SPI communication across multiple PCBs over ribbon cable

Mike Caruso44

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: SN65LVDT41, SN65LVDT14

I'm looking for information regarding using SPI bus communication over multiple PCBs to interface ICs back to a single microcontroller. The cable between the 2 boards is a ribbon cable with a length between 1 to 2 feet in length. My understanding was SPI communication was not intended for long distance communication across cables and wanted to know if there is any information available that could confirm that this application is not outside the scope of SPI communication.

over 7 years ago

0 Malik Barton57 over 7 years ago

TI__Guru 64326 points

Hi Mike,

I would encourage you to take a look at our SN65LVDT14 and SN65LVDT41 devices. SN65LVDT14 and SN65LVDT41 are LVDS Transceivers that can allow SPI to be transmitted over LVDS to achieve longer distances with high noise immunity and low EMI. Please let us know if you have any more questions. See datasheet link below (These parts share the same datasheet).

www.ti.com/.../sn65lvdt41.pdf

0 Yaser Ibrahim over 7 years ago in reply to Malik Barton57

TI__Genius 10250 points

Hello Mike,

We also have a TI design, specifically addressing SPI over LVDS as a means to increase robustness of SPI over longer distances:
Transmitting SPI Signals Over LVDS Interface Reference Design: www.ti.com/.../tida-060017 .

As Malik mentioned, SN65LVDT41/14 is a good single-chip (on each side) option if you are using all 4 SPI signals . If you are not using Slave Select or if the data is in one direction only, then there are other options with lower propagation delay which may enable longer distances.

Regards,
Yaser

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SPI communication across multiple PCBs over ribbon cable