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VLSI TO YOU YOUTUBE CHANNEL

BY SIREESHA DEVI

FREQUENTLY ASKED
I2C
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
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Q1) What is I2C, and how does it work?

I2C is a serial communication protocol that allows multiple devices to

communicate with each other using just two wires, namely, SDA (Serial
Data) and SCL (Serial Clock). It works on a master-slave architecture, where
the master device initiates the communication and the slave device responds
to it.

Q2) What are the advantages of using I2C?

The advantages of using I2C are:

• It requires only two wires for communication, which makes it simple

and cost-effective.

• It allows multiple devices to communicate on the same bus, which

reduces the number of wires required.

• It supports multiple master devices on the same bus, which increases

the system’s flexibility.

Q3) What is the maximum speed supported by I2C?

The maximum speed supported by I2C depends on the mode of operation.

The standard mode supports a maximum speed of 100 Kbps, while the fast
mode supports a maximum speed of 400 Kbps. The high-speed mode and
ultra-fast mode support a maximum speed of 3.4 Mbps and 5 Mbps,
respectively.
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Q4) What is the difference between I2C and SPI?

The main difference between I2C and SPI is the number of wires required
for communication. While I2C requires only two wires (SDA and SCL), SPI
requires at least four wires (MOSI, MISO, SCK, and CS). Additionally, I2C
uses a master-slave architecture, whereas SPI uses a master-slave
architecture or a peer-to-peer architecture.

Q5) How does a master device detect the presence of a slave device on the
I2C bus?

The master device detects the presence of a slave device on the I2C bus by
sending a START condition followed by the slave address. If the slave device
is present on the bus, it will respond with an ACK (acknowledge) signal. If
the slave device is not present on the bus, it will not respond, and the master
device will generate a NACK (not acknowledge) signal.

Q6) What is a repeated start condition in I2C?

A repeated start condition in I2C is when the master device generates a

START condition on the bus without first generating a STOP condition. This
allows the master device to continue communicating with the same slave
device without releasing the bus.

Q7) What is clock stretching in I2C, and how does it work?

Clock stretching in I2C is a mechanism where a slave device can hold the
SCL line low to slow down the clock speed. This thing is giving it more time
to process data. The master device will wait until the SCL line is released by
the slave device before continuing with the communication.
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Q8) What is arbitration in I2C, and how is it resolved?

Arbitration in I2C is a mechanism used to resolve conflicts when multiple

master devices try to access the same slave device simultaneously. When a
conflict occurs, the master devices continue to transmit data until they
detect a different value on the SDA line. The device that detects the different
value will lose the arbitration and stop transmitting data, allowing the other
device to continue with the communication.

Q9) What is the difference between a 7-bit and 10-bit I2C address?

I2C supports two types of addressing modes: 7-bit and 10-bit addressing. In
7-bit addressing, the address field consists of 7 bits, allowing for up to 128
slave devices on the bus. In 10-bit addressing, the address field consists of 10
bits, allowing for up to 1024 slave devices on the bus. However, 10-bit
addressing is less commonly used due to its higher complexity.

Q10) What is a multi-master I2C configuration, and how does it work?

In a multi-master I2C configuration, multiple master devices are connected

to the same bus, allowing them to communicate with the same set of slave
devices. Each master device can initiate communication on the bus, and
conflicts are resolved using the arbitration mechanism. However, it requires
careful management to avoid conflicts and ensure that each device can
complete its transactions.

Q11) What is clock synchronization in I2C, and why is it important?

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Clock synchronization in I2C refers to the process of ensuring that all
devices on the bus are operating at the same clock speed. This is important
to ensure reliable communication and prevent data corruption. If the clock
speeds of different devices are not synchronized, it can lead to timing issues
and data errors.

Q12) What is the role of pull-up resistors in I2C, and why are they necessary?

Pull-up resistors are used in I2C to ensure that the SDA and SCL lines are
held at a high voltage level when no device is driving them. This is necessary
to prevent the lines from floating and potentially causing errors in
communication. The value of the pull-up resistors must be chosen carefully
to ensure that the rise and fall times of the signals are within the
specifications of the devices on the bus.

