24 Improved Inter-Integrated Circuit (I3C)

The Improved Inter-Integrated Circuit (I3C) is a multi-controller serial data communication interface that builds upon the traditional Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) interface. Devices on the I3C bus communicate in a Controller/Target environment where either the Controller or the Target device can initiate the communication. The I3C interface is developed by the MIPI® Alliance and provides a fast, low-cost, low-power managed two-wire digital interface to improve sensor and device integration. The I3C interface is backward compatible with the I2C standard and adheres to the MIPI I3C® Basic Specification v1.1.1.

The I3C module can operate as any one of the following in the I3C system:

  • Primary Controller
  • Secondary Controller
  • I3C Target/I2C Target

Key features of the I3C module include the following:

  • Two-Wire Serial Interface Up to 12.5 MHz.
  • Supports Various Data Rates (FM, FM+, SDR, HDR-DDR)
  • I2C Backward Compatible with Some Limitations
  • Hardware Assisted Device Role Switching in Secondary Controller Configuration
  • Static or Dynamic Target Device Support
  • In-Band Interrupt with Payload Support
  • Hot-Join Support
  • CRC/Parity Generation and Validation
  • Supported Bus Monitor
  • Bus-Free (in Controller Mode), Bus-Available (in Target Mode) and Bus-Idle (in Target Mode) Conditions
  • Target Reset Pattern Feature
  • Common Command Codes
  • Grouped Addressing
  • Vendor Specific CCC (Common Command Code) Transfer Support
  • Virtual Targets