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Micropython Guide

machine

import machine

machine.freq()          # Get the current CPU frequency
machine.freq(240000000) # Configure CPU frequency to 240 MHz

esp

import esp

esp.osdebug(None)       # Disable O/S debugging information
esp.osdebug(0)          # Redirect O/S debugging information to UART(0)

# Basic flash operation API
esp.flash_size()
esp.flash_user_start()
esp.flash_erase(sector_no)
esp.flash_write(byte_offset, buffer)
esp.flash_read(byte_offset, buffer)

esp32

import esp32

esp32.hall_sensor()     # Read the internal Hall sensor
esp32.raw_temperature() # Read the internal temperature of the MCU, in Fahrenheit
esp32.ULP()             # Access the Ultra-Low-Power Coprocessor

network

import network

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF) # Create a station interface
wlan.active(True)       # Activate the interface
wlan.scan()             # Scan for access points
wlan.isconnected()      # Check if the station is connected to an AP
wlan.connect('essid', 'password') # Connect to an AP
wlan.config('mac')      # Get the interface's MAC address
wlan.ifconfig()         # Get the interface's IP/netmask/gw/DNS addresses

ap = network.WLAN(network.AP_IF) # Create an access-point interface
ap.config(essid='ESP-AP') # Set the ESSID of the access point
ap.config(max_clients=10) # Set how many clients can connect to the network
ap.active(True)         # Activate the interface

WiFi connection function example

def do_connect():
    import network
    wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
    wlan.active(True)
    if not wlan.isconnected():
        print('connecting to network...')
        wlan.connect('essid', 'password')
        while not wlan.isconnected():
            pass
    print('network config:', wlan.ifconfig())

After completing the network connection, you can use the socket module to create and use TCP/UDP sockets, and use the urequests module to create HTTP requests.

After calling the connection function wlan.connect(), the device will automatically attempt to connect. If authentication fails or the AP does not exist within range, the device will continuously attempt to reconnect. You can use wlan.status() to get the current connection status, which will return network.STAT_CONNECTING until the connection is successful or the interface is disabled. You can change the reconnect attempts by calling wlan.config(reconnects=n), where n is the number of attempts allowed (0 means no reconnect, -1 means continuously reconnecting).

time

import time

time.sleep(1)           # Sleep for 1 second
time.sleep_ms(500)      # Sleep for 500 milliseconds
time.sleep_us(10)       # Sleep for 10 microseconds
start = time.ticks_ms() # Get millisecond counter
delta = time.ticks_diff(time.ticks_ms(), start) # Compute time difference

Timers

The ESP32 port has four hardware timers. - machine.Timer <machine.Timer> class with a timer ID from 0 to 3 (inclusive)::

  • Create timers using machine.Timer module. The ESP32 has 4 built-in hardware timers, with IDs ranging from 0 to 3.
from machine import Timer

tim0 = Timer(0)
tim0.init(period=5000, mode=Timer.ONE_SHOT, callback=lambda t:print(0))

tim1 = Timer(1)
tim1.init(period=2000, mode=Timer.PERIODIC, callback=lambda t:print(1))

The period is in milliseconds.

Virtual timers are not currently supported on this port.

Pins and GPIO

  • machine.Pin <machine.Pin>
from machine import Pin

p0 = Pin(0, Pin.OUT)    # create output pin on GPIO0
p0.on()                 # set pin to "on" (high) level
p0.off()                # set pin to "off" (low) level
p0.value(1)             # set pin to on/high

p2 = Pin(2, Pin.IN)     # create input pin on GPIO2
print(p2.value())       # get value, 0 or 1

p4 = Pin(4, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) # enable internal pull-up resistor
p5 = Pin(5, Pin.OUT, value=1) # set pin high on creation

Available Pins are from the following ranges (inclusive): 0-19, 21-23, 25-27, 32-39. These correspond to the actual GPIO pin numbers of ESP32 chip. Note that many end-user boards use their own adhoc pin numbering (marked e.g. D0, D1, ...). For mapping between board logical pins and physical chip pins consult your board documentation.

Notes: Pins 1 and 3 are REPL UART TX and RX respectively Pins 6, 7, 8, 11, 16, and 17 are used for connecting the embedded flash, and are not recommended for other uses Pins 34-39 are input only, and also do not have internal pull-up resistors The pull value of some pins can be set to Pin.PULL_HOLD to reduce power consumption during deep sleep.

There's a higher-level abstraction :ref:machine.Signal <machine.Signal> which can be used to invert a pin. Useful for illuminating active-low LEDs using on() or value(1).

