PyFT5xx6

A Python library for interfacing with FT5xx6 Capacitive Touch Panel (CTP) controllers, primarily designed for Raspberry Pi.

Overview

PyFT5xx6 provides a Python interface for FT5xx6 touch controllers commonly used in touchscreen displays. The library supports:

Reading touch events and gestures
Both polling and interrupt-based operation modes
Multi-touch (up to 5 points)
Gesture recognition
Thread-safe operation

This library is based on Arduino library by Owen Lyke and original work by Helge Langehaug, ported to Python for Raspberry Pi usage.

Installation

From PyPI

pip install pyft5xx6

From Source

git clone https://gitea.tourolle.paris/dtourolle/PyFTtxx6
cd PyFTtxx6/pyft5xx6
pip install -e .

Dependencies

RPi.GPIO (Only required when running on Raspberry Pi)
smbus2

Usage

Basic Example

from pyft5xx6 import FT5316, Status, Mode
import time

# Initialize the touch controller
touch = FT5316()
result = touch.begin(i2c_bus=1)  # Using I2C bus 1

if result != Status.NOMINAL:
    print("Failed to initialize touch controller")
    exit(1)

# Set polling mode
touch.set_mode(Mode.POLLING)

# Main loop
try:
    while True:
        # Update touch data
        touch.update()
        
        # Check if there is a new touch event
        if touch.new_touch:
            record = touch.read()
            print(f"Number of touches: {record.num_touches}")
            
            if record.num_touches > 0:
                print(f"Touch 1: ({record.t1x}, {record.t1y})")
            
            if record.gesture != 0:
                print(f"Gesture: {record.gesture}")
        
        time.sleep(0.01)  # 10ms delay

except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("Exiting")

Using Interrupts

from pyft5xx6 import FT5316, Status, Mode
import time
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

# Interrupt pin (BCM numbering)
INT_PIN = 17

# Interrupt handler
def touch_interrupt(channel):
    # The actual touch data will be read in the main loop
    print("Touch interrupt detected")

# Initialize the touch controller
touch = FT5316()
result = touch.begin(i2c_bus=1, int_pin=INT_PIN, user_isr=touch_interrupt)

if result != Status.NOMINAL:
    print("Failed to initialize touch controller")
    exit(1)

# Main loop
try:
    while True:
        # Check if there is a new touch event
        if touch.new_data:
            # Update touch data
            touch.update()
            
            if touch.new_touch:
                record = touch.read()
                print(f"Number of touches: {record.num_touches}")
                
                if record.num_touches > 0:
                    print(f"Touch 1: ({record.t1x}, {record.t1y})")
                
                if record.gesture != 0:
                    print(f"Gesture: {record.gesture}")
        
        time.sleep(0.01)  # 10ms delay

except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("Exiting")
    # Clean up GPIO
    GPIO.cleanup()

Supported Controllers

FT5316 (I2C address 0x38)
Generic FT5xx6 (configurable address)

License

MIT License - See the LICENSE file for details.