Adafruit HT16K33 Library

Documentation
Release 1.0

Radomir Dopieralski

Oct 21, 2019

 Contents

1 Dependencies 3

2 Installing from PyPI 5

3 Usage Example 7

4 Contributing 9

5 Documentation 11

6 Table of Contents 13
6.1 Simple test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6.2 adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.3 Matrix Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6.4 Segment Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7 Indices and tables 19

Python Module Index 21

Index 23

i
ii
 Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

This is a library for using the I2 C-based LED matrices with the HT16K33 chip. It supports both 16x8 and 8x8 matrices,
as well as 7- and 14-segment displays.
• Notes
1. This library is intended for Adafruit CircuitPython’s API. For a library compatible with MicroPython
machine API see this library.
2. This library does not work with the Trellis 4x4 LED+Keypad board. For that product use: CircuitPython
Trellis Library

Contents 1
Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

2 Contents
 CHAPTER 1

Dependencies

This driver depends on:

• Adafruit CircuitPython
• Bus Device
Please ensure all dependencies are available on the CircuitPython filesystem. This is easily achieved by downloading
the Adafruit library and driver bundle.

3
Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

4 Chapter 1. Dependencies
 CHAPTER 2

Installing from PyPI

On supported GNU/Linux systems like the Raspberry Pi, you can install the driver locally from PyPI. To install for
current user:

pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-ht16k33

To install system-wide (this may be required in some cases):

sudo pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-ht16k33

To install in a virtual environment in your current project:

mkdir project-name && cd project-name

python3 -m venv .env
source .env/bin/activate
pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-ht16k33

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Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

6 Chapter 2. Installing from PyPI

 CHAPTER 3

Usage Example

# Import all board pins and bus interface.

import board
import busio

# Import the HT16K33 LED matrix module.

from adafruit_ht16k33 import matrix

# Create the I2C interface.

i2c = busio.I2C([Link], [Link])

# Create the matrix class.

# This creates a 16x8 matrix:
matrix = matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c)
# Or this creates a 8x8 matrix:
#matrix = matrix.Matrix8x8(i2c)
# Or this creates a 8x8 bicolor matrix:
#matrix = matrix.Matrix8x8x2
# Finally you can optionally specify a custom I2C address of the HT16k33 like:
#matrix = matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c, address=0x70)

# Clear the matrix.

[Link](0)

# Set a pixel in the origin 0,0 position.

matrix[0, 0] = 1
# Set a pixel in the middle 8, 4 position.
matrix[8, 4] = 1
# Set a pixel in the opposite 15, 7 position.
matrix[15, 7] = 1
[Link]()

# Change the brightness

[Link] = 8

(continues on next page)

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Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

(continued from previous page)

# Set the blink rate
matrix.blink_rate = 2

8 Chapter 3. Usage Example

 CHAPTER 4

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please read our Code of Conduct before contributing to help this project stay welcoming.

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10 Chapter 4. Contributing
 CHAPTER 5

Documentation

For information on building library documentation, please check out this guide.

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12 Chapter 5. Documentation
 CHAPTER 6

Table of Contents

6.1 Simple test

Ensure your device works with this simple test.

Listing 1: examples/ht16k33_matrix_simpletest.py
1 # Basic example of clearing and drawing a pixel on a LED matrix display.
2 # This example and library is meant to work with Adafruit CircuitPython API.
3 # Author: Tony DiCola
4 # License: Public Domain
5

6 # Import all board pins.

7 import board
8 import busio
9

10 # Import the HT16K33 LED matrix module.

11 from adafruit_ht16k33 import matrix
12

13

14 # Create the I2C interface.

15 i2c = busio.I2C([Link], [Link])
16

17 # Create the matrix class.

18 # This creates a 16x8 matrix:
19 matrix = matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c)
20 # Or this creates a 8x8 matrix:
21 #matrix = matrix.Matrix8x8(i2c)
22 # Or this creates a 8x8 bicolor matrix:
23 #matrix = matrix.Matrix8x8x2(i2c)
24 # Finally you can optionally specify a custom I2C address of the HT16k33 like:
25 #matrix = matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c, address=0x70)
26

27 # Clear the matrix.

(continues on next page)

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 Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

(continued from previous page)

28 [Link](0)
29

30 # Set a pixel in the origin 0,0 position.

31 matrix[0, 0] = 1
32 # Set a pixel in the middle 8, 4 position.
33 matrix[8, 4] = 1
34 # Set a pixel in the opposite 15, 7 position.
35 matrix[15, 7] = 1

Listing 2: examples/ht16k33_segments_simpletest.py
1 # Basic example of setting digits on a LED segment display.
2 # This example and library is meant to work with Adafruit CircuitPython API.
3 # Author: Tony DiCola
4 # License: Public Domain
5

6 import time
7

8 # Import all board pins.

9 import board
10 import busio
11

12 # Import the HT16K33 LED segment module.

13 from adafruit_ht16k33 import segments
14

15

16 # Create the I2C interface.

17 i2c = busio.I2C([Link], [Link])
18

19 # Create the LED segment class.

20 # This creates a 7 segment 4 character display:
21 display = segments.Seg7x4(i2c)
22 # Or this creates a 14 segment alphanumeric 4 character display:
23 #display = segments.Seg14x4(i2c)
24 # Finally you can optionally specify a custom I2C address of the HT16k33 like:
25 #display = segments.Seg7x4(i2c, address=0x70)
26

27 # Clear the display.

