HackSpace Magazine Issue 64 – Soldering Irons on Test discusses how to get fast analog reads from a Raspberry Pi Pico in CircuitPython.
CircuitPython is great for getting started with microcontroller programming, but it can have a
few shortfalls. One of which is very accurate timing. The CircuitPython interpreter does quite a bit in the background, and this means that the execution of the program pauses occasionally. These pauses are short and don’t generally cause any problems, unless you need something to be very accurate time-wise.
One thing you might need accurate timing for is reading an analogue signal. If you want to
understand what the signal is doing, you need to know exactly when the readings are taken.
Thankfully, in CircuitPython 8 on Raspberry Pi Pico, there’s a solution – analogbufio. This lets you read values from the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) directly into a Python data structure. It’s only available on Pico and other RP2040-based hardware at the moment, but may be expanded to other platforms in the future.
Read more (pages 82-83), download PDF, buy now, subscribe.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!
Join over 38,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord
CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org
New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — NEW PRODUCT – Adafruit Sunken USB Type C Breakout Board
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: New CircuitPython Versions, Books Galore and So Much More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
Adafruit IoT Monthly — IoT Vulnerability Disclosure, Decorative Dorm Lights, and more!
Maker Business – Adafruit Daily — A look at Boeing’s supply chain and manufacturing process
Electronics – Adafruit Daily — When do I use X1?
Get the only spam-free daily newsletter about wearables, running a "maker business", electronic tips and more! Subscribe at
AdafruitDaily.com !
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
