company blog about TI PCA9306DCTR Dual Bidirectional I2C Bus And SMBus Voltage-Level Translator

TI PCA9306DCTR Dual Bidirectional I2C Bus And SMBus Voltage-Level Translator

As an authorised independent distributor of world-famous electronic components, Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd. has been supplying TI's PCA9306DCTR bi-directional I2C bus and SMBus voltage level converter for a long time, which provides reliable interface solutions for all kinds of electronic system designs.

Product Description Of PCA9306DCTR
PCA9306DCTR device is a dual bidirectional I 2C and SMBus voltage-level translator with an enable (EN) input, and is operational from 1.2-V to 3.3-V V REF1 and 1.8-V to 5.5-V V REF2.

PCA9306DCTR device allows bidirectional voltage translations between 1.2 V and 5 V, without the use of a direction pin. The low ON-state resistance (R ON) of the switch allows connections to be made with minimal propagation delay. When EN is high, the translator switch is ON, and the SCL1 and SDA1 I/O are connected to the SCL2 and SDA2 I/O, respectively, allowing bidirectional data flow between ports. When EN is low, the translator switch is off, and a high-impedance state exists between ports.

In addition to voltage translation, the PCA9306DCTR device can be used to isolate a 400-kHz bus from a 100-kHz bus by controlling the EN pin to disconnect the slower bus during fast-mode communication.

The PCA9306DCTR excels in terms of key performance parameters: the on-state resistance (RON) is only 3.5Ω, which effectively reduces signal distortion; and the absolute propagation delay time is a maximum of 1.2ns, and typical values are even as low as 0.3ns, which ensures the timing integrity of high-speed data transfers.18 Particularly noteworthy is the PCA9306DCTR's ability to support up to 400kHz I2C fast mode communication, while being compatible with standard mode (100kHz) and multiple masters in application scenarios.

PCA9306DCTR Basic Parameters Overview
Supply Voltage - Max:5.5 V
Supply Voltage - Min:1.2 V
Propagation Delay Time:1.2 ns
Minimum Operating Temperature:- 40 C
Maximum Operating Temperature:+ 85 C

Features Of PCA9306DCTR
2-Bit bidirectional translator for SDA and SCL lines in mixed-mode I 2C Applications
I 2C and SMBus compatible
Less than 1.5-ns maximum propagation delay to accommodate standard-mode and fast-mode I 2C devices and multiple controllers
Allows voltage-level translation between
1.2-V V REF1 and 1.8-V, 2.5-V, 3.3-V, or 5-V V REF2
1.8-V V REF1 and 2.5-V, 3.3-V, or 5-V V REF2
2.5-V V REF1 and 3.3-V or 5-V V REF2
3.3-V V REF1 and 5-V V REF2
Provides bidirectional voltage translation with no direction pin
Low 3.5-Ω ON-state resistance between input and output ports provides less signal distortion
Open-drain I 2C I/O ports (SCL1, SDA1, SCL2, and SDA2)
5-V Tolerant I 2C I/O ports to support mixed-mode signal operation
High-impedance SCL1, SDA1, SCL2, and SDA2 pins for EN = low
Lockup-free operation for isolation when EN = low
Flow-through pinout for ease of printed-circuit-board trace routing
Latch-up performance exceeds 100 mA Per JESD 78, class II
ESD protection exceeds JESD 22
2000-V Human-body model (A114-A)
1000-V Charged-device model (C101)

PCA9306DCTR has the following outstanding technical parameters:
Wide voltage operating range: VCCA side supports 1.2V to 3.3V, VCCB side supports 1.8V to 5.5V, which can be flexibly adapted to various low-voltage and high-voltage systems.
Bi-directional auto-detection: no need for direction control signals, automatically detects the direction of data transmission, simplifying system design.
High-speed transmission: Supports I2C and SMBus communication rates up to 400kHz.
Low-power design: extremely low quiescent current for battery-powered devices
Dual-channel architecture: Each circuit contains two bi-directional channels to simultaneously convert SCL and SDA signals

Applications Of PCA9306DCTR
Embedded System Design
In modern embedded systems, there are often scenarios where multiple voltage domains work together. For example, a host controller may be powered by a 3.3V supply, while peripheral sensors or memories use a 5V or 1.8V interface. The PCA9306DCTR seamlessly bridges these different voltage I2C devices to ensure signal integrity and communication reliability.

Consumer Electronics
Consumer electronics is another important application area for the PCA9306DCTR. In modern smartphones, tablets and wearable devices, different functional modules often use different operating voltages, such as the processor core voltage may be as low as 1.2 V, while peripheral devices may require 3.3 V or 5 V. The PCA9306DCTR seamlessly bridges these voltage domains to enable efficient I2C communication between the main processor and peripherals such as camera modules, displays, sensors, etc. Its low power consumption is particularly suitable for battery-powered devices, helping to extend product life.

Industrial Automation
Sensor networks, PLC systems, and HMI devices in industrial environments often require long-distance signal transmission and interconnection of devices with different voltages, and the PCA9306DCTR's wide temperature range (-40°C to +105°C) and immunity to interference enable it to operate stably in harsh industrial environments.

Automotive Electronic Systems
Modern automobiles contain a large number of electronic control units (ECUs), and these modules often operate at different voltage levels. The PCA9306DCTR can be used for I2C bus level translation in in-car infotainment systems, body control modules, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to meet the stringent reliability requirements of automotive electronics.

Communications and Networking
In communications and networking equipment, the PCA9306DCTR is used to enable reliable data exchange between boards or modules. Routers, switches, and base station equipment often contain multiple voltage domains, and the high speed (400kHz) level translation capability provided by the PCA9306DCTR ensures that system control signals are delivered in a timely manner.The high ESD protection characteristics of the PCA9306DCTR device also enable it to withstand the electrostatic threats common to communications equipment, improving system reliability.

Simplified Application Diagram Of PCA9306DCTR