Texas Instruments TCA6507PW

Overview

TCA6507PW from Texas Instruments is a low-voltage 7-bit I²C/SMBus LED driver IC with programmable intensity control, fade/blink timing, and shutdown capability. It features seven open-drain outputs (P0–P6), supports 1.65 V to 3.6 V supply, sinks up to 40 mA per output, and operates across –40°C to +85°C. It is used in mobile phone status lighting, laptop keyboard backlighting, and HMI indicator systems to offload PWM timing from the host processor.

For engineers reviewing the TCA6507PW datasheet, TCA6507PW pinout, TCA6507PW application, or TCA6507PW equivalent, key selection considerations include its dual-bank independent dimming architecture, 16-step master intensity control, 5.5-V tolerant outputs, EN-controlled shutdown reset behavior, and compatibility with standard-mode and fast-mode I²C (up to 400 kHz).

Technical Context

The TCA6507PW integrates two independent PWM modules (PWM0 and PWM1) driving two LED banks (BANK0: P0–P3; BANK1: P4–P6), each with separately programmable blink/fade rates and maximum intensity. Its internal oscillator runs at 28–58 kHz, generating an ~8-ms PWM period (~125 Hz base frequency) for smooth perceived transitions.

All seven outputs are open-drain with 5.5-V tolerance, enabling direct LED drive from higher-voltage rails while interfacing with 1.65–3.6 V logic. The EN pin provides hardware reset and shutdown: pulling EN low for ≥60 µs resets registers and disables the oscillator, reducing standby current to ≤15 µA.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: TSSOP-14 (5.00 mm × 4.40 mm), lead-free, RoHS-compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar LED driver applications.

Compared with TCA6507RGE and PCA9634DP, the TCA6507PW uniquely combines hardware EN reset, TSSOP-14 manufacturability, and dual-bank programmability in a single 1.65–3.6 V supply device-making it optimal for cost-sensitive, reliability-critical portable HMI designs requiring deterministic power management.

Availability

TCA6507PW is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for mobile phone indicator systems, laptop keyboard backlighting, and industrial HMI panels requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and RoHS-compliant packaging.

Supply support for TCA6507PW 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, delivering analog and embedded processing solutions for industrial, automotive, and personal electronics markets.

The TCA6507PW belongs to TI's I²C peripheral driver product line, designed specifically to reduce host processor overhead in LED-intensive user-interface applications through autonomous PWM timing and flexible bank-based control.

FAQ

What is the maximum sink current per output on the TCA6507PW?

The TCA6507PW supports a maximum continuous sink current of 40 mA per output (P0–P6) under recommended operating conditions (VCC = 1.8 V to 3.6 V, TA = –40°C to +85°C). This rating is confirmed in Section 6.3 of the datasheet and allows direct driving of standard LEDs without external current-limiting transistors. Exceeding 40 mA risks thermal overstress or parametric shift.

Does the TCA6507PW require external pull-up resistors on SDA and SCL lines?

Yes, the TCA6507PW requires external pull-up resistors on both SDA and SCL lines to VCC. Its I²C interface uses open-drain logic, and the datasheet specifies that these lines must be pulled up to ensure proper signal integrity and bus arbitration. Typical values range from 2.2 kΩ to 10 kΩ depending on bus capacitance and speed-400 kHz operation generally uses 2.2–4.7 kΩ.

Can the TCA6507PW drive LEDs powered from a 5-V rail?

Yes, the TCA6507PW outputs are 5.5-V tolerant, meaning they can safely sink current from LED anodes connected to a 5-V supply while the IC itself operates from a lower 1.65–3.6 V VCC rail. This voltage-level translation capability is explicitly stated in the Features section and Electrical Characteristics table, enabling mixed-voltage system designs without level shifters.

How does the EN pin function on the TCA6507PW?

The EN pin on the TCA6507PW is an active-low enable input that places the device into shutdown mode when driven low. Per the datasheet, holding EN low for ≥60 µs resets all internal registers and the I²C state machine to default values and disables the oscillator-reducing ICC to ≤15 µA. This provides deterministic hardware reset and ultra-low-power standby, distinct from software-initiated shutdown via I²C commands.

What is the default blink rate of the TCA6507PW after power-on or EN reset?

After power-on or EN-driven reset, the TCA6507PW defaults to a blink rate of approximately 1 Hz (one cycle per second), derived from the default time parameter value of 256 ms specified in the datasheet. This applies to both BANK0 and BANK1 unless reprogrammed via I²C. The actual blink period is determined by the programmed blink register values and the internal oscillator frequency (28–58 kHz).