Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I2C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers

Roberto Molina-Robles; Ronny Garcia-Ramirez; Alfonso Chacon-Rodriguez; Renato Rimolo-Donadio; Alfredo Arnaud

doi:10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309

Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I²C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers

Roberto Molina-Robles
, Ronny Garcia-Ramirez
, Alfonso Chacon-Rodriguez
, Renato Rimolo-Donadio
, Alfredo Arnaud

Department of Engineering

Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

To date, I2C is a protocol that has a lot of use on microcontroller applications. Implementing the hardware for a I2C controller affects directly chip size, cost and time development in VLSI projects. To save on these aspects, we have used hardware emulation by software to recreate the I2C behavior through GPIO ports in a RISC-V microcontroller of our own. This paper proposes a flexible and practical low-level algorithm that replaces a physical I2C controller, to be able connect an I2C peripheral device to its driver code inside the microcontroller using GPIO ports as channels. An explanation of the application is described, along with the code structure and the logic behind the algorithm. At the end, this paper presents results with a brief analysis of its benefits and future improvements.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	90-94
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665424431
ISBN (Print)	9781665424431
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309
State	Published - 2021
Event	2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021 - Montevideo, Uruguay Duration: 24 Nov 2021 → 26 Nov 2021

Publication series

Name	2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021

Conference

Conference	2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021
Country/Territory	Uruguay
City	Montevideo
Period	24/11/21 → 26/11/21

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

I/O protocols
IC bus protocol
RISC-V
algorithms
architecture
hardware emulation
hardware-software applications
microcontroller

Access to Document

10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309

Cite this

Molina-Robles, R., Garcia-Ramirez, R., Chacon-Rodriguez, A., Rimolo-Donadio, R., & Arnaud, A. (2021). Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I²C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers. In 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021 (pp. 90-94). (2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309

@inproceedings{90eca23481764c3bbd1c9e2705022513,

title = "Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I2C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers",

abstract = "To date, I2C is a protocol that has a lot of use on microcontroller applications. Implementing the hardware for a I2C controller affects directly chip size, cost and time development in VLSI projects. To save on these aspects, we have used hardware emulation by software to recreate the I2C behavior through GPIO ports in a RISC-V microcontroller of our own. This paper proposes a flexible and practical low-level algorithm that replaces a physical I2C controller, to be able connect an I2C peripheral device to its driver code inside the microcontroller using GPIO ports as channels. An explanation of the application is described, along with the code structure and the logic behind the algorithm. At the end, this paper presents results with a brief analysis of its benefits and future improvements.",

keywords = "I/O protocols, IC bus protocol, RISC-V, algorithms, architecture, hardware emulation, hardware-software applications, microcontroller",

author = "Roberto Molina-Robles and Ronny Garcia-Ramirez and Alfonso Chacon-Rodriguez and Renato Rimolo-Donadio and Alfredo Arnaud",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 IEEE.; 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021 ; Conference date: 24-11-2021 Through 26-11-2021",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309",

language = "Ingl{\'e}s",

isbn = "9781665424431",

series = "2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

pages = "90--94",

booktitle = "2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021",

}

Molina-Robles, R, Garcia-Ramirez, R, Chacon-Rodriguez, A, Rimolo-Donadio, R & Arnaud, A 2021, Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I²C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers. in 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021. 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 90-94, 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021, Montevideo, Uruguay, 24/11/21. https://doi.org/10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309

Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I²C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers. / Molina-Robles, Roberto; Garcia-Ramirez, Ronny; Chacon-Rodriguez, Alfonso et al.
2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2021. p. 90-94 (2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Low-level algorithm for a software-emulated I2C I/O module in general purpose RISC-V based microcontrollers

AU - Molina-Robles, Roberto

AU - Garcia-Ramirez, Ronny

AU - Chacon-Rodriguez, Alfonso

AU - Rimolo-Donadio, Renato

AU - Arnaud, Alfredo

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - To date, I2C is a protocol that has a lot of use on microcontroller applications. Implementing the hardware for a I2C controller affects directly chip size, cost and time development in VLSI projects. To save on these aspects, we have used hardware emulation by software to recreate the I2C behavior through GPIO ports in a RISC-V microcontroller of our own. This paper proposes a flexible and practical low-level algorithm that replaces a physical I2C controller, to be able connect an I2C peripheral device to its driver code inside the microcontroller using GPIO ports as channels. An explanation of the application is described, along with the code structure and the logic behind the algorithm. At the end, this paper presents results with a brief analysis of its benefits and future improvements.

AB - To date, I2C is a protocol that has a lot of use on microcontroller applications. Implementing the hardware for a I2C controller affects directly chip size, cost and time development in VLSI projects. To save on these aspects, we have used hardware emulation by software to recreate the I2C behavior through GPIO ports in a RISC-V microcontroller of our own. This paper proposes a flexible and practical low-level algorithm that replaces a physical I2C controller, to be able connect an I2C peripheral device to its driver code inside the microcontroller using GPIO ports as channels. An explanation of the application is described, along with the code structure and the logic behind the algorithm. At the end, this paper presents results with a brief analysis of its benefits and future improvements.

KW - I/O protocols

KW - IC bus protocol

KW - RISC-V

KW - algorithms

KW - architecture

KW - hardware emulation

KW - hardware-software applications

KW - microcontroller

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85124366535

U2 - 10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309

DO - 10.1109/URUCON53396.2021.9647309

M3 - Contribución a la conferencia

AN - SCOPUS:85124366535

SN - 9781665424431

T3 - 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021

SP - 90

EP - 94

BT - 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 2021 IEEE URUCON, URUCON 2021

Y2 - 24 November 2021 through 26 November 2021

ER -