PCA9306: Signal Attenuation in Transmission

This device is a passive switch.

To increase the transmission distance, you would need an I²C buffer. (What matters is the bus capacitance.) See, for example, the TCA9803.

Hey Francis,

I agree with Clemens' answer here, the PCA9306 will not be able to buffer your I2C signals over the 1m transmission distance. You would need to use an I2C buffer that allows your system to support cap. load higher then the I2C standard.

Why, When, and How to use I2C Buffers

Regards,

Jack 

Hi Clemens, Jack,

Can I understand it is a source current capability limitation? As the source current of PCA9306 is dependent by the C2000 I2C output, right?

BTW, customer would like a P2P I2C buffer like PCA9306, I check it by myself and didn't find it, could you please help double check for me? Thanks a lot.

BRs,

Francis

There is no P2P device.

Hey Francis,

It is more so the architecture of the PCA9306 does not include any active circuitry that will help redrive the I2C signals.

As for a P2P option, there isn't one available for drop-in replacement. The reason for this is because the EN and VREF2 pin of the PCA9306 is to be shorted externally and pulled up to a reference voltage through a 200kohm resistor, so it isn't ideal to make a P2P replacement to the PCA9306.

Regards,

Jack