Commit fceb2d06 authored by Jean Delvare's avatar Jean Delvare Committed by Jean Delvare

i2c: Improve dev-interface documentation

* Clarify some points.
* Point developers to i2c-tools instead of lm_sensors.
* Fix coding style in code examples.
Signed-off-by: default avatarJean Delvare <khali@linux-fr.org>
parent 9def2556
...@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ the /dev interface. You need to load module i2c-dev for this. ...@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ the /dev interface. You need to load module i2c-dev for this.
Each registered i2c adapter gets a number, counting from 0. You can Each registered i2c adapter gets a number, counting from 0. You can
examine /sys/class/i2c-dev/ to see what number corresponds to which adapter. examine /sys/class/i2c-dev/ to see what number corresponds to which adapter.
Alternatively, you can run "i2cdetect -l" to obtain a formated list of all
i2c adapters present on your system at a given time. i2cdetect is part of
the i2c-tools package.
I2C device files are character device files with major device number 89 I2C device files are character device files with major device number 89
and a minor device number corresponding to the number assigned as and a minor device number corresponding to the number assigned as
explained above. They should be called "i2c-%d" (i2c-0, i2c-1, ..., explained above. They should be called "i2c-%d" (i2c-0, i2c-1, ...,
...@@ -17,30 +21,34 @@ So let's say you want to access an i2c adapter from a C program. The ...@@ -17,30 +21,34 @@ So let's say you want to access an i2c adapter from a C program. The
first thing to do is "#include <linux/i2c-dev.h>". Please note that first thing to do is "#include <linux/i2c-dev.h>". Please note that
there are two files named "i2c-dev.h" out there, one is distributed there are two files named "i2c-dev.h" out there, one is distributed
with the Linux kernel and is meant to be included from kernel with the Linux kernel and is meant to be included from kernel
driver code, the other one is distributed with lm_sensors and is driver code, the other one is distributed with i2c-tools and is
meant to be included from user-space programs. You obviously want meant to be included from user-space programs. You obviously want
the second one here. the second one here.
Now, you have to decide which adapter you want to access. You should Now, you have to decide which adapter you want to access. You should
inspect /sys/class/i2c-dev/ to decide this. Adapter numbers are assigned inspect /sys/class/i2c-dev/ or run "i2cdetect -l" to decide this.
somewhat dynamically, so you can not even assume /dev/i2c-0 is the Adapter numbers are assigned somewhat dynamically, so you can not
first adapter. assume much about them. They can even change from one boot to the next.
Next thing, open the device file, as follows: Next thing, open the device file, as follows:
int file; int file;
int adapter_nr = 2; /* probably dynamically determined */ int adapter_nr = 2; /* probably dynamically determined */
char filename[20]; char filename[20];
sprintf(filename,"/dev/i2c-%d",adapter_nr); snprintf(filename, 19, "/dev/i2c-%d", adapter_nr);
if ((file = open(filename,O_RDWR)) < 0) { file = open(filename, O_RDWR);
if (file < 0) {
/* ERROR HANDLING; you can check errno to see what went wrong */ /* ERROR HANDLING; you can check errno to see what went wrong */
exit(1); exit(1);
} }
When you have opened the device, you must specify with what device When you have opened the device, you must specify with what device
address you want to communicate: address you want to communicate:
int addr = 0x40; /* The I2C address */ int addr = 0x40; /* The I2C address */
if (ioctl(file,I2C_SLAVE,addr) < 0) {
if (ioctl(file, I2C_SLAVE, addr) < 0) {
/* ERROR HANDLING; you can check errno to see what went wrong */ /* ERROR HANDLING; you can check errno to see what went wrong */
exit(1); exit(1);
} }
...@@ -48,31 +56,41 @@ address you want to communicate: ...@@ -48,31 +56,41 @@ address you want to communicate:
Well, you are all set up now. You can now use SMBus commands or plain Well, you are all set up now. You can now use SMBus commands or plain
I2C to communicate with your device. SMBus commands are preferred if I2C to communicate with your device. SMBus commands are preferred if
the device supports them. Both are illustrated below. the device supports them. Both are illustrated below.
__u8 register = 0x10; /* Device register to access */ __u8 register = 0x10; /* Device register to access */
__s32 res; __s32 res;
char buf[10]; char buf[10];
/* Using SMBus commands */ /* Using SMBus commands */
res = i2c_smbus_read_word_data(file,register); res = i2c_smbus_read_word_data(file, register);
if (res < 0) { if (res < 0) {
/* ERROR HANDLING: i2c transaction failed */ /* ERROR HANDLING: i2c transaction failed */
} else { } else {
/* res contains the read word */ /* res contains the read word */
} }
/* Using I2C Write, equivalent of /* Using I2C Write, equivalent of
i2c_smbus_write_word_data(file,register,0x6543) */ i2c_smbus_write_word_data(file, register, 0x6543) */
buf[0] = register; buf[0] = register;
buf[1] = 0x43; buf[1] = 0x43;
buf[2] = 0x65; buf[2] = 0x65;
if ( write(file,buf,3) != 3) { if (write(file, buf, 3) ! =3) {
/* ERROR HANDLING: i2c transaction failed */ /* ERROR HANDLING: i2c transaction failed */
} }
/* Using I2C Read, equivalent of i2c_smbus_read_byte(file) */ /* Using I2C Read, equivalent of i2c_smbus_read_byte(file) */
if (read(file,buf,1) != 1) { if (read(file, buf, 1) != 1) {
/* ERROR HANDLING: i2c transaction failed */ /* ERROR HANDLING: i2c transaction failed */
} else { } else {
/* buf[0] contains the read byte */ /* buf[0] contains the read byte */
} }
Note that only a subset of the I2C and SMBus protocols can be achieved by
the means of read() and write() calls. In particular, so-called combined
transactions (mixing read and write messages in the same transaction)
aren't supported. For this reason, this interface is almost never used by
user-space programs.
