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Diodes Incorporated PI7C9X1172BLEX
- Part No.:
- PI7C9X1172BLEX
- Manufacturer:
- Diodes Incorporated
- Category:
- Controllers
- Package:
- 28-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)
- Datasheet:
-
PI7C9X1172BLEX.pdf
- Description:
- IC BRIDGE CTRLR I2C/SPI 24TQFN
- Quantity:
- Payment:
- Shipping:
Inventory:2,289
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Product details
Overview
PI7C9X1172BLEX from Diodes Incorporated is a dual-channel, I2C/SPI-to-UART bridge controller with 64-byte TX/RX FIFOs, hardware/software flow control, RS-485 auto-direction control, and IrDA SIR support up to 1.152 Mbps. It operates at 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V, supports baud rates up to 16 Mbps (4× sampling), and integrates eight GPIOs - used in industrial automation gateways requiring protocol translation between microcontrollers and legacy serial peripherals.
For engineers reviewing the PI7C9X1172BLEX datasheet, PI7C9X1172BLEX pinout, PI7C9X1172BLEX application, or PI7C9X1172BLEX equivalent, key selection criteria include dual UART channel independence, I2C fast-mode (400 kHz) and SPI slave mode (33 MHz) timing compatibility, RS-485 half-duplex driver control via EN485#, and register-level backward compatibility with 16C450/16C550 UARTs.
Technical Context
The PI7C9X1172BLEX implements two independent UART channels sharing a single I2C or SPI host interface, each with fully programmable framing (5–8 bit, parity, 1/1.5/2 stop bits), fractional baud rate generation, and separate RX/TX FIFO trigger level registers (TLR). Its internal 16C450-compatible register map enables drop-in firmware reuse across legacy UART drivers.
Hardware flow control uses dedicated RTS#/CTS# pins per channel with Auto-RTS/Auto-CTS logic tied to configurable RX FIFO halt/resume thresholds in the TCR register; RS-485 direction control is enabled by pulling EN485# low, causing RTS# to toggle driver enable synchronously with transmit activity - eliminating external logic.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dual UART Channels | Fully independent TXA/RXA and TXB/RXB paths with separate FIFOs, interrupt sources, and control registers - enabling concurrent RS-232 and RS-485 communication on one device. |
| Interface Options | I2C-bus (fast-mode, 400 kHz) or SPI slave (mode 0, 33 MHz max) - selectable via I2C/SPI# pin; no host-side protocol conversion required. |
| FIFO Depth | 64 bytes per channel (TX + RX), reducing CPU interrupt load by >90% vs. 16-byte FIFO UARTs in high-throughput industrial telemetry applications. |
| Baud Rate Range | Up to 16 Mbps (4× sampling clock); supports standard rates (9600–921.6 kbps) and fractional dividers for precise timing in motor control feedback loops. |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.63 V operation - compatible with modern low-voltage MCUs and battery-powered edge nodes without level-shifting circuitry. |
| GPIO Count | Eight user-programmable I/O pins (GPIO0–GPIO7), configurable as UART modem signals (DSR/DTR/RI/CD) or general-purpose digital I/O - eliminating discrete logic in compact HMI designs. |
| RS-485 Support | Hardware-enforced half-duplex direction control via EN485# and RTS# - eliminates external transceiver direction logic and prevents bus contention during transmit/receive transitions. |
Pinout & Package
PI7C9X1172BLEX is available in 32-pin QFN (5 mm × 5 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) and 28-pin TSSOP packages. The QFN variant includes an exposed thermal pad (soldered to PCB ground) for enhanced thermal dissipation in continuous UART operation.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| TXA / TXB | UART Transmit Output (Channel A/B) | CMOS-level serial output; supports standard UART idle-high or IrDA idle-low modes selected by ENIR# at power-up. |
| RXA / RXB | UART Receive Input (Channel A/B) | CMOS input with configurable idle state (HIGH for UART, LOW for IrDA); requires pull-up/pull-down if unused. |
| RTSA# / RTSB# | Request-to-Send Output (Channel A/B) | Open-drain output used for Auto-RTS flow control or RS-485 driver enable; polarity inverted when EN485# = LOW. |
| CTSA# / CTSB# | Clear-to-Send Input (Channel A/B) | Input for Auto-CTS flow control; sampled mid-stop-bit to prevent overrun - no software polling required. |
| EN485# | RS-485 Mode Enable | Active-low input sampled at power-up; when LOW, RTS# becomes synchronous RS-485 driver direction control signal. |
