pico pi rtc interrupt

Question

I want to send an interrupt to the pico to wake it up every second to tick a battery-powered clock. I have an external RTC, the ds3231. I have gotten just about every other feature on the rtc to work like the timekeeping, time setting, format, etc. But I cannot get the SQW pin to pulse at 1hz. It is just high all the time. I made sure to have a pulldown resistor, but it always reads high.

The Adafruit Library here does not have anything for the square wave, but it does have an alarm. Maybe that can be useful, but I don't know.

The library by Peter Hinch here has a similar issue for the ds3231.

A random new library for the ds3231 here claims to support the square wave feature, but it just stays on. I'm aware that the alarms disable the sqw, so I do not have them enabled.

Perhaps I could use the internal rtc in the pico. If anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it!

• Seamus: I wonder if your problem is your "pulldown" resistor? See answer below for details.

Answer 1

Disclaimer: I'm not sure I understand your question, and your objective doesn't make sense to me. Consequently, this may not really be an answer... but it's too long for a comment, so here goes:

I've some experience with the Pico Pi in C, but none with Python. I do know a little bit about the DS3231, but I've only used it with my RPi - not with the Pico. So - perhaps this will be helpful?

If you've not read the DS3231 data sheet, I would encourage you to do so as it may shed some light. The following passage from pg. 9 of the data sheet describes the functional logic of the #INT/SQW pin (note-emphasis is mine):

Active-Low Interrupt or Square-Wave Output. This open-drain pin requires an external pullup resistor connected to a supply at 5.5V or less. This multifunction pin is determined by the state of the INTCN bit in the Control Register (0Eh). When INTCN is set to logic 0, this pin outputs a square wave and its frequency is determined by RS2 and RS1 bits. When INTCN is set to logic 1, then a match between the timekeeping registers and either of the alarm registers activates the #INT/SQW pin (if the alarm is enabled). Because the INTCN bit is set to logic 1 when power is first applied, the pin defaults to an interrupt output with alarms disabled. The pullup voltage can be up to 5.5V, regardless of the voltage on VCC. If not used, this pin can be left unconnected.

Here's how I understand this wrt your question:

• The INTCN bit controls whether pin 3 (#INT/SQW) outputs an INTerrupt, or a SQuareWave.

• If INTCN is set to 0, a square wave is output; if INTCN is set to 1 the pin acts as an alarm. This assumes an external pullup is provided.

• The default value for INTCN is 1; set at power-on. It may be changed to 0 by writing to the Control Register (0Eh) to enable the SQW function.

• Consequently : you (or your Python library) must use the i2c bus to set INTCN bit to 0 by writing an appropriate value to the Control Register (0Eh).

• I don't feel there is any ambiguity in the data sheet. While the passage quoted above doesn't specify what happens if the INTCN bit is set to 0, AND one/both of the Alarm Interrupt Enable (A1IE, A2IE) bits are set to 0. However, this is clarified on pg. 13 of the data sheet.

Setting the INTCN bit to 0 shouldn't be a huge problem; it's simply a matter of writing the appropriate value to the Control Register (0Eh) of the DS3231. But again, I've not used any Python libraries to do this.

However... In your question, you said: "I made sure to have a pulldown resistor, but it always reads high."

If that's an accurate statement, it's at least part of the cause of the issue you are seeing! Note the excerpt from the data sheet above says the #INT/SQW pin is an open-drain output!! Consequently, a pulldown resistor will do nothing. A pullup resistor to Vcc is required for the #INT/SQW pin to operate as advertised.

Once you connect a pullup resistor between #INT/SQW and Vcc, and assuming you have correctly set the INTCN bit to 0, you should get a square wave.

If you can't: There are apparently a lot of counterfeit DS3231 chips in the marketplace today from Chinese sources. I learned this during a tech support telephone call to Maxim. When I told the engineer that I had purchased my DS3231 on eBay, and paid less than 5ドル for it - he told me that I probably had a counterfeit, and he c/wouldn't answer my questions! We subsequently confirmed my DS3231 was a counterfeit from some external markings on the chip.

