Interface - I/O Expanders

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX7300ANI+ Analog Devices, Inc.	20-PORT OR 28-PORT I/O EXPANDER	98
MAX7315AEE Analog Devices, Inc.	8-PORT I/O EXPANDER	9424
MAX7312AUG Analog Devices, Inc.	I/O PORT EXPANDER	0
DS4520E Analog Devices, Inc.	9-BIT I2C NV I/O EXPANDER	0
MAX7311ATG Analog Devices, Inc.	I/O PORT EXPANDER	4128
MAX7312AAG Analog Devices, Inc.	I/O PORT EXPANDER	3422
MAX7300AGL-T Analog Devices, Inc.	MULTI-PORT I/O EXPANDER	0
MAX7326ATG+ Analog Devices, Inc.	I2C PORT EXPANDER	30686
MAX7315AUE Analog Devices, Inc.	8-PORT I/O EXPANDER	0
MAX7324AEG Analog Devices, Inc.	I2C PORT EXPANDER	2599
MAX7310AEE Analog Devices, Inc.	MULTI-PORT I/O EXPANDER	0
MAX7318AWG Analog Devices, Inc.	16-BIT, I/O PORT EXPANDER	0
MAX7301AAI-T Analog Devices, Inc.	MULTI-PORT I/O EXPANDER	88
MAX7300ATI Analog Devices, Inc.	MULTI-PORT I/O EXPANDER	2807
MAX7327AATG+T Analog Devices, Inc.	MAX7327 I2C PORT EXPANDER WITH 1	2500
MAX7300ATI+ Analog Devices, Inc.	20-PORT OR 28-PORT I/O EXPANDER	1440
MAX7300ANI Analog Devices, Inc.	MULTI-PORT I/O EXPANDER	1609
MAX7313DAEG+ Analog Devices, Inc.	PARALLEL I/O PORT, CMOS	7350
MAX7314ATG Analog Devices, Inc.	18-PORT GPIO	15286
MAX7315ATE Analog Devices, Inc.	8-PORT I/O EXPANDER	1156

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