| ENIR# | IrDA Mode Enable | Active-low input sampled at power-up; when LOW, TX/RX pins operate as IrDA encoder/decoder with built-in pulse shaping. |
| IRQ# | Interrupt Request Output | Open-drain active-low interrupt signaling UART events (RX ready, TX empty, modem status change) - shared across both channels. |
| RESET# | Hardware Reset Input | Active-low asynchronous reset (min. 40 ns pulse); clears all registers and places TX outputs in idle state. |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| 16C450 Register Compatibility | Full software compatibility with legacy UART drivers - enables reuse of existing Linux kernel drivers and RTOS BSPs without modification. |
| Programmable FIFO Trigger Levels | Independent RX/TX interrupt thresholds (1–64 bytes) via TLR register - allows fine-tuning interrupt frequency to match host MCU processing latency. |
| Auto RS-485 Half-Duplex Control | Zero-software-direction switching: RTS# toggles automatically on TX start/end - eliminates timing-critical GPIO toggling in firmware. |
| IrDA SIR Support (1.152 Mbps) | Built-in encoder/decoder with Manchester encoding - removes need for external IrDA PHY in portable medical devices and handheld scanners. |
| Software Reset Capability | UART core reset via register write (no hardware RESET# assertion needed) - enables safe reinitialization during runtime without affecting host system power domain. |
Applications
| Industrial PLC Gateway | Smart Energy Meter |
|---|---|
|
Use Scenario: Protocol translation between ARM-based PLC controller (I2C/SPI) and legacy RS-485 Modbus RTU field devices. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Dual UART bridge with automatic RS-485 direction control and hardware flow control - handles simultaneous Modbus master/slave traffic. Use Value: Eliminates external level shifters and direction logic; 64-byte FIFOs sustain 115.2 kbps Modbus bursts without packet loss under 10 ms MCU interrupt latency. |
Use Scenario: Secure data logging in ANSI C12.19-compliant electricity meters using isolated RS-485 and tamper-detection GPIOs. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: UART channel A for metering IC communication (SPI), channel B for utility-side RS-485 port with carrier detect (CD) and ring indicator (RI) monitoring. Use Value: Eight GPIOs configured as CD/RI/DSR/DTR provide direct tamper switch and optical port status sensing - no external GPIO expander required. |
| Medical Handheld Scanner | Factory Automation HMI |
|
Use Scenario: Barcode scanner with IrDA uplink to central terminal and RS-232 debug port for field service. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Single-chip solution for IrDA SIR (115.2 kbps) and RS-232 (9600–115.2 kbps) with shared I2C host interface. Use Value: ENIR# pin selects IrDA mode at boot; built-in encoder/decoder reduces BOM count by one IC and saves 12 mm² PCB area vs. discrete PHY + UART. |
Use Scenario: Touchscreen HMI panel connecting to multiple CNC controllers via RS-232 and RS-485 simultaneously. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Dual UART with independent FIFOs and interrupt lines - enables real-time response to CNC alarm signals (via IRQ#) while streaming position data. Use Value: Auto-RTS/CTS per channel prevents buffer overflow during high-speed G-code streaming; 1.8V–3.3V supply matches modern display controller voltage rails. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar dual UART bridge applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC16IS752IPW | Single I2C interface, 64-byte FIFOs, no RS-485 auto-direction or IrDA support; supports SPI only in newer revisions (not original SC16IS752). | Lacks EN485# and ENIR# pins - requires external RS-485 direction logic and discrete IrDA PHY for SIR. | Select when RS-485/IrDA features are unnecessary and cost-per-channel is prioritized over integration. |
| MAX3107ETJ+ | Single SPI-only interface, 128-byte FIFOs, no I2C support, no GPIOs beyond modem control pins, no RS-485 auto-control. | Requires external GPIO expander for DSR/DTR/RI/CD; no hardware RS-485 direction management - increases firmware complexity. | Select when maximum FIFO depth (128B) and SPI-only host architecture dominate design constraints. |
Compared with SC16IS752IPW and MAX3107ETJ+, the PI7C9X1172BLEX uniquely integrates RS-485 auto-direction, IrDA SIR, eight GPIOs, and dual-interface (I2C/SPI) flexibility - reducing total component count by 3–5 ICs in mixed-protocol industrial edge nodes.
