NXP PCA9306 Dual Bidirectional I2C Bus & SMBus Voltage Level Translator, 8-Pin,

The NXP PCA9306 is a dual bidirectional I2C bus and SMBus voltage level translator, a vital component for mixed-voltage system design. It features an enable (EN) input and operates across a broad voltage range, supporting 1.0V to 3.6V on one side (Vref(1)) and 1.8V to 5.5V on the other (Vbias(ref)(2)). This flexibility makes it an excellent solution for interfacing devices with different logic levels on the same bus.

Functioning as a 2-bit bidirectional translator for the SDA and SCL lines, it is fully compatible with Standard mode, Fast mode, and Fast mode Plus I2C-bus specifications, as well as SMBus. Its key advantage is providing seamless bidirectional voltage translation without requiring a separate direction control pin, simplifying circuit design and control logic.

Performance is enhanced by a remarkably low maximum propagation delay of less than 1.5ns, ensuring it can accommodate the timing requirements of standard and fast mode I2C devices, including systems with multiple bus masters. The low 3.5Ω ON-state resistance between input and output ports minimises signal distortion, preserving data integrity.

The I/O ports (SCL1, SDA1, SCL2, SDA2) are open-drain and 5V tolerant, supporting mixed-mode signal operation. When the enable pin (EN) is set LOW, these pins enter a high-impedance state, aiding in bus isolation. The design also features lock-up free operation for reliable performance and a flow-through pinout that simplifies printed-circuit board trace routing, saving valuable design time and board space.