MicroPython • Re: PIO; how to load second pio block?

First, am I right in thinking that the pico has two blocks of pio with individual 32 word program memories?

Correct. On the PIco (RP2040) there are two PIO with separate 32 word program memories, each of which supports fours separate State Machines. On the Pico 2 (RP235X) there are three PIO each with separate 32 word program memories.

Second, how do you select\load the block you require? MP seems to refer to the pair as a set of eight, 0-7 . Am I missing something simple?

MicroPython places State Machines 0-3 on PIO 0, 4-7 on PIO 1, and 8-11 on PIO 2 when available.

I expect you would place your large quadrature decoders in State Machines 0 through 3, and your serial input in State Machine 4 - though it could be any of 4 through 7, though 7 I believe will have already been used if a Pico W.

Statistics: Posted by hippy — Sat Nov 22, 2025 5:32 pm

---