PCA9601DPZ - 1MHz Dual I2C-Bus Buffer | NXP Semiconductors
MPN: PCA9601DPZ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.35 | $1.35 |
| 10 | $1.21 | $12.10 |
| 100 | $1.02 | $102.00 |
| 500 | $0.88 | $440.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.74 | $740.00 |
PCA9601DPZ Overview
An I2C-bus buffer is a type of interface IC that sits between a standard I2C master/target segment and a long or heavily loaded bus segment. In the interface IC hierarchy (bus buffer -> signal repeater -> interface IC), its role is to regenerate signal edges and isolate capacitance, because the I2C specification limits total bus capacitance and rising-edge time. By splitting one bus into short segments, a buffer allows long cables, backplanes, and daughter-card interconnects that would otherwise violate I2C timing.
Key features of the PCA9601 include 4000 pF bus drive capability, non-latching bidirectional logic that preserves the wired-AND I2C arbitration and clock-stretching behavior, and a high-drive side compatible with Fast-mode Plus (Fm+) specifications. It supports level translation between mixed-voltage bus segments (3.3V, 5V, and higher-voltage buffered sides), enabling communication between 3.3V and 5V systems while maintaining signal integrity and timing.
The PCA9601 is architecturally a higher-speed version of the well-established P82B96 and a higher-drive version of the PCA9600. Its buffered, non-latching topology means the buffer never locks up during arbitration or repeated starts, a common failure mode of simpler repeater designs. The high drive strength allows many more Fast-mode Plus targets on remote daughter cards than an unbuffered bus could support.
Typical applications include point-to-point and multipoint extension of I2C buses across cables and backplanes, isolating capacitance of remote daughter cards, mixed-voltage (3.3V/5V) system interfacing, and industrial or telecom equipment where many Fm+ targets must share a long bus. Devices such as the PCA8574, PCA9539, and PCA9538 I/O expanders are typical loads at the far end of a buffered segment.
Design considerations: the PCA9601 specifies an operating temperature range of 0 C to 85 C, so it is intended for commercial and industrial indoor use rather than automotive-grade environments. Verify bus segment capacitance on both sides and follow the datasheet for pull-up sizing on the buffered side to meet Fm+ rise-time requirements.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing context, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with data verified as of 2026-10-20.
Drop-in alternatives for PCA9601DPZ — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PCA9601DP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9600DP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9617ADP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9617ADMR2G
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P82B96PN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9601DPZ Specifications
| Function | Dual bidirectional I2C-bus buffer / repeater |
| Number of Channels | 2 |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 1 MHz (Fast-mode Plus compatible) |
| Bus Capacitance Drive | Up to 4000 pF |
| Logic Levels | 3.3 V / 5 V / 9 V / 12 V bus configurations |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +85 C |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Package | 8-TSSOP |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Number of Terminals | 8 |
| Maximum Seated Height | 1.1 mm |
| Package Shape | Rectangular |
| Output Drive | Fast-mode Plus (Fm+) high drive side |
| Arbitration Behavior | Non-latching, bidirectional, wired-AND preserving |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Z suffix = lead-free) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T/R) |
PCA9601DPZ rectangular Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PCA9601DPZ (rectangular package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for PCA9601DPZ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PCA9601DPZ is suitable for 6 applications: Long I2C Cable and Backplane Extension, Remote Daughter Card I2C Isolation, Mixed-Voltage 3.3V/5V System Interfacing, Multipoint I2C Networks for Industrial Equipment, Server, Telecom Shelf, and Rack Management, Consumer and Display System Peripheral Buses.
Long I2C Cable and Backplane Extension
The PCA9601's core purpose is extending I2C buses across cables and backplanes where total capacitance far exceeds the standard bus limit. A passive I2C bus is limited to roughly 400 pF, but the PCA9601 isolates the master-side segment and directly drives up to 4000 pF on the buffered side - a 10x improvement. In practice, the master connects to the low-capacitance side with 3.3V or 5V pull-ups, while the buffer drives the long cable segment with strong Fast-mode Plus drive strength. At 1 MHz operation, edge rates remain fast enough to meet Fm+ rise-time requirements even with heavy cable loading. Designers should measure actual cable capacitance and follow datasheet pull-up guidance on the buffered side to preserve timing margins across the full 0 C to +85 C range.
Recommended
Remote Daughter Card I2C Isolation
NXP explicitly targets the PCA9601 at applications where many Fast-mode Plus targets reside on remote daughter cards. A carrier board hosts the master and one PCA9601 per bus; each daughter card's I/O expanders, sensors, and RTCs connect through the high-drive buffered segment. The non-latching bidirectional architecture is essential here: during multi-target arbitration and clock stretching, simpler repeaters can latch and lock the bus, while the PCA9601 passes wired-AND behavior transparently. With 4000 pF drive capability, dozens of small-capacitance targets fit on one card segment. The 0 C to +85 C temperature range suits indoor rack and telecom shelf environments. Typical loads include PCA8574, PCA9539, and PCA9538 remote I/O expander families from the same NXP interface portfolio.
