fit them before. And if you decide to use the four tactile buttons you can use it as a completely self-contained terminal to control a host device.
• Servo Signal Mode TextStar has a special mode for measuring radio control servo signals which - unlike any other product on the market - will measure both the pulse width and frequency. This means that receivers, gyros and other r/c devices can be checked and matched to the appropriate servo. TextStar is compatible with both the standard 1520us and 760us signals and will work with pulse repetition rates of up to 1kHz.

• High contrast 16 character by 2 line display
• Will work as a simple, easy-to-use serial LCD display
• Serial terminal function with four programmable keys
• High signal compatibility, no MAX232 required, high or low idle (RS-232 or TTL mode)
• R/C servo signal testing function (Normal & Super Servo Modes)
• Compatible with the SSC II Mode/Scott Edwards Electronics protocol
• 16 line virtual screen (stores up to 256 characters of data)
• Unique ‘Auto Bar Graph’ facility creates bar graphs with just 4 bytes
• Reprogrammable firmware via Microchip® ICSP™ port (experts only)
• 8 programmable characters
• Dimensions = 50mm wide x 26mm high x 6mm thick
• Weight = 8.6 grams

Resources

• Module Data Sheet
• Bar Graph Demo