Now, as it turned out, my Chinese-manufactured DS3231 worked properly in my Raspberry Pi, but perhaps that was because I didn't exercise all the DS3231's available functionality? That's speculation of course, but I've since replaced my Chinese DS3231 with another RTC that is said to use a genuine DS3231 (hope so - it cost about 15ドル!). And FWIW I can say that the SQW function does work in the "genuine" DS3231.

In closing, please forgive this interruption if it's something you already knew, or if it is useless information. Please let me know if that's the case as I'd like to delete this answer if it misses the mark.

• shellter: Looking for rPi helpers. Can you please look at stackoverflow.com/questions/75910694/… and see if you have any ideas. Will be awarding points to anyone that can help, not necessarily solve.
• Seamus: @shellter: Thanks for the offer, but I had a disagreement with the management at SO a few months ago & will have nothing to do with them going forward. I did look at the question, but I don't quite get how that's related to the DS3231??
• shellter: Well thanks very much for looking at the question and sorry to lose you at S.O., but I understand. I'm not a huge fan either, but I like working on scripting problems, to keep myself up to speed. (I'm retired). I pinged you because this Q related to picoPi and you seem to know what you're talking about, so I thought you might have an idea. I don't want my 100 point bonus to go to waste, so I'm looking for people with some experience with that hardware. Best wishes and good luck in your endeavors!

Answer 2

Question

How to configure a DS3231 RTC (Real Time Clock) to output an interrupt signal, once every second, to wake up a Rpi Pico/W?

Answer - Part 2 of 2

Note - Part 1 of this answer is too long and exceeds the system's 30k words limit. So I am writing Part 2.

---

Appendix Y - Testing uBlox NEO 10M 1 PPS output

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyCaoe4ZLX4 (YouTube video)

m10 pps 1

---

Appendix Z - uBlob NEO 10M - PPS (1 pulse per second testing)

pps 1

---

Appendix ZA - Neo M10 PPS noisy output

PPS output direct from M10 module 5 pin terminal is very noisy. Perhaps it is necessary to shield 2 metre long Win11 USB serial cable to reduce noise. Using Rpi picoW wiring should have very little noisy.

m10 pps 1

---

• shellter: What an amazing answer!> Looking for rPi helpers. Can you please look at stackoverflow.com/questions/75910694/… and see if you have any ideas. Will be awarding points to anyone that can help, not necessarily solve.

Answer 3

Question

How to configure a DS3231 RTC (Real Time Clock) to output an interrupt signal, once every second, to wake up a Rpi Pico/W?

---

Answer

*** DS3231 RTC and uBlob Neo7M GPS DateTime (Appendix T)***

Neo7M + DS3231

DS3231 alarm Interrupt 1Hz (Appendix L)

1Hz alarm interrupt

---

DS3231 Sq Wve 1 Hz (Appendix J)

sq wvw 1hz (Appendix J)

---

Troubleshooting notes on pull-up/pull down resistors

The OP says the following:

"But I cannot get the SQW pin to pulse at 1hz. it is just high all the time. I made sure to have a pulldown resistor, but it always reads high."

Actually if the OP is using a assembled module like mine, then he does not need to use any pull up resistor, because there is already a 4k7 pull-up built in. So if he uses a pull-down resistor, the the Sq/INI pin with both a pull up and pull down resistor will form a potentiometer divider with a constant voltage output.

---

/ to continue, ...

---

References

(1) DS3231 Real Time Clock Datasheet - Maxim Integrated 2015

(2) DS3231 Real Time Clock Module - AliExpress HK14ドル

(3) GitHub Adafruit_CircuitPython_DS3231 Library (OP Ref 1)

(4) GitHub PeterHinch micropython-samples DT3231 Library (OP Ref 2)

(5) GitHub Micropython-DS3231-AT24C32 Library - pangopi (OP Ref 3)

(6) MicroPython time related function - MicroPython Library

(7) Rpi Pico MicroPython Delay and timing

(8) DS3231 Pico microPython Library - Balance19

(9) Pi Pico Real Time Clock DS3231 - Workout - tonygo2

(10) Pico RTC DS3231 - Waveshare

(11) MicroPython class RTC Real time clock - MicroPython

(12) MicroPython Real time clock (RTC) and WDT (Watchdog Timer)

(13) NTP ntptime — Time synchronization - MicroPython

(14) Interfacing 16X2 LCD Module with Raspberry pi Pico with and without I2C - CircuitSchools

---

/ to continue, ...

