This project contains a python module for interfacing with SPI devices from user space via the spidev linux kernel driver.

All code is MIT licensed unless explicitly stated otherwise.

import spidev
spi = spidev.SpiDev()
spi.open(bus, device)
to_send = [0x01, 0x02, 0x03]
spi.xfer(to_send)

import spidev
spi = spidev.SpiDev()
spi.open(bus, device)

# Settings (for example)
spi.max_speed_hz = 5000
spi.mode = 0b01

...

• bits_per_word
• cshigh
• loop - Set the "SPI_LOOP" flag to enable loopback mode
• no_cs - Set the "SPI_NO_CS" flag to disable use of the chip select (although the driver may still own the CS pin)
• lsbfirst
• max_speed_hz
• mode - SPI mode as two bit pattern of clock polarity and phase [CPOL|CPHA], min: 0b00 = 0, max: 0b11 = 3
• threewire - SI/SO signals shared

open(bus, device)

Connects to the specified SPI device, opening /dev/spidev<bus>.<device>

readbytes(n)

Read n bytes from SPI device.

writebytes(list of values)

Writes a list of values to SPI device.

writebytes2(list of values)

Similar to writebytes but accepts arbitrary large lists. If list size exceeds buffer size (which is read from /sys/module/spidev/parameters/bufsiz), data will be split into smaller chunks and sent in multiple operations.

Also, writebytes2 understands buffer protocol so it can accept numpy byte arrays for example without need to convert them with tolist() first. This offers much better performance where you need to transfer frames to SPI-connected displays for instance.

xfer(list of values[, speed_hz, delay_usec, bits_per_word])

Performs an SPI transaction. Chip-select should be released and reactivated between blocks. Delay specifies the delay in usec between blocks.

xfer2(list of values[, speed_hz, delay_usec, bits_per_word])

Performs an SPI transaction. Chip-select should be held active between blocks.

xfer3(list of values[, speed_hz, delay_usec, bits_per_word])

Similar to xfer2 but accepts arbitrary large lists. If list size exceeds buffer size (which is read from /sys/module/spidev/parameters/bufsiz), data will be split into smaller chunks and sent in multiple operations.

close()

Disconnects from the SPI device.