Overview of the SPI protocol
Let’s dive into what SPI is, its key features, how it works, and some of the nuances that make it so powerful.
What is SPI?
SPI is a synchronous serial communication protocol developed by Motorola. Unlike Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART), which is asynchronous, SPI relies on a clock signal to synchronize data transfer between devices. It’s designed for short-distance communication (usually no more than 30 cm), primarily between a microcontroller and peripheral devices such as sensors, SD cards, and display modules. Let’s see its key features.
Key features of SPI
SPI stands out due to its efficiency. Here are some of its key features:
- Full-duplex communication: SPI supports simultaneous data transmission and reception
- High speed: SPI can operate at much higher speeds compared to protocols such as Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and UART
- Master-slave architecture: One master device controls...