5.

Device Operation and Communication

communicate with a host controller, commonly referred to as the bus host. The host initiates and controls all read and

write operations to the client devices on the serial bus, and both the host and the client devices can transmit and

receive data on the bus.

The serial interface is comprised of just two signal lines: Serial Clock (SCL) and Serial Data (SDA). The SCL pin is

used to receive the clock signal from the host, while the bidirectional SDA pin is used to receive command and data

information from the host as well as to send data back to the host. Data is always latched into the AT24CM02 on

the rising edge of SCL and always output from the device on the falling edge of SCL. Both the SCL and SDA pins

incorporate integrated spike suppression filters and Schmitt Triggers to minimize the effects of input spikes and bus

noise.

All command and data information is transferred with the Most Significant bit (MSb) first. During bus communication,

one data bit is transmitted every clock cycle, and after eight bits (one byte) of data have been transferred, the

receiving device must respond with either an Acknowledge (ACK) or a No-Acknowledge (NACK) response bit during

a ninth clock cycle (ACK/NACK clock cycle) generated by the host. Therefore, nine clock cycles are required for

every one byte of data transferred. There are no unused clock cycles during any read or write operation, so there

must not be any interruptions or breaks in the data stream during each data byte transfer and ACK or NACK clock

cycle.

During data transfers, data on the SDA pin must only change while SCL is low and the data must remain stable while

SCL is high. If data on the SDA pin changes while SCL is high, then either a Start or a Stop condition will occur.

Start and Stop conditions are used to initiate and end all serial bus communication between the host and the client

devices. The number of data bytes transferred between a Start and a Stop condition is not limited and is determined

by the host. In order for the serial bus to be idle, both the SCL and SDA pins must be in the logic high state at the

same time.

5.1

Clock and Data Transition Requirements

The SDA pin is an open-drain terminal and therefore must be pulled high with an external pull‑up resistor. SCL is

an input pin that can either be driven high or pulled high using an external pull‑up resistor. Data on the SDA pin

may change only during SCL low time periods. Data changes during SCL high periods will indicate a Start or Stop

condition as defined below. The relationship of the AC timing parameters with respect to SCL and SDA for the

AT24CM02 are shown in the timing waveform in Figure 4-1. The AC timing characteristics and specifications are

outlined in AC Characteristics.

5.2

Start and Stop Conditions

5.2.1

Start Condition

A Start condition occurs when there is a high-to-low transition on the SDA pin while the SCL pin is at a stable logic

‘1’ state and will bring the device out of Standby mode. The host uses a Start condition to initiate any data transfer

sequence; therefore, every command must begin with a Start condition. The device will continuously monitor the SDA

and SCL pins for a Start condition but will not respond unless one is detected. Refer to Figure 5-1 for more details.

5.2.2

Stop Condition

A Stop condition occurs when there is a low-to-high transition on the SDA pin while the SCL pin is stable in the logic

‘1’ state.

The host can use the Stop condition to end a data transfer sequence with the AT24CM02, which will subsequently

return to Standby mode. The host can also utilize a repeated Start condition instead of a Stop condition to end the

current data transfer if the host will perform another operation. Refer to Figure 5-1 for more details.

AT24CM02

Device Operation and Communication

Datasheet

DS20006197C-page 13