Infineon Technologies CY8C3246AXI-131

Overview

CY8C3246AXI-131 from Infineon Technologies (acquired Cypress Semiconductor) is a programmable 8-bit PSoC® 3 system-on-chip integrating an enhanced 8051 CPU core, configurable analog and digital peripherals, 64 KB flash, 8 KB RAM, and CapSense® capacitive sensing capability. It operates from 1.71–5.5 V, supports up to 50 MHz clocking via internal PLL, and delivers ultra-low-power operation down to 200 nA in hibernate mode with RAM retention - enabling battery-powered human-interface and sensor-fusion applications.

For engineers reviewing the CY8C3246AXI-131 datasheet, CY8C3246AXI-131 pinout, CY8C3246AXI-131 application, or CY8C3246AXI-131 equivalent, key selection criteria include its 48-pin SSOP package, dual-voltage I/O domains (VDDIO0–VDDIO3), integrated USB 2.0 FS PHY, 12-bit Delta-Sigma ADC with <±1 LSB INL, and UDB-based reconfigurable digital logic for custom protocol implementation.

Technical Context

The CY8C3246AXI-131 implements a single-cycle 8051 CPU core running at up to 50 MHz, supported by a 24-channel DMA controller and nested vectored interrupt controller for sub-2-cycle latency. Its digital subsystem centers on 24 Universal Digital Blocks (UDBs), enabling user-defined peripherals including UART, SPI, I²C, PWM, PRS, CRC, and quadrature decoders - all routable to any GPIO via the Digital System Interconnect (DSI).

Analog resources include an 8–12-bit Delta-Sigma ADC (66 dB SINAD, ±100 µV offset), dual comparators, 8-bit DAC (1 MSPS VDAC / 8 MSPS IDAC), 1.024 V ±1% reference, and dedicated CapSense® blocks supporting up to 62 self- or mutual-capacitance sensors. All analog signals route through a shared analog bus, with full GPIO analog capability.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 48-pin SSOP (Small Outline Integrated Circuit), 0.635 mm pitch, body size 15.4 × 7.5 mm. Compatible with standard surface-mount assembly and reflow profiles.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar programmable SoC applications.

Compared with CY8C3246AXI-131, CY8C3247LTI-131 trades USB integration for higher pin density in QFN, while CY8C4247LTI-483 shifts to ARM architecture with greater compute headroom but requires external USB solution and lacks dedicated CapSense® hardware - making CY8C3246AXI-131 optimal for USB-connected, touch-centric embedded designs with tight power budgets.

Availability

CY8C3246AXI-131 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMI panels, medical patient monitors, smart home sensors, and automotive cabin controls requiring stable component supply across long-lifecycle production programs.

Supply support for CY8C3246AXI-131 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Infineon Technologies acquired Cypress Semiconductor in 2020 and now manufactures and supports the PSoC® family. Cypress pioneered programmable analog-digital SoCs for embedded control, emphasizing flexibility, low power, and rapid prototyping.

The CY8C32 series targets cost-sensitive, battery-operated, and human-interface applications where analog integration, capacitive sensing, and USB connectivity must coexist on a single chip - delivering design agility without sacrificing precision or power efficiency.

FAQ

Does CY8C3246AXI-131 support USB device enumeration without external components?

Yes. The part integrates a certified USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY (TID#40770053) with internal termination resistors and differential drivers. When configured with appropriate descriptors and firmware using PSoC Creator, it enumerates as a USB device directly - no external transceiver, resistors, or magnetics required for basic HID or CDC classes.

What is the maximum achievable resolution for PWM-based DAC output using UDBs?

Using the UDB array's programmable logic and PWM generators, users can implement delta-sigma or pulse-width modulated DACs up to 10-bit effective resolution at 48 kHz update rate. This is achieved by configuring multiple UDBs to generate high-frequency PWM with variable duty cycle and external RC filtering - extending beyond the native 8-bit VDAC's 1 MSPS limit.

Can all GPIO pins be used simultaneously for CapSense® and analog ADC acquisition?

No. While all GPIOs support CapSense® and analog routing, simultaneous use for both functions on the same pin is not permitted. The analog multiplexer selects either CapSense® charge-transfer path or ADC input path per pin. Concurrent operation requires time-multiplexing or dedicating separate pin groups - e.g., P0[0]–P0[7] for CapSense®, P1[0]–P1[7] for ADC inputs.

Is the internal 1.024 V reference usable for external circuit biasing?

No. The 1.024 V ±1% internal reference is routed exclusively to on-die analog blocks (ADC, DAC, comparators) and cannot be output to a pin. For external biasing, designers must use the VREF output pin (if available on variant) or buffer the bandgap reference via an external op-amp driven from a GPIO-configured DAC output.