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SPI Multimaster Operation Notes

SPI is a high-speed, full-duplex serial communication protocol using a master-slave model with four operational modes defined by clock polarity and phase. While multi-master configurations are possible, they require complex arbitration and tri-state management, making single-master setups more common. Typical use cases include communication between microcontrollers and memory devices, with specific modes tailored to device requirements.

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27 views3 pages

SPI Multimaster Operation Notes

SPI is a high-speed, full-duplex serial communication protocol using a master-slave model with four operational modes defined by clock polarity and phase. While multi-master configurations are possible, they require complex arbitration and tri-state management, making single-master setups more common. Typical use cases include communication between microcontrollers and memory devices, with specific modes tailored to device requirements.

Uploaded by

muthuraj0481
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1. What is SPI?

SPI is a full-duplex, high-speed, synchronous serial communication protocol.

Uses a master–slave model (one master, one/multiple slaves).

Signals:

SCLK → Clock generated by master.

MOSI → Master Out, Slave In.

MISO → Master In, Slave Out.

CS (Chip Select) → Active-low, selects the target slave.

👉 Example: MCU (master) ↔ Flash Memory (slave).

2. SPI Modes

SPI has 4 modes, determined by two parameters:

CPOL (Clock Polarity): idle state of clock.

CPOL = 0 → SCLK idle low.

CPOL = 1 → SCLK idle high.

CPHA (Clock Phase): edge used for sampling and shifting data.

CPHA = 0 → Data sampled on the first clock edge.

CPHA = 1 → Data sampled on the second clock edge.

Mode CPOL CPHA Clock Idle Sampling Edge Shifting Edge


Mode 0 0 0 Low Rising edge Falling edge
Mode 1 0 1 Low Falling edge Rising edge
Mode 2 1 0 High Falling edge Rising edge
Mode 3 1 1 High Rising edge Falling edge

👉 Peripheral datasheets usually specify which SPI mode they support (e.g., EEPROM
might need Mode 0).

3. Multi-Master SPI Operation

Unlike I²C (which was designed for multi-master), SPI is inherently single-master.
But multi-master SPI is possible with restrictions:

Challenges:

Clock Line (SCLK) → Each master generates its own clock → conflicts can occur.

Bus Arbitration → No built-in arbitration (unlike I²C).

Chip Select Lines → Must be managed so that only one master talks to a slave at a
time.

Approaches:
Master Arbitration in Firmware/Hardware

Use a bus arbiter (logic or FPGA) to decide which master drives the bus.

Only the active master drives SCLK, MOSI, CS.

Three-State Buffers

Masters use tri-state drivers on SCLK, MOSI, CS.

Only the bus-winning master enables its drivers.

Multi-Master Example

Suppose you have 2 MCUs and 1 Flash memory.

Both MCUs want to access the Flash.

An arbiter decides which MCU takes control; the other keeps its pins Hi-Z.

👉 Because of complexity, in practice SPI multi-master is rarely used. Instead:

One MCU acts as system master, other MCUs communicate with it via SPI or UART/I²C.

4. Example Use Cases

Mode 0 SPI Flash: MCU (master) writes/reads bytes to Flash memory.

Mode 3 Display Driver: Display IC expects idle-high clock, data sampled on rising
edge.

Multi-Master Edge Case: Two DSPs sharing one ADC via SPI → require arbitration.

5. Visual Summary
Master (MCU) Slave (e.g., EEPROM)
MOSI -------------------> MOSI
MISO <------------------- MISO
SCLK -------------------> SCLK
CS -------------------> CS (Active Low)

Modes (CPOL, CPHA):

Mode 0: Idle Low, Sample Rising.

Mode 1: Idle Low, Sample Falling.

Mode 2: Idle High, Sample Falling.

Mode 3: Idle High, Sample Rising.

✅ Summary:

SPI = fast, full-duplex, master-driven protocol.

4 modes (CPOL/CPHA combinations).

Multi-master possible but not elegant → needs arbitration & tri-state handling.
Do you want me to also make you a timing diagram of all 4 SPI modes (with SCLK,
MOSI, MISO, sampling points) so it’s easier to visualize?

ChatGPT c

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