LCD contrast control

Thread Starter

extravert

Joined Oct 18, 2012
2
Hello

I am an embedded software engineer and can cope with things digital, but struggle a bit when it comes to analogue and transistor biasing - especially where negative voltages are involved.

I am using a graphics STN LCD panel and want to control the contrast. The panel has a negative voltage generator output (Vout) and a contrast control pin (Vo). The datasheet says just put a pot between the two. However, I want to be able to control contrast from software, and digital pots won't work outside of their supply range. I have a DAC output from my processor that I can control between 0 and 3.3V, but how do I use this to control the contrast voltage I need? I'd be grateful if someone could suggest a circuit to do this. I'm sure it's just a transistor and a few resistors!

From the data sheet...

http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/06dd/0900766b806dda11.pdf

Vdd-Vo is 16V. I will be using Vdd of 3.3V. It doesn't say what Vout is, but I guess it's a few volts more negative than -16V.

Thanks for any help.
 
Last edited:

ErnieM

Joined Apr 24, 2011
8,377
Wow, you have a DAC on board? Cool, what processor? That's gonna help lots.

First off I would suggest you put that pot on the breadboard to see what range of voltages you need for the full range of contrast. I say that because you may not get sufficient resolution to control this digitally of you just convert (0 to 3.3V) to (0 to -16V).

Give us those numbers and I bet several people will suggest things to do. You basically just need a simple amplifier, a couple of transistors & resistors or maybe a cheap op amp.
 

Thread Starter

extravert

Joined Oct 18, 2012
2
Wow, you have a DAC on board? Cool, what processor? That's gonna help lots.
Processor is a STM32F100, so not a penny pinching PIC. 2 12 bit DAC's on chip. I'll be able to control the contrast to 2048 levels :D.

I'll do the measurements to see what voltage is actually needed and report back, but there will be a bit of a delay as the LCD hasn't arrived yet and then I need to get the full range of voltages from putting it in the freezer to putting it in the oven. The application is exterior marine electronics, so needs to be able to cope with temperatures ranging from parky to sweaty.
 

ErnieM

Joined Apr 24, 2011
8,377
Hey, what you say bout my PICs? :D

Sounds like you have a bit of work ahead of you there. Good luck and come on back when you have the data.
 

maxthestork

Joined Oct 13, 2011
13
Hi there,

I am trying to do the same thing but was aiming at a PWM output instead of a DAC.

I posted to
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=76394

and the schematic I was going to use is attached. Maybe you could use something like this.

I think you will find that the optimal contrast voltage will be somewhere in the around 70% of the voltage available on Vout.
Sometimes tweaking this adjusts the angle of view slightly.

cheers
Peter
 

Attachments

maxthestork

Joined Oct 13, 2011
13
I originally tried using an op amp in an inverting amplifier configuration and I used the negative output from the screen as the negative voltage supply for the the opamp with the idea being that I could vary the resistance using an electronic pot.
This looked really good but I did not pay attention to the fact that the feedback voltage would put a negative voltage on the electronic pot pins. The epot did not like this.
If you go for an opamp solution make sure the processor pins don't mind the feedback voltage.

Attached is the schematic I used.

cheers
Peter.
 

Attachments

Top