36.3.7 Bus Time-Out

The SMBus protocol requires a bus watchdog to prevent a stalled device from holding the bus indefinitely. The I²C Bus Time-out Clock Source Selection (I2CxBTOC) register provides several clock sources that can be used as the time-out time base. The I²C Bus Time-out (I2CxBTO) register is used to determine the actual bus time-out time period, as well as how the module responds to a time-out.

The bus time-out hardware monitors for the following conditions:

SCL = 0 (regardless of whether or not the bus is Active)
SCL = 1 and SDA = 0 while the bus is Active

If either condition is true, an internal time-out counter increments and continues to increment as long as the condition stays true or until the time-out period has expired. If these conditions change (e.g., SCL = 1), the internal time-out counter is reset by module hardware.

The Bus Time-out Clock Source Selection (BTOC) bits select the time-out clock source. If an oscillator is selected as the time-out clock source, such as the LFINTOSC, the time-out clock base period is determined by the oscillator frequency. If a timer is selected as the time-out clock source, the timer can be configured to produce a variety of time periods.

Remember: The SMBus protocol dictates a 25 ms time-out for client devices and a 35 ms time-out for host devices.

The Time-out Time Selection (TOTIME) bits and the Time-out Prescaler Extension Enable (TOBY32) bit are used to determine the time-out period. The value written into TOTIME multiplies the base time-out clock period. If the TOBY32 bit is set (TOBY32 = 1), the time-out period determined by the TOTIME bits is multiplied by 32. If TOBY32 is clear (TOBY32 = 0), the time-out period determined by the TOTIME bits is used as the time-out period. For example, if a value of ‘35’ is written into the TOTIME bits and LFINTOSC is selected as the time-out clock source with TOBY32 bit set, the time-out period is approximately 35 ms as demonstrated in 35 ms BTO Period Configuration.

35 ms BTO Period Configuration

void Init_BTO_35(void)        // Selections produce a 35 ms BTO period
{
  I2C1BTOC = 0x06;               // LFINTOSC as BTO clock source
  I2C1BTObits.TOREC = 1;         // Reset I2C interface, set BTOIF            
  I2C1BTObits.TOBY32 = 1;        // BTO time = TOTIME * T_BTOCLK * 32        
  I2C1BTObits.TOTIME = 35;     // TOTIME = T_BTOCLK * 35 
                                 // = 1 ms * 35 = 35 ms
           
}

The Time-out Recovery Selection (TOREC) bit determines how the module will respond to a bus time-out. When a bus time-out occurs and TOREC is set (TOREC = 1), the I²C module is reset and module hardware sets the Bus Time-out Interrupt Flag (BTOIF). If the Bus Time-out Interrupt Enable (BTOIE) is also set, an interrupt will be generated. If a bus time-out occurs and TOREC is clear (TOREC = 0), the BTOIF bit is set, but the module is not reset.

If the module is configured in Client mode with TOREC set (TOREC = 1) and a bus time-out event occurs (regardless of the state of the Client Mode Active (SMA) bit), the module is immediately reset, the SMA and Client Clock Stretching (CSTR) bits are cleared, and the Bus Time-out Interrupt Flag (BTOIF) bit is set.

If the module is configured in Client mode with TOREC clear (TOREC = 0) and a bus time-out event occurs (regardless of the state of the Client Mode Active (SMA) bit), the BTOIF bit is set, but the user software must reset the module.

Important: It is recommended to set TOREC (TOREC = 1) when operating in Client mode.

If the module is configured in Host mode with TOREC set (TOREC = 1) and the bus time-out event occurs while the host is active (Host Mode Active (MMA) = 1), the Host Data Ready (MDR) bit is cleared, the module will immediately attempt to transmit a Stop condition, and the BTOIF bit is set. Stop condition generation may be delayed if a client device is stretching the clock but will resume once the clock is released or if the client holding the bus also has a time-out event occur. The MMA bit is only cleared after the Stop condition has been generated.

If the module is configured in Host mode with TOREC clear (TOREC = 0), and the bus time-out event occurs while the host is active (Host Mode Active (MMA) = 1), the MDR bit is cleared and the BTOIF bit is set, but user software must initiate the Stop condition by setting the P bit.

The figure below shows an example of a Bus Time-out event when the module is operating in Host mode.

Figure 36-8. Host Mode Bus Time-Out Example