Detecting load capacitance on serial communication data lines

Abstract

Systems and methods for load detection on serial communication data lines are provided herein. In certain configurations, a serial communication system includes a data line having a load capacitance and a master device configured to generate a command signal for a slave device to measure the load capacitance on the data line. The system further includes a slave device including a load detector including a controller configured to receive the command signal from the master device, provide a first fixed current to the data line, determine an amount of time elapsed while the data line is driven to a first threshold value, and determine the load capacitance of the data line based on the amount of time elapsed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A serial communication system comprising:
 a data line having a load capacitance;   a master device configured to generate a command signal; and   a slave device including a load detector, the load detector including a controller configured to receive the command signal from the master device, provide a first fixed current to the data line, determine an amount of time elapsed while the data line is driven to a first threshold value, and determine the load capacitance of the data line based on the amount of time elapsed.