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PCA9685

Every spec below is cited to the manufacturer datasheet. Pick your exact ordering code, compare the closest alternatives, then ask the assistant what it means for your design.

00 — Overview

What the PCA9685 family does

The PCA9685 is a 16-channel, 12-bit PWM Fm+ I2C-bus LED controller optimized for RGBA color backlighting. It features 4096-step brightness resolution, a programmable output frequency from 24 Hz to 1526 Hz, and 1 MHz Fast-mode Plus compatible I2C-bus interface. The device supports 25 mA sink and 10 mA source capabilities at 5 V with totemole or open-drain outputs. It includes staggered LED on/off times to minimize current surges and an external clock input for synchronization. The PCA9685 is typically used in LCD or LED backlighting and Ambilight applications where precise brightness control and multi-device coordination are required.

Next step
Start building with PCA9685 → Every number above is cited straight from the datasheet — ask what they mean for your design, and the assistant answers from the same source documents.
01 — Key specifications

PCA9685 datasheet parameters

ParameterMinTypMaxConditionsSource
quiescent current — 6 mA 10 mA operating mode; no load; fSCL = 1 MHz; VDD = 2.3 V to 5.5 V; idd; Supply NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 14. Static characteristics
output current 12 mA 25 mA — VOL = 0.5 V; VDD = 2.3 V to 4.5 V[2]; iol; LED driver outputs NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 14. Static characteristics
supply voltage range 2.3 V — 5.5 V vdd; Supply NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 14. Static characteristics
operating temperature (abs max) -40 °C — 85 °C operating; tamb; Limiting values NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 13. Limiting values
power dissipation (abs max) — — 400 mW ptot; Limiting values NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 13. Limiting values
standby current — 2.2 µA 15.5 µA no load; fSCL = 0 Hz; VI = VDDor VSS; VDD = 2.3 V to 5.5 V; istb; Supply NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 14. Static characteristics
input capacitance — 3 pF 5 pF ci; Static characteristics ... NXP datasheet, p. 39 — Table 14. Static characteristics ...continued
output capacitance — 5 pF 8 pF co; LED driver outputs NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 14. Static characteristics
output voltage high 1.6 V — — IOH = -10 mA; VDD = 2.3 V; voh; LED driver outputs NXP datasheet, p. 38 — Table 14. Static characteristics
channel count — 16 — NXP datasheet, p. 1
driver count — 16 — NXP datasheet, p. 2
03 — Alternatives

Closest matches to PCA9685

PCA9557BS 8.8× lower standby current, 5.6× higher propagation delay, 2.8× lower output current
PCA9509 13.3× lower quiescent current, 5.0× lower data rate, 4.0× lower power dissipation
ADM2483BRW 10.9× higher propagation delay, 2.0× lower data rate, 1.6× higher output current
FT232R 1.5× higher data rate, 1.2× higher power dissipation, 1.2× lower output current
SN65LBC184 2.0× higher quiescent current, 1.7× higher output voltage high, 1.3× higher supply voltage range
PCA9517D 4.2× higher propagation delay, 4.0× lower power dissipation, 4.0× lower quiescent current
GM3085E 3.2× higher propagation delay, 1.8× higher output current, 1.1× higher supply voltage range
GM3485E 12.0× lower quiescent current, 10.0× higher data rate, 2.0× lower propagation delay
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