4D SYSTEMS uLCD-220RD-PI
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uLCD-220RD-PI – Raspberry Pi Display Module Pack
2. Advanced Hardware Options
The display module (uLCD-220RD) is a very capable and powerful piece of hardware, which can be
reconfigured beyond the boundaries of the Serial Environment, which is what is loaded on the module when
shipped.
With the use of the 4D Systems Workshop4 IDE Software, the display module can be configured and
programmed, which enables the user to utilise the display module in more ways than what is possible when
using it in the Serial configuration.
If a user wishes to investigate the capabilities of the uLCD-220RD and reconfigure the display module, please
refer to the Datasheet for the uLCD-220RD, available from the 4D systems website, www.4dsystems.com.au.
The user can freely change back to the configuration the module was shipped in if desired, all via the
Workshop4 IDE Software.
To take advantage of the 4D Systems Workshop 4 Software, a 4D Programming Cable is required, which can be
purchased from the 4D Systems website, or from a 4D Systems distributor.
Depending on what the user requires, a micro-SD card may also be required. Please refer to the Datasheet for
the uLCD-220RD for more information, along with information on the Starter Kits which is also available, which
includes both the Programming Cable and a micro-SD card.
The Workshop4 IDE enables the uLCD-220RD display module to be configured using 4 different environments.
The Designer environment enables the user to write 4DGL code in its natural form to program the
display module.
A visual programming experience, suitably called ViSi, enables click-and-place type placement of
objects to assist with 4DGL code generation and allows the user to visualise how the display will look
while being developed.
An advanced environment called ViSi-Genie doesn’t require any 4DGL coding at all, it is all done
automatically for you. Simply lay the display out with the objects you want, set the events to drive
them, and the code is written for you automatically. ViSi-Genie provides the latest rapid development
experience from 4D Systems.
A Serial environment is also provided to transform the display module into a slave serial module,
allowing the user to control the display from any host microcontroller or device with a serial port.
Designer and ViSi allow the user to program and write their own protocol to communicate between the
Raspberry Pi and the Display Module.
ViSi-Genie has a set protocol as outlined in the documentation associated with it (Available from the
Workshop4 Product page of the website), and 4D Systems has developed a Raspberry Pi Library specifically for
the ViSi-Genie environment, to enable a rapid development platform for users. The library is available for
download from the uLCD-220RD-PI product page on the 4D Systems Website, www.4dsystems.com.au.
The Serial environment loads an application (SPE) onto the display module which enables commands from the
Raspberry Pi to communicate directly with the display module and get it to perform specific actions. 4D
Systems has developed a generic C library specifically for this environment also, which is available for
download from the uLCD-220RD-PI product page on the 4D Systems Website, www.4dsystems.com.au. Note,
this will need porting to the Raspberry Pi in order to work. A specific Raspberry Pi version will be available in
due course. For detailed information on each of these functions, please refer to the ‘Diablo16 Serial Command
Set Reference Manual’ Document, available from the Workshop 4 product page on the 4D Systems website