Availability
PI7C9X1172BLEX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation gateways, smart energy meters, medical handheld scanners, and factory HMI panels requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.
Supply support for PI7C9X1172BLEX 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 company specializing in discrete, analog, and mixed-signal ICs for power management, signal integrity, and connectivity applications.
The PI7C9X1172BLEX belongs to Diodes' high-integration UART bridge product line, designed specifically for resource-constrained embedded systems needing seamless protocol translation between modern host interfaces and legacy serial peripherals.
FAQ
Does PI7C9X1172BLEX support both I2C and SPI simultaneously?
No - the I2C/SPI# pin selects interface mode at power-up: HIGH enables I2C-bus (400 kHz fast-mode), LOW enables SPI slave (mode 0, 33 MHz max). Both protocols share the same physical pins (SCL/SDA or SCLK/SI/SO), so concurrent operation is not supported. Configuration is static after reset.
How does RS-485 auto-direction work without external logic?
When EN485# is pulled LOW at power-up, the RTS# output becomes a synchronous RS-485 driver enable signal: it asserts before TX starts and deasserts after TX completes. This timing is hardware-generated and independent of software, eliminating bus contention and removing need for external direction-control circuitry.
What is the maximum IrDA data rate supported?
The PI7C9X1172BLEX supports IrDA SIR (Serial Infrared) at up to 1.152 Mbps when ENIR# is LOW. At power-up, ENIR# samples the pin state: LOW configures TX/RX for IrDA encoding/decoding with built-in pulse shaping; HIGH configures standard UART operation.
Can both UART channels use different baud rates independently?
Yes - each UART channel (A and B) has its own programmable baud rate generator with independent divisors. The divisor range is 1 to 65535, allowing precise configuration of distinct rates (e.g., 921.6 kbps on Channel A, 115.2 kbps on Channel B) without shared clock dependencies.
PI7C9X1172BLEX Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Diodes Incorporated
- Package/Case:
- 28-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)
- Programmable:
- Not Verified
- Protocol:
- I2C
- Function:
- Bridge, I2C/SPI to UART
- Interface:
- UART
- Standards:
- -
- Voltage - Supply:
- 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V
- Current - Supply:
- -
- Operating Temperature:
- -
- Supplier Device Package:
- 28-TSSOP
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
PI7C9X1172BLEX FAQ
1.How can I place an order for PI7C9X1172BLEX through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for PI7C9X1172BLEX on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for PI7C9X1172BLEX reliable?
The price and inventory of PI7C9X1172BLEX are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for PI7C9X1172BLEX is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for PI7C9X1172BLEX?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for PI7C9X1172BLEX transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for PI7C9X1172BLEX?
PI7C9X1172BLEX orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your PI7C9X1172BLEX order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for PI7C9X1172BLEX?
For technical support, including PI7C9X1172BLEX datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your PI7C9X1172BLEX requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that PI7C9X1172BLEX is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All PI7C9X1172BLEX products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that PI7C9X1172BLEX meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of PI7C9X1172BLEX?
All PI7C9X1172BLEX units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with PI7C9X1172BLEX, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The PI7C9X1172BLEX part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for PI7C9X1172BLEX:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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