Display interfaces
Maps hardware interface types to PyDevices displaydev
backends and displayif work for MicroPython parity.
Interface matrix
| Interface | Industry term | CircuitPython module | displaydev backend | MicroPython bus | pydevices status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPI + MIPI DCS | SPI TFT | fourwire.FourWire + chip driver |
BusDisplay | SPIBus |
Done |
| 8080 8-bit parallel | I80 parallel | paralleldisplaybus.ParallelBus |
BusDisplay | I80Bus |
displayif + bit-bang |
| I2C DCS | I2C OLED | i2cdisplaybus.I2CDisplayBus |
BusDisplay | I2CBus |
Done |
| RGB parallel timed | RGB565 / RGB666 | dotclockframebuffer |
FBDisplay | displayif.DotClockFramebuffer |
displayif (esp32, mimxrt1062) |
| HUB75 LED matrix | HUB75 | rgbmatrix.RGBMatrix |
FBDisplay | rgbmatrix |
displayif |
| WS2812 / DotStar grid | Addressable LED matrix | adafruit_pixel_framebuf |
PixelDisplay | displaydev.pixeldisplay.PixelFramebuffer +
neopixel |
Done |
| USB UVC gadget | USB Video | usb_video |
FBDisplay | N/A | CP only |
| MIPI DSI | MIPI DSI | mipidsi (SoC firmware) |
FBDisplay | mipidsi |
displayif (esp32-P4, mimxrt1176) |
| DVI (TMDS) | DVI | picodvi |
FBDisplay | picodvi |
displayif (rp2040/rp2350 HSTX) |
Note: MIPI DCS (Display Command
Set) over SPI/I80 is not MIPI DSI (the high-speed
serial panel interface). RP2350 has no MIPI DSI — use
picodvi (HSTX) or SPI/I80 instead.
Board config directories
| Backend | Path | Example |
|---|---|---|
| BusDisplay | board_configs/busdisplay/{spi,i80,i2c}/ (+
cp/…) |
cp/busdisplay/spi/pyportal,
ili9341_eyespi_qtpy_esp32s3 |
| FBDisplay | board_configs/fbdisplay/ |
qualia_tl040hds20, t-rgb_480,
esp32-s3-touch-lcd-4_3, esp32-s3-touch-lcd-7,
esp32-p4-wifi6-touch-lcd-4b |
| PixelDisplay | board_configs/pixeldisplay/ (+ cp/…) |
cp/pixeldisplay/neopixel_8x4, … |
MicroPython RGB/HUB75/DSI/DVI drivers live in
pydevices/displayif, wired from board configs and
drivers vendored here. CircuitPython configs live under
board_configs/cp/ (same directory names as MicroPython) and
use CP native modules.
Touch
Touch controllers live in drivers/touch/. CircuitPython
shims are under drivers/touch/circuitpython/. Every
applicable board_config.py exports a neutral callable:
touch_read = touch.read_points
touch_rotation_table = (...) # when default mapping is wrongSee Runtime — touch read contract and Board peripherals.
Vendoring drivers
Use scripts/vendor_circuitpython_drivers.py to refresh
Adafruit displayio drivers from GitHub.
python3 scripts/vendor_circuitpython_drivers.py --allpydevices priority
See also TFT_eSPI parity for Arduino bus/driver mapping.
i2cbus— OLED FeatherWings, QT Py OLEDrgbframebuffer— Qualia / RGB parallel (RGB666)rgbmatrix— MatrixPortal HUB75NeoPixel grid mapper for—PixelDisplaydisplaydev.pixeldisplay.PixelFramebuffer(MP) + Adafruit bundle (CP)- MIPI DSI host (SoC-specific — not RP2350)