Displaying large numbers on 2 or 4 line LCD

[Ringo42]

I'm considering a project that will have an LCD display, either 2 line or 4 line. What I would like to do is when setting up the unit the LCD will act like a regular lcd (using flex_lcd), but when idle it will display the time in big numbers like an alarm clock. Has anyone done anything like this before? I guess I could build a boatload of custom characters for the top and bottom of each number, but that would take forever. There must be a better way, any thoughts?

Thanks
Ringo
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Ringo Davis

[temtronic]

You could adapt Scott Edward's BASIC program(www.seetron) that he created for serial LCDs about a decade ago...

[PCM programmer]

See BPP-420L on this page:
http://www.seetron.com/slcds.htm

Another example of large chars built from several custom chars:
http://www.modtronix.com/product_info.php?products_id=274

[Ringo42]

As far as I know his source is not available, unless it is somewhere on his site and I missed it.
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Ringo Davis

[Ringo42]

Yes that is exactly what I want to do, but without buying a $40 serial LCD. I want to make sure there is not code out there (like flexlcd) before I start defining a bunch of custom characters.
Ringo
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Ringo Davis

[temtronic]

ok... google 'big_nums.bs2' for Scott's program...

yeesh..it dates back to mid 90s !!!

[bkamen]

Building the custom block chars isn't all that hard.

I think I have an HD44780 setup someplace for making a lock/unlock, target symbol for an LCD in C.

Let me know if you want it,

-Ben
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Dazed and confused? I don't think so. Just "plain lost" will do. :D