Diodes Incorporated PI3CH800QEX

Overview

PI3CH800QEX from Diodes Incorporated is an 8-bit, low-voltage bus switch with active-low enable, supporting 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V supply operation, 500 MHz signal bandwidth, 5 Ω typical on-resistance, and hot-plug capability - used for high-speed data routing in backplane and docking interfaces.

For engineers reviewing the PI3CH800QEX datasheet, PI3CH800QEX pinout, PI3CH800QEX application, or PI3CH800QEX equivalent, key selection criteria include rail-to-rail analog switching range (0–5 V at 3.3 V supply), sub-0.3 ns propagation delay, 8 kV HBM ESD rating, and 20-pin QSOP package compatibility with legacy board layouts.

Technical Context

The PI3CH800QEX implements eight independent bilateral analog/digital switches controlled by a single active-low enable (EN) input. Each channel features near-zero propagation delay and operates across three supply voltages without level-shifting circuitry.

Its beyond-rail switching supports 0–5 V signals with 3.3 V supply, 0–3.3 V with 2.5 V supply, and maintains 5 V I/O tolerance in both ON and OFF states - enabling interoperability between mixed-voltage subsystems in telecom and computing infrastructure.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

PI3CH800QEX is housed in a 20-pin, 150-mil wide plastic QSOP (Q) package with standard 0.025" pitch and gull-wing leads. Pin 10 is GND; Pin 20 is VCC; Pins 2–9 are A-side ports; Pins 11–18 are B-side ports; Pin 19 is active-low EN.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar 8-bit bus switch applications.

Compared with SN74CBT3245APW and TS3A227EYZR, PI3CH800QEX uniquely combines 8-bit density, beyond-rail analog switching, hot-plug robustness, and industrial temperature support - making it optimal for telecom backplanes and modular server designs requiring mixed-voltage interoperability and field-replaceable reliability.

Availability

PI3CH800QEX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for server backplane switching, hot-swappable module docking, and DDR memory bus multiplexing requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for PI3CH800QEX 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

Diodes Incorporated is a global manufacturer of discrete semiconductors and integrated circuits, specializing in high-performance analog, logic, and power solutions for industrial, computing, and communications markets.

The PI3CH800 series belongs to Diodes' high-bandwidth analog switch product line, engineered specifically for hot-pluggable datacom infrastructure requiring rail-to-rail signal integrity, low on-resistance, and robust ESD immunity.

FAQ

Can PI3CH800QEX operate with 5 V on its I/O pins while powered from 1.8 V?

Yes. The device supports 5 V I/O tolerance in both ON and OFF states across all supply voltages (1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V). This allows interfacing with higher-voltage peripherals without level shifters, verified per datasheet Section "5V I/O tolerant with supply in OFF and ON state" and DC Electrical Characteristics tables.

What is the maximum capacitive load the PI3CH800QEX can drive while maintaining 500 MHz bandwidth?

The 500 MHz –3 dB bandwidth is characterized with a 10 pF load (per Test Circuit on page 6 of DS40809 Rev 1-2). Driving loads >10 pF degrades bandwidth due to RC time constant effects; for 20 pF loads, measured bandwidth drops to ~350 MHz, as confirmed in Dynamic Electrical Characteristics test conditions.

Does PI3CH800QEX require external pull-up or pull-down resistors on the EN pin?

No. The EN pin has CMOS-compatible input thresholds (VIH = 2.0 V min at 3.3 V supply; VIL = 0.8 V max) and leakage current ≤±1 μA. It may be driven directly from FPGA GPIO or microcontroller outputs without biasing, provided the driving source meets VIH/VIL specifications over temperature.

How does the PI3CH800QEX achieve "near-zero propagation delay" despite having finite on-resistance?

Propagation delay is dominated by the RC time constant of R_ON (5 Ω) and load capacitance (e.g., 10 pF → τ ≈ 0.05 ns). This is negligible versus typical signal edge rates; measured t_PLH/t_PHL remains <0.3 ns, as specified in Switch Characteristics tables for all supply voltages - confirming system-level delay is effectively zero.