how to use a multiple rc522 (RFID) sensors with i2c on a PICO with a Adafruit PCF8575 board

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I’ve been looking through the web for the case of multiple rc522 (RFID sensors) attached to a PICO/W using I2C. Most of the examples and Micropython library code seem to be using SPI. Can someone point me in the right direction for I2C examples? I would like to be able to attach the sensors using a Adafruit PCF8575 GPIO extender (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5611)

Please note that I also don’t want to use infinite loop (continuous polling) solution of reading the rc522 and instead use event driven type solution. This seems much better when there are multiple other things such as servos, LEDs, MQTT etc running at the same time.

• i2c
• pi-pico
• rfid

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asked 12 hours ago

quinn

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• One brainstorming suggestion: (1) Use one pico SPI channel to connect all RC522’s, except CS pin, (2) Use PCF8575 to connect one IO pin to each one RC522’s CS pin, … – tlfong01 39 mins ago   

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The RC522 devices I have seen communicate via SPI or I2C.

Your plan seems to be to bit bang SPI or I2C on a GPIO port expander itself connected to the Pico via I2C. There is zero chance this will work.

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answered 11 hours ago

joan

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• can you elaborate where the problem is? Writing “bit bang” does not help much. What part of the plan needs to be removed so that it will work. You write i2C so what steps are needed RC522 to work with I2C? That is simple case: RC522 using I2C and PICO. – quinn 8 hours ago

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