1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to serial communication system and serial communication method for transmitting and receiving data in synchronization with a clock signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a serial communication system adapted to transmit and receive data in synchronization with a clock signal is able to recover from a communication error, or the like, if any, by using a handshake signal line as well as a clock signal line and a data signal line. On the other hand, a serial communication system as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-115283 (JP-A-2000-115283) uses a clock signal line, rather than a dedicated handshake signal line, for outputting a handshake signal with which a sender unit gives a command for initialization of communications to a recipient unit.
However, since the system of the above-identified publication, JP-A-2000-115283, issues the command for initialization by causing the sender unit to send a clock signal with an increased number of clock pulses than normal, the system needs to be equipped with software and hardware arrangements for detecting changes in the periodicity of a signal that passes through the clock signal line, and the construction or configuration of the system is likely to be complicated.