Product Overview
The PCA9306DCTR from Texas Instruments is a dual bidirectional I2C bus and SMBus voltage-level translator in an 8-pin VSSOP (DCU) package. It enables seamless communication between devices operating at different voltage levels (1.0 V to 5.0 V on either side) without requiring a direction control signal, making it the simplest solution for mixed-voltage I2C system design.
Key Specifications
| VREF1 Range | 1.0 V to 5.0 V |
| VREF2 Range | 1.8 V to 5.0 V |
| Data Rate | Up to 400 kHz (I2C Fast-mode) |
| Channels | 2 (SDA, SCL) |
| Direction Control | None required (bidirectional auto-sensing) |
| Quiescent Current | 3 µA typ |
| EN Input | Active high, defaults to off when floating |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Package | VSSOP-8 (DCU) (2.3 × 2.0 × 0.9 mm) |
Features
- True bidirectional voltage translation without direction pin
- Open-drain I2C/SMBus compatible
- 1.0 V to 5.0 V translation range
- Ultra-low 3 µA quiescent current
- EN pin for device enable/disable
- Hot-insertion tolerant (Ioff circuitry)
Applications
- I2C bus voltage bridging
- SMBus level translation
- Mixed-voltage MCU peripheral interfacing
- Portable electronics power management
- Sensor module communication bridging