36.4.2.3 Start Condition Timing

A Start condition is initiated by either writing to the Start (S) bit (when ABD = 0) or by writing to I2CxTXB (when ABD = 1). When the Start condition is initiated, host hardware verifies that the bus is idle, then begins to count the number of I2CxCLK periods as determined by the Bus Free Time Status (BFRET) bits. Once the Bus Free Time period has been reached, hardware sets BFRE (BFRE = 1), the Start condition is asserted on the bus, which pulls the SDA line low, and the Start Condition Interrupt Flag (SCIF) bit is set (SCIF = 1). Host hardware then waits one full SCL period (T_SCL) before pulling the SCL line low, signaling the end of the Start condition. At this point, hardware loads the transmit shift register from either I2CxADB0/I2CxADB1 (ABD = 0) or I2CxTXB (ABD = 1).