The 2004 SmartLCD module is a serially controlled 4 line by 20 character alphanumeric LCD display. Unlike most serial LCD modules on the market the 2004 SmartLCD includes a microcontroller which gives the module a rich set of features. It also requires no software or libraries to initialise the display, output text to the screen or control the features of the module, which reduces development time and frees up much needed resources in your microcontroller or development board. The SmartLCD can be used in one of 3 modes

The SmartLCD backpack module is designed to be interfaced directly to the parallel interface of commonly available 16x02 and 20x04 LCD alphanumeric displays using the Hitachi HD44780 controller (see hobby components items HCMODU0013, HCMODU0038, & HCMODU0039 for compatible displays). Once soldered to the rear of one of these displays the SmartLCD backpack module turns these displays into intelligent serial devices which can then be controlled via either a serial UART or I2C interface. It also requires no software or libraries to initialise the display, output text to the screen or control the features of the module, which reduces development time and frees up much needed resources in your microcontroller or development board.