UART (serial bus)

  • machine.UART
from machine import UART

uart1 = UART(1, baudrate=9600, tx=33, rx=32)
uart1.write('hello')  # write 5 bytes
uart1.read(5)         # read up to 5 bytes

ESP32 built-in three groups of UART: UART0, UART1, and UART2. The default GPIO mappings for them are as follows:

UART0 UART1 UART2
tx 1 10 17
rx 3 19 16

PWM

PWM can be enabled on all output-enabled pins. The base frequency can range from 1Hz to 40MHz but there is a tradeoff; as the base frequency increases, the duty resolution decreases. See LED Control for more details.

  • machine.PWM
from machine import Pin, PWM

pwm0 = PWM(Pin(0))         # create PWM object from a pin
freq = pwm0.freq()         # get current frequency (default 5kHz)
pwm0.freq(1000)            # set PWM frequency from 1Hz to 40MHz

duty = pwm0.duty()         # get current duty cycle, range 0-1023 (default 512, 50%)
pwm0.duty(256)             # set duty cycle from 0 to 1023 as a ratio duty/1023, (now 25%)

duty_u16 = pwm0.duty_u16() # get current duty cycle, range 0-65535
pwm0.duty_u16(65535*3/4)  # set duty cycle from 0 to 65535 as a ratio duty_u16/65535, (now 75%)

duty_ns = pwm0.duty_ns()   # get current pulse width in ns
pwm0.duty_ns(250_000)      # set pulse width in nanoseconds from 0 to 1_000_000_000/freq, (now 25%)

pwm0.deinit()              # turn off PWM on the pin

pwm2 = PWM(Pin(2), freq=20000, duty=512)  # create and configure in one go
print(pwm2)                               # view PWM settings

ESP chips have different hardware peripherals:

Hardware specification ESP32 ESP32-S2 ESP32-C3
Number of groups (speed modes) 2 1 1
Number of timers per group 4 4 4
Number of channels per group 8 8 6
Different PWM frequencies (groups * timers) 8 4 4
Total PWM channels (Pins, duties) (groups * channels) 16 8 6

A maximum number of PWM channels (Pins) are available on the ESP32 - 16 channels, but only 8 different PWM frequencies are available; the remaining 8 channels must have the same frequency. On the other hand, 16 independent PWM duty cycles are possible at the same frequency.

See more examples in the esp32_pwm tutorial.

ADC

On the ESP32 ADC functionality is available on Pins 32-39. Note that, when using the default configuration, input voltages on the ADC pin must be between 0.0v and 1.0v (anything above 1.0v will just read as 4095). Attenuation must be applied in order to increase this usable voltage range.

  • machine.ADC
from machine import ADC

adc = ADC(Pin(32))          # create ADC object on ADC pin
adc.read()                  # read value, 0-4095 across voltage range 0.0v - 1.0v

adc.atten(ADC.ATTN_11DB)    # set 11dB input attenuation (voltage range roughly 0.0v - 3.6v)
adc.width(ADC.WIDTH_9BIT)   # set 9 bit return values (returned range 0-511)
adc.read()                  # read value using the newly configured attenuation and width

ESP32 specific ADC class method reference:

  • ADC.atten(attenuation)

This method allows for the setting of the amount of attenuation on the input of the ADC. This allows for a wider possible input voltage range, at the cost of accuracy (the same number of bits now represents a wider range). The possible attenuation options are:

  • ADC.ATTN_0DB: 0dB attenuation, gives a maximum input voltage of 1.00v - this is the default configuration
  • ADC.ATTN_2_5DB: 2.5dB attenuation, gives a maximum input voltage of approximately 1.34v
  • ADC.ATTN_6DB: 6dB attenuation, gives a maximum input

voltage of approximately 2.00v

  • ADC.ATTN_11DB: 11dB attenuation, gives a maximum input voltage of approximately 3.6v

Despite 11dB attenuation allowing for up to a 3.6v range, note that the absolute maximum voltage rating for the input pins is 3.6v, and so going near this boundary may be damaging to the IC!

