Getting Started with the PCAL6408A-ARD Evaluation Board

Last Modified: 2023-04-28 12:11:00Supports PCAL6408A 8-Bit GPIO Arduino® Shield

Contents of this document

  • 1

    Out of the Box

  • 2

    Get to Know the Hardware

  • 3

    Installing Software

  • 4

    Configure Hardware

Purchase your PCAL6408A 8-Bit GPIO Arduino® Shield

Contents of this document

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 PCAL6408A- ARD board.

1.1 Kit Contents and Packing List

The PCAL6408A-ARD kit contents include:

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

1.2 Assumptions

Familiarity with the I2C bus is helpful but not required.

1.3 Static Handling Requirements

1.4 Minimum System Requirements

This evaluation board requires a Windows PC workstation. Meeting these minimum specifications should produce great results when working with this evaluation board.

  • Computer with Windows 10
  • One USB port (either 3.0, 2.0 or 1.1 compatible)
  • One of three EVK boards (MIMXRT1050-EVK, LPC55S69-EVK or 8MMINILPD4-EVK) along with the associated firmware and GUI software
  • USB cable for power and data connection between PC and EVK board (if not included in the EVK package)

NextGet to Know the Hardware

2. Get Hardware

2.1 Board Features

  • I/O connector for external access to IC input-output pins
  • Four users switches connected to I/O pins of the IC
  • Four users LEDs connected to I/O pins of the IC
  • Equipped with Arduino® Uno R3 port for direct connection with Arduino devices
  • Fully compliant with IMXRT1050 EVK board, including GUI (Windows 10)
  • Fully compliant with LPCXpresso55S69 development board, including GUI (Windows 10)
  • Compliant with i.MX Mini LPDDR4 EVK board, including GUI (Windows 10)

Note: For i.MX Mini LPDDR4 EVK board, it is necessary to use IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board between the EVK and PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board (see IMX8MMINI-IARD User Manual).

2.2 Board Description

The evaluation board is built around the PCAL6408A, low-voltage translating, 8-bit I2C-bus/SMBus I/O expander with interrupt output, reset and configuration registers—produced by NXP Semiconductors. The evaluation board serves as a daughter card that can be connected through an Arduino port to various Arduino compatible (including original Arduino Uno R3) EVK or motherboards for the purpose of testing and measuring the characteristics of the PCAL6408A device under test (DUT).

2.3 Kit Featured Components

Overview of the PCAL6408A-ARD board

PreviousOut of the Box
NextInstalling Software

3. Installing Software

3.1 Installing Software

PCAL6408A-ARD evaluation board is designed and built as a daughter board able to work in conjunction with a motherboard equipped with an Arduino® port. The board was built to be fully compatible with the following NXP evaluation (EVK) boards:

  • IMXRT1050 EVK Board
  • LPCXpresso55S69 Development Board
  • i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK Board

Each mentioned above evaluation or development board benefits by firmware support which can be downloaded from the NXP site. Before starting, the EVK motherboard must be programmed with the corresponding firmware package. Additionally, a GUI application (Windows 10) is available for download from the NXP site allowing rapid testing and operation of PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board through one of the above mentioned EVKs. The GUI application is common for all three EVKs and for the PCAL6xxx I/O expander development card family, manufactured by NXP (PCAL6408A, PCAL6416A, PCAL6524 and PCAL6534 ICs). Once the software is installed, the first step is to select the correct combination EVK - PCAL6408A-ARD daughter card, and then the board can be controlled from the GUI interface.

PreviousGet to Know the Hardware
NextConfigure Hardware

4. Configure Hardware

4.1 Using IMXRT1050 EVK Board

Figure 1 shows the required hardware for operation of the PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board with IMXRT1050 EVK. The following items are necessary:

  • One IMXRT1050-EVK board
  • One PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board
  • One USB-A / USB Micro-B cable
  • A PC with Windows 10 operating system

The IMXRT1050 EVK motherboard can be powered by one of the three methods:

  • Connecting an external 5VDC power supply to the barrel power connector (J2) on the board
  • Connecting a USB cable from the PC to the Micro-B USB connector (J9) on the board
  • Connecting a USB cable from the PC to the USB connector (J28) on the board. When the PC is connected in this fashion, the USB port can simultaneously act as a debug interface. Therefore, by using a single USB cable connected to J28, the EVK can be powered and at the same time linked to the PC for data exchange

The older USB ports (from PC) are not able to deliver the necessary current (500 mA). Before establishing the communication, use an external power supply (connected to J2).

From J1 on the EVK board (see Figure 1) the user can select the power configuration for the motherboard. For further details, refer to the MIMXRT1050 EVK board hardware user guide.

Figure 1. PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board and IMXRT1050 EVK board, before starting

To configure the hardware and workstation, complete the following procedure:

  1. Configure the suitable power configuration of EVK (J1). If using J28 for power supply, the J1 jumper shall be placed in position 5-6. If using an external power supply (connected to J2), the jumper J1 will be placed in position 1-2
  2. Insert the PCAL6408A-ARD daughter card on the Arduino® connector of the EVK (see Figure 2)
  3. Using the USB connector J28, connect the EVK board to a USB port of the computer
  4. Install the IMXRT1050 target firmware (download from NXP site and see UM11581, Arduino shields GUI and firmware installation manual for step-by-step instructions)
  5. Install GUI application (see UM11581, Arduino shields GUI and firmware installation manual)
  6. Open the GUI application to operate the device from the PC

Figure 2 shows the boards during the operation.

