Introduction
Communication protocols have a crucial impact on the data transmission of embedded systems. It is used for device integration, data transmission, and receiving in a circuit. The inter-interconnected circuit (I2C) and the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) are two popular communication systems in data transmission protocols.
Let’s see the I2C VS. UART comparison, applications, advantages, and more.
Article Directory
- Introduction
- What is I2C?
- Application of I2C Bus Standard
- What is UART?
- Application of UART
- Comparison of I2C VS. UART
- Table of Comparison I2C VS. UART
- Application of I2C in Display Technology
- FAQs
- Bottom Lines on I2C VS UART
What is I2C?
The short for inter-interconnected circuit is I2C, which is a synchronous multi-master multi-slave communication protocol. The I2C bus standard is a two-wire bidirectional serial communication-based bus that uses Serial Data (SD) and SCL (Serial Clock) for data transfer and management.
Philips Semiconductor initially developed the protocol. The protocol was designed for intra-board short-distance communication between the different components to transfer information and data. I2C synchronizes clock signals with multiple masters and slaves. It has unique features that activate flexible and complicated protocol architectures.
The I2C bus standard supports peripheral devices, including input/output interfaces, EEPROMs, and microcontrollers. The microcontroller is the main component of the I2C standard.
The communication occurs between two wires. All the devices in the embedded system have a specific address to detect the communication wires. The master device can communicate, exchange, and read/write commands using that address.
Application of I2C Bus Standard
I2C has multiple applications such as:
- Communication between microcontrollers
- Sensor integration
- Display modules
- EEPROM communication
- Real-time clocks
- Audio-video applications
- Power management
- Embedded system debugging
- Consumer electronics
- Automotive, etc.
What is UART?
UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) is a serial communication method that operates asynchronously. The functioning of UART relies on two wires for data transmission and reception:
- TX (Transmitter): To Send data.
- RX (Receiver): To Receive data.
UART enables bidirectional communication and can operate in both full-duplex and half-duplex modes. UART is limited to point-to-point connections and lacks a clock signal for synchronization. As a result, it is classified as an asynchronous data transmission system.
Transmitting and receiving bit rates are the same in UART. The UART components can communicate with each other directly. One functions as the transmitter, while the other acts as the receiver.
A microcontroller is a control unit that sends parallel data through the data bus to the transmitting UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter).
Application of UART
The Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) is a hardware communication protocol for transmitting serial data between devices. The usual applications of UART are in embedded systems, microcontrollers, and computer interfaces. Here are some key applications of UART:
Communication between Microcontrollers
UART is widely used to enable communication between debugging microcontrollers or between a microcontroller and a computer. It is often used in simple embedded systems where high-speed communication isn’t necessary.
Data Transfer in Serial Communication
The UART standard is commonly used for serial data transfer in devices like GPS receivers, Bluetooth modules, and Wi-Fi modules. It allows simple and cost-effective communication without the need for additional complex protocols.
Debugging and Monitoring
Many microcontrollers have a UART interface for debugging purposes. It allows developers to send data to a terminal, such as a PC, to monitor the system’s status, read logs, or debug code.
RS-232 Communication
UART is the basis for the RS-232 standard communication between computers and peripheral devices like modems, printers, and external drives.
Interfacing with Sensors
It is used in serial communication to connect sensors to a microcontroller. Temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and other analog-to-digital converters use UART for data transmission.
Wireless Communication
Wireless communication interface modules like Bluetooth, Zigbee, or LoRa use UART. It provides a simple way to send and receive data over wireless networks.
Industrial Automation
In industrial applications, UART facilitates communication between various devices, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, and actuators. It provides simple control and monitoring in an industrial environment.
SD Cards and Storage Devices
Some storage devices, including SD cards, can use UART to communicate with a microcontroller or a computer. The text facilitates data transfer between the storage medium and other systems.
Smart Devices and IoT
Many IoT devices use UART to interface with other sensors or microcontrollers. UART facilitates communication among devices within a smart network. It enables effective interactions between smart thermostats, wearable health monitors, and other devices.
Comparison of I2C VS. UART
The I2C bus standard and universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter transfer data between devices. Both are widely used communication protocols in embedded systems. They are popular for low-rate short-distance data transfer using double-wire interfaces.
However, they have some dissimilarities as well. We will look at a comparison of I2C VS. UART.
