Custom characters on LCD in Arduino - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a custom character on an LCD?

A custom character is a user-defined symbol or shape that you create and store in the LCD's memory to display instead of the standard characters.

beginner

How many custom characters can you create on a typical 16x2 LCD?

You can create up to 8 custom characters because the LCD's memory allows storing 8 character patterns at a time.

beginner

What Arduino library is commonly used to control LCDs and create custom characters?

The LiquidCrystal library is commonly used to control LCDs and create custom characters with the createChar() function.

intermediate

Explain the purpose of the createChar() function in Arduino LCD programming.

The createChar() function stores a custom 5x8 pixel pattern in the LCD's memory at a specified location, allowing you to display that pattern as a character.

intermediate

How do you display a custom character after creating it on the LCD?

After creating a custom character with createChar(), you display it by writing its location number (0 to 7) to the LCD using the write() function.

How many pixels wide is each custom character on a typical 16x2 LCD?

A 2 pixels

B 8 pixels

C 16 pixels

D 5 pixels

Each custom character is 5 pixels wide and 8 pixels tall on a standard LCD.

Which Arduino function is used to create a custom character on an LCD?

A lcd.createChar()

B lcd.begin()

C lcd.setCursor()

D lcd.print()

The createChar() function is used to define a custom character pattern.

What is the maximum number of custom characters you can store on a standard 16x2 LCD?

A 16

B 4

C 8

D 32

The LCD can store up to 8 custom characters at once.

After creating a custom character, how do you display it on the LCD?

A Use lcd.print() with the character's ASCII code

B Use lcd.write() with the character's location number

C Use lcd.setCursor() with the character's pattern

D Use lcd.clear() then lcd.print()

You display a custom character by writing its location number (0-7) with lcd.write().

What does each byte in the array passed to createChar() represent?

A A row of pixels in the 5x8 grid

B A column of pixels in the 5x8 grid

C The brightness of the character

D The color of the character

Each byte represents one row of 5 pixels in the character's 5x8 grid.

Describe the steps to create and display a custom character on a 16x2 LCD using Arduino.

Think about defining the pattern, storing it, positioning, and then showing it.

Explain why you can only have 8 custom characters on a standard LCD at one time.

Consider the LCD's built-in memory capacity for custom characters.