1-Wire is a computer bus system designed by Dallas Semiconductor that provides low-speed data, signaling and power over a single wire. 1-Wire is similar in concept to I²C, but with lower data rates and a much lower cost.

In mass-produced systems 1-Wire devices are on a printed circuit board with their controller. Some laboratory systems connect them using RJ-11 wiring, with the devices themselves mounted in a socket. Systems of sensors can be built by wiring together 1-Wire components, each including all of the logic needed to operate on the 1-Wire bus. Examples include temperature loggers, timers, voltage and current sensors, battery monitors, and memory. In a laboratory, these can connected to a PC using a bus converter, USB, or a printer port being popular solutions.

The iButton is a mechanical packaging standard that places a 1-Wire component inside a small stainless steel "button" similar to a disk-shaped battery. iButtons are connected to 1-Wire bus systems with an adaptor that connects the "lid" and "base" of the canister to an RJ-11 plug.

External links

1-Wire and iButton (http://www.maxim-ic.com/1-Wire.cfm)

iButton (http://www.ibutton.com/)

1-Wire Weather Instrument Kit (http://www.aagelectronica.com/aag/index.html)