Getting Started with the P3A1604UK-ARD Evaluation Board | NXP Semiconductors

Getting Started with the P3A1604UK-ARD Evaluation Board

Last Modified: Mar 24, 2025Supports P3A1604UK-ARD

Contents of this document

  • 1

    Out of the Box
  • 2

    Get to Know the Hardware
  • 3

    Configure Hardware

1. Out of the Box

The NXP analog product development boards provide an easy-to-use platform for evaluating NXP products. The boards support a range of analog, mixed-signal and power solutions. They incorporate monolithic integrated circuits and system-in-package devices that use proven high-volume technology. NXP products offer longer battery life, a smaller form factor, reduced component counts, lower cost and improved performance in powering state-of-the-art systems.

This page will guide you through the process of setting up and using the P3A1604UK-ARD board.

1.1 Kit Contents and Packing List

The kit contents include:

  • Assembled and tested evaluation board in an antistatic bag
  • Quick Start Guide

1.2 Software

Installing software is necessary to work with this evaluation board. All listed software is available on the evaluation board's information page at P3A1604 or from the provided link.

2. Get to Know the Hardware

As default, P3A1604UK Port A is configured to operate at 1.8 V while Port B is configured to operate at 3.3 V via jumper settings shown in Table 1. Port A I²C/I3C interface is available at J21 and J24, while Port B I²C/I3C interface is available on J26 and J27.

Port A signals are routed to the Arduino® header (J1) and MCU/Aardvark header (J18) allowing for easy connection to a I²C/I3C controller (MCU).

Port B signals are connected to one on-board 8-bit I²C GPIO expander (PCA9538PW), and one I3C temperature sensor (P3T1750DP). The factory default I²C/I3C addresses for these device are listed in Table 2. The user can also connect their own I²C/I3C target devices to the Port B I²C/I3C interface headers (J26, J27).

GPIO0 and GPIO1 on the PCA9538PW are connected to a pair of LEDs (blue and red). The user can turn on, turn off, or blink the LED by communicating with the PCA9538PW via I²C.

P3A1604UK can be enabled/disabled via J28. It is enabled by default.

P3A1604UK-ARD evaluation board is powered via a USB micro-B connector, J2. There are on-board LDOs to convert 5 V from the micro-B connector to other power rails to provide power to VCCA, VCCB other components on the board. VCCA can be configured through J7, J8, J9. VCCB can be configured through J11, J12, J13.

The P3A1604UK-ARD evaluation board is designed to be mated and controlled by a MCU board with standard Arduino® headers. The P3A1604UK is then powered by the available 5 V rail from the MCU board. Table 3 lists all interface signals the MCU needs to communicate with the P3A1604UK-ARD.

P3A1604UK-ARD Block Diagram

P3A1604UK-ARD Block Diagram

2.1 Board Features

  • P3A1604UK-ARD evaluation board is powered via a USB micro-B connector. There are on-board LDOs to convert 5 V from the micro-B connector to other power rails to provide power to VCCA, VCCB other components on the board
  • The P3A1604UK-ARD evaluation board is designed to be mated and controlled by an MCU board with standard Arduino® headers. The P3A1604UK is then powered by the available 5 V rail from the MCU board

2.2 Board Description

The P3A1604UK is a quad-bidirectional voltage level translator with auto direction sensing, that enables bidirectional voltage level translation. It includes a reference supply VCCA for port A and VCCB for port B. The supply voltage of VCCA and VCCB is between 0.72 V to 3.63 V. Pins A1 to A4 are referenced to VCCA, pins B1 to B4 are referenced to VCCB. Pin OE is used as the device enable input and is referenced to VCCA.

P3A1604UK can be used for both open-drain and push-pull application which allows for I3C bus and other applications like I²C-bus, SMBus and SPI protocols. Refer to the following figure to find the location of connectors and jumpers on the evaluation board.

P3A1604UK-ARD Jumper Locations

P3A1604UK-ARD Jumper Locations

The schematic, board layout and bill of materials for the P3A1604UK-ARD evaluation board are available at P3A1604.

