NXP Semiconductors SC18IS600IPW,128

Overview

SC18IS600IPW,128 from NXP Semiconductors is an SPI-to-I²C bridge IC that enables a microcontroller's SPI interface to control I²C-bus slave devices as a single-master controller. It operates at 2.4 V–3.6 V, supports SPI Mode 3 up to 1.2 Mbit/s, delivers I²C-bus speeds up to 400 kbit/s, and integrates 96-byte TX/RX buffers for reliable transaction handling in embedded sensor and peripheral interfacing applications.

For engineers reviewing the SC18IS600IPW,128 datasheet, SC18IS600IPW,128 pinout, SC18IS600IPW,128 application, or SC18IS600IPW,128 equivalent, key selection considerations include its TSSOP16 package, 5 V-tolerant I/O pins, programmable GPIO configuration (quasi-bidirectional/push-pull/open-drain/input-only), power-down mode with WAKEUP/IO4 control, and active-low interrupt signaling for real-time status reporting.

Technical Context

The SC18IS600IPW,128 implements a dedicated hardware I²C-bus controller with full protocol handling-including arbitration, START/STOP generation, ACK/NACK management, and clock stretching-offloading timing-critical tasks from the host MCU. Its internal RC oscillator runs at 7.3728 MHz ±1%, enabling precise I²C clock derivation via the I2CClk register.

It uses a register-mapped SPI slave interface (Mode 3) with command-based message framing (e.g., 0x00 for write, 0x01 for read), supports multi-step transactions like I²C read-after-write (0x02), and provides configurable GPIOs (GPIO0–GPIO3) plus two fixed quasi-bidirectional I/Os (IO4/WAKEUP and IO5), all with Schmitt-triggered inputs and glitch suppression.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TSSOP16 package (SOT403-1), 4.4 mm body width, surface-mount, lead-free compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar SPI-to-I²C bridge applications.

Compared with PCA9306DC,128 and TCA9548APWR, the SC18IS600IPW,128 uniquely provides full SPI-to-I²C protocol translation with integrated buffers, GPIOs, and power management - making it the only solution for MCU platforms lacking native I²C hardware or requiring autonomous transaction handling.

Availability

SC18IS600IPW,128 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor hubs, embedded display interfaces, smart energy metering, and IoT edge node gateways requiring stable component supply and long-term manufacturability.

Supply support for SC18IS600IPW,128 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

NXP Semiconductors is a global semiconductor leader specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with broad expertise in interface, power management, and microcontroller technologies.

The SC18IS600IPW,128 belongs to NXP's interface bridge product line, designed specifically to simplify connectivity between legacy or resource-constrained hosts and standardized I²C peripherals in space- and power-constrained embedded systems.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the SC18IS600IPW,128?

The SC18IS600IPW,128 is a dedicated SPI-to-I²C bridge IC that enables an SPI-capable host (e.g., microcontroller) to communicate with I²C-bus slave devices without requiring native I²C hardware. It handles all I²C protocol details - including START/STOP generation, arbitration, ACK/NACK, and clock stretching - while operating as a single-master controller. The SC18IS600IPW,128 executes this role using its internal RC oscillator and register-mapped SPI command interface.

Does the SC18IS600IPW,128 support multiple I²C slave addresses?

Yes, the SC18IS600IPW,128 supports dynamic I²C slave addressing through its I2CAdr register (address 0x05), which stores the 7-bit address used when the SC18IS600IPW,128 itself acts as an I²C slave (e.g., for firmware updates). For master operations, the SC18IS600IPW,128 transmits any 7-bit slave address provided in SPI commands (0x00–0x03), enabling communication with multiple distinct I²C devices on the same bus.

How does the power-down mode work on the SC18IS600IPW,128?

The SC18IS600IPW,128 enters power-down mode upon receiving the exact SPI command sequence: 0x30 followed by 0x5A then 0xA5. In this state, the internal oscillator stops and the device ignores further SPI traffic. To wake it, the host must drive the WAKEUP/IO4 pin LOW. After wake-up, the SC18IS600IPW,128 resumes operation with registers intact. The SC18IS600IPW,128 draws less than 1 µA in this mode at industrial temperatures.

Can the GPIO pins on the SC18IS600IPW,128 be used for interrupt signaling?

Yes, GPIO0–GPIO3 on the SC18IS600IPW,128 can be configured as inputs with Schmitt-triggered logic and glitch suppression, making them suitable for detecting external events (e.g., button presses or sensor alerts). Their state is readable via the IOState register (0x01), and changes can trigger host polling or be combined with the dedicated INT pin for prioritized notification. The SC18IS600IPW,128 does not generate interrupts directly from GPIO transitions - that requires host firmware coordination.

What is the maximum I²C clock frequency achievable with the SC18IS600IPW,128?

The SC18IS600IPW,128 supports I²C-bus speeds up to 400 kbit/s (Fast-mode), as confirmed in its datasheet. This maximum is achieved using the internal 7.3728 MHz oscillator and appropriate I2CClk register settings (e.g., decimal value 5 yields ~369 kHz). The SC18IS600IPW,128 does not support High-speed mode (3.4 Mbit/s) or SMBus-specific timings - its I²C implementation complies fully with the standard I²C-bus specification up to Fast-mode.