CircuitPython Libraries with the Binho Nova Multi-Protocol USB Host Adapter

by Francis Guevarra and

published December 18, 2019, last updated March 08, 2024

posted in Sensors CircuitPython Programming/ Python

Save Download

Beginner

Project guide

Setup

Prerequisites:

Python 3 Installed with pip. If you do not have Python 3 installed, you can get it for free for major platforms on python.org.

Verify pip:

C:\Binho\adafruit>pip --version pip 19.3.1 from c:\program files (x86)\python38-32\lib\site-packages\pip (python 3.8)

Step 1: Setup Binho Nova Host Adapter hardware

The Binho Nova Multi-Protocol USB Host Adapter utilizes the standardized USB Communications Device Class driver in order to achieve maximum compatibility with as many systems as possible. As such, there's no driver to download and install for most modern operating systems (OS).

Certain operating systems, like Mac and Ubuntu, may require additional permissions to start using Binho Nova. In addition, Windows 7 does not have the standard USB CDC driver included as default.

Please check the following guide to setup permissions on Mac\Ubuntu and Windows 7 driver setup:

https://support.binho.io/user-guide/using-the-device/software-installation

Step 2: Install the Binho Host Adapter Libraries

The following command will install the binhoHostAdapter Python library.

pip install binho-host-adapter

Verify Nova can communicate with binhoHostAdapter Python library:

C:\Binho\adafruit>python Python 3.8.0 (tags/v3.8.0:fa919fd, Oct 14 2019, 19:21:23) [MSC v.1916 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> from binhoHostAdapter import binhoUtilities >>> devices = binhoUtilities.binhoUtilities().listAvailableDevices() >>> print(devices)

['COM8']

Step 3: Install Adafruit Blinka

pip install adafruit-blinka

Step 4: Set BLINKA_NOVA environment variable

In order for Adafruit blinka libraries to use Binho Nova, set the BLINKA_NOVA environment variable with the following command.

Windows Command line:

set BLINKA_NOVA=1

Windows Powershell:

$Env:BLINKA_NOVA = "1"

Mac/Ubuntu:

export BLINKA_NOVA=1

Verify Binho Nova’s environment variable is set and the Adafruit Blinka libraries can recognize and communicate with the adapter:

C:\Binho\adafruit>set BLINKA_NOVA=1 C:\Binho\adafruit>python Python 3.8.0 (tags/v3.8.0:fa919fd, Oct 14 2019, 19:21:23) [MSC v.1916 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> import board >>> dir(board) ['I2C', 'IO0', 'IO1', 'IO2', 'IO3', 'IO4', 'MISO', 'MOSI', 'RX', 'SCK', 'SCL', 'SCLK', 'SDA', 'SPI', 'SS0', 'SS1', 'TX', '__builtins__', '__cached__', '__doc__', '__file__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__spec__', 'ap_board', 'board_id', 'detector', 'pin', 'sys'] >>>