 2004 Microchip Technology Inc.

DS21163E-page 7

24C32A

5.0

ACKNOWLEDGE POLLING

Since the device will not acknowledge during a write

cycle, this can be used to determine when the cycle is

complete (this feature can be used to maximize bus

throughput). Once the stop condition for a write com-

mand has been issued from the master, the device ini-

tiates the internally timed write cycle. Acknowledge

Polling (ACK) can be initiated immediately. This

involves the master sending a start condition followed

by the control byte for a write command (R/W = 0). If the

device is still busy with the write cycle, then NO ACK

will be returned. If the cycle is complete, then the

device will return the ACK and the master can then pro-

ceed with the next read or write command. See

Figure 5-1 for flow diagram.

FIGURE 5-1:

ACKNOWLEDGE POLLING

FLOW

Send

Write Command

Send Stop

Condition to

Initiate Write Cycle

Send Start

Send Control Byte

with R/W = 0

Did Device

Acknowledge

(ACK = 0)?

Next

Operation

NO

YES

6.0

READ OPERATION

Read operations are initiated in the same way as write

operations with the exception that the R/W bit of the

slave address is set to one. There are three basic types

of read operations: current address read, random read,

and sequential read.

6.1

Current Address Read

The 24C32A contains an address counter that main-

tains the address of the last word accessed, internally

incremented by one. Therefore, if the previous access

(either a read or write operation) was to address n (n is

any legal address), the next current address read oper-

ation would access data from address n + 1. Upon

receipt of the slave address with R/W bit set to one, the

24C32A issues an acknowledge and transmits the

eight bit data word. The master will not acknowledge

the transfer but does generate a stop condition and the

24C32A discontinues transmission (Figure 6-1).

6.2

Random Read

Random read operations allow the master to access

any memory location in a random manner. To perform

this type of read operation, first the word address must

be set. This is done by sending the word address to the

24C32A as part of a write operation (R/W bit set to

zero). After the word address is sent, the master gen-

erates a start condition following the acknowledge. This

terminates the write operation, but not before the inter-

nal address pointer is set. Then the master issues the

control byte again but with the R/W bit set to a one. The

24C32A will then issue an acknowledge and transmit

the 8-bit data word. The master will not acknowledge

the transfer but does generate a stop condition which

causes the 24C32A to discontinue transmission

(Figure 6-2).

FIGURE 6-1:

CURRENT ADDRESS READ

SP

BUS ACTIVITY

MASTER

SDA LINE

BUS ACTIVITY

S

T

A

R

T

CONTROL BYTE

DATA BYTE

S

T

O

P

A

C

K

N

O

A

C

K