Programming Microcontrollers with Python : Experience the Power of Embedded Python

For the first time microcontrollers are powerful enough to be programmed in Python. The landscape of embedded systems development is changing, microcontrollers are becoming more powerful, and the rise of the internet of things is leading more developers to get into hardware. This book provides the solid foundation to start your journey of embedded systems development and microcontroller programming with Python. You'll quickly realize the value of using Python. The theme of the book is simplicity and the cleanness and elegance of Python makes that possible. Featuring a step-by-step approach, this single source guide balances complexity and clarity with insightful explanations that you'll easily grasp. Python is quickly becoming the language of choice for applications such as machine learning and computer vision on embedded devices. What would previously be daunting and exceedingly difficult to do in C or C++ is now possible with Python because of its level of abstraction. Programming Microcontrollers with Python is your path to bringing your existing skills to the embedded space. What You'll Learn Review microcontroller basics and the hardware and software requirements Understand an embedded system's general architecture Follow the steps needed to carry a product to market Take a crash course in Python programming Program a microcontroller Interface with a microcontroller using LCD and Circuit Python Use and control sensors Who This Book Is For Those getting started with microcontrollers, those new to C, C++, and Arduino programming, web developers looking to get into IoT, or Python programmers who wish to control hardware devices. Table of Contents About the Author About the Technical Reviewer Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Getting Ready Introduction to Microcontrollers Firmware, Memory, and Clock Speed 8-Bit vs. 32-Bit Microcontroller Programming Languages Assembly Language C C++ BASIC Rust Python Selecting a Development Board Adafruit Metro M0 Express Adafruit Feather M0 Express Adafruit Metro M4 Express Adafruit Grand Central M4 Express The Arduino Zero The STM32F746ZG Nucleo Device Comparison The Component List The Mu Editor Other Serial Communication Tools Setting Up Your Own Board Conclusion Chapter 2: Electronics Primer Electrical Wires The Breadboard Electronic Schematics Passive Components Resistors Capacitors Polarized Capacitors Non-polarized Capacitors Capacitor Schematic Symbols Inductors Semiconductors Diode Light-Emitting Diode Transistor Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors Integrated Circuits Digital Logic Logic Level Conversion Flip-Flop Registers and the Shift Register Multiplexers and Demultiplexers Conclusion Chapter 3: Embedded Systems Overview An Overview of Embedded Systems Microcontroller vs. Application Processor Embedded Systems Structure The Hardware System The Software System The Toolchain Software Testing Embedded Software Architecture The Driver Layer Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) Board Support Package (BSP) Middleware Software Framework Code Generator Platform Embedded Systems Constraints Cost Performance Energy Budget Embedded Systems Classification Small-Scale Systems Medium-Scale Systems High-Performance Systems Distributed Embedded Systems Seven Steps to Developing an Embedded Product Step 1: Idea Creation Step 2: Requirements Specifications Step 3: Functional Design Step 4: Rapid Prototyping Step 5: Testing Step 6: Securing Your System Step 7: Bringing to Market Conclusion Chapter 4: Python Programming Writing Python Programs Whitespace Comments Variables and Constants Data Types Operators Lists Tuples If Statement else Statement elif Statement short if for Loop while Loop Functions Lambda Functions Exception Handling Object-Oriented Programming Random and Time Python vs. CircuitPython How Does My Python Program Run? Conclusion Chapter 5: Digital Control I/O Pins Output and Input on Microcontroller Hardware Going Deeper into Microcontroller I/O Using Output: Lighting an LED LED Control Building the Circuit Lighting an LED with CircuitPython Blinking an LED Using Input: Adding a Pushbutton Pull-Up vs. Pull-Down Resistors Switch Debouncing Input with MCU Schematic (Pull-Up) Pushbutton Pull-Up Circuit Connection Tips Pushbutton Pull-Up with CircuitPython Program Input with MCU Schematic (Pull-Down) Pushbutton Pull-Down Circuit Connection Tips Pushbutton Pull-Down with CircuitPython Program Conclusion Chapter 6: Data Conversion Analog to Digital Conversion ADC Hardware Going Deeper into ADC The Potentiometer Analog to Digital Conversion in CircuitPython ADC with MCU Schematic ADC Circuit Connection Tips CircuitPython with Potentiometer Program Photoresistor Photoresistor with MCU Schematic Photoresistor Circuit Connection Tips Photoresistor with CircuitPython Program Temperature Sensor Temperature Sensor with MCU Schematic Temperature Sensor Circuit Connection Tips Temperature Sensor with CircuitPython Program Conclusion Chapter 7: Communication Protocols Microcontroller Communications USART Communications Deeper into UART UART in CircuitPython USB-UART with MCU Schematic MCU with USB-UART