Python Examples

Let's take a quick look at each example included in the SparkFun AS7343 Python package. Note, the naming of these examples matches the examples in the Arduino library and skips from 3 to 5 as this package does not have an interrupt example (Example 4 in the Arduino library).

Example 1 - Basic Readings

This simple example demonstrates how to set up the AS7343 with default settings and though it does set the AS7343 to report data from all 18 channels it only prints data for four channels (Red, Green, Blue and NIR) using this command:

    print(myAS7343.get_blue(), end=',')
        print(myAS7343.get_red(), end=',')
        print(myAS7343.get_green(), end=',')
        print(myAS7343.get_nir(), end=',\n')

Example 2 - All Channels

Example 2 demonstrates how to set up the AS7343 to output data from all channels on the sensor in comma-separated values by steping through all channels:

    for i in range(0, myAS7343.kNumChannels):
            print(myAS7343.get_data(i), end=',')
        print()

Example 3 - Gain

The third example shows how to set the gain for the AS7343. It defaults to set the gain as 512x but you can adjust it in this line:

if not myAS7343.set_a_gain(myAS7343.kAgain64):

Refer to the main .py file here for all allowed values for gain settings.

Example 5 - Flicker Detection

The Flicker Detection example demonstrates how to use the AS7343's flicker detection feature. It initializes the sensor with default settings and then prints out flicker detection vlues in Hz to the serial monitor:

if fdFrequency == 0:
            print("No flicker detected")
        else:
            print("Flicker detected at frequency: {} Hz".format(fdFrequency))

        time.sleep(1)

Example 6 - Sleep

The sixth example shows how to create a def to cycle the AS7343 in and out of "sleep" between measurement reports to help conserve power:

def sleep_device(device):
    # Disable spectral measurements
    if not device.spectral_measurement_disable():
        print("Failed to disable spectral measurements", file=sys.stderr)
        return
    print("Spectral measurements disabled")

    # Power off the device
    if not device.power_off():
        print("Failed to power off the device", file=sys.stderr)
        return
    print("Device powered off")

The main example then initializes the sensor with default settings, takes readings, puts it to sleep for 5 seconds and then loops:

    while True:
        # Take a reading
        take_reading(myAS7343)

        # Put the device to sleep
        sleep_device(myAS7343)

        # Wait 5 seconds before taking another reading
        time.sleep(5.0)

Though there is no direct control of a power mode, the example turns off the measurement and Power ON bits in the Enable register to put the sensor into a low power state so it draws ~350µA.

Example 7 - Web Bar Graph

Example 7 shows how to use the Spectral Sensor with the SparkFun Web Serial Plotter to display spectral data from all channels in a neat and colorful bar graph. You'll need to run this on a microcontroller like the IoT RedBoard - ESP32 MicroPython as the Web Serial Plotter connects over a serial COM port. The code initializes the AS7343 with default settings and then prints out the comma-separated values in a format compatible with the web serial plotter:

print(f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChPurpleF1405nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChDarkBlueF2425nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChBlueFz450nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChLightBlueF3475nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChBlueF4515nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChGreenF5550nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChGreenFy555nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChOrangeFxl600nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChBrownF6640nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChRedF7690nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChDarkRedF8745nm)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChVis1)},"
          f"{myAS7343.get_data(myAS7343.kChNir855nm)}\n", end='')

After running the example, open the Web Serial Plotter and select the COM port and click "Connect" and you should see serial data print out in the top window and a nice colorful bar graph in the bottom window like the gif below shows: