PCAL6416A: Low-voltage translating 16-bit I²C-bus/SMBus I/O expander

The PCAL6416A is a 16-bit general purpose I/O expander that provides remote I/O expansion for most microcontroller families via the I²C-bus interface.

NXP I/O expanders provide a simple solution when additional I/Os are needed while keeping interconnections to a minimum, for example, in battery-powered mobile applications for interfacing to sensors, push buttons, keypad, etc. In addition to providing a flexible set of GPIOs, it simplifies interconnection of a processor running at one voltage level to I/O devices operating at a different (usually higher) voltage level. The PCAL6416A has built-in level shifting feature that makes these devices extremely flexible in mixed signal environments where communication between incompatible I/O voltages is required. Its wide VDD range of 1.65 V to 5.5 V on the dual power rail allows seamless communications with next-generation low voltage microprocessors and microcontrollers on the interface side (SDA/SCL) and peripherals at a higher voltage on the port side.

There are two supply voltages for PCAL6416A: VDD(I2C-bus) and VDD(P). VDD(I2C-bus) provides the supply voltage for the interface at the master side (for example, a microcontroller) and the VDD(P) provides the supply for core circuits and Port P. The bidirectional voltage level translation in the PCAL6416A is provided through VDD(I2C-bus). VDD(I2C-bus) should be connected to the VDD of the external SCL/SDA lines. This indicates the VDD level of the I²C-bus to the PCAL6416A, while the voltage level on Port P of the PCAL6416A is determined by the VDD(P).

The PCAL6416A contains the PCA6416A register set of four pairs of 8-bit Configuration, Input, Output, and Polarity Inversion registers and additionally, the PCAL6416A has Agile I/O, which are additional features specifically designed to enhance the I/O. These additional features are: programmable output drive strength, latchable inputs, programmable pull-up/pull-down resistors, maskable interrupt, interrupt status register, programmable open-drain or push-pull outputs. The PCAL6416A is a pin-to-pin replacement to the PCA6416A, however, the PCAL6416A powers up with all I/O interrupts masked. This mask default allows for a board bring-up free of spurious interrupts at power-up.

At power-on, the I/Os are configured as inputs. However, the system master can enable the I/Os as either inputs or outputs by writing to the I/O configuration bits. The data for each input or output is kept in the corresponding input or output register. The polarity of the Input Port register can be inverted with the Polarity Inversion register, saving external logic gates. Programmable pull-up and pull-down resistors eliminate the need for discrete components.

The system master can reset the PCAL6416A in the event of a time-out or other improper operation by asserting a LOW in the RESET input. The power-on reset puts the registers in their default state and initializes the I²C-bus/SMBus state machine. The RESET pin causes the same reset/initialization to occur without depowering the part.

The PCAL6416A open-drain interrupt (INT) output is activated when any input state differs from its corresponding Input Port register state and is used to indicate to the system master that an input state has changed.

INT can be connected to the interrupt input of a microcontroller. By sending an interrupt signal on this line, the remote I/O can inform the microcontroller if there is incoming data on its ports without having to communicate via the I²C-bus. Thus, the PCAL6416A can remain a simple slave device. The input latch feature holds or latches the input pin state and keeps the logic values that created the interrupt until the master can service the interrupt. This minimizes the host’s interrupt service response for fast moving inputs.

The device Port P outputs have 25 mA sink capabilities for directly driving LEDs while consuming low device current.

One hardware pin (ADDR) can be used to program and vary the fixed I²C-bus address and allow up to two devices to share the same I²C-bus or SMBus.

