Diodes Incorporated PI6ULS5V9617BUEX

Overview

PI6ULS5V9617BUEX from Diodes Incorporated is a 2-channel bidirectional I²C-bus/SMBus repeater IC enabling voltage-level translation between 0.6V–5.5V (Port A) and 2.2V–5.5V (Port B), supporting Fast-mode Plus (1 MHz), arbitration, clock stretching, and 540 pF bus capacitance per side at full speed. It isolates bus segments for mixed-voltage systems such as 0.9V microcontrollers interfacing with 3.3V sensors in industrial IoT edge nodes.

For engineers reviewing the PI6ULS5V9617BUEX datasheet, PI6ULS5V9617BUEX pinout, PI6ULS5V9617BUEX application, or PI6ULS5V9617BUEX equivalent, this device delivers verified bidirectional level-shifting with static offset compensation on Port B and adjustable threshold logic on Port A-critical for low-voltage I²C extension without signal integrity degradation.

Technical Context

The PI6ULS5V9617BUEX implements dual open-drain bidirectional buffers with independent supply domains: VCC(A) powers input threshold references (0.35×VCC(A) for LOW detection), while all logic and I/Os are powered by VCC(B). Its B-side drivers use static offset (~0.55V VOL) to prevent lockup during low-voltage transitions, whereas A-side drivers deliver near-0V LOW output compatible with sub-1V logic.

Propagation delays are asymmetric and direction-dependent: A→B tPHL is 50–173 ns, B→A tPHL is 76–152 ns; enable/disable timing is ≤100 ns. The EN pin is referenced to VCC(B), requires idle-state assertion, and internally pulls up to VCC(B)-ensuring safe power-up sequencing and bus isolation during system reset.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 8-pin MSOP (U), RoHS-compliant, halogen- and antimony-free "Green" construction.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar I²C bus repeater applications.

Compared with PCA9515DP and TCA9617APWR, the PI6ULS5V9617BUEX uniquely supports true 0.6V logic translation with Port A threshold scaling, delivers Fm+ timing compliance, and uses proven static offset architecture to eliminate bus lockup-making it the only option for robust ultra-low-voltage I²C extension in mission-critical embedded systems.

Availability

PI6ULS5V9617BUEX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor hubs, automotive body control modules, medical wearables, and server baseboard management requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and RoHS-compliant green packaging.

Supply support for PI6ULS5V9617BUEX 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, high-reliability solutions for power management, signal integrity, and connectivity applications.

The PI6ULS5V9617BUEX belongs to Diodes' Pericom® I²C infrastructure portfolio, designed specifically to solve mixed-voltage I²C scalability challenges in space-constrained, low-power, and noise-sensitive embedded systems.

FAQ

Can PI6ULS5V9617BUEX operate with VCC(A) = 0.6V and VCC(B) = 2.2V simultaneously?

Yes. The device is fully specified for this condition: VCC(A) ≥ 0.6V and VCC(B) ≥ 2.2V satisfy absolute minimums, and the constraint 0.4×VCC(A) + 0.8V ≤ VCC(B) holds (0.4×0.6 + 0.8 = 1.04V ≤ 2.2V). At these rails, Port A achieves valid LOW detection (VIL ≤ 0.35×0.6 = 0.21V) and Port B delivers ~0.55V VOL-verified in DS42539 Rev 2-2 Section 4 DC Characteristics.

What happens if EN is toggled during an active I²C transaction?

Toggling EN mid-transaction will halt bus communication: disabling EN forces both ports into high-impedance state while SDA/SCL lines remain driven by external pull-ups, breaking arbitration and preventing clock stretching acknowledgment. The datasheet explicitly warns against EN state changes except during bus idle periods (Section 7.3 Functional Description).

Does PI6ULS5V9617BUEX support SMBus Alert Response Address (ARA) protocol?

Yes. As a transparent, bidirectional repeater with full arbitration and clock stretching support, it passes SMBus ARA traffic (including 0x0C address broadcast and slave response) without modification. This is confirmed by its qualification for SMBus standard and high-power mode in the Features list and Application Information section.

Is there a recommended pull-up resistor value for 1 MHz operation with 300 pF bus load?

For 1 MHz Fm+ with 300 pF load per side, Diodes recommends RL = 1.35 kΩ on Port B and matching pull-up on Port A (DS42539 Rev 2-2 Figure 4 test condition). This yields ~67.5 ns RC time constant-below the 100 ns minimum required to avoid turnaround bounce on Port B's buffered LOW transitions.