NXP Semiconductors SC18IS600IPW/S8HP

Overview

SC18IS600IPW/S8HP from NXP Semiconductors is an SPI-to-I²C bridge IC that functions as a slave on the SPI bus and master on the I²C bus, enabling microcontrollers without native I²C peripherals to communicate with I²C slave devices. It operates from 2.4 V to 3.6 V, supports SPI Mode 3 at up to 1.2 Mbit/s, delivers I²C-bus speeds up to 400 kbit/s, and integrates 96-byte transmit/receive buffers for transaction buffering.

For engineers reviewing the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP datasheet, SC18IS600IPW/S8HP pinout, SC18IS600IPW/S8HP application, or SC18IS600IPW/S8HP equivalent, key selection considerations include its TSSOP16 package, 4 programmable GPIOs + 2 quasi-bidirectional I/Os, power-down mode with WAKEUP/IO4 control, active-low open-drain INT output, and internal RC oscillator eliminating external clock components.

Technical Context

The SC18IS600IPW/S8HP 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 SPI interface strictly complies with Mode 3 (CPOL = 1, CPHA = 0) and processes commands via fixed 8-bit opcodes (e.g., 0x00 for write, 0x01 for read, 0x30 for power-down).

Internal register mapping (0x00–0x05) enables real-time configuration of I/O pin types (quasi-bidirectional, push-pull, open-drain, input-only), I²C clock rate (via I2CClk register), time-out threshold (I2CTO), and status monitoring (I2CStat). The device uses a trimmed 7.3728 MHz internal RC oscillator (±1% at 25 °C) for I²C timing, independent of SPI clock source.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TSSOP16 package (SOT403-1), 4.4 mm body width, 0.65 mm lead pitch, surface-mount compatible.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with PCA9306DC12 and MAX7357ETE+, the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP uniquely provides full SPI-to-I²C protocol translation with hardware timing control, making it the only option among the three that enables I²C communication on hosts lacking native I²C peripherals.

Availability

SC18IS600IPW/S8HP is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor hubs, embedded system I²C expansion, IoT edge nodes with low-power wake-up, and legacy MCU upgrade paths requiring stable component supply and long-term manufacturability.

Supply support for SC18IS600IPW/S8HP 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 focused on secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with deep expertise in interface, power, and security ICs.

The SC18IS600IPW/S8HP belongs to NXP's interface bridge product line, designed specifically to extend I²C connectivity to resource-constrained or legacy microcontrollers via simple SPI integration-reducing firmware complexity and improving system reliability.

FAQ

What is the maximum SPI clock frequency supported by the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP?

The SC18IS600IPW/S8HP supports SPI clock frequencies up to 1.2 MHz in Mode 3 (CPOL = 1, CPHA = 0). This limit is defined by internal timing constraints and ensures reliable sampling of MOSI and stable MISO output timing. Exceeding 1.2 MHz may result in command corruption or missed interrupts. The SC18IS600IPW/S8HP does not support 3 MHz operation despite some documentation references to "up to 3 Mbit/s"-the validated and guaranteed maximum is 1.2 Mbit/s per the Rev. 8 datasheet.

Does the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP require an external crystal or clock source?

No, the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP includes an internal trimmed RC oscillator operating at 7.3728 MHz ±1% (at 25 °C), which serves as the timing reference for I²C-bus clock generation. This eliminates the need for external crystals, capacitors, or clock generators, reducing BOM cost and PCB footprint. The oscillator is factory-trimmed and requires no user calibration.

How many I²C slave devices can the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP communicate with simultaneously?

The SC18IS600IPW/S8HP functions as a single-master I²C controller and can communicate with any number of I²C slave devices sharing the same bus, provided each has a unique 7-bit address and adheres to I²C bus loading limits (total capacitance ≤ 400 pF). It does not multiplex or arbitrate between multiple masters-it exclusively controls the SDA and SCL lines as the sole bus master.

Can the GPIO pins on the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP be used as interrupt inputs to the host MCU?

Yes, GPIO0–GPIO3 and IO5 can be configured as Schmitt-triggered inputs with glitch suppression, making them suitable for asynchronous event detection (e.g., button presses, sensor alerts). When configured as inputs, their state is readable via the IOState register (0x01). However, the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP itself does not generate interrupts to the host based on GPIO transitions-the host must poll or use external logic to detect changes.

What happens to the I²C bus during SC18IS600IPW/S8HP power-down mode?

During power-down mode, the SC18IS600IPW/S8HP disables its internal oscillator, halts all SPI and I²C activity, and places SDA and SCL in high-impedance states-effectively removing itself from the I²C bus without disturbing ongoing traffic. The bus remains fully operational for other masters, and no clock or data glitches are introduced. Exit from power-down is initiated solely by a LOW pulse on WAKEUP/IO4.