---

Appendices

(A) DS3231 Wiring Diagram

enter image description here

---

(B) DS3231 Block Diagram

blk dia

---

(C) DS3231 Registers Summary

enter image description here

---

(D) DS3231 Interrupt/Square wave pin description

int/sq pin description

---

(E) DS3231 Alarm 1 setting (for interrupt once every second)

alarm reg

alam 1 set

---

(F) Control Register (0x0E) Setting for interrupt once per second

ctrl reg setting 0x0e

---

(G) DS3231 Wiring Scheme

picow + ds3231

---

(H) DS3231 on I2C1 detected OK (0x68 = DS3231, 0x53 = EEPROM)

# *** Print title ***
print('*** Program =', 'DS3231 Test v0.8 tlfong01 2023feb04hkt1211 ***')
# *** Contents ***
# 1. References
# 2. Import modules
# 3. Scan I2C1 Devices - tested OK
# 2. *** Import modules ***
import machine
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# 3. *** Scan I2C devices ***
# *** Create I2C object for I2C bus # 1 Freq 100 kHz ***
i2c1 = machine.I2C(1, scl = machine.Pin(7), sda = machine.Pin(6), freq = 100000)
# *** Function to scan I2C devices ***
def scanI2c(i2c):
 devAddrList = i2c.scan()
 return devAddrList
# *** Sample test and ouput ***
def scanPrintI2cDevices(i2c):
 devAddrList = scanI2c(i2c)
 print('Scan I2C devices =', end = '')
 for devAddr in devAddrList:
 print(' ', hex(devAddr), end = '')
 print('')
 return
# *** Sample test and output ***
# *** Sample Test ***
scanPrintI2cDevices(i2c1)
'''
# *** Sample output ***
>>> %Run -c $EDITOR_CONTENT
*** Program = DS3231 Test v0.8 tlfong01 2023feb04hkt1211 ***
Scan I2C devices = 0x57 0x68
*** End of Program ***
>>> 
'''
print('*** End of Program ***')
# *** End of program ***

---

(I) How to reset interrupt using 0x0f register

status and control register

---

(J) Interrupt signal per second using 1 Hz Square wave clock

sq wve 1hz

# *** Print title ***
print('*** Program =', 'DS3231 Test feb0601 tlfong01 2023feb06hkt1458 ***')
# *** Contents ***
# 1. Import modules
# 2. Scan I2C1 Devices - tested OK
# 3. Functions
# 3.1 read/write device registers
# 3.2 setup alarm register list
#
# 2. *** Import modules ***
import machine
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# 3. *** Scan I2C devices ***
# *** Create I2C object for I2C bus # 1 Freq 100 kHz ***
i2c1 = machine.I2C(1, scl = machine.Pin(7), sda = machine.Pin(6), freq = 100000)
# *** Function to scan I2C devices ***
def scanI2c(i2c):
 devAddrList = i2c.scan()
 return devAddrList
# *** Sample test and ouput ***
def scanPrintI2cDevices(i2c):
 devAddrList = scanI2c(i2c)
 print(' I2C devices scanned =', end = '')
 for devAddr in devAddrList:
 print(' ', hex(devAddr), end = '')
 print('')
 return
# *** Sample test and output ***
# *** Sample Test ***
scanPrintI2cDevices(i2c1)
'''
# *** Sample output ***
>>> %Run -c $EDITOR_CONTENT
*** Program = DS3231 Test v0.8 tlfong01 2023feb04hkt1211 ***
Scan I2C devices = 0x57 0x68
*** End of Program ***
>>> 
'''
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# *** Read/Write I2C device registers ***
def writeRegByte(i2cBus, i2cDevAddr, regNum, writeByte):
 writeByteArray = bytearray()
 writeByteArray.append(writeByte)
 i2cBus.writeto_mem(i2cDevAddr, regNum, writeByteArray)
 return
def ds3231WriteRegByte(regNum, writeByte):
 writeRegByte(i2c1, 0x68, regNum, writeByte)
 return
 
