Power and information can share wiring, but there is no single universal “power and signal over one wire” method. This guide focuses on the digital Analog Devices DS28E18, which lets a host reach a remote I²C or SPI device over a 1-Wire link. It also distinguishes that bridge from analog industrial current loops, which put signal and power on a wire pair in a different way.
What “power and signal over one wire” means
The phrase describes a family of circuit designs, not one protocol. Depending on the design, information may be represented as digital communication or as changes in an analog current or voltage, while the same wiring also delivers power. The circuitry at each end determines how the signals are encoded, received, and used.
“One wire” does not mean a complete circuit has no return path. In the DS28E18 arrangement, 1-Wire names the data-and-power conductor in a circuit that also needs an electrical return connection. The practical benefit is fewer conductors between a host and remote electronics, not the elimination of all wiring.
How the DS28E18 uses a 1-Wire link
The DS28E18 is a bridge placed near a remote I²C or SPI sensor or other peripheral. The host sends commands over 1-Wire; the bridge executes them on the peripheral-side I²C or SPI interface. The 1-Wire line also supplies power to the bridge and attached peripherals. Analog Devices describes it as a way to reduce the host connection to two wires, compared with six SPI wires or four I²C wires.
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As the Analog Devices datasheet puts it: “The DS28E18 is a simple communications bridge that resides at a remote SPI or I²C sensor and allows the sensor to be controlled by just two wires coming from the host system.”
Manufacturer-stated specifications
| Specification | DS28E18 rating or capability |
|---|---|
| 1-Wire communication | 11 kbps standard speed; 90 kbps overdrive |
| Peripheral-side I²C | 100 kHz, 400 kHz, and 1 MHz |
| Peripheral-side SPI | Up to 2.3 MHz |
| Command sequencer | 512 bytes of SRAM |
| 1-Wire network reach and nodes | Analog Devices states support for connection lengths up to 100 m and 10 sensor nodes or more; actual results depend on cable, topology, and electrical conditions |
| Operating voltage | 2.97 V to 3.63 V |
| Package | 8-pin TDFN, 2 mm × 3 mm × 0.75 mm |
These are component and manufacturer-stated network specifications, not a complete design guarantee. In particular, the stated distance and node count do not ensure the same performance with every cable, layout, or noise environment. Consult the DS28E18 datasheet and validate the intended system.
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How this differs from a 4–20 mA current loop
The Texas Instruments XTR101 is a separate, analog example: a two-wire 4–20 mA transmitter that modulates supply current according to its input signal. The same wire pair carries loop power and represents the signal as current. Listed applications include pressure, temperature, and millivolt transmitters; thermocouple and RTD inputs; and industrial process control. The cited datasheet is revision August 2004, so the XTR101 should not be described as a newly introduced device.
This is not interchangeable with the DS28E18. The DS28E18 bridges a digital host link to I²C or SPI peripherals; the XTR101 is an analog current-loop transmitter. Each requires compatible circuitry and interfaces at both ends.
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Another related approach: IEPE sensor interfaces
Analog Devices’ CN0532 circuit note describes an IEPE interface in which a single wire carries both the sensor power supply and a modulated output voltage. This is a specific circuit implementation, not a rule that applies to every sensor or every single-wire connection.
How to choose an architecture
Start with the devices and signals your system must support. Sharing wiring can simplify a connection, but the choice depends on the complete electrical and communication requirements—not just conductor count.
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- Signal and protocol: Decide whether the application needs a digital 1-Wire-to-I²C/SPI bridge, an analog current loop, or another defined interface.
- Power and voltage: Check the available supply, the remote device’s operating voltage, and the power budget for the bridge and attached electronics.
- Rate and workload: Compare the required communication rate with the applicable link and peripheral-interface ratings. A fast peripheral-side interface does not make the host-side 1-Wire link equally fast.
- Distance and topology: Evaluate cable length, node count, wiring layout, and the device-specific limits together.
- Electrical environment: Account for noise, voltage drop, grounding, and other conditions in the actual installation; the listed specifications alone do not establish performance under every condition.
- Endpoint integration: Confirm that both the host and remote device can support the required signaling, bridge or transmitter circuitry, and power arrangement.
For a DS28E18 design, use the manufacturer’s device specifications as a starting point, then verify the wiring and electrical performance in the intended system. For an industrial current loop, use the transmitter’s own interface requirements rather than treating it as a digital bus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the patent example does—and does not—show
A patent publication describes approaches to transferring power and data over one conductor, including modulation and possible half-duplex or full-duplex signaling. A patent’s disclosed embodiments show proposed approaches; they do not establish that a particular implementation is commercially available or widely adopted.
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