Q13) What is the difference between I2C and SMBus?

SMBus (System Management Bus) is a subset of the I2C protocol that adds
additional features such as device discovery, error checking, and battery
charging control. It is designed for use in systems management applications
such as desktop and mobile computers. However, it is fully backward
compatible with I2C devices, and most I2C devices can be used on an SMBus.

Q14) What is the role of clock stretching in I2C, and why is it necessary?
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Clock stretching is an important feature of I2C that allows slave devices to
slow down the clock speed when they are not ready to receive data. This is
necessary to prevent data loss and corruption and to ensure that all devices
on the bus have sufficient time to process data. Without clock stretching, it
would be difficult to ensure reliable communication in systems with slow or
busy devices.

Q15) How does I2C support the hot plugging of devices?

Hot-plugging refers to the ability to add or remove devices from a system

while it is running. I2C supports hot-plugging by allowing devices to be
added or removed from the bus without disrupting communication with
other devices. When a new device is added to the bus, it is assigned a unique
address. And it can begin communicating with other devices immediately.

Q16) What is the maximum data rate supported by I2C?

The maximum data rate supported by I2C depends on the specific

implementation and the devices on the bus. The standard mode supports a
maximum data rate of 100 kbps, while the fast mode supports up to 400
kbps. The high-speed mode supports up to 3.4 Mbps, and the ultra-fast
mode supports up to 5 Mbps.

Q17) How does I2C ensure reliable communication in noisy environments?

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I2C uses several mechanisms to ensure reliable communication in noisy
environments. One of these is the use of pull-up resistors, which help to
filter out noise and prevent the lines from floating. Another mechanism is
clock stretching, which allows slave devices to slow down the clock speed
when they are not ready to receive data. Additionally, devices may
implement error-checking mechanisms to detect and correct errors in data
transmission.

Q18) How does I2C differ from SPI?

SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) is another serial communication protocol

that is commonly used in embedded systems. While both I2C and SPI are
used for communication between microcontrollers and peripherals, they
differ in several ways. For example, SPI uses separate lines for data and clock,
while I2C uses a single bidirectional data line. Additionally, SPI typically
supports higher data rates than I2C but is less suited for communicating
with large numbers of devices.

Q19) What are some common applications of I2C?

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I2C is widely used in various applications such as embedded systems,
consumer electronics, and industrial control systems. In particular, it is
commonly used for communication between microcontrollers and sensors.
Microcontroller or other peripherals, as well as for controlling LCDs and
enabling communication between audio codecs and digital signal
processors.

Q20) How can I test an I2C bus to ensure that it is functioning correctly?

To test an I2C bus, you can use a logic analyzer or an oscilloscope to monitor
the SDA and SCL lines and ensure that the signals are within the specified
voltage levels and timing parameters. You can also use a device such as a bus
analyzer to capture and analyze I2C traffic on the bus. You can use software
tools I2C bus scanners to scan the bus for connected devices and verify their
addresses.

I2C is a widely used communication protocol between microcontrollers and

peripherals. It offers benefits like hot plugging, noise tolerance, and support
for multiple devices. Understanding addressing, clock sync, pull-up
resistors, clock stretching, and error checking is important for proper
implementation and troubleshooting. With this knowledge, engineers and
developers can effectively design and implement I2C-based systems for
many applications.

Q21 : What is priority in I2C bus arbitration?

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Ans : Priority in I2C bus arbitration refers to the ability of a device to
continue communicating on the bus if a conflict occurs. Devices with
higher priority are able to continue communication while devices
with lower priority are forced to stop communicating and wait for
another opportunity to communicate. The priority of a device is
determined by the content of the data that it is trying to send, with lower
priority devices having to wait for higher priority devices to finish
communicating.

Q22 : How are priorities assigned in I2C bus arbitration?

Ans : Priorities in I2C bus arbitration are assigned based on the

content of the data being sent by each device. The content of the data is
divided into two categories: the address and the data payload. The
address has a higher priority than the data payload, and devices with lower
addresses have higher priority than devices with higher addresses.

Q23 : What happens if two devices have the same priority in I2C bus
arbitration?

