ZHCSG32B March 2017 – February 2020 TCA9800
PRODUCTION DATA.
Some translators are based on pass-gates for translation support. In most of the use cases, external pull-up resistors are required to pull the bus to the voltage rail.
Figure 15. Incorrect B-Side Pass-Gate Based Translator Use Case
Figure 16. A-Side Pass-Gate Based Translator Use Case As shown in Figure 15, it may appear that this use case is valid, but actually it is not. When either the TCA980x B-side or the slave pull down on the bus, the FET isolating the bus closes (low RDS_ON) and current from the 5-kΩ resistor is observed by the TCA980x, violating IEXT-I. See the IEXT-I section for more information.
Figure 16 shows the correct way to pair with a FET base translator (connecting to the A-side).
Rather than using a FET-based translator, it is recommended that a buffered translator be used, such as another TCA980x or a TCA9517. See the Typical Application section for single device for more information on concerns with B-side connections to buffered translators.