Qw/ST Pad (I2C Game Controller)

Add a whole bunch of buttons to your Raspberry Pi or Raspberry Pi Pico project with this cute, compact, chainable I2C gamepad.

Each Qw/ST Pad features eight chunky buttons for inputs (labelled U, D, L, R, A, B, X and Y), two smaller buttons for settings adjustments (+ and -), and four user-controllable white LEDs. The board includes cuttable traces on the back to change the I2C address, allowing up to four Qw/ST Pads to be connected simultaneously for multiplayer applications.

Connection is straightforward with two Qw/ST connectors compatible with microcontrollers or HATs that support Qwiic or STEMMA QT connectors, such as the Space Unicorns, Pico Display Pack, or Display HAT Mini. (Note that Qw/ST cables are sold separately.)

Features

• TCA9555 I/O Expander (datasheet)
• 8x large user buttons (U, D, L, R, A, B, X, Y)
• 2x small user buttons (+ and -)
• 4x white LEDs
• 2x Qw/ST (Qwiic/STEMMA QT) connectors
• I2C interface with adjustable addresses: 0x21 (default), 0x23, 0x25, or 0x27
• 3V to 5V compatible
• Fully assembled, no soldering required
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi computers (Python library available)
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico/RP2040/RP2350 (MicroPython library available)
• Schematic PDF

Software

• MicroPython library for RP2040/RP2350 boards available on GitHub (qwstpad-micropython)
• Full Python library for Raspberry Pi computers available on GitHub (qwstpad-python)

Dimensions

58x25x6.7mm (LxWxH approx). Mounting holes are M2.5 located 3mm from the top corners (52mm center to center). Corner radii are 3mm at the top and 10mm at the bottom.