Ans : If two devices have the same priority in I2C bus arbitration, a
collision occurs and the devices compare the data that they have sent to
determine which device has priority. The device that sent the highest
priority data wins the arbitration and continues communicating on
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the bus. The other device(s) will stop communicating and wait for another
opportunity to communicate.

Q24 : What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using I2C
communication in embedded systems?

Ans : Some advantages of using I2C communication in embedded systems

include its simplicity, low pin count, and support for multiple devices on the
same bus. However, I2C communication may be slower than
other communication protocols, and addressing conflicts and signal
integrity issues can be a problem in complex systems.

Q25: How does I2C bus arbitration work?

Ans : I2C bus arbitration works by having each device on the bus monitor
the bus for activity. If two or more devices try to communicate at the same
time, a collision occurs and the devices compare the data that they have sent
to determine which device has priority. The device that sent the highest
priority data wins the arbitration and continues communicating on the bus.
The other device(s) will stop communicating and wait for another
opportunity to communicate.

Q26 : How is data transferred over the I2C bus, and what is the format
of an I2C message?

Ans : Data is transferred over the I2C bus in packets of 8 bits. An I2C
message typically consists of a start condition, slave address (with
read/write bit), data bytes, and a stop condition. The master device
initiates the communication by sending a start condition and then sends
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the slave address with the read/write bit to indicate the direction of data
transfer. Data bytes are then transferred between the master and slave
devices, with each byte followed by an ACK or NACK bit. The
communication is terminated with a stop condition.

Q27 : How does I2C support different clock speeds and data rates?

Ans : I2C supports different clock speeds and data rates through different
operating modes, such as standard mode, fast mode, and high-speed
mode. In addition, I2C devices may support clock stretching, which
allows the slave device to hold the clock line low to slow down the data
transfer rate.

Q28 : How do I2C devices handle errors and retries during

communication?

Ans : I2C devices may use various error detection and correction
techniques, such as CRC checking, to ensure the integrity of the data being
transferred. If an error occurs, the devices may attempt to retry the
communication, or the master device may send a NACK bit to indicate that
the communication has failed.

Q29 : What are some common issues that can arise when using I2C,
and how can they be resolved?

Ans : Common issues with I2C include noise and signal integrity issues,
addressing conflicts, and clock synchronization problems. These
issues can be resolved by using appropriate pull-up resistors, terminating
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the bus properly, selecting unique device addresses, and carefully
controlling the timing and frequency of data transfer.

Q30 : What is the difference between an I2C master and an I2C slave?

Ans : An I2C master is a device that initiates communication on the bus

and controls the timing of data transfer. A slave device responds to
commands or requests from the master device and sends data back to
the master device. Some devices, such as microcontrollers, can operate
as both a master and a slave on an I2C bus.

Q31 : What is the difference between I2C standard mode and fast
mode?

Ans : I2C standard mode operates at a maximum frequency of 100 kHz,

while fast mode operates at a maximum frequency of 400 kHz. Fast mode
allows for faster data transfer rates but requires stronger pull-up
resistors due to the higher data rate.

Q32 : What are some common applications of I2C?

Ans : I2C is commonly used in a variety of applications, including

sensors, displays, EEPROMs, and other peripheral devices. It is also
used in system management applications such as power management and
temperature monitoring.
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Q33 : How does I2C compare to other communication protocols such
as SPI and UART?

Ans : I2C is slower than SPI but uses fewer pins, making it useful for
applications with limited board space. UART is a point-to-point
communication protocol, while I2C supports multiple devices on the
same bus. Each protocol has its own advantages and limitations, and the
choice of protocol depends on the specific application requirements.

Q34 : What are the advantages of using I2C over other communication
protocols?

Ans : Some advantages of using I2C over other communication protocols

include its simplicity, low power consumption, low cost, and ability to
support multiple devices on the same bus.

Q35 : What are the limitations of I2C?

Ans : Some limitations of I2C include its slow speed compared to other
communication protocols like SPI, its limited range due to its two-wire
nature, and the potential for signal integrity issues if the bus is not properly
terminated.