What does I2C mean in HARDWARE
Inter-Integrated Circuit, also known as I2C, is a type of communication protocol that allows multiple electronic devices to communicate with one another. It provides an efficient way for two or more devices to communicate and transfer data between them over short distances. I2C utilizes low complexity hardware, making it cost effective and reliable while still providing fast and reliable data transmission.
I2C meaning in Hardware in Computing
I2C mostly used in an acronym Hardware in Category Computing that means Inter-Integrated Circuit
Shorthand: I2C,
Full Form: Inter-Integrated Circuit
For more information of "Inter-Integrated Circuit", see the section below.
How Does It Work?
The I2C protocol works by using just two wires to connect two or more integrated circuits (ICs). One wire is the master line and the other is the slave line, each IC has its own unique address and can be either a transmitter or receiver. The master IC sends a start signal to the slave IC which will then respond with an acknowledgement signal. This process establishes communication between the two ICs on the same network. Once communication is established, data can be sent at any time from either one of the IC's in both directions depending on who initiated it and what type of message it was. Every message is sent in frames containing 8 bits of data which represent a single byte depending on its size. Each frame consists of an address byte followed by up to eight data bytes where each byte always consists of 8 bits as stated before. The I2C also supports several features such as multi-master mode, clock stretching, arbitration, broadcast addresses and others which increases its versatility and make it even better for low level communications between multiple devices without having to invest in expensive hardware components or needing extensive knowledge about networking protocols.
Essential Questions and Answers on Inter-Integrated Circuit in "COMPUTING»HARDWARE"
What is an I2C bus?
I2C bus stands for Inter-Integrated Circuit bus. It is a type of serial bus developed by Philips Semiconductors which provides communication between multiple devices over two bidirectional lines - the Serial Data line (SDA) and the Serial Clock line (SCL). The I2C bus supports up to 127 devices and can be used to control and monitor peripherals, such as sensors, displays, and actuators.
What are the advantages of I2C?
One of the main advantages of I2C is that it requires fewer interconnects than other buses, since only two lines are required for communication. This makes it suitable for applications where there is limited space or IO pins to connect peripherals. Additionally, I2C has low power requirements, allowing it to be used in low power applications such as battery powered systems.
Can I2C be used with any microcontroller?
Yes, most modern microcontrollers support I2C as one of their peripheral protocols. There may be limitations on speed depending on the particular microcontroller being used so it's always best to check the datasheet for specific information on your device.
Is I2C a synchronous protocol?
Yes, I2C is a synchronous protocol which uses fixed rate clock signals to ensure data synchronization between master and slave devices on the same bus. Asynchronous communication involves no clock signals while synchronous communication requires clock signals generated by either the master or slave device.
Can multiple masters communicate with each other using an I2C bus?
Yes, but this requires a special configuration known as multi-master mode. In multi-master mode all masters on the same bus compete for access, taking turns to send their data on every clock cycle in round robin fashion. This type of configuration should be avoided if possible since conflicts could arise if two masters attempt to access/control the same slave device simultaneously.
Does I2C require pull-up resistors?
Yes, both SDA and SCL lines must have pull up resistors connected between them and Vcc in order for proper operation. The pull up resistor values will vary depending on your application but we typically recommend 10K ohm resistors for standard speeds up to 100 Kbits/sec and 4K7 ohm resistors when running at fast speeds up to 400 Kbits/sec. Check your datasheet for more information regarding pull-up resistor values.
How do you address individual slaves on an I2C bus?
Each slave device must have its own unique 7 bit address allocated by its manufacturer that allows it to respond when addressed by its master device in a multi-slave environment. The 7 bit address usually consists of 3 bits corresponding to slave type followed by 4 bits allocated by manufacturer so that all slaves within a given system share common prefixes while having unique suffixes.
Final Words:
I2C is an extremely useful way for embedded systems to quickly pass information between devices without investing in complex hardware components or understanding complex networking protocols. It offers low complexity hardware, fast data transmission speeds, robustness and reliability which makes it ideal for almost all applications where inter device communication is required such as mobile phones, robots, cars etc...