MIPI I3C

MIPI I3C is a serial communication interface specification that improves upon the features, performance, and power use of I²C, while maintaining backward compatibility for most devices.

MIPI I3C carries the advantages of I²C in simplicity, low pin count, easy board design, and multi-drop (vs. point-to-point), but provides the higher data rates, simpler pads, and lower power of SPI. MIPI I3C then adds higher throughput for a given frequency, In-Band Interrupts (from Target to Controller), Dynamic Addressing, advanced power management, and Hot-Join.

MIPI I3C was initially intended for mobile applications as a single interface that can be used for all digitally interfaced sensors. However, it is now intended for all mid-speed embedded and deeply-embedded applications across sensors, actuators, power regulators, MCUs, FPGAs, etc. The interface is also useful for other applications, as it offers high-speed data transfer at very low power levels while allowing multi-drop, which is highly desirable for any embedded system.

DDR5 also uses MIPI I3C as one of the core technologies for DDR5 SPD. After using MIPI I3C instead of I²C, the bit rate can be increased by 12.5x to 125x depending on the actual build condition.

Application: I3C is an extension of I²C, the speed is about 12.5MHz
Signal: SCK, SDA
Voltage: 3.3~1.2V

Logic Analyzer / Protocol Analyzer

MIPI I3C protocol analyzer can be very helpful to do MIPI I3C packet sniffing. Acute analyzer also offers a MIPI I3C trigger and decode software to debug your MIPI I3C packets by cascading with other brands of oscilloscopes, such as Keysight, R&S, Tektronix, Acute TS series and etc.

Supported Model: TB3000, TL4000, MSO2000, MSO3000.

Analyzer Features:
• Support bus decodes
• Support protocol packet trigger
• Support protocol packet analysis
• Stack with other brands of DSO
• Multiple protocols analysis
• Packets statistics

Settings

Channel: Display the channels (CH0 and CH1).

Initial setup:
i. Set the I2C static address to inform the software about which devices belong to the I2C.
ii. This configuration will be stored separately in the working directory, with the default path being: C:UsersUserDocumentsAcuteMSOI3C_StatAddr.bin.
The bin file must be saved along with the waveform file to preserve the I2C static address settings. When loading the waveform file, make sure to copy this bin file to the working directory.

Colors: Set the background color for the packets.

Range: Configure the decoding range.

MIPI I3C (Live Mode) decodes / waveforms: