Stuck at home and no one to play with? Make an LCD friend in less than 10 minutes

Published June 10, 2022

An LCD Dog friend! 🐶

Feeling alone? Make an LCD dog friend in less than 10 minutes!

BeginnerFull instructions provided5,082

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Alphanumeric LCD, 16 x 2

Through Hole Resistor, 220 ohm

Jumper wires (generic)

Breadboard (generic)

Arduino UNO

Well of course you need this!

Single Turn Potentiometer- 10k ohms

This is an (Optional) item.

SparkFun Pushbutton switch 12mm

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

Stuck at home and no one to play with? Make an LCD friend in less than 10 minutes!

Hello! You want to make an LCD Friend huh? well let's just start the project right away! So all you need is your everyday Arduino board an LCD and some wires. That's mostly it!

If you want to make your own code and make whatever you want on an LCD then here is a website just for you! CustomGlyphGenerator It's great fun! you'll love making your own designs and animations and gifs!

So first pick up your Arduino board, then start wiring using the circuit diagram. Once you wire it, Go down to the code, then copy the test code. Put it in your Arduino software. Upload it and you should see the LCD flash "It's Working!" If it does not work then check all the connections and see if there are any obvious mistakes when you compare it to the circuit diagram. Or if needed re-wire the whole circuit. Then switch to the MASTER CODE. then copy it, upload it, and then you have an LCD Dog Friend! In less than 10 minutes!

But that's not all. You may be thinking. Why do I need 220k resistors if the circuit diagram doesn't have them in it? Well there is a simple reason for that. I had a problem. I didn't have a potentiometer that would fit into my breadboard. So I had an idea and this may help you if you don't have a potentiometer too. just chain 5 220k resistors in series. then it will give you the perfect contrast for the LCD. This is just an idea and I hope it helps you. 😃🧑‍💻

I recently made an update for this project so now you can have an adventure with your dog friend! And I added a RESET button so you can reset the whole circuit, and then play it again! Have a good day! And if you have any ideas or comments feel free to say something!😁👍

Code

//Made by milespeterson101
//date published 6/20/2022
//Heres the code. (:

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2); // RS, E, D4, D5, D6, D7
void setup() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
image();
}
void loop() {}

void image() {
lcd.clear();

byte image09[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image08[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image07[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};
byte image23[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image24[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};
byte image25[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B00010, B11010, B11010, B00100, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image09);
lcd.createChar(1, image08);
lcd.createChar(2, image07);
lcd.createChar(3, image23);
lcd.createChar(4, image24);
lcd.createChar(5, image25);


lcd.setCursor(8, 0);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(7, 0);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(6, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(6, 1);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(7, 1);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(8, 1);
lcd.write(byte(5));

delay(1000);

lcd.clear();

byte image06[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image22[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B11010, B11010, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image21[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};
byte image05[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image04[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};
byte image20[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image06);
lcd.createChar(1, image22);
lcd.createChar(2, image21);
lcd.createChar(3, image05);
lcd.createChar(4, image04);
lcd.createChar(5, image20);


lcd.setCursor(5, 0);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(5, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(4, 1);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(4, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(3, 0);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(3, 1);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(1000);

lcd.clear();

byte image03[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image19[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B11010, B11010, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image02[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image01[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};
byte image18[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};
byte image17[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image03);
lcd.createChar(1, image19);
lcd.createChar(2, image02);
lcd.createChar(3, image01);
lcd.createChar(4, image18);
lcd.createChar(5, image17);


lcd.setCursor(2, 0);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(2, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(1, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(1, 1);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(1000);

lcd.clear();

byte image32[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B11010, B11010, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image16[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image15[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image14[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};
byte image30[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image31[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image32);
lcd.createChar(1, image16);
lcd.createChar(2, image15);
lcd.createChar(3, image14);
lcd.createChar(4, image30);
lcd.createChar(5, image31);


lcd.setCursor(15, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(15, 0);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(14, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(13, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(13, 1);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(1000);

lcd.clear();

byte image29[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B11010, B11010, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image28[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};
byte image27[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image13[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image12[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image11[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};