Outline 3d sot1199-1
Data Sheets (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
Low-voltage translating 16-bit I2C-bus/SMBus I/O expander with interrupt output, reset, and configuration registers (REV 6.1) PDF (3.1 MB) PCAL6416A03 Nov 2016
Application Notes (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
Low Voltage Agile I/O GPIO Input/Output Characteristics (REV 1.0) PDF (443.0 kB) AN1149615 Aug 2014
Package Information (5)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
plastic, extremely thin fine-pitch ball grid array package; 24 balls (REV 1.1) PDF (269.0 kB) SOT1342-108 Jun 2016
plastic very thin fine-pitch ball grid array package; 24 balls (REV 1.0) PDF (314.0 kB) SOT1199-108 Feb 2016
UFBGA24: plastic ultra thin fine-pitch ball grid array package; 24 balls (REV 1.0) PDF (265.0 kB) SOT1361-108 Feb 2016
plastic thin shrink small outline package; 24 leads; body width 4.4 mm (REV 1.0) PDF (353.0 kB) SOT355-108 Feb 2016
plastic thermal enhanced very very thin quad flat package; no leads; 24 terminals; body 4 x 4 x 0.75 mm (REV 1.0) PDF (213.0 kB) SOT994-108 Feb 2016
Packing (3)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
HWQFN24; Reel pack, SMD, 13" Q2/T3 standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,128 or... (REV 1.1) PDF (190.0 kB) SOT994-1_12815 Jul 2016
VFBGA24; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or J Ordering code... (REV 1.0) PDF (292.0 kB) SOT1199-1_11808 Sep 2014
TSSOP24; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or... (REV 4.1) PDF (227.0 kB) SOT355-1_11815 Apr 2013
Supporting Information (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
Footprint for wave soldering (REV 1.0) PDF (16.0 kB) SSOP-TSSOP-VSO-WAVE08 Oct 2009
Design Support
Ordering Information
ProductStatus
PCAL6416AERActive
PCAL6416AEVActive
PCAL6416AEXActive
PCAL6416AHFActive
PCAL6416APWActive
Package Information
Product IDPackage DescriptionOutline VersionReflow/Wave SolderingPackingProduct StatusPart NumberOrdering code(12NC)MarkingChemical ContentRoHS / Pb Free / RHFLeadFree Conversion DateEFRIFR(FIT)MTBF(hour)MSLMSL LF
PCAL6416AEXSOT1342-1Reel 7" Q1/T1ActivePCAL6416AEXX (9353 002 79115)Standard MarkingPCAL6416AEXAlways Pb-freeNA1
PCAL6416AEVSOT1199-1Reel 13" Q1/T1ActivePCAL6416AEVJ (9352 980 75118)L16APCAL6416AEVAlways Pb-free0.04.02.5E811
PCAL6416APWSOT355-1SSOP-TSSOP-VSO-WAVEReel 13" Q1/T1ActivePCAL6416APW,118 (9352 980 74118)PCAL6416APCAL6416APWAlways Pb-free0.04.02.5E811
PCAL6416AERSOT1361-1Reel 13" Q1/T1ActivePCAL6416AERJ (9353 034 47118)Standard MarkingPCAL6416AERAlways Pb-free11
Reel 7" Q1/T1ActivePCAL6416AERX (9353 034 47115)Standard MarkingPCAL6416AERAlways Pb-freeNA1
PCAL6416AHFSOT994-1Reel 13" Q2/T3ActivePCAL6416AHF,128 (9352 980 73128)L16APCAL6416AHFAlways Pb-free0.04.02.5E811
Low-voltage translating 16-bit I2C-bus/SMBus I/O expander with interrupt output, reset, and configuration registers pcal6416a
Low Voltage Agile I/O GPIO Input/Output Characteristics pcal9555a
Expert mode sample code PCAL6416A PCAL6416APW
plastic, extremely thin fine-pitch ball grid array package; 24 balls pcal6416a
plastic very thin fine-pitch ball grid array package; 24 balls pcal6416a
VFBGA24; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or J Ordering code... pcal6416a
plastic thin shrink small outline package; 24 leads; body width 4.4 mm 74LVC4245A_Q100
SSOP-TSSOP-VSO-WAVE LPC1114FDH28
TSSOP24; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or... 74LVC4245A_Q100
UFBGA24: plastic ultra thin fine-pitch ball grid array package; 24 balls pcal6416a
plastic thermal enhanced very very thin quad flat package; no leads; 24 terminals; body 4 x 4 x 0.75 mm pcal9555a
HWQFN24; Reel pack, SMD, 13" Q2/T3 standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,128 or... pcal9555a
PCAL6416A
PCAL6416A
SA639DH
PCAL6416A
PCAL9555A