Loading
Log in to myMicrochip to access tools and benefits. Sign up in just one minute.
Maximize Your Experience: Reap the Personalized Advantages by Completing Your Profile to Its Fullest! Update Here
Stay in the loop with the latest from Microchip! Update your profile while you are at it. Update Here
Complete your profile to access more resources.Update Here!
What is Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C)?
Inter-Integrated Circuit, also referred to as I2C, is a two-wire, open-drain synchronous serial bus that supports multi-host and multi-client communication with acknowledgment. One of the biggest benefits of I2C is its low Input/Output (I/O) usage. I2C only requires two lines to communicate: Serial Clock (SCL) and Serial Data (SDA). While not required, I2C is commonly used with an additional open-drain line called INT (Interrupt) to signal when an event occurs on the bus.
Why Use I2C?
I2C is ideal for situations with multiple hosts and/or client devices on a single bus. Additionally, I2C uses very little I/O for pin-constrained devices. However, I2C commonly operates at lower data rates (100 kHz) than other serial buses such as Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) due to its open-drain configuration. Higher-speed (1 MHz) I2C is possible on some devices, but support for this varies by host and client. I2C is also sensitive to parasitic capacitance present on the bus.
What Devices Work With I2C?
A variety of sensors, microcontrollers (MCUs), Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), EEPROMs and more all support I2C. We offer an extensive range of companion devices with I2C support.