Circuit Connection Tips UART with CircuitPython Program SPI Communications Deeper into SPI SPI Circuit Connection SPI with CircuitPython Program I2C Communications Deeper into I2C I2C Support in CircuitPython The MPU6050 I2C with MCU Schematic I2C Circuit Connection Tips I2C with CircuitPython Program Adding Libraries MPU6050 with CircuitPython Program Conclusion Chapter 8: Display Interfacing The Liquid Crystal Display Using a GLCD Monochrome GLCD Schematic PCD8544 with CircuitPython Troubleshooting The Framebuffer OLED Using an OLED MCU with OLED Schematic CircuitPython with OLED Program Conclusion Chapter 9: Controlling DC Actuators DC Motors Driving DC Motors Pulse Width Modulation PWM in CircuitPython PWM with CircuitPython Program Controlling Motor Speed The H-Bridge H-Bridge with MCU Schematic H-Bridge with CircuitPython Program Servo Motors Servo Motors in CircuitPython Servo Motor with MCU Schematic Servo Motor with CircuitPython Program Stepper Motors Stepper Motors in CircuitPython Stepper Motor with MCU Schematic Stepper Motor with CircuitPython Program Conclusion Chapter 10: Python MCU Interfacing RGB LED RGB LED with MCU Schematic RGB LED Circuit Connection Tips Libraries We’ll Need RGB LED with CircuitPython Program HC-SR04 HC-SR04 with MCU Schematic HC-SR04 Circuit Connection Tips Libraries We’ll Need HC-SR04 with CircuitPython Program Piezo Speaker Piezo with MCU Schematic Piezo Circuit Connection Tips Libraries We’ll Need Piezo with CircuitPython Program DHT11 DHT11 with MCU Schematic DHT11 Sensor Circuit Connection Tips Libraries We’ll Need DHT11 Sensor with CircuitPython Program Conclusion Index For The First Time Microcontrollers Are Powerful Enough To Be Programmed In Python. The Landscape Of Embedded Systems Development Is Changing, Microcontrollers Are Becoming More Powerful, And The Rise Of The Internet Of Things Leads More Developers To Get Into Hardware. This Book Provides The Solid Foundation To Start Your Journey Of Embedded Systems Development And Microcontroller Programming With Python. Python Is Quickly Becoming The Language Of Choice For Applications Such As Machine Learning And Computer Vision On Embedded Devices. What Would Previously Be Daunting And Exceedingly Difficult To Do In C Or C++ Is Now Possible With Python Because Of Its Level Of Abstraction. Python Is Also Just Simply A Lot Easier For Beginners To Learn, And Existing Python Developers Who Wish To Control Hardware Devices Now Have An Easier Path To Follow As They Bring Their Existing Skills To The Embedded Space. This Book Provides Beginners A Single Source For Step-by-step Guide To Start Using Python. This Book Balances Complexity And Clarity, Allowing An Ease Of Explanation That Even Absolute Beginners Without Technical Backgrounds Will Be Able To Grasp. The Theme Of The Book Is Simplicity And The Cleanness And Elegance Of Python Makes That Possible. What You’ll Learn: The Basics About Microcontrollers And The Hardware And Software Requirements Gain An Understanding About Embedded Systems, Its Structure, Hardware And Software Systems And The General Architecture The Steps You’ll Need To Take To Carry A Product To Market A Crash Course Of The Python Programming Language And How To Program Your Microcontroller Understand How Your Microcontroller Works And How To Interface With It Using Lcd And Circuit Python And Use And Control Sensors Who This Book Is For:this Book Is For Those Getting Started With Using Microcontroller Technology And Need Some Help With The Electronics Aspect. Maybe You Wrote A Few Programs In Embedded C Or C++ On The Arduino Or Are A Web Development Guru Looking To Get Into Iot. This Book Is Also Great For Python Programmers New To Hardware. Whatever Your Reason For Wanting To Use Python On Microcontrollers, This Is The Book You Want To Start With. For the first time microcontrollers are powerful enough to be programmed in Python. The landscape of embedded systems development is changing, microcontrollers are becoming more powerful, and the rise of the internet of things is leading more developers to get into hardware. This book provides the solid foundation to start your journey of embedded systems development and microcontroller programming with Python. You'll quickly realize the value of using Python. The theme of the book is simplicity and the cleanness and elegance of Python makes that possible. Featuring a step-by-step approach, this single source guide balances complexity and clarity with insightful explanations that you'll easily grasp. Python is quickly becoming the language of choice for applications such as machine learning and computer vision on embedded devices. What would previously be daunting and exceedingly difficult to do in C or C++ is now possible with Python because of its level of abstraction. Programming Microcontrollers with Python is your path to bringing your existing skills to the embedded space. You will: Review microcontroller basics and the hardware and software requirements Understand an embedded system's general architecture Follow the steps needed to carry a product to market Take a crash course in Python programming Program a microcontroller Interface with a microcontroller using LCD and Circuit Python Use and control sensors