Hardware SPI in arduino-esp32 not work on ESP32-P4

[linghuye]

Board

DNESP32P4

Device Description

DNESP32P4 mini-board with esp32 p4 chip

Hardware Configuration

16M flash 32M param

Version

v3.2.0

IDE Name

VS Code platformIO
SDK v5.4.1-1-g2f7dcd862a-dirty

Operating System

Windows 11

Flash frequency

80MHZ

PSRAM enabled

yes

Upload speed

115200

Description

Hi, I tried to use a ST7789 SPI 320*240 lcd screen on ESP32-P4 with Arduino TFT_eSPI and Adafruit ST7735 and ST7789 Library,
and found they both don't work on ESP32-P4.
After some testing, I found the software SPI mode in Adafruit T7789 Library works good on ESP32-P4 but with very slow speed,
and it also works good with ESP32-IDF framwork's esp_lcd component with hardware SPI.
It just doesn't work with the Arduino's hardware SPI on ESP32-P4.

The Arduino core that I used is lastest 3.2.0.

Finally I found that, the same simple code below lights up the ST7789 LCD with messy colors on ESP32-S3/ESP32-C3, but not work on ESP32-P4 with only a black backlighted screen.

// Works on ESP32 S3/C3 with hardware SPI
    pinMode(TFT_CS, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(TFT_DC, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(TFT_RST, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(TFT_CS, HIGH); // Chip select high (Inactive)
    digitalWrite(TFT_DC, HIGH); // Data/Command high = data mode
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, HIGH);// NO Reset

    SPI.begin(TFT_SCLK, TFT_MISO, TFT_MOSI, -1);

    digitalWrite(TFT_CS, HIGH); // Chip select high (inactive)
    digitalWrite(TFT_DC, HIGH); // Data/Command high = data mode
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, HIGH);
    delay(200);
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, LOW);
    delay(20);
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, HIGH);
    delay(200);
    
    // Sleep out
    GPIO.out_w1tc.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    GPIO.out1_w1tc.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));
    
    *_spi_mosi_dlen = 7;               
    *_spi_w = ST7789_SLPOUT;            
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_UPDATE;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_UPDATE);        
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_USR;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_USR);

    GPIO.out1_w1ts.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));
    GPIO.out_w1ts.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    delay(120);

    // Display on
    GPIO.out_w1tc.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    GPIO.out1_w1tc.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));

    *_spi_mosi_dlen = 7;               
    *_spi_w = ST7789_DISPON;            
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_UPDATE;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_UPDATE);        
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_USR;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_USR);

    GPIO.out1_w1ts.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));
    GPIO.out_w1ts.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    delay(120); 

    pinMode(TFT_BL, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(TFT_BL, HIGH); 

My pin Settings on ESP32-P4
It works good with esp_lcd component in IDF framework but not work with Arduino framework.

#define TFT_MOSI   29                
#define TFT_SCLK   30            
#define TFT_CS     28               
#define TFT_DC     49               
#define TFT_BL     23              
#define TFT_RST    50         
#define TFT_MISO   -1  

#define ST7789_DRIVER     
#define TFT_RGB_ORDER TFT_BGR 
#define TFT_WIDTH  240      
#define TFT_HEIGHT 320   

Any suggestion will be appreciated, I just want to use TFT_eSPI library for LCD on ESP32 C3/S3/C6/P4 with the same code.

Sketch

// Works on ESP32 S3/C3 with hardware SPI
    pinMode(TFT_CS, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(TFT_DC, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(TFT_RST, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(TFT_CS, HIGH); // Chip select high (Inactive)
    digitalWrite(TFT_DC, HIGH); // Data/Command high = data mode
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, HIGH);// NO Reset

    SPI.begin(TFT_SCLK, TFT_MISO, TFT_MOSI, -1);

    digitalWrite(TFT_CS, HIGH); // Chip select high (inactive)
    digitalWrite(TFT_DC, HIGH); // Data/Command high = data mode
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, HIGH);
    delay(200);
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, LOW);
    delay(20);
    digitalWrite(TFT_RST, HIGH);
    delay(200);
    
    // Sleep out
    GPIO.out_w1tc.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    GPIO.out1_w1tc.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));
    
    *_spi_mosi_dlen = 7;               
    *_spi_w = ST7789_SLPOUT;            
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_UPDATE;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_UPDATE);        
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_USR;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_USR);

