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
