First, connect a character LCD to TINI
Well hers is the fruit of my first successful project with TINI. I managed to create an LCD interface based on the "missing" Xilinx CPLD chip on the TINIIs400 board. Unfortunately due to the fact that the LCD controllers are 5v IC and the Xilinx CoolRunner-II CPLD is 3.3v device some external "transfer" logic is needed. I used a pair of 74LCX254 ICs which are 3.3v devices with 5v tolerant IO.
The interface uses the XIO port on the TINIIs400 board. That is connected to my glue board, which in turn is connected to the LCD controller. Here is a link to the schematics of the glue board. It is quite simple really, the interface has three LCD connectors. The J5 connector is an Interface to classic LCDs with HD44780. The J2 is for my special "double" controller 40x4 LCD module. It is single LCD device, but has two HD44780 controllers, since a single controller can do max 40x2 lines. The J4 connector is for my Hitachi Graphics LCD module, which has HD61830 controller.
There are several power connectors. J6 is 5v power input for the LCD controller's logic. All LCDs I need 5v for the controller logic. The middle pin of the J6 is for controlling the LCD contrast. The J7 is 5v output. I use to "daisy chain" several bards to the 5v power supply, hence the 5v power output. The J8 is power connector for the graphics LCD module. My model requires -15v supply. The middle pin is used to regulate the LCD contrast.
Check your LCD specification since some modules have different pin out.
Here is the whole goo: download this archive. It contains a VHDL code to program the CPLD, the schematics of my 3.3v <--> 5v board and sample Java code to test the LCD IO.
All code is published under BSD like license, so you are free to use it in commercial products (should you find it useful).
~Enjoy.