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Interview Preparation I2c

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is a serial communication protocol that connects low-speed peripherals to microcontrollers using two wires: SDA for data and SCL for clock. It supports 7-bit and 10-bit addressing, allowing up to 128 or 1024 devices respectively, and operates at various speeds from 100 kHz to 3.4 MHz. Common issues include signal integrity, address conflicts, and timing mismatches, which can be diagnosed and resolved using hardware checks, software debugging, and tools like oscilloscopes.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
1K views12 pages

Interview Preparation I2c

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is a serial communication protocol that connects low-speed peripherals to microcontrollers using two wires: SDA for data and SCL for clock. It supports 7-bit and 10-bit addressing, allowing up to 128 or 1024 devices respectively, and operates at various speeds from 100 kHz to 3.4 MHz. Common issues include signal integrity, address conflicts, and timing mismatches, which can be diagnosed and resolved using hardware checks, software debugging, and tools like oscilloscopes.

Uploaded by

Mani Kandan K
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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I2C communication :

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is a serial communication protocol used for connecting low-speed
peripherals to microcontrollers in embedded systems

It uses two wires: SDA (Serial Data) for data transfer and SCL (Serial Clock) for synchronization.

7-bit or 10-bit addressing

common data transfer speeds


 Standard mode: 100 kHz
 Fast mode: 400 kHz
 High-speed mode: 1 MHz
 Ultra-fast mode: 3.4 MHz (not common)

I2C can support up to 128 devices with 7-bit addressing, as the address space is 7 bits. However,
practical limits depend on bus capacitance, pull-up resistors, and signal integrity.

 A start condition occurs when the SDA line is pulled low while the SCL line is high.
 A stop condition occurs when the SDA line is pulled high while the SCL line is high.

clock stretching,
when the slave is slower than the master.

 In 7-bit addressing, the address space allows up to 128 devices (0-127).


 10-bit addressing extends the address space, allowing up to 1024 devices (0-1023), though
it's rarely used.

Use 4.7 kΩ for most setups at 5V.


Use 2.2 kΩ or 1 kΩ for high-speed (400 kHz or 1 MHz) communication at 3.3V.
STM32 HAL or Arduino provide libraries for I2C.
Common issues include:

 Signal integrity problems: Use proper pull-up resistors.


 Address conflicts: Ensure unique addresses for each device.
 Noise: Use proper grounding and shielding to minimize interference.
 Timing issues: Adjust clock speeds or use clock stretching if needed.
Since I2C is a serial bus, only one device can control the bus at a time. If two masters try to
communicate simultaneously, arbitration occurs, and the device that loses the arbitration will stop
transmitting and retry later.

How would you design an I2C interface for devices with different voltage levels?
 Use a level shifter to translate between voltage levels (e.g., from 3.3V to 5V) to ensure the
integrity of the signals.

 Sensors like temperature sensors (e.g., TMP102, LM75), accelerometers (e.g., MPU6050),
EEPROMs, RTCs (e.g., DS3231), displays (e.g., OLED), and ADCs often use I2C.

Cons:

 Slower than SPI (less throughput).

Write :
Start | Address (7 bits) | Write Bit (0) | Data Byte 1 | ACK | Data Byte 2 | ACK
| ... | Stop

Read
Start | Address (7 bits) | Read Bit (1) | Data Byte 1 | ACK | Data Byte 2 | ACK | ... | Stop

bus.write_byte(DEVICE_ADDRESS, data_to_write)
data_read = bus.read_byte(DEVICE_ADDRESS)

read_i2c_block_data to read more than one byte at a time


write_i2c_block_data writing more than one byte

Example 1: Single Device, Standard Mode (100 kHz)


 Parameters:
 Vcc = 5V
 C_bus = 100 pF
 t_r ≤ 1000 ns
 Calculate Maximum Resistor:
Rpull-up≤0.847×100×10−121000×10−9 Rpull-up≤11.8kΩ
 Choose Standard Value:
 Use a value lower than the calculated max (e.g., 4.7 kΩ).
 Current Check:
Ipull-up=4.7×1035≈1.06mA
The device must sink ~1 mA when pulling the line low.

1. Verify Hardware Connections


 Check SDA and SCL Lines:
 Ensure the lines are properly connected and not swapped.
 Check for physical damage, broken wires, or loose connections.
 Pull-Up Resistors:
 Verify that the pull-up resistors are present and their values are appropriate (e.g., 4.7
kΩ or 10 kΩ for most applications).
 Check if the pull-up resistors are connected to the correct voltage (Vcc).
 Supply Voltage:
 Ensure the I2C device is powered and its voltage level matches the master (e.g., 3.3V
or 5V).
 Confirm the ground (GND) is common between the master and the slave device(s).