Table of Comparison I2C VS. UART
| Features | UART | I2C |
| Communication Type | UART uses a no-clock asynchronous communication signal | The I2C bus standard uses a synchronous
the shared clock communication signal |
| Number of wires required | It needs two wires( TX for the transmit signal and RX for the receive signal) | I2C also needs two wires( SDA for data signal, SCL for clock signal) |
| Master or Slave Setup Pattern | UART follows point-to-point full-duplex(One-to-one) communication | I2C follows a multi-master and multi-slave(one-to-many or many-to-many) setup. |
| Data transfer speed | Data transfer speed in UART depends on the baud rate and supports up to several Mbps. | The data transfer speed of I2C has three categories, standard of 100kHz, fastest of 400kHz, and high speed of 3.4 MHz. |
| Types of data framing | It requires start/stop bits and parity(optional) for data framing. | I2C uses start/stop without data framing overhead |
| Required addressing | UART requires no addressing technique for specific physical lines. | It requires 7-bit or 10-bit addressing technology and supports multiple devices. |
| Number of supported devices | The number of supported devices is unlimited to one receiver and one transmitter for the UART. | I2C supports many devices on the same bus. |
| Protocol complexity | The transmission protocol for UART is simple and requires few resources. | I2C transmission protocols are complex due to addressing and clock management techniques. |
| Error Detection | UART standard uses an optional parity bit for error detection. | It uses the ACK/NACK mechanism for error detection. |
| Signal Type | It has dedicated TX/RX lines for bidirectional communication. | I2C has open-drain lines with pull-up resistors as a signal. |
| Power Consumption | UART consumes less power and needs no pull-ups. | It consumes slightly more power than the I2C due to pull-up resistors on SDA and SCL. |
| Applications | It has applications as a serial communication between different modules such as GPS and Bluetooth. | I2C is used in communication between sensors and EEPROMs |
Application of UART and I2C in Display Technology
The I2C bus standard and UART are widely used in display and monitoring technology. Here are the details of their application:
Application of UART in Display Technology
UART is used in display technology for communication between microcontrollers and display, debugging and configuration, and long-distance communication.
UART to Communication Between Microcontroller and Display
UART has applications in simple LCDs, OLEDs, and LED matrix displays where low-speed data transfer is enough. It is commonly used to send commands or data to text-based displays, such as the 7-segment displays of character LCDs. A UART connects a microcontroller like Arduino to a serial OLED display via the TX/RX communication lines.
Application of UART in Debugging and Configuration
UART ports are popular for debugging display firmware and hardware configurations. It is a straightforward method of data transmission without interfering with the primary communication bus.
UART Long Distance Display Communication
UART is suitable for long-distance communication from the main controller. It uses RS-232 or RS-485 interfaces for the communication.
Application of I2C in Display Technology
master, multi-slave communication protocols connect circuits on a board. The I2C communication standard has applications in display technology such as controlling OLED with a microcontroller like Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
Application of I2C in Graphic and Character Displays
utilized in graphical LCDs, OLEDs, and e-paper displays for transferring data and signals. It manages multiple displays or preferred devices using wires like SDA and SCL.
I2C for Peripheral Integration
It can connect with additional sensors and displays s of smart devices or IoT applications. Many display modules integrate controllers, real-time clocks, and EEPROM using I2C.
I2C in Firmware Updates and Configuration
I2C is used to upload, configure register, and initialize firmware for the display at startup due to its bidirectional communication and easy addressing.
FAQs
What is the standard mode of I2C?
The standard mode of I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) refers to its communication speed and operational characteristics:
Key Characteristics of I2C Standard Mode
- The standard I2C mode has a 100 KHz maximum clock speed.
- It typically operates at a logic level of 3.3V or 5V.
- The I2C transmission system uses two wire bus structures such as a serial data line and a serial clock line. The serial data line is used for data transfer and the serial clock line for synchronizing. These two lines are open drains and work with pull-up resistors.
- The I2C standard supports multiple master-slaves of up to 112 devices.
- It uses 7-bit addressing support for up to 127 unique device addresses.
- I2C has acknowledged (ACK) and not acknowledged (NACK) to ensure data integrity.
Is I2C analog or digital?
The I2C bus standard is a digital signal communication protocol. It is an advanced data transmission process used in Arduino and Raspberry Pi embedded systems.
Bottom Lines on I2C VS UART
I2C and UART have some similarities and dissimilarities in their functioning and applications. Our effort was to give you a clear idea about UART vs. I2C. We hope you enjoyed the article and learned the basics of these two important communication standard protocols.
