Nexperia USA Inc. NCA9306GXX

Overview

NCA9306GXX from Nexperia is a 2-channel bidirectional I²C/SMBus voltage level translator with open-drain I/O, enabling seamless signal translation between 0.95 V and 5.0 V domains without direction control. It features an active-HIGH enable (EN) pin, supports up to 100 MHz up-translation and >100 MHz down-translation at ≤30 pF load, and delivers low ON-state resistance (RON ≤10 Ω typical) for minimal propagation delay in mixed-voltage system interconnects such as server baseboard management controllers.

For engineers reviewing the NCA9306GXX datasheet, NCA9306GXX pinout, NCA9306GXX application, or NCA9306GXX equivalent, key selection criteria include its dual-channel bidirectional operation, 5 V tolerant I/O pins, -40 °C to +125 °C operating range, EN-controlled high-impedance isolation, and compatibility with Standard-mode, Fast-mode, and Fast-mode Plus I²C buses.

Technical Context

The NCA9306GXX implements a passive FET-based bidirectional translation architecture with separate reference supplies (refA and refB) per side, eliminating need for direction control logic. Its internal clamping behavior ensures voltage limiting on the low-voltage side (SDAA/SCLA) to refA when the high-voltage side (SDAB/SCLB) drives LOW, while pull-up resistors on each side establish logic HIGH levels.

Dynamic performance is defined by capacitive loading: up-translation delay ranges from 0.06 ns (typ.) at 15 pF to 0.50 ns (max) at 50 pF; down-translation delay spans 0.13 ns (typ.) to 2.42 ns (max) across same loads. Static RON varies with voltage pairing - e.g., 3–7 Ω when refA = 3.3 V and refB = 5.0 V - directly impacting signal integrity in high-speed I²C links.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

X2SON8 package: plastic thermal enhanced extremely thin small outline package; no leads; 8 terminals; body size 1.35 × 0.8 × 0.32 mm (SOT1233-2).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar bidirectional I²C level translation applications.

Compared with TXS0102DCUR and PCA9306DP, the NCA9306GXX provides superior thermal ruggedness (-40 °C to +125 °C), guaranteed 5 V I/O tolerance, and higher HBM/CDM ESD ratings - making it the preferred choice for mission-critical infrastructure where reliability under voltage transients and wide temperature swings is mandatory.

Availability

NCA9306GXX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for server baseboard management, industrial PLC backplanes, telecom line cards, and automated test equipment requiring stable component supply across extended temperature and high-reliability environments.

Supply support for NCA9306GXX 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

Nexperia is a global semiconductor expert delivering high-performance logic, discrete, and MOSFET solutions with focus on efficiency, reliability, and miniaturization for industrial and computing markets.

The NCA9306 belongs to Nexperia's precision level translation product line, engineered specifically for robust, low-latency I²C/SMBus interoperability across heterogeneous voltage domains in infrastructure-grade electronics.

FAQ

Can NCA9306GXX translate between 1.2 V and 5.0 V I²C buses?

Yes. The NCA9306GXX explicitly supports bidirectional translation between 1.2 V (applied to refA) and 5.0 V (applied to refB), as confirmed in Section 2 "Features and benefits" of the datasheet. Pull-up resistors must be placed on both sides, with values selected per I²C bus speed and capacitance - e.g., 2.2 kΩ on the 5 V side and 1 kΩ on the 1.2 V side for Fast-mode operation.

What happens to the I²C bus when EN is pulled LOW?

When EN is LOW, the internal switch opens, placing SCLA, SDAA, SCLB, and SDAB into high-impedance states. This electrically isolates the two I²C segments, preventing cross-talk or contention during system reset, firmware update, or hot-swap events. Bus pull-ups maintain static HIGH levels on both sides independently.

Is external pull-up resistance required on both sides of the translator?

Yes. As stated in Section 1 "General description", "pull-up resistors are required to provide the logic HIGH levels on the translators bus" and "each side of the translator must have pull-up resistors." Omitting pull-ups on either side will prevent proper HIGH-level establishment and cause communication failure, especially in open-drain I²C topology.

Does NCA9306GXX support Fast-mode Plus (1 MPBS) I²C timing?

Yes. With ≤30 pF load, the device achieves up-translation speeds up to 100 MHz and down-translation >100 MHz, exceeding Fast-mode Plus requirements (1 MHz clock). Propagation delays remain below 0.5 ns (typ.) in this condition, preserving setup/hold timing margins for compliant slave devices.