Datasheet
27.6.3.3 Master with Several Slaves
Master with multiple slaves in parallel is only available when Master Slave Select Enable
(CTRLB.MSSEN) is set to zero and hardware SS control is disabled. If the bus consists of several SPI
slaves, an SPI master can use general purpose I/O pins to control the SS line to each of the slaves on
the bus, as shown in Multiple Slaves in Parallel. In this configuration, the single selected SPI slave will
drive the tri-state MISO line.
Figure 27-5. Multiple Slaves in Parallel
MOSI
MISO
SCK
_SS
MOSI
MISO
SCK
_SS[0]
MOSI
MISO
SCK
_SS
_SS[n-1]
shift register shift register
shift register
SPI Master
SPI Slave 0
SPI Slave n-1
Another configuration is multiple slaves in series, as in Multiple Slaves in Series. In this configuration, all
n attached slaves are connected in series. A common SS line is provided to all slaves, enabling them
simultaneously. The master must shift n characters for a complete transaction. Depending on the Master
Slave Select Enable bit (CTRLB.MSSEN), the SS line can be controlled either by hardware or user
software and normal GPIO.
Figure 27-6. Multiple Slaves in Series
MOSI
MISO
SCK
_SS
MOSI
MISO
SCK
_SS
MOSI
MISO
SCK
_SS
shift register shift register
shift register
SPI Master
SPI Slave 0
SPI Slave n-1
27.6.3.4 Loop-Back Mode
For loop-back mode, configure the Data In Pinout (CTRLA.DIPO) and Data Out Pinout (CTRLA.DOPO) to
use the same data pins for transmit and receive. The loop-back is through the pad, so the signal is also
available externally.
27.6.3.5 Hardware Controlled SS
In master mode, a single SS chip select can be controlled by hardware by writing the Master Slave Select
Enable (CTRLB.MSSEN) bit to '1'. In this mode, the SS pin is driven low for a minimum of one baud cycle
before transmission begins, and stays low for a minimum of one baud cycle after transmission completes.
If back-to-back frames are transmitted, the SS pin will always be driven high for a minimum of one baud
cycle between frames.
SAM D21 Family
SERCOM SPI – SERCOM Serial Peripheral Interface
© 2018 Microchip Technology Inc.
Datasheet Complete
DS40001882D-page 519