Interface - I/O Expanders

Image	Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity	Rfq
	PCA9674BS,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 8B 16HVQFN	0
	PCA8574TS,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 8B 20SSOP	0
	STMPE801MTR STMicroelectronics	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 8B 16SOIC	0
	XRA1403IG24-F MaxLinear	IC I/O EXPANDER SPI 16B 24TSSOP	0
	CS82C55A-596 Intersil (Renesas Electronics America)	IC I/O EXPANDER 24B 44PLCC	0
	MCP23008-E/SSVAO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	8-BIT I/O EXPANDER WITH I2C	0
	PCA9701HF,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC SPI GPI 16BIT 24HWQFN	0
	PCA9574HR,115 NXP Semiconductors	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 8B 16HXQFN	0
	XRA1200PIL16-F MaxLinear	IC I/O PORT EXPANDER I2C 16QFN	0
	PCA9671BQ,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 16B 24DHVQFN	0
	CQ82C55A96 Intersil (Renesas Electronics America)	IC I/O EXPANDER 24B 44MQFP	0
	PCA9621PW,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC BUS PORT 8BIT 65MA 16TSSOP	0
	MCP23017-E/SSVAO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	EXPANDERS	0
	SX1505I087TRT Semtech	IC GPIO EXP I2C 8CH 20UTQFN	0
	TCA6416ZQSR Texas Instruments	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 16B 24BGA	0
	XRA1200IG16-F MaxLinear	IC I/O PORT EXPANDER I2C 16TSSOP	0
	XRA1207IL24-F MaxLinear	IC I/O PORT EXPANDER I2C 24QFN	0
	XRA1404IL16MTR-F MaxLinear	IC I/O PORT EXPANDER 8 BIT SPI G	0
	PCA9535BS1,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 16B 24HVQFN	0
	SX1504I087TRT Semtech	IC GPIO EXPANDER I2C 4CH 20QFN	0

Interface - I/O Expanders

1. Overview

I/O Expanders are integrated circuits that provide additional input/output ports for microcontrollers, processors, or other digital systems. They enable peripheral expansion through standardized communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI) while maintaining signal integrity and system efficiency. These devices play a critical role in modern electronics by simplifying board design, reducing pin count requirements, and enabling scalable system architectures.

2. Main Types & Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
I2C I/O Expanders	2-wire serial interface, addressable ports, low-speed operation	Consumer electronics, sensor hubs
SPI I/O Expanders	High-speed 3-4 wire interface, daisy-chain capability	Industrial control systems, motor drivers
GPIO Expanders	General-purpose digital I/O with configurable direction/pull-up	Embedded systems, LED matrix controllers
UART I/O Expanders	Asynchronous serial communication expansion	Legacy device integration, communication modules

3. Structure & Composition

Typical I/O Expander ICs consist of: - Communication interface controller (I2C/SPI/UART) - Register arrays for configuration/status storage - Programmable port drivers (CMOS/TTL compatible) - Power management circuitry (low-power modes) - Protective structures (ESD protection, overcurrent) Available in standard packages: TSSOP, QFN, SOIC (8-28 pin configurations)

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Channel Count	Number of programmable I/O lines (8-48 channels)	Determines peripheral expansion capability
Supply Voltage	Operating range (1.65V-5.5V)	Compatibility with system power architecture
Communication Speed	Up to 40MHz (SPI), 3.4MHz (I2C)	System latency and throughput requirements
Drive Strength	Output current per pin (4mA-20mA)	Peripheral driving capability
Power Consumption	Quiescent current ( A-nA range)	Battery-powered application viability

5. Application Fields

Consumer Electronics: Smartphones (button matrix expansion), Wearables
Industrial Automation: PLC modules, Sensor networks
Automotive Systems: Body control modules, Infotainment interfaces
Medical Devices: Portable diagnostic equipment, Patient monitoring
Smart Energy: Smart meters, Grid monitoring systems

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
Texas Instruments	PCA9555	16-bit I2C expander with interrupt generation
NXP Semiconductors	PCAL6416A	16-port GPIO with programmable pull-up resistors
Microchip Technology	MCP23017	20MHz SPI interface, 16-channel expansion
STMicroelectronics	STMPE1600	16-bit GPIO with touch screen controller interface

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations: - Required channel count with future expansion margin - Communication protocol compatibility (existing system bus architecture) - Voltage level matching with peripherals and MCU - Package type suitability for board space constraints - Operating temperature range for industrial/environmental applications - Integrated features (interrupt generation, pull-up resistors, PWM support) - Cost vs performance trade-offs for volume production

8. Industry Trends

Current development directions include: - Higher integration with analog/mixed-signal capabilities - Development of ultra-low-power variants (<1 A standby) - Increased channel density in compact packages (e.g., 24-ch in 3x3mm QFN) - Enhanced functional safety features (IEC 61508 compliance) - Support for emerging interface standards (I3C, enhanced SPI modes) - Embedded intelligence with local GPIO state machines