3. Configure Hardware

3.1 Configure Hardware

  1. Unpack the board and power it with the micro-B USB cable
  2. Connect a 1.8 V I3C controller to Port A via J1 (Arduino) or J18 (MCU/Aardvark). See schematic for wiring connection. By default, both port A has on-board 2.2 K pull-ups. If the pull-ups are already present on the I3C controller board, then the on-board pull-ups can be disabled via J20 and J23 (see Table 1)
  3. Jumper Default Setting Comment
    J1, J3, J4, J5 NA Arduino header
    J2 NA USB micro-B connector
    J6 2-3
    • 1-2: VCCA provided externally
    • 2-3: VCCA connected to LDO output
    J7 1-2 1-2: VCCA = 1.8 V (J8 and J9 open)
    J8 Open 1-2: VCCA = 1.2 V (J7 and J9 open)
    J9 Open 1-2: VCCA = 1.0 V (J7 and J8 open)
    J10 2-3
    • 1-2: VCCA provided externally
    • 2-3: VCCA connected to LDO output
    J11 Open 1-2: VCCB = 1.2 V (J12 and J13 open)
    J12 Open 1-2: VCCB = 1.8 V (J11 and J13 open)
    J13 1-2 1-2: VCCB = 3.3 V (J11 and J12 open)
    J14 2-3
    • 1-2: P3T1750 A0 connect to VCCB
    • 2-3: P3T1750 A0 connect to Gnd
    J17 2-3
    • 1-2: P3T1750 A1 connect to VCCB
    • 2-3: P3T1750 A1 connect to Gnd
    J15, J16 1-2
    • 1-2: Port B 2.2 k pull-ups
    • 2-3: Port B 1 k pull-ups
    J18 NA MCU/Aardvark header
    J19 2-3
    • 1-2: PCA9538 A0 connect to VCCB
    • 2-3: PCA9538 A0 connect to Gnd
    J22 2-3
    • 1-2: PCA9538 A1 connect to VCCB
    • 2-3: PCA9538 A1 connect to Gnd
    J20, J23 1-2
    • 1-2: Port A 2.2 k pull-ups
    • 2-3: Port A 1 k pull-ups
    J21 1-2
    • 1-2: Connect Host SCL to pin A1 of P3A1604UK
    • 2-3: Connect Host SCL to pin A3 of P3A1604UK
    J24 1-2
    • 1-2: Connect Host SDA to pin A2 of P3A1604UK
    • 2-3: Connect Host SDA to pin A4 of P3A1604UK
    J25 NA Port B GPIOs header
    J26 1-2
    • 1-2: Connect Device SCL to pin B1 of P3A1604UK
    • 2-3: Connect Device SCL to pin B3 of P3A1604UK
    J27 1-2
    • 1-2: Connect Device SCL to pin B2 of P3A1604UK
    • 2-3: Connect Device SCL to pin B4 of P3A1604UK
    J28 1-2
    • 1-2: Enable P3A1604UK
    • 2-3: Disable P3A1604UK
  4. The I3C controller then can communicate with the 8-bit GPIO PCA9538PW via I²C, or the temperature senser P3T1750DP via I3C/I²C. These devices are located at different I²C/I3C addresses, see Table 2 for their default factory addresses
  5. Type Device Address
    I²C PCA9538PW U6 - Adr. 0xE0
    I3C P3T1750DP U5 - Adr. 0x90
  6. The P3A1604UK-ARD evaluation board is designed to be mated and controlled by an MCU board equipped with standard Arduino headers. There are four headers used for this purpose: J1, J3, J4 and J5
  7. Signal Header Pin Comment
    MCU_ALERT J1 1 Interrupt output from P3T1750DP
    MCU_I²C_SCL J1 10 MCU SCL
    MCU_I²C_SDA J1 9 MCU SDA
    5V0_uC J3 5 5 V supply from the MCU board
    3V3_uC J3 4 3V3 supply from the MCU board. Not used
    MCU_EN J4 5 P3A1604UK Enable control