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authorDavid Brownell <david-b@pacbell.net>2007-05-01 17:26:31 -0400
committerJean Delvare <khali@hyperion.delvare>2007-05-01 17:26:31 -0400
commit4298cfc3eb6110df989f784be516c6340c597a66 (patch)
treeb542354286cef08dffb7f3f8a129e00b035db559 /Documentation/i2c/summary
parenta1d9e6e49f4b473a6945a6b553f5070e8c793e0a (diff)
i2c: i2c probe() and remove() documented
Update Documentation/i2c to match previous patches updating probe() and remove() logic. Signed-off-by: David Brownell <dbrownell@users.sourceforge.net> Signed-off-by: Jean Delvare <khali@linux-fr.org>
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/i2c/summary')
-rw-r--r--Documentation/i2c/summary29
1 files changed, 20 insertions, 9 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/i2c/summary b/Documentation/i2c/summary
index 41dde8776791..aea60bf7e8f0 100644
--- a/Documentation/i2c/summary
+++ b/Documentation/i2c/summary
@@ -4,17 +4,23 @@ I2C and SMBus
4============= 4=============
5 5
6I2C (pronounce: I squared C) is a protocol developed by Philips. It is a 6I2C (pronounce: I squared C) is a protocol developed by Philips. It is a
7slow two-wire protocol (10-400 kHz), but it suffices for many types of 7slow two-wire protocol (variable speed, up to 400 kHz), with a high speed
8devices. 8extension (3.4 MHz). It provides an inexpensive bus for connecting many
9types of devices with infrequent or low bandwidth communications needs.
10I2C is widely used with embedded systems. Some systems use variants that
11don't meet branding requirements, and so are not advertised as being I2C.
9 12
10SMBus (System Management Bus) is a subset of the I2C protocol. Many 13SMBus (System Management Bus) is based on the I2C protocol, and is mostly
11modern mainboards have a System Management Bus. There are a lot of 14a subset of I2C protocols and signaling. Many I2C devices will work on an
12devices which can be connected to a SMBus; the most notable are modern 15SMBus, but some SMBus protocols add semantics beyond what is required to
13memory chips with EEPROM memories and chips for hardware monitoring. 16achieve I2C branding. Modern PC mainboards rely on SMBus. The most common
17devices connected through SMBus are RAM modules configured using I2C EEPROMs,
18and hardware monitoring chips.
14 19
15Because the SMBus is just a special case of the generalized I2C bus, we 20Because the SMBus is mostly a subset of the generalized I2C bus, we can
16can simulate the SMBus protocol on plain I2C busses. The reverse is 21use its protocols on many I2C systems. However, there are systems that don't
17regretfully impossible. 22meet both SMBus and I2C electrical constraints; and others which can't
23implement all the common SMBus protocol semantics or messages.
18 24
19 25
20Terminology 26Terminology
@@ -29,6 +35,7 @@ When we talk about I2C, we use the following terms:
29An Algorithm driver contains general code that can be used for a whole class 35An Algorithm driver contains general code that can be used for a whole class
30of I2C adapters. Each specific adapter driver depends on one algorithm 36of I2C adapters. Each specific adapter driver depends on one algorithm
31driver. 37driver.
38
32A Driver driver (yes, this sounds ridiculous, sorry) contains the general 39A Driver driver (yes, this sounds ridiculous, sorry) contains the general
33code to access some type of device. Each detected device gets its own 40code to access some type of device. Each detected device gets its own
34data in the Client structure. Usually, Driver and Client are more closely 41data in the Client structure. Usually, Driver and Client are more closely
@@ -40,6 +47,10 @@ a separate Adapter and Algorithm driver), and drivers for your I2C devices
40in this package. See the lm_sensors project http://www.lm-sensors.nu 47in this package. See the lm_sensors project http://www.lm-sensors.nu
41for device drivers. 48for device drivers.
42 49
50At this time, Linux only operates I2C (or SMBus) in master mode; you can't
51use these APIs to make a Linux system behave as a slave/device, either to
52speak a custom protocol or to emulate some other device.
53
43 54
44Included Bus Drivers 55Included Bus Drivers
45==================== 56====================