Hardware connection with sensor

To be able to successfully use sensors and other devices with embedded systems, these needs to be physically wired with embedded system (or PC).

Target devices (usually sensors or memory devices) are connected to master host device using single wire (from here protocol name One Wire) for communication only. There are also voltage and ground lines, marked as VCC and GND, respectively.

At this point, we assume you are familiar with UART protocol and you understand it has 2 independent lines, one for transmitting data (TX) and second to receive data (RX).

For successful communication with sensors, bi-directional support is necessary to be implemented, but there is only 1 wire available to do so. It might sound complicated at this point.

OneWire data line is by default in open-drain mode. This means that:

  • Any device connected to data line can at any time pull line to GND without fear of short circuit

  • None of the devices are allowed to force high state on the line. Application must use external pull-up resistor to do so.

How to send data over TX pin if application cannot force high level on the line? There are 2 options:

  • Configure UART TX pin to open-drain mode

  • Use push-pull to open-drain converter using 2 mosfets and 1 resistor

Push-pull to open-drain converter

Push-pull to open-drain converter

Since many latest embedded systems allow you to configure TX pin to open-drain mode natively, you may consider second option instead.

Embedded system with native open-drain TX pin support

Embedded system with native open-drain TX pin support

Warning

Application must assure that TX pin is always configured to open-drain mode, either with push-pull to open-drain converter or directly configured in the system.

TX and RX pins

Every communication starts by master initiating it. To transfer data over UART, application uses TX pin and RX pin is used to read data. With 1-Wire protocol, application needs to transfer data and read them back in real-time. This is also called loop-back mode.

Let’s take reset sequence as an example. By specifications, UART has to be configured in 9600 bauds and master needs to send single UART byte with value of 0xF0. If there is any slave connected, slave must pull line to GND during transmision 0f 0xF part of byte. Master needs to identify this by using RX pin of the UART.

Note

Please check official document on Maxim website to understand why 0xF0 and 9600 bauds.