Diodes Incorporated PI6ULS5V9306WEX

Overview

PI6ULS5V9306 from Diodes Incorporated is a dual bidirectional I²C-bus and SMBus voltage-level translator with enable control, supporting 0.9 V–3.3 V (VREF1) and 1.8 V–5 V (VREF2) domains, ≤1.5 ns max propagation delay, 3.5 Ω typical ON-state resistance, and 4 kV HBM ESD rating - deployed in mixed-voltage sensor hubs interfacing 1.2 V microcontrollers with 3.3 V EEPROMs.

For engineers reviewing the PI6ULS5V9306 datasheet, PI6ULS5V9306 pinout, PI6ULS5V9306 application, or PI6ULS5V9306 equivalent, key selection criteria include bidirectional translation without direction pin, open-drain I/O compatibility, EN-controlled isolation, and support for Standard/Fast/Fast-Plus I²C timing across asymmetric voltage pairs.

Technical Context

The PI6ULS5V9306 implements passive MOSFET-based clamping architecture with no internal level-shifting active circuitry, enabling seamless bidirectional signal flow between mismatched I²C domains. Its EN-controlled pass-gate structure provides high-impedance isolation when disabled, eliminating bus contention during power sequencing or fault recovery.

Each channel (SCL/SDA) exhibits matched electrical characteristics: identical ON-resistance, propagation delay asymmetry <0.5 ns, and symmetric input/output capacitance (4 pF off-state, 10.5 pF on-state), ensuring deterministic timing behavior across both translation directions and eliminating skew-induced clock stretching.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

PI6ULS5V9306 is available in multiple 8-pin packages including SOIC-8 (W), MSOP-8 (M), VSSOP-8 (V), SSOP-8 (SS), SOT28 (TA), and X2-DFN-8 (HK); all share identical pin mapping and function.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with TCA9617A and PCA9306, PI6ULS5V9306 uniquely combines 5 V-tolerant I/O, sub-1.5 ns delay, and 3.5 Ω Ron in a passive architecture - making it optimal for high-reliability industrial and automotive I²C bridges requiring mixed 1.0–5 V interoperability without active biasing.

Availability

PI6ULS5V9306 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor hubs, automotive body control modules, server baseboard management, and medical patient monitors requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long lifecycle commitments.

Supply support for PI6ULS5V9306 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 semiconductor manufacturer specializing in discrete, analog, and mixed-signal ICs for power management, signal integrity, and connectivity applications.

The PI6ULS5V9306 belongs to Diodes' high-speed interface translation product line, engineered specifically for robust, low-latency I²C/SMBus interoperability across heterogeneous voltage domains in automotive, industrial, and computing systems.

FAQ

What is the minimum VREF1 voltage supported by PI6ULS5V9306?

The absolute minimum VREF1 is 0.9 V per datasheet specifications, but system-level reliability requires limiting use to ≥1.2 V when interfacing with standard I²C devices. Below 1.2 V, VOL margin erosion on the low-voltage side increases risk of logic HIGH misinterpretation - especially with 3.3 V or 5 V pullups - necessitating careful VOL validation per Figure 6 in DS41008 Rev 5-2.

Can PI6ULS5V9306 translate between 1.0 V and 5 V I²C buses?

Yes - PI6ULS5V9306 explicitly supports 1.0 V VREF1 with 5 V VREF2 per its "0.9 V to 3.3 V" and "1.8 V to 5 V" operating ranges. The device achieves this via adaptive clamping that limits SCL1/SDA1 voltage to VREF1 when SCL2/SDA2 is HIGH, while allowing full 5 V tolerance on the high-side pins due to internal gate oxide protection.

How does EN pin voltage affect ON-resistance performance?

EN voltage directly controls Ron: at VEN = 4.5 V, Ron is 3.5 Ω typ.; at VEN = 2.3 V, Ron rises to 6.3 Ω typ.; below 1.5 V, Ron exceeds 60 Ω - degrading signal integrity. Therefore, EN must be driven from VREF2 (not VREF1) using a pullup to ensure sufficient gate overdrive and maintain <5 Ω Ron across temperature and process corners.

Is PI6ULS5V9306 compatible with Fast-Mode Plus (1 MHz) I²C operation?

Yes - with ≤1.5 ns maximum propagation delay and <10.5 pF on-state capacitance, PI6ULS5V9306 meets Fast-Mode Plus timing budgets when used with optimized pullup resistors (e.g., 1.8 kΩ for 3.3 V → 1.8 V translation) and total bus capacitance ≤200 pF. System-level validation is required due to RC dependency on external components and layout.