    GPIO.out1_w1ts.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));
    GPIO.out_w1ts.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    delay(120);

    // Display on
    GPIO.out_w1tc.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    GPIO.out1_w1tc.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));

    *_spi_mosi_dlen = 7;               
    *_spi_w = ST7789_DISPON;            
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_UPDATE;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_UPDATE);        
    *_spi_cmd = SPI_USR;
    while(*_spi_cmd & SPI_USR);

    GPIO.out1_w1ts.val = (1 << (TFT_DC - 32));
    GPIO.out_w1ts.val = (1 << TFT_CS);
    delay(120); 

    pinMode(TFT_BL, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(TFT_BL, HIGH); 



#define TFT_MOSI   29                
#define TFT_SCLK   30            
#define TFT_CS     28               
#define TFT_DC     49               
#define TFT_BL     23              
#define TFT_RST    50         
#define TFT_MISO   -1  

#define ST7789_DRIVER     
#define TFT_RGB_ORDER TFT_BGR 
#define TFT_WIDTH  240      
#define TFT_HEIGHT 320

Debug Message

No error, no warning, lcd just not light up, loop() still works.

Other Steps to Reproduce

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>    // Core graphics library
#include <Adafruit_ST7789.h> // Hardware-specific library for ST7789
#include <Arduino.h>
#include <SPI.h>

// 7789 320*240
// For the breakout board, you can use any 2 or 3 pins.
// These pins will also work for the 1.8" TFT shield.
#define TFT_MOSI   29              
#define TFT_SCLK   30            
#define TFT_DC 49
#define TFT_CS 28
#define TFT_BL 23                
#define TFT_RST 50 // Or set to -1 and connect to Arduino RESET pin

// OPTION 1 (recommended) is to use the HARDWARE SPI pins, which are unique
// to each board and not reassignable. 
// This is the fastest mode of operation and is required if
// using the breakout board's microSD card.

// For 1.44" and 1.8" TFT with ST7735 use:
// Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

// For 1.14", 1.3", 1.54", 1.69", and 2.0" TFT with ST7789:
Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

// OPTION 2 lets you interface the display using ANY TWO or THREE PINS,
// tradeoff being that performance is not as fast as hardware SPI above.

// For ST7735-based displays, we will use this call
// Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_MOSI, TFT_SCLK, TFT_RST);

// OR for the ST7789-based displays, we will use this call
// Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_MOSI, TFT_SCLK, TFT_RST);

void testLines(uint16_t color)
{
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width(); x += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(0, 0, x, tft.height() - 1, color);
        delay(0);
    }
    for(int16_t y = 0; y < tft.height(); y += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(0, 0, tft.width() - 1, y, color);
        delay(0);
    }

    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width(); x += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(tft.width() - 1, 0, x, tft.height() - 1, color);
        delay(0);
    }
    for(int16_t y = 0; y < tft.height(); y += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(tft.width() - 1, 0, 0, y, color);
        delay(0);
    }

    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width(); x += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(0, tft.height() - 1, x, 0, color);
        delay(0);
    }
    for(int16_t y = 0; y < tft.height(); y += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(0, tft.height() - 1, tft.width() - 1, y, color);
        delay(0);
    }

    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width(); x += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(tft.width() - 1, tft.height() - 1, x, 0, color);
        delay(0);
    }
    for(int16_t y = 0; y < tft.height(); y += 6)
    {
        tft.drawLine(tft.width() - 1, tft.height() - 1, 0, y, color);
        delay(0);
    }
}

void testDrawText(const char* text, uint16_t color)
{
    tft.setCursor(0, 0);
    tft.setTextColor(color);
    tft.setTextWrap(true);
    tft.print(text);
}

void testFastLines(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2)
{
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t y = 0; y < tft.height(); y += 5)
    {
        tft.drawFastHLine(0, y, tft.width(), color1);
    }
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width(); x += 5)
    {
        tft.drawFastVLine(x, 0, tft.height(), color2);
    }
}

void testDrawRects(uint16_t color)
{
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width(); x += 6)
    {
        tft.drawRect(tft.width() / 2 - x / 2, tft.height() / 2 - x / 2, x, x, color);
    }
}