IMPORTANT: because of the use of inline functions, you *have* to use IMPORTANT: because of the use of inline functions, you *have* to use
'-O' or some variation when you compile your program! '-O' or some variation when you compile your program!
...@@ -80,31 +98,29 @@ IMPORTANT: because of the use of inline functions, you *have* to use ...@@ -80,31 +98,29 @@ IMPORTANT: because of the use of inline functions, you *have* to use
Full interface description Full interface description
========================== ==========================
The following IOCTLs are defined and fully supported The following IOCTLs are defined:
(see also i2c-dev.h):
ioctl(file,I2C_SLAVE,long addr) ioctl(file, I2C_SLAVE, long addr)
Change slave address. The address is passed in the 7 lower bits of the Change slave address. The address is passed in the 7 lower bits of the
argument (except for 10 bit addresses, passed in the 10 lower bits in this argument (except for 10 bit addresses, passed in the 10 lower bits in this
case). case).
ioctl(file,I2C_TENBIT,long select) ioctl(file, I2C_TENBIT, long select)
Selects ten bit addresses if select not equals 0, selects normal 7 bit Selects ten bit addresses if select not equals 0, selects normal 7 bit
addresses if select equals 0. Default 0. This request is only valid addresses if select equals 0. Default 0. This request is only valid
if the adapter has I2C_FUNC_10BIT_ADDR. if the adapter has I2C_FUNC_10BIT_ADDR.
ioctl(file,I2C_PEC,long select) ioctl(file, I2C_PEC, long select)
Selects SMBus PEC (packet error checking) generation and verification Selects SMBus PEC (packet error checking) generation and verification
if select not equals 0, disables if select equals 0. Default 0. if select not equals 0, disables if select equals 0. Default 0.
Used only for SMBus transactions. This request only has an effect if the Used only for SMBus transactions. This request only has an effect if the
the adapter has I2C_FUNC_SMBUS_PEC; it is still safe if not, it just the adapter has I2C_FUNC_SMBUS_PEC; it is still safe if not, it just
doesn't have any effect. doesn't have any effect.
ioctl(file,I2C_FUNCS,unsigned long *funcs) ioctl(file, I2C_FUNCS, unsigned long *funcs)
Gets the adapter functionality and puts it in *funcs. Gets the adapter functionality and puts it in *funcs.
ioctl(file,I2C_RDWR,struct i2c_rdwr_ioctl_data *msgset) ioctl(file, I2C_RDWR, struct i2c_rdwr_ioctl_data *msgset)
Do combined read/write transaction without stop in between. Do combined read/write transaction without stop in between.
Only valid if the adapter has I2C_FUNC_I2C. The argument is Only valid if the adapter has I2C_FUNC_I2C. The argument is
a pointer to a a pointer to a
...@@ -120,10 +136,9 @@ ioctl(file,I2C_RDWR,struct i2c_rdwr_ioctl_data *msgset) ...@@ -120,10 +136,9 @@ ioctl(file,I2C_RDWR,struct i2c_rdwr_ioctl_data *msgset)
The slave address and whether to use ten bit address mode has to be The slave address and whether to use ten bit address mode has to be
set in each message, overriding the values set with the above ioctl's. set in each message, overriding the values set with the above ioctl's.
ioctl(file, I2C_SMBUS, struct i2c_smbus_ioctl_data *args)
Other values are NOT supported at this moment, except for I2C_SMBUS, Not meant to be called directly; instead, use the access functions
which you should never directly call; instead, use the access functions below.
below.
You can do plain i2c transactions by using read(2) and write(2) calls. You can do plain i2c transactions by using read(2) and write(2) calls.
You do not need to pass the address byte; instead, set it through You do not need to pass the address byte; instead, set it through
...@@ -148,7 +163,7 @@ what happened. The 'write' transactions return 0 on success; the ...@@ -148,7 +163,7 @@ what happened. The 'write' transactions return 0 on success; the
returns the number of values read. The block buffers need not be longer returns the number of values read. The block buffers need not be longer
than 32 bytes. than 32 bytes.
The above functions are all macros, that resolve to calls to the The above functions are all inline functions, that resolve to calls to
i2c_smbus_access function, that on its turn calls a specific ioctl the i2c_smbus_access function, that on its turn calls a specific ioctl
with the data in a specific format. Read the source code if you with the data in a specific format. Read the source code if you
want to know what happens behind the screens. want to know what happens behind the screens.
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