26.7.2 Master Receiver Mode

In the Master Receiver (MR) mode, a number of data bytes are received from a slave transmitter (see next figure). In order to enter a Master mode, a START condition must be transmitted. The format of the following address packet determines whether Master Transmitter (MT) or MR mode is to be entered. If SLA+W is transmitted the MT mode is entered, if SLA+R is transmitted the MR mode is entered. All the status codes mentioned in this section assume that the prescaler bits are zero or are masked to zero.

The TWI will then test the two-wire serial bus and generate a START condition as soon as the bus becomes free. After a START condition has been transmitted, the TWINT flag is set by hardware and the status code in TWSRn will be 0x08 (see the Status Code table below). In order to enter MR mode, SLA+R must be transmitted. This is done by writing SLA+R to TWDR. Thereafter, the TWINT flag should be cleared (by writing '1' to it) to continue the transfer. This is accomplished by writing a value to TWCRn of the type TWCRn=1x00x10x.

When SLA+R has been transmitted and an acknowledgment bit has been received, TWINT is set again and a number of status codes in TWSRn are possible. Possible status codes in Master mode are 0x38, 0x40, or 0x48. The appropriate action to be taken for each of these status codes is detailed in the table below. Received data can be read from the TWDR register when the TWINT flag is set high by hardware. This scheme is repeated until the last byte has been received. After the last byte has been received, the MR should inform the ST by sending a NACK after the last received data byte. The transfer is ended by generating a STOP condition or a repeated START condition. A repeated START condition is sent by writing to the TWI Control Register (TWCRn) a value of the type TWCRn=1x10x10x again. A STOP condition is generated by writing TWCRn=1x01x10x:

After a repeated START condition (status code 0x10) the two-wire Serial Interface can access the same Slave again, or a new slave without transmitting a STOP condition. Repeated START enables the master to switch between slaves, Master Transmitter mode and Master Receiver mode without losing control over the bus.