SLAA654A November 2014 – July 2015 CC430F6147 , MSP430F412 , MSP430F413 , MSP430F4132 , MSP430F415 , MSP430F4152 , MSP430F417 , MSP430F423A , MSP430F4250 , MSP430F425A , MSP430F4260 , MSP430F4270 , MSP430F427A , MSP430F435 , MSP430F4351 , MSP430F436 , MSP430F4361 , MSP430F437 , MSP430F4371 , MSP430F438 , MSP430F439 , MSP430F447 , MSP430F448 , MSP430F4481 , MSP430F449 , MSP430F4491 , MSP430F4616 , MSP430F46161 , MSP430F4617 , MSP430F46171 , MSP430F4618 , MSP430F46181 , MSP430F4619 , MSP430F46191 , MSP430F47126 , MSP430F47127 , MSP430F47163 , MSP430F47166 , MSP430F47167 , MSP430F47173 , MSP430F47176 , MSP430F47177 , MSP430F47183 , MSP430F47186 , MSP430F47187 , MSP430F47193 , MSP430F47196 , MSP430F47197 , MSP430F477 , MSP430F478 , MSP430F4783 , MSP430F4784 , MSP430F479 , MSP430F4793 , MSP430F4794 , MSP430F6433 , MSP430F6435 , MSP430F6436 , MSP430F6438 , MSP430F6458 , MSP430F6459 , MSP430F6630 , MSP430F6631 , MSP430F6632 , MSP430F6633 , MSP430F6634 , MSP430F6635 , MSP430F6636 , MSP430F6637 , MSP430F6638 , MSP430F6658 , MSP430F6659 , MSP430F6720 , MSP430F6720A , MSP430F6721 , MSP430F6721A , MSP430F6723 , MSP430F6723A , MSP430F6724 , MSP430F6724A , MSP430F6725 , MSP430F6725A , MSP430F6726 , MSP430F6726A , MSP430F6730 , MSP430F6730A , MSP430F6731 , MSP430F6731A , MSP430F6733 , MSP430F6733A , MSP430F6734 , MSP430F6734A , MSP430F6735 , MSP430F6735A , MSP430F6736 , MSP430F6736A , MSP430F6745 , MSP430F67451 , MSP430F67451A , MSP430F6745A , MSP430F6746 , MSP430F67461 , MSP430F67461A , MSP430F6746A , MSP430F6747 , MSP430F67471 , MSP430F67471A , MSP430F6747A , MSP430F6748 , MSP430F67481 , MSP430F67481A , MSP430F6748A , MSP430F6749 , MSP430F67491 , MSP430F67491A , MSP430F6749A , MSP430F67621 , MSP430F67621A , MSP430F67641 , MSP430F67641A , MSP430F6765 , MSP430F67651 , MSP430F67651A , MSP430F6765A , MSP430F6766 , MSP430F67661 , MSP430F67661A , MSP430F6766A , MSP430F6767 , MSP430F67671 , MSP430F67671A , MSP430F6767A , MSP430F6768 , MSP430F67681 , MSP430F67681A , MSP430F6768A , MSP430F6769 , MSP430F67691 , MSP430F67691A , MSP430F6769A , MSP430F6775 , MSP430F67751 , MSP430F67751A , MSP430F6775A , MSP430F6776 , MSP430F67761 , MSP430F67761A , MSP430F6776A , MSP430F6777 , MSP430F67771 , MSP430F67771A , MSP430F6777A , MSP430F6778 , MSP430F67781 , MSP430F67781A , MSP430F6778A , MSP430F6779 , MSP430F67791 , MSP430F67791A , MSP430F6779A , MSP430FE423 , MSP430FE4232 , MSP430FE423A , MSP430FE4242 , MSP430FE425 , MSP430FE4252 , MSP430FE425A , MSP430FE427 , MSP430FE4272 , MSP430FE427A , MSP430FG4250 , MSP430FG4260 , MSP430FG4270 , MSP430FG437 , MSP430FG438 , MSP430FG439 , MSP430FG4616 , MSP430FG4617 , MSP430FG4618 , MSP430FG4619 , MSP430FG477 , MSP430FG478 , MSP430FG479 , MSP430FG6425 , MSP430FG6426 , MSP430FG6625 , MSP430FG6626 , MSP430FR4131 , MSP430FR4132 , MSP430FR4133 , MSP430FR5870 , MSP430FR5872 , MSP430FR58721 , MSP430FR5922 , MSP430FR59221 , MSP430FR5970 , MSP430FR5972 , MSP430FR59721 , MSP430FR6820 , MSP430FR6822 , MSP430FR68221 , MSP430FR6870 , MSP430FR6872 , MSP430FR68721 , MSP430FR6877 , MSP430FR6879 , MSP430FR68791 , MSP430FR6887 , MSP430FR6888 , MSP430FR6889 , MSP430FR68891 , MSP430FR6920 , MSP430FR6922 , MSP430FR69221 , MSP430FR6927 , MSP430FR69271 , MSP430FR6928 , MSP430FR6970 , MSP430FR6972 , MSP430FR69721 , MSP430FR6977 , MSP430FR6979 , MSP430FR69791 , MSP430FR6987 , MSP430FR6988 , MSP430FR6989 , MSP430FR69891 , MSP430FW423 , MSP430FW425 , MSP430FW427 , MSP430FW428 , MSP430FW429