def readRegByte(i2cBus, i2cDevAddr, regNum):
 readByte = i2cBus.readfrom_mem(i2cDevAddr, regNum, 1)
 return readByte
def ds3231ReadRegByte(regNum):
 readByte = i2c1.readfrom_mem(0x68, regNum, 1)
 return readByte
# *** Configuration ***
# *** Control and Status Registers ***
ctrlRegNum = 0x0e
statusRegNum = 0x0f
# *** Alarm 1 registers and control bit/byte ***
alarm1SecRegNum = 0x07
alarm1MinRegNum = 0x08
alarm1HrRegNum = 0x09
alarm1DyDtRegNum = 0x0a
alarm1RegTotal = 4
alarm1RegList = [alarm1SecRegNum, alarm1MinRegNum, alarm1HrRegNum, alarm1DyDtRegNum]
bit7SetByte = 0x80
alarm1RegInt1SecByteList = [bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte]
def setupAlarm1RegList(alarm1RegCtrlByteList):
 for i in range(alarm1RegTotal):
 ds3231WriteRegByte(alarm1RegList[i], alarm1RegCtrlByteList[i]) 
 return
# *** Test setup alarm 1 reg list and sample output ***
setupAlarm1RegList(alarm1RegInt1SecByteList)
print(' alarm 1 reg list contents = ', end = '')
for alarmReg in alarm1RegList:
 print(ds3231ReadRegByte(alarmReg), end = '')
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# *** Alarm 2 registers and control bit/byte ***
alarm2SecRegNum = 0x0b
alarm2MinRegNum = 0x0c
alarm2HrRegNum = 0x0d
alarm2RegTotal = 3
alarm2RegList = [alarm2SecRegNum, alarm2MinRegNum, alarm2HrRegNum]
bit7SetByte = 0x80
alarm2RegInt1SecByteList = [bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte]
def setupAlarm2RegList(alarm2RegCtrlByteList):
 for i in range(alarm2RegTotal):
 ds3231WriteRegByte(alarm2RegList[i], alarm2RegCtrlByteList[i]) 
 return
# *** Test setup alarm 2 reg list and sample output ***
setupAlarm2RegList(alarm2RegInt1SecByteList)
print('')
print(' alarm 2 reg list contents = ', end = '')
for alarmReg in alarm2RegList:
 print(ds3231ReadRegByte(alarmReg), end = '')
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
# *** Setup Control registers ***
CtrlByteBase = 0x00
CtrlRegOscEnbl = 0x01 << 7 # ~EOSC
CtrlRegIntCtrl = 0x01 << 2 # INTCN
CtrlRegAlm1IntEnbl = 0x01 << 0 # AIIE
#Int1HzCnfgByte = 0x00 | (~CtrlRegOscEnbl) | CtrlRegIntCtrl | CtrlRegAlm1IntEnbl # 0x05
#SqWveCnfgByte = 0x00 | (~CtrlRegOscEnbl) | (~CtrlRegIntCtrl) | CtrlRegAlm1IntEnbl # 0x01
int1SecCnfgByte = 0x05 
int1MinCnfgByte = 0x06
sqWveCnfgByte1Hz = 0x01 
sqWveCnfgByte1kHz = 0x19 
# *** Setup Ctrl Reg 0x0e with ctrl byte 0x05 ***
print('')
print(' int1SecCnfgByte = ', hex(int1SecCnfgByte))
print(' int1MinCnfgByte = ', hex(int1MinCnfgByte))
print(' sqWveCnfgByte1Hz = ', hex(sqWveCnfgByte1Hz))
print(' sqWveCnfgByte1kHz = ', hex(sqWveCnfgByte1kHz))
# *** Config Int 1 sec/1min, Square Wave 1Hz/1kHz ***
ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, sqWveCnfgByte1Hz)
#ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, sqWveCnfgByte1kHz)
#ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, int1SecCnfgByte)
#ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, int1MinCnfgByte)
readByte = ds3231ReadRegByte(ctrlRegNum)
print(' readByte from ctrlReg =', readByte)
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
# *** Read status rgister / reset interrupt flass / Enable/Disable clock 32 kHz signal ***
statusByteBase = 0x00
clock32kHzEnbl = 0x01 << 3
alarm2FlagReset = 0x01 << 1
alarm1FlagReset = 0x01 << 0
resetAlarmsByte = statusByteBase | alarm1FlagReset | alarm2FlagReset | clock32kHzEnbl # 0x0b
ds3231WriteRegByte(statusRegNum, resetAlarmsByte)
readByte = ds3231ReadRegByte(statusRegNum)
print(' readByte from statusReg =', readByte)
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
print('*** End of Program ***')
'''
Sample output 2023jun06hkt1603
*** Program = DS3231 Test feb0601 tlfong01 2023feb06hkt1458 ***
 I2C devices scanned = 0x57 0x68
 alarm 1 reg list contents = b'\x80'b'\x80'b'\x80'b'\x80'
 alarm 2 reg list contents = b'\x80'b'\x80'b'\x80'
 int1SecCnfgByte = 0x5
 int1MinCnfgByte = 0x6
 sqWveCnfgByte1Hz = 0x1
 sqWveCnfgByte1kHz = 0x19
 readByte from ctrlReg = b'\x01'
 readByte from statusReg = b'\x0b'
*** End of Program ***
'''