void testFillRects(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2)
{
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    for(int16_t x = tft.width() - 1; x > 6; x -= 6)
    {
        tft.fillRect(tft.width() / 2 - x / 2, tft.height() / 2 - x / 2, x, x, color1);
        tft.drawRect(tft.width() / 2 - x / 2, tft.height() / 2 - x / 2, x, x, color2);
    }
}

void testFillCircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color)
{
    for(int16_t x = radius; x < tft.width(); x += radius * 2)
    {
        for(int16_t y = radius; y < tft.height(); y += radius * 2)
        {
            tft.fillCircle(x, y, radius, color);
        }
    }
}

void testDrawCircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color)
{
    for(int16_t x = 0; x < tft.width() + radius; x += radius * 2)
    {
        for(int16_t y = 0; y < tft.height() + radius; y += radius * 2)
        {
            tft.drawCircle(x, y, radius, color);
        }
    }
}

void testTriangles()
{
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    uint16_t color = 0xF800;
    int t;
    int w = tft.width() / 2;
    int x = tft.height() - 1;
    int y = 0;
    int z = tft.width();
    for(t = 0; t <= 15; t++)
    {
        tft.drawTriangle(w, y, y, x, z, x, color);
        x -= 4;
        y += 4;
        z -= 4;
        color += 100;
    }
}

void testRoundRects()
{
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    uint16_t color = 100;
    int i;
    int t;
    for(t = 0; t <= 4; t += 1)
    {
        int x = 0;
        int y = 0;
        int w = tft.width() - 2;
        int h = tft.height() - 2;
        for(i = 0; i <= 16; i += 1)
        {
            tft.drawRoundRect(x, y, w, h, 5, color);
            x += 2;
            y += 3;
            w -= 4;
            h -= 6;
            color += 1100;
        }
        color += 100;
    }
}

void tftPrintTest()
{
    tft.setTextWrap(false);
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    tft.setCursor(0, 30);
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_RED);
    tft.setTextSize(1);
    tft.println("Hello World!");
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_YELLOW);
    tft.setTextSize(2);
    tft.println("Hello World!");
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_GREEN);
    tft.setTextSize(3);
    tft.println("Hello World!");
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_BLUE);
    tft.setTextSize(4);
    tft.print(1234.567);
    delay(1500);
    tft.setCursor(0, 0);
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_WHITE);
    tft.setTextSize(0);
    tft.println("Hello World!");
    tft.setTextSize(1);
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_GREEN);
    tft.print(3.1415926f, 6);
    tft.println(" Want pi?");
    tft.println(" ");
    tft.print(8675309, HEX); // print 8,675,309 out in HEX!
    tft.println(" Print HEX!");
    tft.println(" ");
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_WHITE);
    tft.println("Sketch has been");
    tft.println("running for: ");
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_MAGENTA);
    tft.print(millis() / 1000);
    tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_WHITE);
    tft.print(" seconds.");
}

void testMediaButtons()
{
    // play
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    tft.fillRoundRect(25, 10, 78, 60, 8, ST77XX_WHITE);
    tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST77XX_RED);
    delay(500);
    // pause
    tft.fillRoundRect(25, 90, 78, 60, 8, ST77XX_WHITE);
    tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_GREEN);
    tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_GREEN);
    delay(500);
    // play color
    tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST77XX_BLUE);
    delay(50);
    // pause color
    tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_RED);
    tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_RED);
    // play color
    tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST77XX_GREEN);
}

void setup(void)
{
    delay(1200);
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Serial.print("Hello! ST7789 TFT Test\n");

    // Use this initializer if using a 1.8" TFT screen:
    // tft.initR(INITR_BLACKTAB); // Init ST7735S chip, black tab

    // OR use this initializer if using a 1.8" TFT screen with offset such as
    // WaveShare: tft.initR(INITR_GREENTAB);      // Init ST7735S chip, green
    // tab

    // OR use this initializer if using a 1.44" TFT:
    // tft.initR(INITR_144GREENTAB); // Init ST7735R chip, green tab

    // OR use this initializer if using a 0.96" 160x80 TFT:
    // tft.initR(INITR_MINI160x80);  // Init ST7735S mini display
    // OR use this initializer if using a 0.96" 160x80 TFT with
    // plug-in FPC (if you see the display is inverted!)
    // tft.initR(INITR_MINI160x80_PLUGIN);  // Init ST7735S mini display

    // OR use this initializer if using a 1.3" or 1.54" 240x240 TFT:
    // tft.init(240, 240);           // Init ST7789 240x240