  • ADC.width(width)

This method allows for the setting of the number of bits to be utilized and returned during ADC reads. Possible width options are:

  • ADC.WIDTH_9BIT: 9 bit data
  • ADC.WIDTH_10BIT: 10 bit data
  • ADC.WIDTH_11BIT: 11 bit data
  • ADC.WIDTH_12BIT: 12 bit data - this is the default configuration

Software SPI

Software SPI (using bit-banging) works on all pins and is accessed via the machine.SoftSPI.

from machine import Pin, SoftSPI

# construct a SoftSPI bus on the given pins
# polarity is the idle state of SCK
# phase=0 means sample on the first edge of SCK, phase=1 means the second
spi = SoftSPI(baudrate=100000, polarity=1, phase=0, sck=Pin(0), mosi=Pin(2), miso=Pin(4))

spi.init(baudrate=200000) # set the baudrate

spi.read(10)            # read 10 bytes on MISO
spi.read(10, 0xff)      # read 10 bytes while outputting 0xff on MOSI

buf = bytearray(50)     # create a buffer
spi.readinto(buf)       # read into the given buffer (reads 50 bytes in this case)
spi.readinto(buf, 0xff) # read into the given buffer and output 0xff on MOSI

spi.write(b'12345')     # write 5 bytes on MOSI

buf = bytearray(4)      # create a buffer
spi.write_readinto(b'1234', buf) # write to MOSI and read from MISO into the buffer
spi.write_readinto(buf, buf) # write buf to MOSI and read MISO back into buf

Currently, all of sck, mosi, and miso must be specified when initializing Software SPI.

Hardware SPI

There are two hardware SPI channels that allow faster transmission rates (up to 80Mhz). These may be used on any IO pins that support the required direction and are otherwise unused (see Pins_and_GPIO), but if they are not configured to their default pins then they need to pass through an extra layer of GPIO multiplexing, which can impact their reliability at high speeds. Hardware SPI channels are limited to 40MHz when used on pins other than the default ones listed below.

HSPI (id=1) VSPI (id=2)
sck 14 18
mosi 13 23
miso 12 19
  • machine.SPI
from machine import Pin, SPI

hspi = SPI(1, 10000000)
hspi = SPI(1, 10000000, sck=Pin(14), mosi=Pin(13), miso=Pin(12))
vspi = SPI(2, baudrate=80000000, polarity=0, phase=0, bits=8, firstbit=0, sck=Pin(18), mosi=Pin(23), miso=Pin(19))

Software I2C bus

Software I2C (using bit-banging) works on all output-capable pins and is

  • machine.SoftI2C
from machine import Pin, SoftI2C

i2c = SoftI2C(scl=Pin(5), sda=Pin(4), freq=100000)

i2c.scan()              # scan for devices

i2c.readfrom(0x3a, 4)   # read 4 bytes from device with address 0x3a
i2c.writeto(0x3a, '12') # write '12' to device with address 0x3a

buf = bytearray(10)     # create a buffer with 10 bytes
i2c.writeto(0x3a, buf)  # write the given buffer to the peripheral

Hardware I2C

There are two hardware I2C peripherals with identifiers 0 and 1. Any available output-capable pins can be used for SCL and SDA, but the defaults are given below.

I2C(0) I2C(1)
scl 18 25
sda 19 26

The driver is accessed via the machine.I2C class and has the same methods as software I2C above::

from machine import Pin, I2C

i2c = I2C(0)
i2c = I2C(1, scl=Pin(5), sda=Pin(4), freq=400000)

I2S bus

  • machine.I2S
from machine import I2S, Pin

i2s = I2S(0, sck=Pin(13), ws=Pin(14), sd=Pin(34), mode=I2S.TX, bits=16, format=I2S.STEREO, rate=44100, ibuf=40000) # create I2S object
i2s.write(buf)             # write buffer of audio samples to I2S device

i2s = I2S(1, sck=Pin(33), ws=Pin(25), sd=Pin(32), mode=I2S.RX, bits=16, format=I2S.MONO, rate=22050, ibuf=40000) # create I2S object
i2s.readinto(buf)          # fill buffer with audio samples from I2S device

The I2S class is currently available as a Technical Preview. During the preview period, feedback from users is encouraged. Based on this feedback, the I2S class API and implementation may be changed.

ESP32 has two I2S buses with id=0 and id=1

Real time clock (RTC)

  • machine.RTC <machine.RTC> ::
from machine import RTC

rtc = RTC()
rtc.datetime((2017, 8, 23, 1, 12, 48, 0, 0)) # set a specific date and time
rtc.datetime() # get date and time

Watchdog Timer (WDT)

  • machine.WDT <machine.WDT>
from machine import WDT

# enable the WDT with a timeout of 5s (1s is the minimum)
wdt = WDT(timeout=5000)
wdt.feed()

Deep-sleep mode

The following code can be used to sleep, wake, and check the reset cause:

import machine

# check if the device woke from a deep sleep
if machine.reset_cause() == machine.DEEPSLEEP_RESET:
    print('woke from a deep sleep')

# put the device to sleep for 10 seconds
machine.deepsleep(10000)

Notes:

  • Calling deepsleep() without an argument will put the device to sleep indefinitely
  • A software reset does not change the reset cause
  • There may be some leakage current flowing through enabled internal pullups. To further reduce power consumption, it is possible to disable the internal pullups:
p1 = Pin(4, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_HOLD)

After leaving deep sleep, it may be necessary to un-hold the pin explicitly (e.g., if it is an output pin) via:

p1 = Pin(4, Pin.OUT, None)

SD Card

  • machine.SDCard <machine.SDCard>
import machine, os

# Slot 2 uses pins sck=18, cs=5, miso=19, mosi=23
sd = machine.SDCard(slot=2)
os.mount(sd, "/sd")  # mount

os.listdir('/sd')    # list directory contents

os.umount('/sd')     # eject

RMT (Remote Control)

The RMT functionality allows generating precise digital pulses with a resolution of up to 12.5ns.

import esp32
from machine import Pin

r = esp32.RMT(0, pin=Pin(18), clock_div=8)
r   # RMT(channel=0, pin=18, source_freq=80000000, clock_div=8)
# The channel resolution is 100ns (1/(source_freq/clock_div)).
r.write_pulses((1, 20, 2, 40), 0) # Send 0 for 100ns, 1 for 2000ns, 0 for 200ns, 1 for 4000ns

OneWire Driver

The OneWire driver is implemented in software and works on all pins:

from machine import Pin
import onewire

ow = onewire.OneWire(Pin(12)) # create a OneWire bus on GPIO12
ow.scan()               # return a list of devices on the bus
ow.reset()              # reset the bus
ow.readbyte()           # read a byte
ow.writebyte(0x12)      # write a byte on the bus
ow.write('123')         # write bytes on the bus
ow.select_rom(b'12345678') # select a specific device by its ROM code

There is a specific driver for DS18S20 and DS18B20 devices:

import time, ds18x20
ds = ds18x20.DS18X20(ow)
roms = ds.scan()
ds.convert_temp()
time.sleep_ms(750)
for rom in roms:
    print(ds.read_temp(rom))

Be sure to put a 4.7k pull-up resistor on the data line. Note that the convert_temp() method must be called each time you want to sample the temperature.

NeoPixel and APA106 Driver

Use the neopixel and apa106 modules:

from machine import Pin
from neopixel import NeoPixel

pin = Pin(0, Pin.OUT)   # set GPIO0 to output to drive NeoPixels
np = NeoPixel(pin, 8)   # create NeoPixel driver on GPIO0 for 8 pixels
np[0] = (255, 255, 255) # set the first pixel to white
np.write()              # write data to all pixels
r, g, b = np[0]         # get first pixel colour

The APA106 driver extends NeoPixel, but internally uses a different color order:

from apa106 import APA106
ap = APA106(pin, 8)
r, g, b = ap[0]

For low-level driving of a NeoPixel:

import esp
esp.neopixel_write(pin, grb_buf, is800khz)

By default, NeoPixel is configured to control the more popular *800kHz* units. It is possible to use alternative timing to control other (typically 400kHz) devices by passing timing=0 when constructing the NeoPixel object.

The low-level driver uses an RMT channel by default. To configure this, see RMT.bitstream_channel.

APA102 (DotStar) uses a different driver as it has an additional clock pin.

Capacitive Touch

Use the TouchPad class in the machine module:

from machine import TouchPad, Pin

t = TouchPad(Pin(14))
t.read()              # Returns a smaller number when touched

TouchPad.read returns a value relative to the capacitive variation. Small numbers (typically in the *tens*) are common when a pin is touched, larger numbers (above *one thousand*) when no touch is present. However, the values are *relative* and can vary depending on the board and surrounding composition so some calibration may be required.

There are ten capacitive touch-enabled pins that can be used on the ESP32: 0, 2, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 27, 32, 33. Trying to assign to any other pins will result in a ValueError.

Note that TouchPads can be used to wake an ESP32 from sleep:

import machine
from machine import TouchPad, Pin
import esp32

t = TouchPad(Pin(14))
t.config(500)               # configure the threshold at which the pin is considered touched
esp32.wake_on_touch(True)
machine.lightsleep()        # put the MCU to sleep until a touchpad is touched

For more details on touchpads refer to Espressif Touch Sensor documentation .

DHT Driver

The DHT driver is implemented in software and works on all pins:

import dht
import machine

d = dht.DHT11(machine.Pin(4))
d.measure()
d.temperature() # eg. 23 (°C)
d.humidity()    # eg. 41 (% RH)

d = dht.DHT22(machine.Pin(4))
d.measure()
d.temperature() # eg. 23.6 (°C)
d.humidity()    # eg. 41.3 (% RH)
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