Improved version working on PC@Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, GPy, LoPy. It doesn't work on ESP8266 due to lack of memory. Micropython uses UNMODIFIED vl6180x library.

Author: tomekmalek

LiveObjects/hal.py

@@ -233,28 +233,6 @@ def __new__(cls, net_type):
         return board
 
 
-class SensorVL6180X:
-    def __new__(cls):
-        try:  # Python@RPi
-            import busio
-            import adafruit_vl6180x
-            import board
-            # Create I2C bus
-            i2c = busio.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)
-            # Create sensor instance.
-            return adafruit_vl6180x.VL6180X(i2c)
-            # You can add an offset to distance measurements here (e.g. calibration)
-            # Swapping for the following would add a +10 millimeter offset to measurements:
-            # sensor = adafruit_vl6180x.VL6180X(i2c, offset=10)
-        except ImportError:  # microPython
-            import vl6180x
-            i2c = get_i2c()
-            return vl6180x.Sensor(i2c, address=0x29)
-        except NotImplementedError:  # if no I2C device
-            print("No GPIO present.")
-            sys.exit()
-
-
 MAX_DEV_NB = 20
 
 
@@ -264,11 +242,109 @@ def get_i2c():
     for gpio in typical_gpio:
         scl, sda = gpio
         i2c = None
-        try:
+        try:                    # MicroPython 1.19.1 20220618-v1.19.1
             i2c = machine.SoftI2C(scl=machine.Pin(scl), sda=machine.Pin(sda), freq=100000)
             if i2c.scan() and len(i2c.scan()) < MAX_DEV_NB:
                 return i2c
-        except:
-            pass
+        except AttributeError:  # Pycom MicroPython 1.20.2.r6 [v1.11-c5a0a97] on 2021-10-28
+            i2c = machine.I2C(0)
+            return i2c
         del i2c
     raise RuntimeError("No I2C devices found. Check I2C lines.")
+
+
+class SensorVL6180X:
+    def __new__(cls):
+        try:                # Python@RPi
+            import busio
+            import adafruit_vl6180x
+            import board
+            i2c = busio.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)
+            return adafruit_vl6180x.VL6180X(i2c)
+
+        except ImportError:  # microPython
+            import vl6180x
+
+            class ModSensor(vl6180x.Sensor):
+                def myRead16(self, register, nb_bytes=1):
+                    value = int.from_bytes(
+                        self.i2c.readfrom_mem(self._address, register, nb_bytes, addrsize=16),
+                        'big'
+                    )
+                    return value & 0xFFFF
+
+                def read_lux(self, gain):
+                    """Read the lux (light value) from the sensor and return it.  Must
+                    specify the gain value to use for the lux reading:
+
+                    =================  =====
+                         Setting       Value
+                    =================  =====
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_1``     1x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_1_25``  1.25x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_1_67``  1.67x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_2_5``   2.5x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_5``     5x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_10``    10x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_20``    20x
+                    ``ALS_GAIN_40``    40x
+                    =================  =====
+
+                    :param int gain: The gain value to use
+
+                    """
+
+                    reg = self.myRead16(0x0014)
+                    reg &= ~0x38
+                    reg |= 0x4 << 3  # IRQ on ALS ready
+                    self.myWrite16(0x0014, reg)
+                    # 100 ms integration period
+                    self.myWrite16(0x0040, 0)
+                    self.myWrite16(0x0041, 100)
+                    # analog gain
+                    gain = min(gain, 0x07)
+                    self.myWrite16(0x003F, 0x40 | gain)
+                    # start ALS
+                    self.myWrite16(0x0038, 1)
+                    # Poll until "New Sample Ready threshold event" is set
+                    while (
+                            (self.myRead16(0x004F) >> 3) & 0x7
+                    ) != 4:
+                        pass
+                    # read lux!
+                    lux = self.myRead16(0x0050, 2)
+                    # clear interrupt
+                    self.myWrite16(0x0015, 0x07)
+                    lux *= 0.32  # calibrated count/lux
+
+                    if gain == 0x06:  # ALS_GAIN_1:
+                        pass
+                    elif gain == 0x05:  # ALS_GAIN_1_25:
+                        lux /= 1.25
+                    elif gain == 0x04:  # ALS_GAIN_1_67:
+                        lux /= 1.67
+                    elif gain == 0x03:  # ALS_GAIN_2_5:
+                        lux /= 2.5
+                    elif gain == 0x02:  # ALS_GAIN_5:
+                        lux /= 5
+                    elif gain == 0x01:  # ALS_GAIN_10:
+                        lux /= 10
+                    elif gain == 0x00:  # ALS_GAIN_20:
+                        lux /= 20
+                    elif gain == 0x07:  # ALS_GAIN_40:
+                        lux /= 40
+                    lux *= 100
+                    lux /= 100  # integration time in ms
+                    return lux
+
+                @property
+                def range(self):
+                    range_ = super().range()
+                    return range_
+
+            i2c = get_i2c()
+            return ModSensor(i2c, address=0x29)
+
+        except NotImplementedError:  # if no I2C device
+            print("No GPIO present.")
+            sys.exit()