dual display GC9A01 round TFT LCDs with creepy eyeball animation in CircuitPython

eyeballs_dual_gc9a01.py

# eyeballs_dual_gc9a01.py - dual display GC9A01 round TFT LCDs with creepy eyeball animation
# 17 May 2022 - @todbot / Tod Kurt
#
# requires recompiled CircuitPython with "#define CIRCUITPY_DISPLAY_LIMIT  (2)" in "mpconfigboard.h"
#
import time, math, random
import board, busio
import displayio, terminalio
import gc9a01

dw,dh = 240,240  # display dimensions 
iris_w, iris_h = 110,110  # iris image is 110x110
iris_cx, iris_cy = dw//2 - iris_w//2, dh//2 -iris_h//2 # "center" of iris image

eyeball_bitmap = displayio.OnDiskBitmap(open("imgs/eye0_ball2.bmp", "rb"))
iris_bitmap = displayio.OnDiskBitmap(open("imgs/eye0_iris0.bmp", "rb"))
iris_pal = iris_bitmap.pixel_shader
iris_pal.make_transparent(0)

tft_clk  = board.SCK   # wiring for a QTPy ESP32-S2 or ESP32-S3, but any CirPy board can work
tft_mosi = board.MOSI
tft_L_rst, tft_L_dc, tft_L_cs = board.TX, board.RX, board.A3
tft_R_rst, tft_R_dc, tft_R_cs = board.A2, board.SDA, board.SCL

spi = board.SPI() # spi = busio.SPI(clock=tft_clk, MOSI=tft_mosi) # if using other SPI port

# set up the GC9A01 round TFT LCD display, display groups, and tile grids for eyes
def display_eye_init(tft_dc, tft_cs, tft_rst, rot):
    display_bus = displayio.FourWire(spi, command=tft_dc, chip_select=tft_cs, reset=tft_rst)
    display = gc9a01.GC9A01(display_bus, width=dw, height=dh, rotation=rot)
    main = displayio.Group()
    display.show(main)
    eyeball = displayio.TileGrid(eyeball_bitmap, pixel_shader=eyeball_bitmap.pixel_shader)
    iris = displayio.TileGrid(iris_bitmap, pixel_shader=iris_pal, x = iris_cx, y = iris_cy ) 
    main.append(eyeball) # add eyeball & iris to main group
    main.append(iris)
    return(display, eyeball, iris)

# make the eyes "Just eyes. I design your eyes. You Nexus, huh?"
displayio.release_displays()
(display_L, eyeball_L, iris_L) = display_eye_init( tft_L_dc, tft_L_cs,  tft_L_cs, rot=0)
(display_R, eyeball_R, iris_R) = display_eye_init( tft_R_dc, tft_R_cs,  tft_R_cs, rot=180)

thetaL, thetaR = 0,0  # left & right eye rotational position
dthetaL, dthetaR = 0.25, 0.25  # how fast left & right eyes spins
r = 17  # size of eye spin

while True:
    iris_L.x = iris_cx + int(r * math.sin(thetaL))  # update iris positions based on angle
    iris_L.y = iris_cy + int(r * math.cos(thetaL))
    iris_R.x = iris_cx + int(r * math.sin(thetaR)) 
    iris_R.y = iris_cy + int(r * math.cos(thetaR)) 
    
    if random.randint(0,20) == 0:
        dthetaR = -dthetaR  # randomly change right eye spin direction

    thetaL -= dthetaL  # update angles (negative for clockwise motion)
    thetaR -= dthetaR
    
    display_L.refresh( target_frames_per_second=20 )
    display_R.refresh( target_frames_per_second=20 )

What the above looks like on a QTPy ESP32-S3

eyeballs_dual_gc9a01.mp4

The eyeball images are (must be converted to BMP):

requires recompiled CircuitPython with "#define CIRCUITPY_DISPLAY_LIMIT (2)" in "mpconfigboard.h"

WHUT?

requires recompiled CircuitPython with "#define CIRCUITPY_DISPLAY_LIMIT (2)" in "mpconfigboard.h"

WHUT?

This post explains it a bit more: https://todbot.com/blog/2022/05/19/multiple-displays-in-circuitpython-compiling-custom-circuitpython/

Amazeballs! (eyeballs) I didn't think anyone answered on here! Cheers mate!

Great write-up, by the way, I'm just learning and your posts/blog really are a great help.