Interfacing Adafruit 2.8" TFT Touch Shield v2 to Adafruit Metro ESP32-S3

[sai-ydev]

I am trying to get the Adafruit 2.8" TFT Touch Shield working with the Adafruit Metro ESP32-S3. I am running a custom MicroPython binary: MicroPython v1.24.0-preview.

My display is just blank with the backlight on. I confirmed I can get the display working in this combination using the Arduino IDE in C++.

This tells me I am not setting up the SPI interface correctly in MicroPython. I am using the ILI9341 drivers from micropython-nano-gui.

I tried using both SoftSPI and the hardware SPI interfaces. Using the display schematic, I verified that the pins I use are correct except for the reset pin. Since there is no reset pin for this shield, I used a dummy pin.

I am trying to run the demos in the nano-gui repository's GUI folder. I am sharing the snippets of the color_setup file for the SoftSPI and SPI interfaces.

SoftSPI interface:

from machine import Pin, SoftSPI
import gc

from drivers.ili93xx.ili9341 import ILI9341 as SSD

pdc = Pin(9, Pin.OUT, value=0)
prst = Pin(8, Pin.OUT, value=1)
pcs = Pin(10, Pin.OUT, value=1)
spi = SoftSPI(polarity=0, phase=0, sck=Pin(13), mosi=Pin(11), miso=Pin(12), baudrate=10_000_000)

gc.collect()  # Precaution before instantiating framebuf

ssd = SSD(spi, cs=pcs, dc=pdc, rst=prst)

Hardware SPI interface:

from machine import Pin, SPI
import gc

from drivers.ili93xx.ili9341 import ILI9341 as SSD

pdc = Pin(9, Pin.OUT, value=0)
prst = Pin(8, Pin.OUT, value=1)
pcs = Pin(10, Pin.OUT, value=1)
spi = SPI(1, sck=Pin(13), mosi=Pin(11), miso=Pin(12), baudrate=10_000_000)

gc.collect()  # Precaution before instantiating framebuf

ssd = SSD(spi, cs=pcs, dc=pdc, rst=prst)

I would appreciate any help in configuring the display correctly.

[peterhinch]

Does the display use the 6-way connector? If so, the pinout seems to be

• MOSI 42
• MISO 21
• SCK 39

This is just from a quick look at the datasheets. If this doesn't work I'll examine the schematics.

To test the display, please paste the code provided here. If it works as described, you can be confident that everything is OK and that the demos will run.

[EDIT]
Looking at the display datasheet, there are comments here that may suggest that to use the pins you've specified you need to solder a couple of links. Otherwise my pins should work.

[sai-ydev]

I am very embarrassed and so sorry. Since it was an Arduino shield, and when I looked at the Metro ESP32-S3's pinouts, I assumed that the SPI pins typically found on a Uno should work here.

I should have read the display info carefully. It clearly says that the display is connected to the ICSP port. Thank you!

[peterhinch]

Glad it's working. If you decide to try micropython-touch it should work: the touch controller is supported.