2. Check Bus Configuration


 I2C Address:
 Confirm the correct slave address. Some devices have configurable addresses via
pins or registers.
 Ensure no two devices on the same bus share the same address.
 Bus Speed:
 Verify the I2C bus speed (e.g., Standard Mode: 100 kHz, Fast Mode: 400 kHz).
 Ensure all devices on the bus support the selected speed.

3. Debug with Software


 Scan for Devices:
 Use an I2C scanner script or tool (e.g., on Arduino, Raspberry Pi) to detect active
devices on the bus.
 Example (Arduino):
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#include <Wire.h>
void setup() {
Wire.begin();
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("I2C Scanner");
for (int address = 1; address < 127; address++) {
Wire.beginTransmission(address);
if (Wire.endTransmission() == 0) {
Serial.print("Found device at 0x");
Serial.println(address, HEX);
}
}
}

void loop() {}

 Error Handling:
 Implement error-checking in your code to catch NACK (no acknowledgment) from
the slave.
 Confirm successful start and stop conditions.

4. Use Debugging Tools


 Oscilloscope or Logic Analyzer:
 Oscilloscope:
 Check the voltage levels and timing of SDA and SCL.
 Verify signal integrity (e.g., rise and fall times, noise levels).
 Logic Analyzer:
 Decode the I2C protocol to check for errors in data or acknowledgment.
 Tools: Saleae Logic, Sigrok, or other similar devices.
 Bus Monitor:
 Use an I2C bus monitor tool to capture and analyze transactions on the bus.

5. Common Issues and Solutions


Issue: No Devices Detected
 Check power and ground connections.
 Verify pull-up resistors and the physical bus.
 Confirm that the I2C device is enabled (some devices require a specific initialization).
Issue: Device Responds at Wrong Address
 Verify that the address pins are set correctly.
 Confirm that the correct 7-bit or 8-bit address format is used.
Issue: NACK Errors
 Ensure the master sends the correct device address.
 Check for timing mismatches between the master and slave.
 Verify that the slave device is not busy or held in a reset state.
Issue: Bus Stuck Low
 Inspect the SDA and SCL lines for short circuits.
 Use a bus reset procedure:
 Toggle the SCL line manually for 9 cycles and generate a stop condition.

Issue: Noise or Signal Distortion


 Shorten the I2C cable length to reduce capacitance and noise.
 Use shielded cables or place a bypass capacitor near the device.

6. Test with a Simple Program


 Write a minimal program to read/write data from the I2C device. For example, for a
temperature sensor:
Example (Arduino):
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#include <Wire.h>

#define DEVICE_ADDR 0x48 // Replace with your device's address

void setup() {
Wire.begin();
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
Wire.beginTransmission(DEVICE_ADDR);
Wire.write(0x00); // Replace with your register address
Wire.endTransmission();

Wire.requestFrom(DEVICE_ADDR, 2); // Request 2 bytes


if (Wire.available() == 2) {
int temp = Wire.read() << 8 | Wire.read();
Serial.print("Temperature: ");
Serial.println(temp);
}
delay(1000);
}

7. Replace with Known Working Components


 Swap out the I2C master, slave, or pull-up resistors with known working components to
isolate the faulty part.

Conclusion
By methodically checking hardware connections, bus configuration, software logic, and using
debugging tools like oscilloscopes or logic analyzers, you can systematically debug and resolve
issues with an I2C device.
4o
You said:
Check for timing mismatches between the master and slave.
how
ChatGPT said:

To check for timing mismatches between the I2C master and slave, you need to verify that the
timing parameters of the devices (e.g., clock speed, rise times, setup times) comply with the I2C
specification and are compatible with each other. Here’s how you can do it:

Steps to Identify Timing Mismatches


1. Understand the Timing Requirements
 Check the datasheets for the master and slave devices to identify:
 Maximum supported clock speed (f_SCL).
 Setup and hold times for data (t_SU:DAT and t_HD:DAT).
 Rise (t_R) and fall times (t_F) of the SDA and SCL lines.
 Example:
 Master supports up to 400 kHz.
 Slave supports up to 100 kHz.
 In this case, the master must reduce its speed to match the slave's limit.

2. Measure the Actual Timing on the Bus


 Use an oscilloscope or logic analyzer to capture the I2C signals (SCL and SDA).
 Analyze the waveform to measure:
 Clock frequency (f_SCL).
 Data hold and setup times.
 Rise and fall times of the signals.

