7.5.2 Writing to and Reading Through the I2C Serial Interface

Accessing a specific register on the INA232 is accomplished by writing the appropriate value to the register

pointer. Refer to Register Maps for a complete list of registers and corresponding addresses. The value for the

register pointer (see Figure 7-5) is the first byte transferred after the target address byte with the R/W bit low.

Every write operation to the device requires a value for the register pointer.

Writing to a register begins with the first byte transmitted by the controller. This byte is the target address,

with the R/W bit low. The device then acknowledges receipt of a valid address. The next byte transmitted by

the controller is the address of the register to be accessed. This register address value updates the register

pointer to the desired internal device register. The next two bytes are written to the register addressed by the

register pointer. The device acknowledges receipt of each data byte. The controller may terminate data transfer

by generating a start or stop condition.

When reading from the device, the last value stored in the register pointer by a write operation determines which

register is read during a read operation. To change the register pointer for a read operation, a new value must

be written to the register pointer. This write is accomplished by issuing a target address byte with the R/ W bit

low, followed by the register pointer byte. No additional data are required. The controller then generates a start

condition and sends the address byte for the target with the R/W bit high to initiate the read command. The next

byte is transmitted by the target and is the most significant byte of the register indicated by the register pointer.

This byte is followed by an Acknowledge from the controller; then the target transmits the least significant byte.

The controller may or may not acknowledge receipt of the second data byte. The controller may terminate data

transfer by generating a Not-Acknowledge after receiving any data byte, or generating a start or stop condition.

If repeated reads from the same register are desired, it is not necessary to continually send the register pointer

bytes; the device retains the register pointer value until it is changed by the next write operation.

Figure 7-3 shows the write operation timing diagram. Figure 7-4 shows the read operation timing diagram. These

diagrams are shown for reading/writing to 16 bit registers.

Register bytes are sent most-significant byte first, followed by the least significant byte.

Frame 1 Two-Wire Target Address Byte

(1)

Frame 2 Register Pointer Byte

Start By

Controller

ACK By

Target

ACK By

Target

1

9

1

ACK By

Target

1

D15 D14

D13

D12 D11 D10

D9

D8

9

9

SDA

SCL

1

0

0

A3

A2

A1

A0

R/W

P7

P6

P5

P4

P3

P2

P1

P0

Frame 4 Data LSByte

Frame 3 Data MSByte

ACK By

Target

Stop By

Controller

1

D7

D6

D5

D4

D3

D2

D1

D0

9

A.

The value of the Target Address byte is determined by the setting of the A0 address pin. Refer to Table 7-1.

B.

The device does not support packet error checking (PEC) or perform clock stretching.

Figure 7-3. Timing Diagram for Write Word Format

Frame 1 Two-Wire Target Address Byte

(1)

Frame 2 Data MSByte

(2)

1

Start By

Controller

ACK By

Target

ACK By

Controller

From

Target

1

9

1

9

SDA

SCL

0

0

A3

R/W

D15 D14 D13

D12

D11 D10

D9

D8

A2

A1

A0

Frame 3 Data LSByte

(2)

Stop

No ACK By

(3)

Controller

From

Target

1

9

D7

D6

D5

D4

D3

D2

D1

D0

A.

The value of the Target Address byte is determined by the setting of the A0 address pin. Refer to Table 7-1.

B.

Read data is from the last register pointer location. If a new register is desired, the register pointer must be updated. See Figure 7-5.

C.

ACK by the controller can also be sent.

D.

The device does not support packet error checking (PEC) or perform clock stretching.

Figure 7-4. Timing Diagram for Read Word Format

INA232

SBOSAA2 – DECEMBER 2022

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