METHODS TO SEND EXTRA INFORMATION IN-BAND ON INTER-INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (I2C) BUS

摘要

System, methods and apparatus are described that offer improved performance of an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus. Primary data may be encoded in first signaling in accordance with I2C bus protocols, and the first signaling may be combined with second signaling to obtain combined signaling for transmission on an I2C bus. Secondary data may be encoded in the second signaling with the combined signaling remaining compatible with the I2C bus protocols. The second signaling may modulate a voltage level of at least one signal in the first signaling. The second signaling may pulse-width modulate a clock signal transmitted on the I2C bus. The second signaling may modify a start condition between bytes transmitted on the I2C bus. The second signaling may add a plurality of short pulses to a clock signal transmitted in the first signaling.

主权项

1. A method of data communications on a serial bus, comprising:
communicating with a first device coupled to the serial bus using first signaling transmitted in accordance with an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) protocol; and communicating with a second device coupled to the serial bus using second signaling that is ignored by a receiver of the first device in accordance with the I2C protocol, wherein the second signaling includes one or more pulses that have a duration that is less than a maximum duration specified by the I2C protocol for a spike that is to be ignored by the receiver.