    // OR use this initializer if using a 1.69" 280x240 TFT:
    // tft.init(240, 280);           // Init ST7789 280x240

    // OR use this initializer if using a 2.0" 320x240 TFT:
    tft.setSPISpeed(40 * 1000 * 1000);
    tft.init(240, 320); // Init ST7789 320x240

    pinMode(TFT_BL, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(TFT_BL, HIGH);

    // OR use this initializer if using a 1.14" 240x135 TFT:
    // tft.init(135, 240);           // Init ST7789 240x135

    // OR use this initializer if using a 1.47" 172x320 TFT:
    // tft.init(172, 320);           // Init ST7789 172x320
    
    // SPI speed defaults to SPI_DEFAULT_FREQ defined in the library, you can
    // override it here. Note that speed allowable depends on chip and quality of
    // wiring, if you go too fast, you may end up with a black screen some
    // times, or all the time. tft.setSPISpeed(40000000);

    Serial.println(F("Initialized"));

    uint16_t time = millis();
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    time = millis() - time;

    Serial.println(time, DEC);
    delay(500);

    // large block of text
    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    testDrawText(
        "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur "
        "adipiscing ante sed nibh tincidunt feugiat. Maecenas enim massa, "
        "fringilla sed malesuada et, malesuada sit amet turpis. Sed porttitor "
        "neque ut ante pretium vitae malesuada nunc bibendum. Nullam aliquet "
        "ultrices massa eu hendrerit. Ut sed nisi lorem. In vestibulum purus a "
        "tortor imperdiet posuere. ",
        ST77XX_WHITE);
    delay(1000);

    // tft print function!
    tftPrintTest();
    delay(3000);

    // a single pixel
    tft.drawPixel(tft.width() / 2, tft.height() / 2, ST77XX_GREEN);
    delay(500);

    // line draw test
    testLines(ST77XX_YELLOW);
    delay(500);

    // optimized lines
    testFastLines(ST77XX_RED, ST77XX_BLUE);
    delay(500);

    testDrawRects(ST77XX_GREEN);
    delay(500);

    testFillRects(ST77XX_YELLOW, ST77XX_MAGENTA);
    delay(500);

    tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
    testFillCircles(10, ST77XX_BLUE);
    testDrawCircles(10, ST77XX_WHITE);
    delay(500);

    testRoundRects();
    delay(500);

    testTriangles();
    delay(500);

    testMediaButtons();
    delay(500);

    Serial.println("done");
    delay(1000);
}

void loop()
{
    tft.invertDisplay(true);
    delay(500);
    tft.invertDisplay(false);
    delay(500);
}

I have checked existing issues, online documentation and the Troubleshooting Guide

• I confirm I have checked existing issues, online documentation and Troubleshooting guide.

[Jason2866]

The lib TFT_eSPI is outdated, not maintained and not working with core 3.x at all.

[linghuye]

I know TFT_eSPI is outdated, but I am a professional programer. I can modify its source code to make it work on esp32-p4.
And TFT_eSPI works fine on esp32-S3/C6 with core 3.2.0.
Adafruit ST7735 and ST7789 Library also doesn't work on esp32-p4. As I know, all arduino SPI LCD libraries do not work on esp32-p4 now! If any arduino library works, please let me know.
In fact I think it is Arduino hardware SPI which doesn't work on esp32-p4 with SPI LCDs, it is also outdated!

[CreoKinetics]

Any update on this? I am also having the same sort of problem, <Adafruit_GFX.h> <Adafruit_SSD1351.h> on ESP32-P4, worked on Platformio Adruino framework 53.03.11, after updating to 54.03.20 (3.2.0) I cannot get the SPI bus to work with the display....

[lbernstone]

I've had TFT_eSPI working properly on ESP32-C3 & C6, I don't have a P4 to test on. Make sure to force it to HSPI (-DUSE_HSPI_PORT)

[me-no-dev]

I've found that IOs might work slightly different depending on how their domains are powered. Maybe you can try with different IOs?

[CreoKinetics]

I've tried several IO combinations, it seems like HSPI is the only bus exposed, but I have initialised as HSPI in my testing, not using a build flag though, I will try this. Need to try a loop back test and scope the pins too, which I will do when I get time later this week. For reference my testing code:

https://.com/CreoKinetics/Olimex-ESP32-P4-Test