1-Wire Bus Protocol

1-Wire is a serial bus connecting devices with a microcontroller in a "MicroLAN." A bus is a single connection joining many devices. Serial connections pass data one bit at a time as an electronic pulse. The operating procedures of the hardware necessitate a protocol describing how devices can use the bus facilities.

Features

• A distinctive feature of 1-Wire systems is that the voltage passed on the line can power devices connected to it as well as passing data. Each device includes a capacitor so that it can continue to function off the capacitor charge while data is being passed and the power supply is cut.

Implementation

• Despite the name, 1-Wire is actually implemented with two wires, data and ground. The "1-Wire" name refers to the fact that dependent devices do not need to have a power line as well as a connection to the 1-Wire bus.

Function

• The 1-Wire protocols describe the configuration for "slave" and "master" devices. 1-Wire is specifically the name of the bus, but it also describes the system connected by the bus. Other elements in the microLAN are produced by different manufacturers, so their products need to conform to 1-Wire specifications to be compatible.