The MSC is a serial interface that is especially designed to connect external power switch devices. The serial data transmission capability minimizes the number of pins required to connect such external power switch devices. Parallel data information (coming from the timer units) or command information is sent out to the power switch device using a high-speed synchronous serial data stream (downstream channel). The MSC receives data and status back from the power switch device through a low-speed asynchronous serial data stream (upstream channel).

Parallel requests from on chip bus masters to a module will be executed sequentially through the on-chip bus system. A read-modify-write feature provides an atomic read/write sequence where no other master can access the module in between. Module hardware semaphores are not supported.

The following figure shows a typical application in which an MSC interface controls two power switch devices. Output data is provided by the module.

Figure 1. MSC to external power device connection

Some MSC applications are:

  • Control of the external power switching unit through the downstream channel

  • Receiving information back from power switching unit

  • Serial connections to other peripheral devices