The CFontzPacket Driver
Prev Chapter 5. LCDproc Drivers Next

The CFontzPacket Driver

CrystalFontz offers a wide range of character and graphical LCD modules. The CFontzPacket driver supports the modules that communicate with the host computer using a packet-based communications protocol with 16-bit CRC (hence the driver name).

Currently this line of modules comprises the models:

CFA-631

  • 20x2 character LCD with backlight

  • keypad with 4 keys: Up, Down, enter & Escape

  • USB connection for data and power

  • mounting bracket to fit into 3,5" drive bays

CFA-633

  • 16x2 character LCDi with backlight

  • keypad with 6 keys: 4 directions, Enter & Escape

  • serial or USB connection

  • mounting bracket to fit into 5,25" drive bays

CFA-635

  • 20x4 characters LCDi with backlight

  • keypad with 6 keys: 4 directions, Enter & Escape

  • USB connection for data and power

  • four bi-color LEDs to show status information

  • optional mounting bracket to fit into 5,25" drive bays

Configuration in LCDd.conf

[CFontzPacket]

Model = { 631 | 633 | 635 }

Select the LCD model that is connected. Legal values for this option are 631, 633, or 635, with the default being 633.

Device = DEVICE

Select the output device to use. It may be a serial device or a USB device in serial emulation mode. If not given, it defaults to /dev/lcd.

Note

Mac OS X users may need to use one of the /dev/cu devices instead of the /dev/tty ones.

Size = WIDTH x HEIGHT

Select the LCD size [default: depending on model: 635: 20x4, 631: 20x2, 633: 16x2]

Contrast = CONTRAST

Set the initial contrast. Legal values for CONTRAST are 0 - 1000. If not specified, it defaults to 560.

Brightness = BRIGHTNESS

Set the initial brightness [default: 1000; legal: 0 - 1000]

OffBrightness = BRIGHTNESS

Set the initial off-brightness [default: 0; legal: 0 - 1000] This value is used when the display is normally switched off in case LCDd is inactive

Speed = { 1200 | 2400 | 9600 | 19200 | 115200 }

Set the the baud rate for communication with the LCD. If not specified, the default depends on the model: it is 9600 for the CFA633 and 115200 for the CFA631 and CFA635.

NewFirmware = { yes | no }

Set the firmware version (New means >= 2.0) [default: no; legal: yes, no] Currently this flag is not in use, there is no such thing as NewFirmware. ;=)

Reboot = { yes | no }

Reinitialize the LCD's BIOS [default: no; legal: yes, no] I want to reboot the LCD to make sure we start from a known state

Prev Up Next
The CFontz633 Driver Home The curses Driver