Recommended
Mixed-Voltage 3.3V/5V System Interfacing
The PCA9601 provides bidirectional level translation between 3.3V and 5V I2C domains, and its buffered side supports even higher-voltage bus configurations including 9V and 12V segments. Because the buffer's two sides are electrically separated, each segment is pulled up to its own supply rail - the master side at 3.3V for a modern MCU, the peripheral side at 5V for legacy sensors or actuators. Unlike resistor-divider tricks, the buffer drives full logic levels with Fm+ strength, maintaining signal integrity and timing at 1 MHz. This makes it superior to simple MOSFET level shifters for long or loaded mixed-voltage buses. Designers must observe per-side pull-up requirements from the datasheet and confirm bus-voltage configurations within the documented 3.3V/5V/9V/12V combinations.
Recommended
Multipoint I2C Networks for Industrial Equipment
In industrial automation panels, lighting controllers, and building-management systems, one I2C master often must reach dozens of distributed targets. The PCA9601 buffers each branch, so total network capacitance is limited per-segment rather than system-wide. Point-to-point or multipoint topologies up to 4000 pF per buffered segment are supported, and the high-drive side is Fast-mode Plus compatible, enabling 1 MHz polling of targets to keep scan cycles short. The non-latching behavior keeps multi-drop buses stable when targets acknowledge simultaneously. Industrial cabinets typically stay within the 0 C to +85 C specification; for outdoor or engine-bay deployments, verify ambient extremes. Segmentation also improves fault containment - a shorted branch loads only its own buffer segment, aiding isolation and diagnostics.
Recommended
Server, Telecom Shelf, and Rack Management
Telecom shelves and server backplanes use I2C for power-supply telemetry, fan controllers, and EEPROM inventory reading. These buses run meters of backplane trace with many card slots, far beyond passive I2C limits. A PCA9601 at the shelf-management master drives the long backbone at up to 4000 pF while each plugged card presents only local, short capacitance to its segment. The 1 MHz Fm+ capability shortens polling cycles for hundreds of telemetry registers, and the non-latching repeater core survives multi-card simultaneous access. The commercial 0 C to +85 C range matches managed datacenter environments. Designers should plan pull-up values per segment length and consider series protection on card-edge connectors per the NXP typical application circuits in the datasheet.
Recommended
Consumer and Display System Peripheral Buses
Large televisions, monitors, and appliances route I2C between a main SoC and remotely located tuners, ambient-light sensors, and power-supply controllers across long internal flex cables. The PCA9601 buffers these runs so the SoC sees a short, clean bus while the buffer drives the cable at Fm+ strength up to 4000 pF. Operation at up to 1 MHz keeps EDID reads, tuning updates, and sensor polling responsive. The 8-pin TSSOP package with 1.1 mm maximum seated height fits thin display chassis, and gull-wing terminals support standard SMT assembly. The commercial temperature range of 0 C to +85 C covers typical consumer product environments, keeping cost lower than extended-range alternatives while meeting household operating conditions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PCA9601DPZ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PCA9601DP | PCA9600DP | PCA9617ADP | P82B96PN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-TSSOP (DPZ) | 8-SOIC/TSSOP family (DP) | 8-SOIC (DP) | 8-SOIC (DP) | 8-DIP/SOIC family |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Drive Strength Class | Highest in family (higher drive than PCA9600) | Same (identical die) | Lower than PCA9601 | Fm+ class, lower than PCA9601 | Standard class |
| Level Translation | 3.3V / 5V / 9V / 12V configurations | Same | Yes (buffered sides) | Yes (buffered sides) | Yes (buffered sides) |
| Arbitration Behavior | Non-latching bidirectional | Non-latching bidirectional | Non-latching bidirectional | Non-latching bidirectional | Non-latching bidirectional |
Key Differentiators
- Fast-mode Plus 1 MHz operation with maximum drive (vs PCA9600DP)
- Modern Fm+ buffer replacing the legacy part (vs P82B96PN)
- Raw high-drive simplicity vs control-gated sibling (vs PCA9617ADP)
Design Notes
Place the PCA9601 close to the connector or cable entry point of the long bus segment, and keep the low-capacitance master-side traces short with local pull-up resistors (typically 1 kOhm to 4.7 kOhm per the datasheet's guidance for your supply and speed). Decouple VCC with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 2 mm of the supply pin. The 8-TSSOP package has fine 0.65 mm pitch leads; verify land pattern per IPC-SM-782 conventions in your CAD library before first fab run.
On the buffered high-drive side, size pull-up resistors to meet Fast-mode Plus rise-time requirements at your actual cable capacitance: at 1 MHz and several thousand pF, pull-ups must be strong (low resistance) which increases static current when SDA/SCL are low. Measure or calculate total segment capacitance (cable pF/m plus target input capacitance) and confirm it stays under the 4000 pF capability with margin. Scope both edges on a loaded bus at temperature extremes within the 0 C to +85 C range to verify timing.
Do not exceed the specified 0 C to +85 C operating range - this part is not automotive grade. Avoid mixing buffered and unbuffered segments without understanding that the buffer breaks I2C multi-master visibility across the boundary; clock stretching still works, but arbitration across the buffer requires care. When substituting PCA9600/P82B96 for PCA9601, remember the PCA9601 is the higher-speed, higher-drive version - a slower part may fail 1 MHz timing. Verify the exact ordering code (DPZ = RoHS lead-free) when quoting.
Compliance Information
Z suffix denotes RoHS-compliant lead-free plating per NXP ordering-code conventions. Operating temperature 0 C to +85 C indicates commercial/industrial grade, not AEC-Q100 automotive. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status should be confirmed on NXP product compliance pages.