Figure 2. The assembly PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board / IMXRT1050 EVK board operation

4.2 Using the LPCXpresso55S69 Development Board

Figure 3 shows the required hardware for operation of the PCAL6408A-ARD and LPCXpresso55S69 EVK board. This configuration consists of:

  • One LPCXpresso55S69 EVK board
  • One PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board
  • One USB-A / USB Micro-B cable
  • A PC with Windows 10 operating system

The LPCXpresso55S69 development board is equipped with four USB Micro-B connectors: P5, P6, P9 and P10. The board can be powered through any USB port. Using P6 USB connector to connect the board to the PC simplifies the start-up operation because P6 is designated for debugging and the USB cable accomplishes two tasks at the same time: powering the board and serving as a data link between the EVK board and PC. For more details regarding power-up and operation of the LPCXpresso55S69 development board, see the LPCXpresso55S69/LPCXpresso55S28 Development Board User Manual here.

Figure 3. PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board and LPCXpresso55S69 motherboard, before starting

The following steps describe how to assemble, program and operate the configuration shown in Figure 3.

  1. Insert the PCAL6408A-ARD daughter card to P16 - P19 connectors located on LPCXpresso55S69 development board (see the marked pins of P16 - P19, Figure 3)
  2. Connect the development board using port P6 USB port of PC
  3. Install the LPCXpresso55S69 target firmware (download from NXP site and read the EVK_Firmware_And_GUI_Install_Guide_For_Arduino_Boards.pdf instruction file)
  4. Install GUI application on PC (see the instruction file called out in the previous step)
  5. Open the GUI application to operate the device from the PC

Figure 4 shows the two boards in operation.

Figure 4. PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board / LPCXpresso55S69 motherboard operation

4.3 Using the i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK Board

When an i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK board is used with the PCAL6408A-ARD board, a third board (IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board) must be used, especially designed and built for EVK - daughter board interconnection. The EVK board i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 is not equipped with an Arduino port; instead, it has a 2 x 20 pin expansion connector (J1003, see i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK user manual). J1003 is a multipurpose port, containing various digital I/O lines, including specialized I2C and SPI buses. Starting from the expansion connector pin chart, an Arduino port interposer board was developed, with the role of signal-to-signal bridge between the 2 x 20 connector pins on the i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK and the mated connectors of the Arduino port present on the PCAL6408A- ARD daughter board.

To operate the setup, along with the EVK and the daughter board, a third board must be included in the setup assembly. Figure 5 shows the necessary boards and how these boards are connected. The configuration consists of:

  • One i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK board
  • One PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board
  • One IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board
  • One USB-A / USB-C cable
  • One USB-A / USB Micro-B cable
  • A PC with Windows 10 operating system

It is recommended to attach the PCAL6408A-ARD to the Arduino connectors of the IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board first and then the resulting assembly to the i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK. This can be done by plugging J1 connector located on the interposer board to J1003 connector on the EVK.

To power-up the EVK, a USB-C cable connected to PORT 2 of the EVK is used. The power switch SW101 on the EVK board must be set to the ON position to power-up the setup. Data communication is achieved by routing a separate USB Micro-B cable from a USB port on the PC to debug port (J901) on the EVK (see Figure 5 and Figure 6).

The user may find details regarding power-up and operation of the setup assembly in 8MMINILPDDR4-EVK user manual and IMX8MMINI-IARD user manual. The files can be downloaded from NXP site.

Figure 5. The assembly PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board, IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board and i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK, before starting

To configure and operate the setup, follow the below steps:

  1. Insert the PCAL6408A-ARD onto the IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board Arduino connectors (located on the top side)
  2. Attach IMXMMINI-IARD connector plug J1 (located on the bottom of the board) into J1003 expansion board located on the top side of i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK (see Figure 6)
  3. Power-up the EVK board using a USB Type C cable attached to PORT 2.
  4. Connect the EVK to the PC, using a USB Micro-B cable, attached to J901 debug port
  5. Place SW101 in ON position to power up the boards
  6. Install the MIMXRT1050 target firmware (download UM11581, Arduino shields GUI and firmware installation manual from NXP site)
  7. Install GUI application on the PC (see the instruction file referenced in the above step).
  8. Open the GUI application to operate the device from the PC

Figure 6. PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board / i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK board operation

4.4 Using PCAL6408A-ARD with Another Device

The PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board can be operated with another EVK board which has an Arduino port. There are two options to connect the board: using an EVK equipped with an Arduino port, and an EVK without an Arduino port. In the first case, a firmware shall be developed according with PCAL6408A specifications, and then simply attach PCAL6408A-ARD daughter board to the EVK to operate the board. In the second case, using the pin chart of Arduino connectors, make the necessary electrical connections (for power, I2C-bus and control lines) and develop the desired firmware, assuring it is compliant with IC specifications. Use PCAL6408A data sheet (under "Design Resources") to read details about internal registers of the DUT IC and data exchange between internal controller and the EVK. Ensure correct electrical connections to avoid data conflicts on the signal lines and to prevent IC damage.

PreviousInstalling Software
NextDesign Resources

Design Resources

Board Information

Additional References

In addition to our PCAL6408A: Low-Voltage Translating, 8-Bit I2C-Bus/SMBus I/O Expander you may also want to visit:

Freedom Pages

Hardware Pages

Software Pages

PreviousConfigure Hardware