@@ -3,59 +3,80 @@ Introduction to I2C and SMBus
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=============================
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I²C (pronounce: I squared C and written I2C in the kernel documentation) is
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- a protocol developed by Philips. It is a slow two-wire protocol ( variable
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- speed, up to 400 kHz), with a high speed extension (3.4 MHz). It provides
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+ a protocol developed by Philips. It is a two-wire protocol with variable
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+ speed (typically up to 400 kHz, high speed modes up to 5 MHz). It provides
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an inexpensive bus for connecting many types of devices with infrequent or
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- low bandwidth communications needs. I2C is widely used with embedded
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- systems. Some systems use variants that don't meet branding requirements,
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+ low bandwidth communications needs. I2C is widely used with embedded
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+ systems. Some systems use variants that don't meet branding requirements,
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and so are not advertised as being I2C but come under different names,
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e.g. TWI (Two Wire Interface), IIC.
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- The latest official I2C specification is the `"I2C-bus specification and user
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- manual" (UM10204) <https://www.nxp.com/webapp/Download?colCode=UM10204> `_
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- published by NXP Semiconductors. However, you need to log-in to the site to
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- access the PDF. An older version of the specification (revision 6) is archived
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- `here <https://web.archive.org/web/20210813122132/https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/user-guide/UM10204.pdf >`_.
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+ The latest official I2C specification is the `"I²C-bus specification and user
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+ manual" (UM10204) <https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/user-guide/UM10204.pdf> `_
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+ published by NXP Semiconductors, version 7 as of this writing.
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SMBus (System Management Bus) is based on the I2C protocol, and is mostly
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- a subset of I2C protocols and signaling. Many I2C devices will work on an
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+ a subset of I2C protocols and signaling. Many I2C devices will work on an
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SMBus, but some SMBus protocols add semantics beyond what is required to
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- achieve I2C branding. Modern PC mainboards rely on SMBus. The most common
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+ achieve I2C branding. Modern PC mainboards rely on SMBus. The most common
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devices connected through SMBus are RAM modules configured using I2C EEPROMs,
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and hardware monitoring chips.
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Because the SMBus is mostly a subset of the generalized I2C bus, we can
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- use its protocols on many I2C systems. However, there are systems that don't
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+ use its protocols on many I2C systems. However, there are systems that don't
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meet both SMBus and I2C electrical constraints; and others which can't
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implement all the common SMBus protocol semantics or messages.
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Terminology
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===========
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- Using the terminology from the official documentation, the I2C bus connects
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- one or more *master * chips and one or more *slave * chips.
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+ The I2C bus connects one or more controller chips and one or more target chips.
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.. kernel-figure :: i2c_bus.svg
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- :alt: Simple I2C bus with one master and 3 slaves
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+ :alt: Simple I2C bus with one controller and 3 targets
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Simple I2C bus
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- A **master ** chip is a node that starts communications with slaves . In the
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- Linux kernel implementation it is called an ** adapter ** or bus. Adapter
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- drivers are in the ``drivers/i2c/busses/ `` subdirectory.
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+ A **controller ** chip is a node that starts communications with targets . In the
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+ Linux kernel implementation it is also called an " adapter" or " bus". Controller
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+ drivers are usually in the ``drivers/i2c/busses/ `` subdirectory.
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- An **algorithm ** contains general code that can be used to implement a
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- whole class of I2C adapters . Each specific adapter driver either depends on
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- an algorithm driver in the ``drivers/i2c/algos/ `` subdirectory, or includes
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- its own implementation.
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+ An **algorithm ** contains general code that can be used to implement a whole
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+ class of I2C controllers . Each specific controller driver either depends on an
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+ algorithm driver in the ``drivers/i2c/algos/ `` subdirectory, or includes its
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+ own implementation.
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- A **slave ** chip is a node that responds to communications when addressed
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- by the master. In Linux it is called a **client **. Client drivers are kept
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- in a directory specific to the feature they provide, for example
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- ``drivers/media/gpio/ `` for GPIO expanders and ``drivers/media/i2c/ `` for
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+ A **target ** chip is a node that responds to communications when addressed by a
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+ controller. In the Linux kernel implementation it is also called a "client".
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+ While targets are usually separate external chips, Linux can also act as a
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+ target (needs hardware support) and respond to another controller on the bus.
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+ This is then called a **local target **. In contrast, an external chip is called
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+ a **remote target **.
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+
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+ Target drivers are kept in a directory specific to the feature they provide,
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+ for example ``drivers/gpio/ `` for GPIO expanders and ``drivers/media/i2c/ `` for
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video-related chips.
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- For the example configuration in figure, you will need a driver for your
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- I2C adapter, and drivers for your I2C devices (usually one driver for each
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- device).
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+ For the example configuration in the figure above, you will need one driver for
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+ the I2C controller, and drivers for your I2C targets. Usually one driver for
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+ each target.
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+
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+ Synonyms
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+ --------
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+
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+ As mentioned above, the Linux I2C implementation historically uses the terms
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+ "adapter" for controller and "client" for target. A number of data structures
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+ have these synonyms in their name. So, when discussing implementation details,
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+ you should be aware of these terms as well. The official wording is preferred,
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+ though.
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+
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+ Outdated terminology
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+ --------------------
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+
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+ In earlier I2C specifications, controller was named "master" and target was
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+ named "slave". These terms have been obsoleted with v7 of the specification and
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+ their use is also discouraged by the Linux Kernel Code of Conduct. You may
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+ still find them in references to documentation which has not been updated. The
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+ general attitude, however, is to use the inclusive terms: controller and
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+ target. Work to replace the old terminology in the Linux Kernel is on-going.
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