Working with Raspberry Pi Pico

This chapter includes the following sections. Please read as needed:

• Hardware Connection
• MicroPython Environment Setup
• Downloading Example Programs
• Running the Example

Hardware Connection

Connect the LCD module to the Raspberry Pi Pico using 8PIN wires. The pin correspondence is as follows:

LCD	Raspberry Pi Pico
VCC	3.3 V
GND	GND
DIN	GPIO19
CLK	GPIO18
CS	GPIO17
DC	GPIO16
RST	GPIO20
BL	GPIO21

MicroPython Environment Setup

1. Download and install the Thonny 3.3.3 installer.
2. Press and hold the BOOTSEL button on the Raspberry Pi Pico, connect it to the computer via USB, and release the button after power-up.
3. The computer will recognize a new disk. Download and extract the Raspberry Pi Pico MicroPython firmware, and copy the file with the .uf2 extension to that disk. After copying is complete, the Pico will automatically restart, and the disk will disappear.
4. Open Thonny and click Python x.x.x in the lower-right corner, then select Configure interpreter.
5. In the pop-up window, select Interpreter, set the interpreter to MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico), and select Auto-detect port for the port.
6. Click the Stop button. When the MicroPython version information and the >>> prompt appear in the Shell window, the connection is successful.

The interpreter configuration is as follows:

The Shell window after a successful connection is as follows:

Downloading Example Programs

Download and extract the 0.71inch LCD Module Example Programs, and open the Raspberry Pi Pico folder inside it.

Running the Example

Before running, complete the Hardware Connection and MicroPython Environment Setup, and confirm that Thonny is connected to the Pico and the Shell window shows the >>> prompt.

1. In Thonny, click File > Open and open Raspberry Pi Pico/gc9d01.py from the computer. Click File > Save As again, select Raspberry Pi Pico, and save it to the Pico with the original file name.

2. Use the same method to save main.py to the root directory of the Pico. When finished, the Pico file list should contain both gc9d01.py and main.py.

   

3. Open main.py on the Pico in Thonny, and click the green run button in the toolbar or press F5 to run the current script.

   

4. After the program runs, the screen displays text and color fill effects in sequence.