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The datasheet for the HD44780 chip includes the timing diagrams and instruction set for operating this module. It can be downloaded at https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/HD44780.pdf.
So I tried using these with a Microchip PIC16F1933 (like them because with a 28 pin skinny DIP pkg I've got all the PCB tools to lay out and build boards, it has a real data EE memory, lots of PWMs so I can feed direct to logic level N-ch pwr MOSFETS etc.). Wrote a little control pgm and I set aside 11 pins because I wanted to use the full "busy flag" interface and talk to the display quickly. But by the time I got this thing to actually display all the characters I was feeding it I had to slow the processor clock down all the way from 32 MHz to 1 MHz while I was talking to the display! That meant I would have to change all the other "clock chains" to have them SPEED UP by a corresponding amount during this time...unfortunately that meant cutting out more downcounters from those chains than I actually had in them! So if you're working on any projects designed after about 1982 you'll probably want a display with a LITTLE faster controller, but like I said it DOES work as specified...!