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CircuitPython GC9A01 demos

Demos showing how to use CircuitPython displayio driver for GC9A01-based round LCDs. This driver is available in the CircuitPython Community Bundle, or you can install it by hand by copying the gc9a01.py file to your CIRCUITPY/lib directory, or use circup install gc9a01.

Usage

import board
import busio
import fourwire
import displayio
import gc9a01
displayio.release_displays()
# Raspberry Pi Pico pinout, one possibility, at "southwest" of board
tft_clk = board.GP10 # must be a SPI CLK
tft_mosi= board.GP11 # must be a SPI TX
tft_rst = board.GP12
tft_dc  = board.GP13
tft_cs  = board.GP14  # optional, can be "None"
tft_bl  = board.GP15  # optional, can be "None"
spi = busio.SPI(clock=tft_clk, MOSI=tft_mosi)
display_bus = fourwire.FourWire(spi, command=tft_dc, chip_select=tft_cs, reset=tft_rst)
display = gc9a01.GC9A01(display_bus, width=240, height=240, backlight_pin=tft_bl)

# ... normal circuitpython displayio stuff

Installation

Each of the .py files in "examples" is its own demo. Copy one of these to be your CIRCUITPY's "code.py", like:

cp gc9a01_hellocircles.py /Volumes/CIRCUITPY/code.py

You'll need to install various libraries. Most notably the gc9a01 library. You may also need the adafruit_display_text and adafruit_imageload, depending on the example. The easiest way to install these is from a terminal:

circup install gc9a01
circup install adafruit_display_text
circup install adafruit_imageload

Examples

Check out the 'examples' directory for complete examples:

  • 'gc9a01_helloworld' -- shows one way of doing polar coordinates
  • 'gc9a01_hellocircles' -- similar to above but with floating circles using vectorio
  • 'gc9a01_picture_locket' -- display a series of pictures, makes a nice locket if used with a QT Py Haxpress
  • 'gc9a01_gauge_knob' -- round dial gauge using gauge background & dial bitmaps, showing bitmaptools.rotozoom

The examples attempt to auto-detect the board you're using. The currently detected boards:

Eyeballs demos

Additionally, there are several demos in the "examples/eyeballs" directory that use these round displays to make moving eyes.

  • 'eyeballs/qteye.py' -- single eyeball (or two eyeballs wired in parallel) on a QT PY RP2040 or similar
  • 'eyeballs/qtpy_person_sensor.py' -- single eyeball that tracks your face, thanks to a Person Sensor module
  • 'eyeballs/gc9a01_lizard_eye.py' -- similar to "qteye" but uses a cool lizard eye (thx @DJDevon3!)
  • 'eyeballs/gc9a01_multi_eyeball.py' -- independent multiple eyes usigng a recompiled CircuitPython

Wiring

Wiring is dependent on board you're hooking it up to. The "SCL" and "SDA" lines need to be hooked up to SPI pins "SCK" and "MOSI/TX". The gc9a01_helloworld.py has example wirings for three different boards. Here is an example for the Pico:

  • VCC - Pico 3.3V(out)
  • Gnd - Pico Ground
  • SCL - Pico GP10 (SPI1 SCK)
  • SDA - Pico GP11 (SPI1 TX)
  • RES - Pico GP12
  • DC - Pico GP13
  • CS - Pico GP14
  • BLK - Pico GP15 (can be omitted if you don't need backlight brightness control)

Here is an example for a QT Py Haxpress:

  • VCC - QT Py 3.3V
  • Gnd - QT Py Ground
  • SCL - QT Py SCK
  • SDA - QT Py MO
  • RES - QT Py TX
  • DC - QT Py A3
  • CS - QT Py A2
  • BLK - unconnected

Building your own dial gauges

There is a partial Python port of @bikerglen's gauge-generator in docs/gauge-generator. These scripts use the wonderful Wand Python wrapper for ImageMagick's C API.

Future Project Ideas:

  • bargraph display using vectorio

Notes to self: