Guides covering communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, CAN and other wired protocols. We will talk about topics like wiring, addressing, pull-up resistors, bus conflicts, and troubleshooting of communication between devices.
I2C is one of the most common communication buses used in microcontroller projects. It is especially popular for sensors, displays, real-time clocks, I/O expanders, ADCs, DACs and other low-speed peripheral devices. The main advantage of I2C is simple wiring. Many devices can share the same two signal lines, which makes I2C very useful for compact […]
SPI is one of the most important communication interfaces in embedded electronics. It is commonly used when a microcontroller needs to exchange data quickly with displays, memory chips, ADCs, DACs, radio modules and other high-speed peripherals. Compared with I2C, SPI usually requires more wires, but it can be much faster and simpler at the electrical
UART is one of the simplest and most widely used communication methods in embedded systems. It is commonly used for communication between microcontrollers, computers, GPS modules, Bluetooth modules and many other serial devices. Unlike I2C and SPI, UART does not use a shared clock signal. Instead, both devices must agree on a fixed communication speed,
RS485 is one of the most important electrical communication standards for industrial and long-distance serial communication. It is widely used in automation, building control, energy monitoring, motor drives, PLC systems and many other applications where reliable communication over long cables is required. Compared with RS232, RS485 is more robust, supports longer cable runs and allows
Modbus is one of the most widely used communication protocols in industrial automation. It is commonly found in PLC systems, energy meters, temperature controllers, motor drives, sensors, remote I/O modules and many other industrial devices. Modbus is often used together with RS485, but Modbus and RS485 are not the same thing. RS485 is the electrical
CAN Bus is a robust communication system designed for reliable data exchange between multiple devices in electrically noisy environments. It is widely used in automotive systems, industrial machinery, robotics and embedded control systems. Unlike simple serial interfaces, CAN Bus includes built-in error detection, message arbitration and fault tolerance, making it one of the most reliable
One-Wire is a simple communication protocol designed to transfer data and power over a single data line. It is commonly used for temperature sensors, identification chips and small embedded devices where minimal wiring is important. Compared with I2C, SPI or UART, One-Wire is slower but extremely simple and efficient for specific use cases. What Is
I2S is a specialized communication protocol designed for transferring digital audio data between integrated circuits. It is commonly used in audio applications such as DACs, ADCs, microphones, amplifiers and digital audio processors. Unlike general-purpose communication interfaces such as I2C or SPI, I2S is optimized specifically for continuous, high-speed audio data streams. What Is I2S? I2S
The 4-20mA current loop is one of the most widely used signaling methods in industrial automation. It is commonly used to transmit sensor values such as temperature, pressure, flow and level over long distances with high reliability. Unlike voltage-based signals, the 4-20mA loop uses current to represent a measured value, making it highly resistant to
0-10V control signals are widely used in industrial and building automation systems. They provide a simple way to represent a value using a voltage level, commonly for controlling devices such as dimmers, motor drives, valves and HVAC systems. Compared with digital communication protocols, 0-10V signaling is easy to implement but has limitations in noise immunity