---

(K) The OP wishwes to know the feasibility of using Rpi Pico's internal RTC, instead of the external RTC 3231.

Update 2023feb08hkt2147 Errata and Apology.

What I said below was wrong.

Actually Pico does not have any internal RTC.

Pico indeed has hardware RTC, and I will explore this later.

though it has (a) MicoPython delay function, (b) systems timers, as summaried below:

Using the MicroPython time module

import time

time.sleep(1) # sleep for 1 second time.sleep_ms(500) # sleep for 500 milliseconds time.sleep_us(10) # sleep for 10 microseconds start = time.ticks_ms() # get millisecond counter delta = time.ticks_diff(time.ticks_ms(), start) # compute time difference

---

Using Rpi Pico Timers

RP2040’s system timer peripheral provides a global microsecond timebase and generates interrupts for it. The software timer is available currently, and there are unlimited number of them (memory permitting). There is no need to specify the timer id (id=-1 is supported at the moment) as it will default to this.

Use the machine.Timer class:

from machine import Timer

tim = Timer(period=5000, mode=Timer.ONE_SHOT, callback = lambda t:print(1))

---

(L) Generate Alarm Interrupt every timer

The following program generate alarm interrupt every second. The while loop as the end of the program is to check if there is another alarm interrupt, and if yes, the interrupt flap at the status register 0x0f is executed to immediately clear the interrupt flag. Note - If there is no interrupt flag reset every time interrupt is detected, the scope will display just a zero volt/ground line.

