PCA6408A: Low-voltage, 8-bit I²C-bus and SMBus I/O expander with interrupt output, reset, and configuration registers

The PCA6408A is an 8-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 PCA6408A 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 PCA6408A: 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 PCA6408A 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 PCA6408A. The voltage level on Port P of the PCA6408A is determined by the VDD(P).

The PCA6408A consists of one 8-bit Configuration (input or output selection), Input, Output, and Polarity Inversion (active HIGH) register. 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 interrupts.

The system master can reset the PCA6408A 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 de-powering the part.

The PCA6408A 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 PCA6408A can remain a simple slave device.

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 SOT403-1
Data Sheets (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
Low-voltage, 8-bit I2C-bus and SMBus I/O expander with interrupt output, reset, and configuration registers (REV 1.0) PDF (2.5 MB) PCA6408A27 Sep 2012
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 (3)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
plastic, extermely thin quad flat package; no leads; 16 terminals (REV 1.0) PDF (217.0 kB) SOT1161-108 Feb 2016
plastic thin shrink small outline package; 16 leads; body width 4.4 mm (REV 1.0) PDF (300.0 kB) SOT403-108 Feb 2016
plastic thermal enhanced very thin quad flat package; no leads; 16 terminals; body 3 x 3 x 0.85 mm (REV 1.0) PDF (201.0 kB) SOT758-108 Feb 2016
Packing (3)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
HVQFN16; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or... (REV 2.0) PDF (262.0 kB) SOT758-1_11818 Apr 2013
TSSOP16; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or... (REV 1.0) PDF (218.0 kB) SOT403-1_11808 Apr 2013
Standard product orientation 12NC ending 115 (REV 2.0) PDF (88.0 kB) SOT1161-1_11505 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
ProductStatusNo of bitsVDD [min] (V)VDD [max] (V)Over volt tolerantNo of suppliesStandby current [typ] (µA)Max Sink Current per bit (mA)Max Sink Current, per package (mA)Source Current per bit (mA)Interrupt output pinReset input pinOutput modeInput mode: invert optionInternal pull-up resistor per bit (kOhm)I2C-bus (kHz)Footprint body and leads (mm2)Package namePackage versionOperating Temperature (Cel)No of Addresses
PCA6408AHKActive81.655.5Y20.52520010YYTotem poleYNo4005.13XQFN16SOT1161-1-40~852
PCA6408ABSActive81.655.5Y20.52520010YYTotem poleYNo4009.61HVQFN16SOT758-1-40~852
PCA6408APWActive81.655.5Y20.52520010YYTotem poleYNo40033.66TSSOP16SOT403-1-40~852
Package Information
Product IDPackage DescriptionOutline VersionReflow/Wave SolderingPackingProduct StatusPart NumberOrdering code(12NC)MarkingChemical ContentRoHS / Pb Free / RHFLeadFree Conversion DateEFRIFR(FIT)MTBF(hour)MSLMSL LF
PCA6408AHKSOT1161-1Reel 7" Q1/T1ActivePCA6408AHKX (9352 991 79115)P8PCA6408AHKAlways Pb-free0.04.02.5E811
PCA6408APWSOT403-1SSOP-TSSOP-VSO-WAVEReel 13" Q1/T1ActivePCA6408APW,118 (9352 960 24118)PA6408APCA6408APWAlways Pb-free0.04.02.5E811
PCA6408ABSSOT758-1Reel 13" Q2/T3ActivePCA6408ABSHP (9352 960 14128)P8APCA6408ABSAlways Pb-free0.04.02.5E811
Low-voltage, 8-bit I2C-bus and SMBus I/O expander with interrupt output, reset, and configuration registers pca6408a
Low Voltage Agile I/O GPIO Input/Output Characteristics pcal9555a
HVQFN16; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 Standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,118 or... PCF2123
Expert mode sample code for 8-bit Totem Pole PCAL9554BPW
plastic, extermely thin quad flat package; no leads; 16 terminals pcal6408a
Standard product orientation 12NC ending 115 pcal6408a
SOT403-1 LPC812M101JDH16
SSOP-TSSOP-VSO-WAVE LPC1114FDH28
Reel 13" Q1/T1 LPC812M101JDH16
plastic thermal enhanced very thin quad flat package; no leads; 16 terminals; body 3 x 3 x 0.85 mm PCF2123
NTBA104
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PCF7900VHN