Segment liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are needed to provide information to users in a wide variety of applications from smart meters to electronic shelf labels (ESL) to medical equipment. Several MSP430™ microcontroller families include built-in low-power LCD driver circuitry that allows the MSP430 MCU to directly control the segmented LCD glass. This application note helps explain how segmented LCDs work, the different features of the various LCD modules across the MSP430 MCU family, LCD hardware layout tips, guidance on writing efficient and easy-to-use LCD driver software, and an overview of the portfolio of MSP430 devices that include different LCD features to aid in device selection.
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There are a number of common applications where MSP430 microcontrollers with built-in LCD drivers are a great fit. This can be any application where you need a segmented LCD display, but battery life or current consumption is important. Examples include low-power LCD handhelds (like a watch or other device), blood glucose meters, appliances, water meters, electronic shelf labels, and one-time password tokens. The combination of rich analog and peripheral interfaces provided by MSP430 devices, along with the built-in segment LCD display driver, enable a diverse array of applications with a compelling set of features all in one system on chip (SOC).
Table 1 compares the LCD modules that are available on MSP430 MCUs.
Parameter | LCD | LCD_A | LCD_B | LCD_C | LCD_E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of segments supported(1) | 128/4-mux | 160/4-mux | 160/4-mux | 320/8-mux | 448/8-mux |
Mux mode supported | 4, 3, 2, 1 | 4, 3, 2, 1 | 4, 3, 2, 1 | 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 | 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 |
Segment functionality against port pin selection | Minimum is group of 16 | Groups of 4 segments | Groups of 4 segments | Individual selection | Individual selection |
Flexible configuration for COM and Segment pins | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES |
LCD clock selection | ACLK | ACLK | ACLK, VLO | ACLK, VLO | ACLK, XT1, VLO |
LCD clock divider availability | NO | 32 to 512
(8 settings with 32 counts apart) |
1 to 1024
(192 settings with 111 unique dividers) |
1 to 1024
(192 settings with 111 unique dividers) |
8 to 2048
(depends on Mux mode) |
Interrupt capabilities | NO | NO | YES (4 sources) | YES (4 sources) | YES (3 sources) |
Whole display blinking | Manual only | Manual only | YES | YES | YES |
Programmable blinking frequency | NO | NO | YES | YES | YES |
Individual segment blinking capabilities with separate memory | NO | NO | YES | YES | YES |
Dual memory display | NO | NO | YES | YES | YES |
LCD bias generation using resistive network | External | External or Internal | External or Internal | External or Internal | External or Internal |
Device protection against no connected capacitance on LCDCAP when charge pump is used | NO charge pump | NO
(A 4.7-µF or larger capacitor must be connected from LCDCAP to GND) |
Protected with LCDNOCAPIFG interrupt flag | Protected with LCDNOCAPIFG interrupt flag | NO need for protection
(A 0.1-µF or larger capacitor must be connected from LCDCAP0 and LCDCAP1 pins) |
Charge pump voltage with external voltage reference | NO charge pump | 3 × Vref | Programmable
(15 levels) |
Programmable
(15 levels) |
Programmable
(15 levels) |
Low-power waveforms mode | NO | NO | YES | YES | YES |