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Master FPGA design with VHDL : Driving an LCD Display
Rating: 4.8 out of 5(4 ratings)
20 students

Master FPGA design with VHDL : Driving an LCD Display

Understand LCD display and build a VHDL controller from scratch with multiple Labs for practice
Created byAnas F.
Last updated 10/2025
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Acquire skills to read and interpret a technical datasheet
  • Understand the internal structure of HD44780-compatible LCDs
  • Design a synthesizable LCD controller in VHDL
  • Structure your design using finite state machines (FSMs)
  • Manage multiple interacting FSMs
  • Best practices for modular, reusable, VHDL design
  • Hands-on practical labs (display text, display custom character, user-configurable countdown timer)

Course content

8 sections • 31 lectures • 3h 31m total length

  • Introduction4:32
  • Material used2:44
  • Mimas v2 board2:30

    Introduce the Mimas v2 board and the Spartan-6 FPGA, noting 32 usable PMOD IO pins and that the design is board-agnostic for driving an LCD display with VHDL.

Requirements

  • Basic notions on digital electronics and VHDL are needed to get the most from this course

Description

As part of the "FPGA Design Using VHDL" hands-on series, this module focuses on driving character LCD displays — a fundamental interface for embedded systems and user interaction.

In this course, you will:

  • Learn how to read and interpret an LCD datasheet

  • Understand the internal architecture of an LCD (DDRAM, CGRAM, CGROM, and instruction set)

  • Design and implement a fully functional LCD controller in VHDL

  • Learn how to connect and map LCD pins to your FPGA using proper I/O constraints

  • Apply theoretical knowledge through practical design labs

Practice Labs

  • Lab 1: Create a simple demo that displays "HELLO WORLD" using your VHDL LCD controller

  • Lab 2: Generate and display a custom character (like a smiley face) on the LCD

  • Lab 3: Design a configurable countdown timer displayed in real-time on the LCD, with user input through buttons and switches

By the end, you’ll have the skills to read and understand a technical datasheet and integrate LCD displays into real-world VHDL projects with structured, reusable, and synthesizable code.

Throughout the course, you'll also strengthen your understanding of Finite State Machines (FSMs) and learn to design multiple cooperating FSMs in a single FPGA system. You will practice interfacing, timing, and structuring logic for clarity and reliability — skills essential for professional digital design.

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Limited-time discount for learners:

Use this instructor coupon to get the course at the lowest price: E4186793AA1E955C39C0

Who this course is for:

  • Beginner Digital Electronics students and engineers or anyone interested in learning FPGA design

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