PIC18LF24K Datasheet, PDF (346/594 Pages) –

PIC18(L)F26/45/46K40
The transition of a data bit is always performed while
the SCL line is held low. Transitions that occur while the
SCL line is held high are used to indicate Start and Stop
bits.
If the master intends to write to the slave, then it repeat-
edly sends out a byte of data, with the slave responding
after each byte with an ACK bit. In this example, the
master device is in Master Transmit mode and the
slave is in Slave Receive mode.
If the master intends to read from the slave, then it
repeatedly receives a byte of data from the slave, and
responds after each byte with an ACK bit. In this exam-
ple, the master device is in Master Receive mode and
the slave is Slave Transmit mode.
On the last byte of data communicated, the master
device may end the transmission by sending a Stop bit.
If the master device is in Receive mode, it sends the
Stop bit in place of the last ACK bit. A Stop bit is
indicated by a low-to-high transition of the SDA line
while the SCL line is held high.
In some cases, the master may want to maintain
control of the bus and re-initiate another transmission.
If so, the master device may send another Start bit in
place of the Stop bit or last ACK bit when it is in receive
mode.
The I²C bus specifies three message protocols;
• Single message where a master writes data to a
slave.
• Single message where a master reads data from
a slave.
• Combined message where a master initiates a
minimum of two writes, or two reads, or a
combination of writes and reads, to one or more
slaves.
When one device is transmitting a logical one, or letting
the line float, and a second device is transmitting a log-
ical zero, or holding the line low, the first device can
detect that the line is not a logical one. This detection,
when used on the SCL line, is called clock stretching.
Clock stretching gives slave devices a mechanism to
control the flow of data. When this detection is used on
the SDA line, it is called arbitration. Arbitration ensures
that there is only one master device communicating at
any single time.
26.6.1 CLOCK STRETCHING
When a slave device has not completed processing
data, it can delay the transfer of more data through the
process of clock stretching. An addressed slave device
may hold the SCL clock line low after receiving or send-
ing a bit, indicating that it is not yet ready to continue.
The master that is communicating with the slave will
attempt to raise the SCL line in order to transfer the
next bit, but will detect that the clock line has not yet
been released. Because the SCL connection is
open-drain, the slave has the ability to hold that line low
until it is ready to continue communicating.
Clock stretching allows receivers that cannot keep up
with a transmitter to control the flow of incoming data.
 2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS40001816C-page 346