3. Check for Violations


 Compare the measured values from Step 2 with the datasheet specifications of the master
and slave.
 Look for the following:
 Clock Speed Mismatch:
 Ensure the master's clock frequency (SCL) does not exceed the slave's
maximum supported clock speed.
 Rise and Fall Time Issues:
 Slow rise times could be due to high bus capacitance or large pull-up
resistors.
 Fix by reducing the pull-up resistor value or shortening the bus length.
 Setup and Hold Violations:
 Ensure the data is stable before and after the clock edge, as per the timing
requirements.
4. Adjust Master Settings
 If a mismatch is detected:
 Reduce the I2C clock speed in the master. For example:
 On Arduino:
cpp
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Wire.setClock(100000); // Set clock to 100 kHz

 On Raspberry Pi: Edit /boot/config.txt:


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dtparam=i2c_baudrate=100000

Then reboot the system.

5. Simulate and Validate


 Once adjustments are made, re-capture the signals using an oscilloscope or logic analyzer.
 Confirm that the timing now meets the slave's specifications.

Common Issues and Solutions


Issue Cause Solution
Clock speed Master set to higher speed
Reduce master's I2C clock speed.
too fast than slave
Rise time too High capacitance or large Use smaller pull-up resistor (e.g., 4.7 kΩ instead of
slow pull-up resistor 10 kΩ).
Data hold/setup Mismatched timing Adjust master's timing or ensure both devices support
time error between master and slave the same I2C speed mode (e.g., Standard or Fast).

Debugging with Tools


1. Logic Analyzer:
 Use software like Saleae Logic or Sigrok to decode I2C transactions and view
timing parameters.
2. Oscilloscope:
 Directly measure and analyze rise times, fall times, and clock speed.

By carefully comparing the timing characteristics and ensuring compliance with both the master
and slave device specifications, you can resolve timing mismatches on the I2C bus.
====================================================================

The Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) library for I2C is a part of the STM32Cube HAL library
provided by STMicroelectronics. It provides high-level, simplified APIs to configure and operate
the I2C peripheral in STM32 microcontrollers.
Here’s an overview of how to use the HAL library for I2C:

1. Setting Up I2C with STM32 HAL


Step 1: Initialize I2C Peripheral
 Use the STM32CubeMX tool to configure the I2C pins and peripheral:
 Select the I2C mode (Master/Slave).
 Set the speed mode (Standard, Fast, Fast+).
 Enable pull-up resistors if necessary.
 Generate the initialization code.
 The generated code will include an MX_I2C_Init function in i2c.c:
c
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void MX_I2C1_Init(void) {
hi2c1.Instance = I2C1;
hi2c1.Init.ClockSpeed = 100000; // 100 kHz for Standard Mode
hi2c1.Init.DutyCycle = I2C_DUTYCYCLE_2;
hi2c1.Init.OwnAddress1 = 0;
hi2c1.Init.AddressingMode = I2C_ADDRESSINGMODE_7BIT;
hi2c1.Init.DualAddressMode = I2C_DUALADDRESS_DISABLE;
hi2c1.Init.OwnAddress2 = 0;
hi2c1.Init.GeneralCallMode = I2C_GENERALCALL_DISABLE;
hi2c1.Init.NoStretchMode = I2C_NOSTRETCH_DISABLE;
if (HAL_I2C_Init(&hi2c1) != HAL_OK) {
Error_Handler();
}
}

2. HAL I2C Functions


Data Transmission
 Transmit Data (Master Mode):
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HAL_StatusTypeDef HAL_I2C_Master_Transmit(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c, uint16_t
DevAddress, uint8_t *pData, uint16_t Size, uint32_t Timeout);

 Example:
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uint8_t data[] = {0x01, 0x02};
HAL_I2C_Master_Transmit(&hi2c1, 0x50 << 1, data, sizeof(data), HAL_MAX_DELAY);
 Transmit Data (Slave Mode):
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HAL_StatusTypeDef HAL_I2C_Slave_Transmit(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c, uint8_t
*pData, uint16_t Size, uint32_t Timeout);

Data Reception
 Receive Data (Master Mode):
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HAL_StatusTypeDef HAL_I2C_Master_Receive(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c, uint16_t
DevAddress, uint8_t *pData, uint16_t Size, uint32_t Timeout);

 Example:
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uint8_t buffer[2];
HAL_I2C_Master_Receive(&hi2c1, 0x50 << 1, buffer, sizeof(buffer),
HAL_MAX_DELAY);

 Receive Data (Slave Mode):


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HAL_StatusTypeDef HAL_I2C_Slave_Receive(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c, uint8_t *pData,
uint16_t Size, uint32_t Timeout);

Memory Read/Write (EEPROM Example)


