NXP launch new voltage-translating I2C-bus buffer

7th August 2013

Nat Bowers

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Datasheet

NXP has today introduced a new Fast-mode Plus I²C-bus buffer, designed for emerging server applications that use DDR4 SDRAM memory. The PCA9617A breakthrough voltage-translating bus buffer allows engineers to design next-generation server systems using new DDR4 technology with the I²C-bus operating at up to 1 MHz, and voltage level translation of 0.8V on the CPU side to 2.5V on the SDRAM module side.

The PCA9617A is a CMOS integrated circuit that provides voltage level shifting between 0.8V and 2.5V supply voltages for Fast-mode plus I²C-bus or SMBus applications. While retaining all the operating modes and features of the I²C-bus system during the level shifts, it also permits extension of the I²C-bus by providing bidirectional buffering for both the data (SDA) and the clock (SCL) lines, one bus, split into two sections of 550 pF (max) at 1 MHz.

NXP continues to drive innovation on the I²C-bus, a widely adopted bus system management and control technology used in virtually all computing and enterprise equipment applications. The PCA9617A is the first Fm+ device specifically designed for servers. It operates up to 1 MHz with normal Fast-mode drive to allow operation on more heavily capacitive loaded buses, but is backward-compatible to Fast-mode and Standard-mode speeds.

Using the PCA9617A enables the system designer to buffer the load capacitance of the bus, and provide voltage level translation. The SDA and SCL pins are overvoltage tolerant and are high impedance when the PCA9617A is unpowered. Evaluation samples and demo boards are available immediately.

“Our primary server architecture customers asked us to develop an improved version of the PCA9517A that was faster and supported lower voltages for their next-generation architecture. Working closely with them, we released the PCA9617A to allow their engineers to meet the complex specifications of their advanced server architectures. NXP will continue to develop innovative ways in which the I²C-bus can be used in advanced systems and enable engineers involved in the design of complex architectures to reach new performance levels,” comments Stephen Blozis, international product marketing manager, NXP Semiconductors.

The PCA9617A is available in TSSOP8 (MSOP8) “DP” and smaller leadless HWSON8 “TP” packages. Both the PCA9617ADP and PCA9617ATP are in volume production priced at $0.54 in 10K quantities. Evaluation samples and demo boards are available immediately.