1hz alarm interrupt

# *** Print title ***
print('*** Program =', 'DS3231 Test feb0601 tlfong01 2023feb07hkt2151 ***')
# *** Contents ***
# 1. Import modules
# 2. Scan I2C1 Devices - tested OK
# 3. Functions
# 3.1 read/write device registers
# 3.2 setup alarm register list
#
# 2. *** Import modules ***
import machine
import time
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# 3. *** Scan I2C devices ***
# *** Create I2C object for I2C bus # 1 Freq 100 kHz ***
i2c1 = machine.I2C(1, scl = machine.Pin(7), sda = machine.Pin(6), freq = 100000)
# *** Function to scan I2C devices ***
def scanI2c(i2c):
 devAddrList = i2c.scan()
 return devAddrList
# *** Sample test and ouput ***
def scanPrintI2cDevices(i2c):
 devAddrList = scanI2c(i2c)
 print(' I2C devices scanned =', end = '')
 for devAddr in devAddrList:
 print(' ', hex(devAddr), end = '')
 print('')
 return
# *** Sample test and output ***
# *** Sample Test ***
scanPrintI2cDevices(i2c1)
'''
# *** Sample output ***
>>> %Run -c $EDITOR_CONTENT
*** Program = DS3231 Test v0.8 tlfong01 2023feb04hkt1211 ***
Scan I2C devices = 0x57 0x68
*** End of Program ***
>>> 
'''
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# *** Read/Write I2C device registers ***
def writeRegByte(i2cBus, i2cDevAddr, regNum, writeByte):
 writeByteArray = bytearray()
 writeByteArray.append(writeByte)
 i2cBus.writeto_mem(i2cDevAddr, regNum, writeByteArray)
 return
def ds3231WriteRegByte(regNum, writeByte):
 writeRegByte(i2c1, 0x68, regNum, writeByte)
 return
 
def readRegByte(i2cBus, i2cDevAddr, regNum):
 readByte = i2cBus.readfrom_mem(i2cDevAddr, regNum, 1)
 return readByte
def ds3231ReadRegByte(regNum):
 readByte = i2c1.readfrom_mem(0x68, regNum, 1)
 return readByte
# *** Configuration ***
# *** Control and Status Registers ***
ctrlRegNum = 0x0e
statusRegNum = 0x0f
# *** Alarm 1 registers and control bit/byte ***
alarm1SecRegNum = 0x07
alarm1MinRegNum = 0x08
alarm1HrRegNum = 0x09
alarm1DyDtRegNum = 0x0a
alarm1RegTotal = 4
alarm1RegList = [alarm1SecRegNum, alarm1MinRegNum, alarm1HrRegNum, alarm1DyDtRegNum]
bit7SetByte = 0x80
alarm1RegInt1SecByteList = [bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte]
def setupAlarm1RegList(alarm1RegCtrlByteList):
 for i in range(alarm1RegTotal):
 ds3231WriteRegByte(alarm1RegList[i], alarm1RegCtrlByteList[i]) 
 return
# *** Test setup alarm 1 reg list and sample output ***
setupAlarm1RegList(alarm1RegInt1SecByteList)
print(' alarm 1 reg list contents = ', end = '')
for alarmReg in alarm1RegList:
 print(ds3231ReadRegByte(alarmReg), end = '')
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= 
# *** Alarm 2 registers and control bit/byte ***
alarm2SecRegNum = 0x0b
alarm2MinRegNum = 0x0c
alarm2HrRegNum = 0x0d
alarm2RegTotal = 3
alarm2RegList = [alarm2SecRegNum, alarm2MinRegNum, alarm2HrRegNum]
bit7SetByte = 0x80
alarm2RegInt1SecByteList = [bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte, bit7SetByte]
def setupAlarm2RegList(alarm2RegCtrlByteList):
 for i in range(alarm2RegTotal):
 ds3231WriteRegByte(alarm2RegList[i], alarm2RegCtrlByteList[i]) 
 return
# *** Test setup alarm 2 reg list and sample output ***
setupAlarm2RegList(alarm2RegInt1SecByteList)
print('')
print(' alarm 2 reg list contents = ', end = '')
for alarmReg in alarm2RegList:
 print(ds3231ReadRegByte(alarmReg), end = '')
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
# *** Setup Control registers ***
CtrlByteBase = 0x00
CtrlRegOscEnbl = 0x01 << 7 # ~EOSC
CtrlRegIntCtrl = 0x01 << 2 # INTCN
CtrlRegAlm1IntEnbl = 0x01 << 0 # AIIE
#Int1HzCnfgByte = 0x00 | (~CtrlRegOscEnbl) | CtrlRegIntCtrl | CtrlRegAlm1IntEnbl # 0x05
#SqWveCnfgByte = 0x00 | (~CtrlRegOscEnbl) | (~CtrlRegIntCtrl) | CtrlRegAlm1IntEnbl # 0x01
int1SecCnfgByte = 0x05 
int1MinCnfgByte = 0x06
sqWveCnfgByte1Hz = 0x01 
sqWveCnfgByte1kHz = 0x19 
# *** Setup Ctrl Reg 0x0e with ctrl byte 0x05 ***
print('')
print(' int1SecCnfgByte = ', hex(int1SecCnfgByte))
print(' int1MinCnfgByte = ', hex(int1MinCnfgByte))
print(' sqWveCnfgByte1Hz = ', hex(sqWveCnfgByte1Hz))
print(' sqWveCnfgByte1kHz = ', hex(sqWveCnfgByte1kHz))
# *** Config Int 1 sec/1min, Square Wave 1Hz/1kHz ***
#ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, sqWveCnfgByte1Hz)
#ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, sqWveCnfgByte1kHz)
#ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, int1SecCnfgByte)
ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, int1MinCnfgByte)
readByte = ds3231ReadRegByte(ctrlRegNum)
print(' readByte from ctrlReg =', readByte)
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
# *** Read status rgister / reset interrupt flass / Enable/Disable clock 32 kHz signal ***
statusByteBase = 0x00
#clock32kHzEnbl = 0x01 << 3
#alarm2FlagReset = 0x01 << 1
#alarm1FlagReset = 0x01 << 0
#resetAlarmsByte = statusByteBase | alarm1FlagReset | alarm2FlagReset | clock32kHzEnbl # 0x00
#ds3231WriteRegByte(statusRegNum, resetAlarmsByte)
resetAlarmByte = 0x00
# *** Generate interrupt every second ***
print(' Generate interrupt every second')
ds3231WriteRegByte(ctrlRegNum, int1SecCnfgByte) #generate interrupt every second
# *** Reset interrupt flag every 50mS ***
while True:
 ds3231WriteRegByte(statusRegNum, resetAlarmByte)
 time.sleep_ms(50)
 
# ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
print('*** End of Program ***')
# *** End of program ***
'''
Sample Output
>>> %Run -c $EDITOR_CONTENT
*** Program = DS3231 Test feb0601 tlfong01 2023feb07hkt2151 ***
 I2C devices scanned = 0x57 0x68
 alarm 1 reg list contents = b'\x80'b'\x80'b'\x80'b'\x80'
 alarm 2 reg list contents = b'\x80'b'\x80'b'\x80'
 int1SecCnfgByte = 0x5
 int1MinCnfgByte = 0x6
 sqWveCnfgByte1Hz = 0x1
 sqWveCnfgByte1kHz = 0x19
 readByte from ctrlReg = b'\x06'
 Generate interrupt every second
''' 

---

(M) Earlier I wrongly pointed out that Rpi Pico has no internal/built in RTC. Actually I was totally wrongl - Pico indeed has hardware RTC, and for MicroPython there is a class for it.

In other words, we don't need any external RTC DS3231!

I wrote the small test function for Pico RTC and it works OK.

# *** Test machine.rtc
#class RTC – real time clock
#https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/library/machine.RTC.html
rtc = RTC()
rtc.datetime((2023, 2, 8, 22, 1, 00, 0, 0)) # set a specific date and time, eg. 2023年2月8日 22:1:00
rtc.datetime() # get date and time
for i in range(10):
 print(rtc.datetime())
 time.sleep(1)
 
'''
Sample output
(2023, 2, 8, 2, 1, 0, 1, 0)
(2023, 2, 8, 2, 1, 0, 2, 0)
(2023, 2, 8, 2, 1, 0, 3, 0)
(2023, 2, 8, 2, 1, 0, 4, 0)
'''

---

(N) The OP's "Battery Power Clock" vs TM1637 4 digit display module

The OP wishes the 1 second interrupt to tick a battery powered clock. It is no clear which clock he is referring to. So a randomly googled a 4 digit display for testing.

