7.3 Acknowledge Polling

An Acknowledge Polling routine can be implemented to optimize time-sensitive applications that would prefer not to wait the fixed maximum write cycle time (t_WR). This method allows the application to immediately know when the Serial EEPROM write cycle has completed so a subsequent operation can be started.

Once the internally self-timed write cycle has started, an Acknowledge Polling routine can be initiated. This involves repeatedly sending a Start condition followed by a valid device address byte with the R/W bit set to logic ‘0’. The device will not respond with an ACK while the write cycle is ongoing. Once the internal write cycle has completed, the EEPROM will respond with an ACK, allowing a new read or write operation to be immediately initiated. A flowchart has been included in Figure 7-3 to better illustrate this technique.