19 March 2024 23MZ05 – S.Tharani M.

E–CSE–I ST YEAR

ASSIGNMENT 2

1. Compare and contrast UART, I2C, SPI and CAN communication Interfaces
in terms of their features, advantages and typical applications.

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter): UART is a simple, asynchronous

serial communication interface used for transmitting and receiving data between devices.
It's straightforward to implement and widely supported, making it suitable for various
applications like communication between microcontrollers, GPS modules, and Bluetooth
modules.

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit): I2C is a synchronous, multi-master serial communication

protocol. It uses only two wires for communication (a data line and a clock line), allowing
multiple devices to be connected to the same bus. I2C is commonly used for interfacing with
sensors, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), real-time
clocks, and other small peripherals.

SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface): SPI is a synchronous serial communication interface

that allows full-duplex communication between a master device and one or more slave
devices. It operates at high speeds and typically requires four wires: MOSI (Master Out
Slave In), MISO (Master In Slave Out), SCK (Serial Clock), and SS (Slave Select). SPI is often
used for interfacing with sensors, Flash memory, SD cards, and display modules.

CAN (Controller Area Network): CAN is a serial communication protocol designed for
robust communication in noisy environments. It supports multi-master communication and
prioritized message-based communication. CAN is commonly used in automotive systems
(e.g., in-vehicle networks), industrial automation, and medical devices where reliability and
real-time communication are critical.

COMMUNICATION FEATURES ADVANTAGES TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

INTERFACE
UART(Universal Asynchronous Simple Serial communication
Asynchronous serial implementation, between microcontrollers,
Receiver- communication widely supported GPS modules, Bluetooth
Transmitter) modules
I2C(Inter- Synchronous serial Multi-master Interfacing sensors,
Integrated Circuit) communication capability, 2-wire EEPROM, real-time clocks,
interface small peripherals

21ZC07 – Embedded Systems Design

19 March 2024 23MZ05 – S.Tharani M.E–CSE–I ST YEAR

SPI(Serial Synchronous serial High speed, full- Interfacing with sensors,

Peripheral communication duplex Flash memory, SD cards,
Interface) communication display modules
CAN(Controller Serial Robust Automotive systems,
Area Network) communication communication, industrial automation,
protocol multi-master medical devices
capability

2. Provide examples of real world applications where UART, I2C, SPI and CAN
communication interfaces are commonly used.

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter):

 GPS Modules: UART is often used to communicate between GPS modules and
microcontrollers in navigation systems.

 Bluetooth Modules: UART facilitates communication between microcontrollers

and Bluetooth modules in wireless communication applications.

 Serial Debugging: UART is frequently used for serial debugging in embedded

systems development.

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit):

 Interfacing Sensors: Many sensors, such as temperature sensors, humidity

sensors, and accelerometers, utilize the I2C interface for communication with
microcontrollers.

 Real-Time Clocks (RTCs): I2C is commonly used to communicate with RTC

modules, allowing devices to keep accurate time.

 EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)

chips often use the I2C protocol for data storage and retrieval in devices such
as microcontrollers and embedded systems.

SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface):

 Flash Memory: SPI is commonly used to interface microcontrollers with

external flash memory chips for data storage in devices like digital cameras
and data loggers.

21ZC07 – Embedded Systems Design

19 March 2024 23MZ05 – S.Tharani M.E–CSE–I ST YEAR

 SD Cards: Secure Digital (SD) cards and microSD cards use the SPI interface for
communication with microcontrollers in devices such as cameras,
smartphones, and GPS units.

 Display Modules: SPI is employed to communicate with display modules like

OLED and TFT screens in various consumer electronics devices.

CAN (Controller Area Network):

 Automotive Systems: CAN is extensively used in automotive applications for

communication between various electronic control units (ECUs) in vehicles,
including engine control modules, airbag systems, and anti-lock braking
systems.

 Industrial Automation: CAN is employed in industrial automation systems for

communication between programmable logic controllers (PLCs), motor
controllers, sensors, and actuators.

 Medical Devices: CAN is utilized in medical devices such as patient monitoring

systems and medical imaging equipment for reliable and real-time
communication between different components within the devices.

3. Basic operation of UART communication Interface.

A basic overview of how UART communication works:

1. Start Bit: Communication begins with the transmission of a start bit, which is always
a logic low (0). The start bit signals the beginning of a data frame.

2. Data Transmission: Following the start bit, the UART transmitter sends the data bits
(usually 8 bits) one at a time, starting with the least significant bit (LSB) and ending
with the most significant bit (MSB). The data bits represent the actual information
being transmitted.

3. Parity Bit (Optional): Optionally, a parity bit may be included for error detection. The
parity bit is set to either even or odd parity based on the number of logic high (1) bits
in the data frame.

4. Stop Bit(s): After transmitting the data bits (and parity bit, if used), one or more stop
bits are sent to signal the end of the data frame. The stop bit(s) is always a logic high
(1) and provides a period of time for the receiving device to prepare for the next data
frame.

21ZC07 – Embedded Systems Design

19 March 2024 23MZ05 – S.Tharani M.E–CSE–I ST YEAR

5. Idle State: When no data is being transmitted, the UART communication line remains
in an idle state, typically held at logic high (1). This idle state distinguishes it from
other communication lines.

6. Receiver Synchronization: The UART receiver continuously monitors the

communication line for the start bit. Upon detecting the start bit, it begins sampling
the incoming data bits at the appropriate times to reconstruct the transmitted data
frame.

7. Error Detection: UART communication does not inherently include error detection or
correction mechanisms. However, parity bits can be used for basic error detection,
although they are optional and not always utilized.

8. Baud Rate: The baud rate, measured in bits per second (bps), determines the rate at
which data is transmitted and received over the UART interface. Both the transmitter
and receiver must operate at the same baud rate for successful communication.

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21ZC07 – Embedded Systems Design