LCD Keypad Shield for Arduino

Overview of LCD Keypad Shield for Arduino

The LCD Keypad Shield typically combines an LCD1602 (16 characters by 2 lines) screen with a 5x4 matrix keypad for user input. The shield connects directly to the Arduino Duemilanove (or other compatible Arduino boards) without needing additional wiring. This product has rich software library and it is ready to use.

Key Components and Features:

1. LCD1602 Display:

2. Resolution: 16 characters × 2 lines.
3. Backlight: The LCD includes a backlight that can be controlled programmatically.
4. Interface: Uses an HD44780 compatible controller, which is standard for many LCD modules. This makes it easy to interface with the Arduino using the standard LiquidCrystal library.
5. Pins Used: The display typically uses 6 pins (RS, E, D4, D5, D6, D7) for communication.

6. Keypad:

7. The keypad typically has 5 buttons (up, down, left, right, and select) arranged in a simple 5×1 configuration.
8. It interfaces with the Arduino through analog pins, specifically A0 (or another analog pin if wired differently).
9. The shield also typically includes a potentiometer to adjust the contrast of the LCD display.

10. Potentiometer:

11. The potentiometer on the shield is used to adjust the LCD contrast. By turning the knob, you can make the text on the LCD more visible, depending on your ambient light conditions.

12. Arduino Connection:

13. The shield connects directly to the Arduino Duemilanove (or other Arduino boards with the same header configuration) via the Arduino's standard header pins.
14. No jumper wires are needed, as the shield uses the Arduino's pinouts directly.
15. Most shields work with the Arduino UNO, Duemilanove, and similar boards as long as they share the same layout.

Pin Mapping (Default):

The LCD Keypad Shield uses the following connections:

Pin 1 (GND) – Ground

Pin 2 (VCC) – 5V power

Pin 3 (VO) – Contrast adjust (connected to a potentiometer)

Pin 4 (RS) – Register select (to control data/command mode)

Pin 5 (RW) – Read/Write (connected to GND, only write mode used)

Pin 6 (E) – Enable pin for data transfer

Pins 7–14 (D0–D7) – Data pins (only D4–D7 are used in 4-bit mode)

Keypad (Analog Pin):

Pin 15 (A0) – Analog input from the 5x1 keypad (analog value read from the key press).