Hi i am doing an 8051 based microcontroller project where in i am trying to interface the 8 bit microcontroller with an 16 bit sensor. I am not sure if these two devices can be interfaced, please help. The spi register in the microcontroller is 8 bit and that in the sensor is 16 bit.

 

You have asked a question without providing any useful information. How's about a link to the sensor datasheet. SPI is inherently an 8-bit protocol as originally defined by Motorola (now ON-Semiconductor and Freescale). For a 16-bit device it is likely to require multiple 8-bit SPI bus transactions to accomodate a 16-bit device.

 

We are using an inertial sensor from analog devices . ADIS16367, the datasheet can be accessed using the link
http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/ADIS16367.pdf

 

OK got it. What will happen is that you break the 16-bit transaction into two 8-bit transactions. what the sensor sees is Chip-Select followed by 8 clocks with arbitrary, null-data going out and the most significant 8-bits from the sensor coming in. Then there will be a short idle period DURING WHICH THE CHIP SELECT MUST REMAIN LOW, followed by another 8-bits of arbitrary null-data going out and the least significant 8-bit bits coming back in. then you take the chip select high and all is well.

 

The bit size of a processor has nothing to do with its capabilities.
Calculators use 4-bit processors.
You can interface an 8-bit processor to a 16-bit processor with no problem.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

The bit size of a processor has nothing to do with its capabilities.

Fully agreed!

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

LOL That is my messanger signature!