28 [Link](0)
29

30 # Can just print a number

31 [Link](42)
32 [Link](2)
33

34 # Or, can set indivdual digits / characters

35 # Set the first character to '1':
36 display[0] = '1'
37 # Set the second character to '2':
38 display[1] = '2'
39 # Set the third character to 'A':
40 display[2] = 'A'
41 # Set the forth character to 'B':
42 display[3] = 'B'

14 Chapter 6. Table of Contents

 Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

Listing 3: examples/ht16k33_bicolor24_simpletest.py
1 # Basic example of using the Bi-color 24 segment bargraph display.
2 # This example and library is meant to work with Adafruit CircuitPython API.
3 # Author: Carter Nelson
4 # License: Public Domain
5

6 import time
7

8 # Import board related modules

9 import board
10 import busio
11

12 # Import the Bicolor24 driver from the HT16K33 module

13 from adafruit_ht16k33.bargraph import Bicolor24
14

15 # Create the I2C interface

16 i2c = busio.I2C([Link], [Link])
17

18 # Create the LED bargraph class.

19 bc24 = Bicolor24(i2c)
20

21 # Set individual segments of bargraph

22 bc24[0] = bc24.LED_RED
23 bc24[1] = bc24.LED_GREEN
24 bc24[2] = bc24.LED_YELLOW
25

26 [Link](2)
27

28 # Turn them all off

29 [Link](bc24.LED_OFF)
30

31 # Turn them on in a loop

32 for i in range(24):
33 bc24[i] = bc24.LED_RED
34 [Link](0.1)
35 bc24[i] = bc24.LED_OFF
36

37 [Link](1)
38

39 # Fill the entrire bargraph

40 [Link](bc24.LED_GREEN)

6.2 adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33

• Authors: Radomir Dopieralski & Tony DiCola for Adafruit Industries

class adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33.HT16K33(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)
The base class for all displays. Contains common methods.
Parameters
• address (int) – The I2C addess of the HT16K33.
• auto_write (bool) – True if the display should immediately change when set. If False,
show must be called explicitly.

6.2. adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33 15
Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

auto_write
Auto write updates to the display.
blink_rate
The blink rate. Range 0-3.
brightness
The brightness. Range 0-15.
fill(color)
Fill the whole display with the given color.
show()
Refresh the display and show the changes.

6.3 Matrix Displays

class adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)

A double matrix or the matrix wing.
pixel(x, y, color=None)
Get or set the color of a given pixel.
class adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix8x8(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)
A single matrix.
pixel(x, y, color=None)
Get or set the color of a given pixel.
class adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix8x8x2(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)
A bi-color matrix.
fill(color)
Fill the whole display with the given color.
pixel(x, y, color=None)
Get or set the color of a given pixel.

6.4 Segment Displays

class adafruit_ht16k33.segments.BigSeg7x4(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)

Numeric 7-segment display. It has the same methods as the alphanumeric display, but only supports displaying
a limited set of characters.
ampm
The AM/PM indicator.
class adafruit_ht16k33.[Link](disp, num_of_colons=1)
Helper class for controlling the colons. Not intended for direct use.
class adafruit_ht16k33.segments.Seg14x4(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)
Alpha-numeric, 14-segment display.
print(value)
Print the value to the display.
scroll(count=1)
Scroll the display by specified number of places.

16 Chapter 6. Table of Contents

 Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

class adafruit_ht16k33.segments.Seg7x4(i2c, address=112, auto_write=True)

Numeric 7-segment display. It has the same methods as the alphanumeric display, but only supports displaying
a limited set of characters.
scroll(count=1)
Scroll the display by specified number of places.

6.4. Segment Displays 17

Adafruit HT16K33 Library Documentation, Release 1.0

18 Chapter 6. Table of Contents

 CHAPTER 7

Indices and tables

• genindex
• modindex
• search

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20 Chapter 7. Indices and tables

 Python Module Index

a
adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33, 15
adafruit_ht16k33.matrix, 16
adafruit_ht16k33.segments, 16

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22 Python Module Index

 Index

A pixel() (adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix8x8x2
adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33 (module), 15 method), 16
adafruit_ht16k33.matrix (module), 16 print() (adafruit_ht16k33.segments.Seg14x4 method),
adafruit_ht16k33.segments (module), 16 16
ampm (adafruit_ht16k33.segments.BigSeg7x4 attribute),
16
S
auto_write (adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33.HT16K33 at- scroll() (adafruit_ht16k33.segments.Seg14x4
tribute), 15 method), 16
scroll() (adafruit_ht16k33.segments.Seg7x4 method),
B 17
BigSeg7x4 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.segments), 16 Seg14x4 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.segments), 16
blink_rate (adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33.HT16K33 at- Seg7x4 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.segments), 16
tribute), 16 show() (adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33.HT16K33 method),
brightness (adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33.HT16K33 at- 16
tribute), 16

C
Colon (class in adafruit_ht16k33.segments), 16

F
fill() (adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33.HT16K33 method),
16
fill() (adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix8x8x2
method), 16

H
HT16K33 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.ht16k33), 15

M
Matrix16x8 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.matrix), 16
Matrix8x8 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.matrix), 16
Matrix8x8x2 (class in adafruit_ht16k33.matrix), 16

P
pixel() (adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix16x8
method), 16
pixel() (adafruit_ht16k33.matrix.Matrix8x8 method),
16

23