10 Atmel AT24C256C
8568D–SEEPR–9/11
6. Write Operations
BYTE WRITE: A write operation requires two 8-bit data word addresses following the device address word and
acknowledgment. Upon receipt of this address, the EEPROM will again respond with a “0” and then clock in the
first 8-bit data word. Following receipt of the 8-bit data word, the EEPROM will output a “0”. The addressing
device, such as a microcontroller, must then terminate the write sequence with a stop condition. At this time the
EEPROM enters an internally-timed write cy cle, tWR, to the nonvolatile memory. All inputs are disabled during this
write cycle an d the EEPROM will not respond unt il the write is complete (refer to Figure 6-1).
Figure 6-1. Byte Write
Note: * = DON’T CARE bi t
PAGE WRITE: The 256K EEPROM is capable of 64-byte page writes.
A page write is initiated the same way as a byte write, but the microcontroller does not send a stop condition after
the first data word is clocked in. Instead, after the EEPROM acknowledges receipt of the first data word, the
microcontroller can transmit up to 63 more data words. The EEPROM will respond with a “0” after each data word
received. The mi crocontroller mu st terminate the page write sequ ence with a stop condition (refer to Figure 6-2).
Figure 6-2. Page W rite
Note: * = DON’T CARE bi t
The data word address lower six bits are internally incremented following the receipt of each data word. The
higher data word address bits are not incremented, retaining the memory page row location. When the word
address, internally generated, reaches the page boundary, the following byte is placed at the beginning of the
same page. If more than 64 data words are transmitted to the EEPROM, the data w ord address will “roll over” and
previous data will be overwritten. The address “roll over” during write is from the last byte of the current page to
the first byte of the same page.
ACKNOWLEDGE POLLING: Once the internally-timed write cycle has started and the EEPROM inputs are
disabled, acknowledge polling can be initiated. This involves sending a start condition followed by the device
address word. The read/write bit is representative of the operation desired. Only if the internal write cycle has
completed will the EEPROM respond with a “0”, allowing the read or write sequence t o continue.