The INA232 features very low input bias current (10-nA max) which provides several benefits. First, larger external resistors on the input pins are tolerable in terms of the impact of the resistor on measurement accuracy. The resistors are useful in implementing over- or undervoltage protection, as well as when implementing input filters. The low input bias current also reduces the current consumed by the device in both active and shutdown state.

Enabled by special input circuitry, the INA232 digital interface is compliant with a wide range of digital bus voltages such as 1.2 V, 1.8 V, 3.3 V, and 5.0 V. Because the logic levels of the device are decoupled from the device supply level, the INA232 is capable of such wide working range without level translation.

INA232 is equipped with a General Call Start command. This command consists of a single address byte 00h, with the last R/W bit set to 1. When multiple INA232 devices are present on the I²C bus, upon receiving a General Call Start command, all INA232 devices stop activities and start a new conversion. All INA232 devices do not have to be configured identically. This command implements synchronous conversion that is standard in PMBus, where more communication overhead is necessary. For an implementation example of synchronous measurement in digital power monitors, see the Synchronized Measurements with Digital Current Sense Monitors application report.