tm1637 4 digit display module

(1) TM1637 Based 4 Bits Red Digital Tube LED Display Module - Rajguru

(2) TM1637 Module 4 digit display led 7 segments Display Tube Decimal Module with clock - HK9ドル

(3) MicroPython TechNotes: 7 Segment Display - TechToTinker

(4) MicroPython TechNotes: 7 Segment Display - TechToTinker

(5) How to use TM1637 4-digit 7-segment LED display with Arduino | Quick & Brief Tutorial - How To Electronics

(6) LCD 16x2 display for digital clock WuSiYu/python-i2clcd Public

---

(O) Testing TM1637 OK

I installed PyPi's TM1637 module to PicoW and found basic testing OK, including a simple teething problem: Need to replace integers 4, 5 by objects Pin(4), Pin(5)

tm1637 test

---

(1) Using 7-Segment Display TM1637 with Raspberry Pi Pico - HowToElectronics, 2022sep30

(2) pypi tm1637 - PyPi Project

It takes only two statements to do the above "All LEDs On" demonstration.

# *** tm1637 4 digit LED display/clock
tm = tm1637.TM1637(clk = Pin(5), dio = Pin(4))
# all LEDS on "88:88"
tm.write([127, 255, 127, 127]) 

---

(P) Interfacing TM1637 with DS3231

I am searching my old DS3231 test programs in rpi.forum to refresh my memory on how to interface DS3231 hardware:

(1) Search found 51 matches: ds3231 tlfong01 - forums.rpi.com 2023feb10hkt1534

(2) Rpi4B Realtime Clock Testing Notes 1 - Rpi.com.Forum 2018Aug06

(3) Rpi4B Realtime Clock Testing Notes 2 - Rpi.com.Forum 2018Aug06

(4) Rpi4B Realtime Clock Testing Notes 3 - Rpi.com.Forum 2018Aug06

---

(Q) TM1637 Demo

(1) tm1637 Demo Youtube

(2) tm1637 Demo program listing

tm1637 demo yt

---

(R) PicoW can use WiFi to access NTP Time server, but not for Pico with WiFi feature. So I cam thinking of using GSP to do network time synchronization.

Build a Stratum 1 Time Server Using a Raspberry Pi Pico

gps timer

---

Rpi Neo-6M / Neo-8M GPS Module Setup/Fix/Update Problems - RpiSE

What kind of gps battery can I use for uBlox NEO-M8N GPS module? - EESE

GPS-Disciplined NTP Server on Raspberry Pi 4

---

(S) UBlox Neo-7M GPS receiver to get Network Time

Ublox NEO-7M-000 GPS Module MWC APM2.6 Replace NEO-6M GYGPSV3-NEO7M - HK36ドル

neo-7m 1

neo-7m 2

---

(T) uBlob Neo7M GPS DateTime testing

neo7m test

ucentre 1

---

(U) GPS NMEA message

nmea 2

nmea 3

---

(V) ublox ucenter user guide

ucentre user guide

(7) u-center GNSS evaluation software for Windows User guide - ublox R30 24-May-2022

---

Appendix W - ublox M10 learning notes

ublox M7 is out of date. So I am updating to M10

(1) u-blox M10 ultra low power platform -ublox

(2) MAX-M10 series u-blox M10 standard precision GNSS modules

(3) ublox Previous generations - ublox

(4) M10 Product Summary - ublox

(5) M10 Datasheet - ublox

(6) u-blox M10 SPG 5.10 Standard precision GNSS firmware Protocol version 34.10 Interface description (NMEA and UBX messages) - 2022may02

---

Appendix X - Ublox Ne-10M Module (GPS Time 1PPS (Pulse Per Second Signal Testing Notes 1)

m10 - 1

m10 - 2

m10 - 3

/ to continue, ...

.END

• shellter: I never understand people that downvote and don't leave any message how hwo to improve. I'm not an EE, but this looks great to me. Cordially ...