lcd.createChar(0, image29);
lcd.createChar(1, image28);
lcd.createChar(2, image27);
lcd.createChar(3, image13);
lcd.createChar(4, image12);
lcd.createChar(5, image11);


lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(10, 1);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(12, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(11, 0);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(10, 0);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(1000);

lcd.clear();

byte image40[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};
byte image10[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image41[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image35[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image26[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};
byte image44[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B11010, B11010, B01010, B00100, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image40);
lcd.createChar(1, image10);
lcd.createChar(2, image41);
lcd.createChar(3, image35);
lcd.createChar(4, image26);
lcd.createChar(5, image44);


lcd.setCursor(8, 0);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(9, 0);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(10, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(8, 1);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(9, 1);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(10, 1);
lcd.write(byte(5));
//Here is where the original code used to end. HERE!
delay(1000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Hello!");
byte image50[8] = {B00001, B00001, B00001, B11010, B11010, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image52[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01110, B01010, B01010, B10001, B00000};
byte image57[8] = {B10000, B10000, B10000, B10000, B01001, B01010, B00100, B00000};
byte image53[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00010, B00101, B10101, B01101, B00001};
byte image58[8] = {B01000, B10100, B00100, B10010, B00001, B01000, B10000, B00000};
byte image51[8] = {B00100, B01011, B01000, B01010, B10001, B10101, B10011, B10000};


lcd.createChar(0, image50);
lcd.createChar(1, image52);
lcd.createChar(2, image57);
lcd.createChar(3, image53);
lcd.createChar(4, image58);
lcd.createChar(5, image51);


lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(10, 1);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(12, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(11, 0);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(10, 0);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(5000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("What's on");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("your mind today?");
delay(2000);

lcd.clear();
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Woof,Woof!");
byte image67[8] = {B01100, B10000, B10000, B10010, B10010, B10010, B01010, B00110};
byte image61[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00011};
byte image62[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B11000, B00100};
byte image68[8] = {B00001, B01001, B01000, B00000, B00000, B00001, B00110, B00100};
byte image69[8] = {B00000, B11000, B11000, B11000, B01000, B10000, B00000, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image67);
lcd.createChar(1, image61);
lcd.createChar(2, image62);
lcd.createChar(3, image68);
lcd.createChar(4, image69);


lcd.setCursor(10, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(10, 0);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(11, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(4));
delay(3000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Uh oh!");
byte image77[8] = {B01100, B10000, B10000, B10010, B10010, B10010, B01010, B00110};
byte image71[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00011};
byte image72[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B11000, B00100};
byte image78[8] = {B00001, B01001, B01000, B00000, B00000, B00001, B00110, B00100};
byte image79[8] = {B00000, B11000, B11000, B11000, B01000, B10000, B00000, B00000};


lcd.createChar(0, image77);
lcd.createChar(1, image71);
lcd.createChar(2, image72);
lcd.createChar(3, image78);
lcd.createChar(4, image79);


lcd.setCursor(10, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(10, 0);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(11, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(4));
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("I think I need");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("To go to the");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("BATHROOM!");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Give me one");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Second please.");
delay(4000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("OHH...");

byte image80[8] = {B00001, B00010, B00111, B00100, B01001, B01110, B10000, B01111};
byte image81[8] = {B10000, B11000, B00100, B01100, B10010, B00110, B11001, B11110};
byte image85[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B00000, B01000, B10000, B10000};


lcd.createChar(0, image80);
lcd.createChar(1, image81);
lcd.createChar(2, image85);


lcd.setCursor(13, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(14, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Looks like I");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("I left a little");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Stinky suprise!");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Well...");

byte image82[8] = {B01000, B01000, B00100, B01100, B10100, B00010, B00001, B00000};
byte image83[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B10001, B01110, B00000, B00001, B11110};
byte image84[8] = {B00100, B00100, B01010, B01001, B01000, B10000, B00000, B00000};
byte image86[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B11110, B10001, B10000, B01000, B00100};
byte image87[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01111, B10001, B00010, B00100, B01000};
byte image88[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B11111, B00000, B00000, B10001, B10001};


