Configurable data port for I2C or single-wire broadcast interface
A device having a signal level different from a signal level of an external device includes an interface, such as an I 2 C interface, for providing communications with the external device. The interface is configurable to support communications with the external device either via multiple wires or via a single wire.
1. A device having a signal level different from a signal level of an external device, and comprising:
an interface for providing communications with the external device via multiple wires,
the interface being configurable selectively to support communications with the external device either in a multiple-wire mode via the multiple wires or in a single-wire mode via a single wire,
the interface including an address pin for providing address information when communications with the external device is performed in the multiple-wire mode,
the address pin being configured for switching the interface between the multiple-wire mode and the single-wire mode.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the interface includes an I2C interface configurable to provide communications with the external device via a single wire.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is configurable to provide communications with the external device via a single optocoupler.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the external device includes a system controller.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a set of address pins.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the data communications via the single wire are enabled when the address pins are set in a predetermined state.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is configurable selectively to support communications with the external device either via the multiple wires including a clock line and a data line or via the single wire to transmit both clock and data signals.
8. A device having a signal level different from a signal level of an external device, and comprising:
a first interface for providing communications with the external device via multiple wires in a multiple-wire mode, and
a second interface for providing communications with the external device via a single wire in a single-wire mode,
the first interface including an address pin for providing address information when communications with the external device is performed in the multiple-wire mode,
the address pin being configured for switching communications from the multiple-wire mode to the single-wire mode.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first interface includes an I2C interface.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second interface is configured to provide communications with the external device via a single optocoupler.
11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second interface is configured to support data transfer to the external device in a single direction.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first interface comprises a set of address pins.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the address pins are configurable to provide data communications via the second interface.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the data communications via the second interface are enabled when the address pins are set in a predetermined state.
15. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first interface is configured for providing communications with the external device via the multiple wires including a clock line and a data line, and the second interface is configured for providing communications with the external device via the single wire to transmit both clock and data signals.
16. In a system having first device and second device with different signal levels, a method of data communications between the first device and the second device comprising the steps of:
providing interface for communicating between the first device and the second device via multiple wires in a multiple-wire mode, the interface including an address pin for providing address information when communications with the external device is performed in the multiple-wire mode, and
controlling the address pin for switching communications via the interface between the multiple-wire mode and a single-wire mode.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein an I2C interface is configured for providing communications between the first device and the second device in the single-wire mode.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein address pins of the I2C interface are set to a predetermined state to enable the single-wire mode of communications between the first device and the second device.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first device includes a controller for controlling the second device.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the multiple wires include a clock line and a data line, and the communications in the single-wire mode include transmission both clock and data signals over a single wire.