The INA226-Q1 offers compatibility with both I²C and SMBus interfaces. The I²C and SMBus protocols are essentially compatible with one another.

The I²C interface is used throughout this data sheet as the primary example, with SMBus protocol specified only when a difference between the two systems is discussed. Two lines, SCL and SDA, connect the device to the bus. Both SCL and SDA are open-drain connections.

The device that initiates a data transfer is called a master, and the devices controlled by the master are slaves. The bus must be controlled by a master device that generates the serial clock (SCL), controls the bus access, and generates START and STOP conditions.

To address a specific device, the master initiates a start condition by pulling the data signal line (SDA) from a high to a low logic level while SCL is high. All slaves on the bus shift in the slave address byte on the rising edge of SCL, with the last bit indicating whether a read or write operation is intended. During the ninth clock pulse, the slave being addressed responds to the master by generating an Acknowledge and pulling SDA low.

Data transfer is then initiated and eight bits of data are sent, followed by an Acknowledge bit. During data transfer, SDA must remain stable while SCL is high. Any change in SDA while SCL is high is interpreted as a start or stop condition.

After all data have been transferred, the master generates a stop condition, indicated by pulling SDA from low to high while SCL is high. The device includes a 28 ms timeout on the interface to prevent locking up the bus.