lcd.createChar(0, image82);
lcd.createChar(1, image83);
lcd.createChar(2, image84);
lcd.createChar(3, image86);
lcd.createChar(4, image87);
lcd.createChar(5, image88);


lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(13, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(14, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(12, 0);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(13, 0);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("we'll pick");

byte image91[8] = {B01000, B01000, B00100, B01100, B10100, B00010, B00001, B00000};
byte image92[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B10001, B01110, B00000, B00001, B11110};
byte image93[8] = {B00100, B00100, B01010, B01001, B01000, B10000, B00000, B00000};
byte image94[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B11110, B10001, B10000, B01000, B00100};
byte image95[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01111, B10001, B00010, B00100, B01000};
byte image96[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B11111, B00000, B00000, B00000, B11011};


lcd.createChar(0, image91);
lcd.createChar(1, image92);
lcd.createChar(2, image93);
lcd.createChar(3, image94);
lcd.createChar(4, image95);
lcd.createChar(5, image96);


lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(13, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(14, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(12, 0);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(13, 0);
lcd.write(byte(5));

delay(1000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("It up later!");

byte image97[8] = {B01000, B01000, B00100, B01100, B10100, B00010, B00001, B00000};
byte image98[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B10001, B01110, B00000, B00001, B11110};
byte image99[8] = {B00100, B00100, B01010, B01001, B01000, B10000, B00000, B00000};
byte image100[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B11110, B10001, B10000, B01000, B00100};
byte image101[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B01111, B10001, B00010, B00100, B01000};
byte image102[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00000, B11111, B00000, B00000, B00000, B11011};


lcd.createChar(0, image97);
lcd.createChar(1, image98);
lcd.createChar(2, image99);
lcd.createChar(3, image100);
lcd.createChar(4, image101);
lcd.createChar(5, image102);


lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(13, 1);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
lcd.write(byte(2));
lcd.setCursor(14, 0);
lcd.write(byte(3));
lcd.setCursor(12, 0);
lcd.write(byte(4));
lcd.setCursor(13, 0);
lcd.write(byte(5));
delay(3000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Oh, so you want");
delay(1200);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("to play more?");
delay(1000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("That's an idea.");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("But I'm tired");


byte image103[8] = {B01111, B00010, B00100, B01000, B01111, B00000, B00000, B00000};
byte image104[8] = {B00100, B00010, B11111, B01000, B00100, B00000, B00000, B00000};
byte image105[8] = {B00000, B00000, B00100, B00010, B00001, B11111, B01000, B00100};


lcd.createChar(0, image103);
lcd.createChar(1, image104);
lcd.createChar(2, image105);


lcd.setCursor(13, 1);
lcd.write(byte(0));
lcd.setCursor(15, 0);
lcd.write(byte(1));
lcd.setCursor(14, 0);
lcd.write(byte(2));
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("So, if you want");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("to play again");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("press the");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("RESET button");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("So, bye bye!");
delay(1500);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("see ya later! (:");

}

// include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

// initialize the library by associating any needed LCD interface pin
// with the arduino pin number it is connected to
const int rs = 12, en = 11, d4 = 5, d5 = 4, d6 = 3, d7 = 2;
LiquidCrystal lcd(rs, en, d4, d5, d6, d7);

void setup() {
  // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:
  lcd.begin(16, 2);
  // Print a message to the LCD.
  lcd.print("It's Working!");
}

void loop() {
  // Turn off the display:
  lcd.noDisplay();
  delay(500);
  // Turn on the display:
  lcd.display();
  delay(500);
}

Credits

milespeterson101

3 projects • 8 followers

An LCD Dog friend! 🐶

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Stuck at home and no one to play with? Make an LCD friend in less than 10 minutes!

Schematics

Circuit Diagram

My resistor bank.

Helpful Video

Code

MASTER CODE (Updated)

Test Code

Credits

milespeterson101

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

An LCD Dog friend! 🐶

An LCD Dog friend! 🐶

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Stuck at home and no one to play with? Make an LCD friend in less than 10 minutes!

Schematics

Circuit Diagram

My resistor bank.

Helpful Video

Code

MASTER CODE (Updated)

Test Code

Credits

milespeterson101

Comments

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