Home Interface I2C & I3C ICs I2C & I3C level shifters, buffers & hubs

TCA9801

ACTIVE

2-bit level-translating 400-kHz I2C/SMBus buffer/repeater with internal 1-mA current source

Product details

Features Buffer, Enable pin Protocols I2C Frequency (max) (MHz) 0.4 VCCA (min) (V) 0.8 VCCA (max) (V) 3.6 VCCB (min) (V) 1.65 VCCB (max) (V) 3.6 Supply restrictions No rule Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 125
Features Buffer, Enable pin Protocols I2C Frequency (max) (MHz) 0.4 VCCA (min) (V) 0.8 VCCA (max) (V) 3.6 VCCB (min) (V) 1.65 VCCB (max) (V) 3.6 Supply restrictions No rule Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 125
VSSOP (DGK) 8 14.7 mm² 3 x 4.9
  • Two-channel bidirectional buffer
  • Integrated current source on B-side, requires no external B-side resistors
  • Ultra-low power consumption
  • No static-voltage offset, low VOL
  • I2C bus and SMBus compatible
  • Operating supply voltage range of 0.8 V to 3.6 V on A-side
  • Operating supply voltage range of 1.65 V to 3.6 V on B-side
  • Active-high repeater enable input
  • Powered-off high impedance I2C bus pins on A-side
  • Powered-off back-power protection I2C bus pins
  • Support for clock stretching and multiple master arbitration
  • Family of current source options from 0.5 mA to 3 mA
  • Two-channel bidirectional buffer
  • Integrated current source on B-side, requires no external B-side resistors
  • Ultra-low power consumption
  • No static-voltage offset, low VOL
  • I2C bus and SMBus compatible
  • Operating supply voltage range of 0.8 V to 3.6 V on A-side
  • Operating supply voltage range of 1.65 V to 3.6 V on B-side
  • Active-high repeater enable input
  • Powered-off high impedance I2C bus pins on A-side
  • Powered-off back-power protection I2C bus pins
  • Support for clock stretching and multiple master arbitration
  • Family of current source options from 0.5 mA to 3 mA

The TCA9801 is a dual-channel bidirectional buffer intended for I2C bus and SMBus/PMBus systems. It provides bidirectional level shifting (up-translation and down-translation) between low voltages (down to 0.8 V) and higher voltages (1.65 V to 3.6 V). The TCA9801 features an internal current source on the B-side of the device, allowing the removal of external pull-up resistors on the B-side. The current source also provides an improved rise time and ultra-low power consumption.

The TCA9801 is able to provide true buffering (rather than a pass-FET solution) without using a static voltage offset or incremental offset. This means that the VOL on both the A and B sides of the TCA9801 are very low (approximately 0.2 V), helping to eliminate communication issues as a result of fixed VIL thresholds. Another key feature of the TCA9801 is that there are no power sequencing requirements, or power supply dependencies. VCCA can be greater than, less than, or equal to VCCB. This gives the system designer flexibility with how the TCA9801 is used.

The TCA9801 is part of a four device family with varying current source strengths (see the Device Comparison Table).

The TCA9801 is a dual-channel bidirectional buffer intended for I2C bus and SMBus/PMBus systems. It provides bidirectional level shifting (up-translation and down-translation) between low voltages (down to 0.8 V) and higher voltages (1.65 V to 3.6 V). The TCA9801 features an internal current source on the B-side of the device, allowing the removal of external pull-up resistors on the B-side. The current source also provides an improved rise time and ultra-low power consumption.

The TCA9801 is able to provide true buffering (rather than a pass-FET solution) without using a static voltage offset or incremental offset. This means that the VOL on both the A and B sides of the TCA9801 are very low (approximately 0.2 V), helping to eliminate communication issues as a result of fixed VIL thresholds. Another key feature of the TCA9801 is that there are no power sequencing requirements, or power supply dependencies. VCCA can be greater than, less than, or equal to VCCB. This gives the system designer flexibility with how the TCA9801 is used.

The TCA9801 is part of a four device family with varying current source strengths (see the Device Comparison Table).

Download View video with transcript Video

Technical documentation

star =Top documentation for this product selected by TI
No results found. Please clear your search and try again.
View all 10
Type Title Date
* Data sheet TCA9801 Level-Translating I2C Bus Buffer/Repeater datasheet (Rev. B) PDF | HTML 13 Feb 2020
Application note Understanding Transient Drive Strength vs. DC Drive Strength in Level-Shifters (Rev. A) PDF | HTML 03 Jul 2024
Application brief Best Practices: I2C Devices on an I3C Shared Bus PDF | HTML 30 Mar 2023
Application note Why, When, and How to use I2C Buffers 23 May 2018
Application note Advantages and Design Considerations of the TCA980x Family 30 Mar 2017
Application note Choosing the Correct I2C Device for New Designs PDF | HTML 07 Sep 2016
Selection guide I2C Infographic Flyer 03 Dec 2015
Application note Understanding the I2C Bus PDF | HTML 30 Jun 2015
Application note Maximum Clock Frequency of I2C Bus Using Repeaters 15 May 2015
Application note I2C Bus Pull-Up Resistor Calculation PDF | HTML 13 Feb 2015

Design & development

For additional terms or required resources, click any title below to view the detail page where available.

Evaluation board

TCA9802EVM — TCA980x Family of I²C and SMBus Level Shifters Evaluation Module

The TCA9802EVM evaluation module (EVM) allows the user to connect power to and buffer and translate I2C commands to the onboard slave device, TMP102. The EVM allows the designer to load and test different capacitive loading and as the option to replace a series resistor with an inductor to emulate (...)
User guide: PDF
Not available on TI.com
Design tool

I2C-DESIGNER — I2C designer tool

Use the I2C Designer tool to quickly resolve conflicts in addressing, voltage level and frequency in I2C based designs. Enter master and slave inputs to automatically generate an I2C tree or easily build a custom solution. This tool will help designers save time and comply with the I2C standard (...)
Simulation tool

PSPICE-FOR-TI — PSpice® for TI design and simulation tool

PSpice® for TI is a design and simulation environment that helps evaluate functionality of analog circuits. This full-featured, design and simulation suite uses an analog analysis engine from Cadence®. Available at no cost, PSpice for TI includes one of the largest model libraries in the (...)
Simulation tool

TINA-TI — SPICE-based analog simulation program

TINA-TI provides all the conventional DC, transient and frequency domain analysis of SPICE and much more. TINA has extensive post-processing capability that allows you to format results the way you want them. Virtual instruments allow you to select input waveforms and probe circuit nodes voltages (...)
User guide: PDF
Package Pins CAD symbols, footprints & 3D models
VSSOP (DGK) 8 Ultra Librarian

Ordering & quality

Information included:
  • RoHS
  • REACH
  • Device marking
  • Lead finish/Ball material
  • MSL rating/Peak reflow
  • MTBF/FIT estimates
  • Material content
  • Qualification summary
  • Ongoing reliability monitoring
Information included:
  • Fab location
  • Assembly location

Recommended products may have parameters, evaluation modules or reference designs related to this TI product.

Support & training

TI E2E™ forums with technical support from TI engineers

Content is provided "as is" by TI and community contributors and does not constitute TI specifications. See terms of use.

If you have questions about quality, packaging or ordering TI products, see TI support. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Videos