 Write to Memory:
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HAL_StatusTypeDef HAL_I2C_Mem_Write(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c, uint16_t
DevAddress, uint16_t MemAddress, uint16_t MemAddSize, uint8_t *pData, uint16_t
Size, uint32_t Timeout);

 Example:
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uint8_t data[] = {0x55};
HAL_I2C_Mem_Write(&hi2c1, 0x50 << 1, 0x0010, I2C_MEMADD_SIZE_16BIT, data,
sizeof(data), HAL_MAX_DELAY);

 Read from Memory:


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HAL_StatusTypeDef HAL_I2C_Mem_Read(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c, uint16_t DevAddress,
uint16_t MemAddress, uint16_t MemAddSize, uint8_t *pData, uint16_t Size,
uint32_t Timeout);

 Example:
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uint8_t buffer[1];
HAL_I2C_Mem_Read(&hi2c1, 0x50 << 1, 0x0010, I2C_MEMADD_SIZE_16BIT, buffer,
sizeof(buffer), HAL_MAX_DELAY);

Non-Blocking Functions
 Use these functions for asynchronous I2C communication:
 HAL_I2C_Master_Transmit_IT()
 HAL_I2C_Master_Receive_IT()
 HAL_I2C_Master_Transmit_DMA()
 HAL_I2C_Master_Receive_DMA()
 Implement callbacks in stm32fxxx_it.c:
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void HAL_I2C_MasterTxCpltCallback(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c) {
// Handle successful transmission
}

void HAL_I2C_MasterRxCpltCallback(I2C_HandleTypeDef *hi2c) {


// Handle successful reception
}

3. Debugging and Validation


Error Handling
 Check for errors using:
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HAL_I2C_GetError(&hi2c1);

Possible errors:
 HAL_I2C_ERROR_NONE
 HAL_I2C_ERROR_BERR (Bus error)
 HAL_I2C_ERROR_ARLO (Arbitration lost)
 HAL_I2C_ERROR_AF (Acknowledge failure)
 HAL_I2C_ERROR_OVR (Overrun/underrun)

Using Logic Analyzer


 Monitor the SDA and SCL lines to ensure proper data and clock signals.

Example Code
Here’s an example to write and read from a slave device (e.g., EEPROM):
c
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#include "main.h"
uint8_t writeData[2] = {0x01, 0x02}; // Data to write
uint8_t readData[2]; // Buffer for reading

void Example_I2C_Transaction() {
// Write to slave
if (HAL_I2C_Master_Transmit(&hi2c1, 0x50 << 1, writeData, sizeof(writeData),
HAL_MAX_DELAY) != HAL_OK) {
Error_Handler();
}

HAL_Delay(10); // Small delay for write operation

// Read from slave


if (HAL_I2C_Master_Receive(&hi2c1, 0x50 << 1, readData, sizeof(readData),
HAL_MAX_DELAY) != HAL_OK) {
Error_Handler();
}
}

Conclusion
The STM32 HAL library provides robust and easy-to-use APIs for I2C communication. By
configuring the peripheral with STM32CubeMX, writing minimal code, and leveraging HAL
functions, you can efficiently communicate with I2C devices.

In Arduino, the stop condition for I2C communication is automatically handled when using the
Wire library. You don’t need to manually define or generate the stop bit—it’s part of the library’s
implementation.

How the Stop Condition Works in Arduino's Wire Library


 The Wire.endTransmission() function is responsible for sending the stop condition
after the data is transmitted.
 The function ensures that the I2C master signals the end of communication with the slave by
generating the stop condition on the I2C bus.

Example Code
Here’s an example of how the stop condition is handled in Arduino when using the Wire library:
cpp
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#include <Wire.h>

void setup() {
Wire.begin(); // Initialize I2C as master
}

void loop() {
Wire.beginTransmission(0x50); // Start communication with slave at address
0x50
Wire.write(0x01); // Write data (e.g., a register address)
Wire.write(0xFF); // Write additional data (e.g., register value)
Wire.endTransmission(); // Sends the stop condition automatically
delay(1000);
}

Breakdown of the Code


1. Wire.beginTransmission(slave_address):
 Starts communication and sends the start condition.
2. Wire.write(data):
 Sends the data byte(s) to the slave.
3. Wire.endTransmission():
 Sends the stop condition to indicate the end of communication.

Optional: Generating a Repeated Start (No Stop Condition)


Sometimes, you may not want a stop condition after Wire.endTransmission()—for
example, if you want to perform a repeated start. This can be done by passing false to the
Wire.endTransmission() function:
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Wire.endTransmission(false); // Do not send stop condition (repeated start)

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