Chapter 6 — Text on the LCD

This chapter will introduce the TEC-1G LCD as the first friendly output device.

Planned coverage:

  • writing a character through MON-3
  • writing a zero-terminated string through MON-3
  • sending an LCD command through MON-3
  • row positioning and useful row constants
  • when to use the LCD for instructions, status, and mode text
  • what the HD44780 instruction and data ports are doing underneath
  • the point where direct LCD port access becomes useful

The case-study games use the LCD for splash screens, status messages, pause/game-over text, and instructions. That makes it a good output channel for teaching program state before using matrix pixels.