I3C
Improved Inter-Integrated Circuit.
I3C is a two-wire serial bus from the MIPI Alliance, backward-compatible with I2C and extended with in-band interrupts, dynamic addressing, hot-join, and HDR modes.
// protocol
About I3C.
I3C is the successor to I2C defined by the MIPI Alliance. It runs on the same two wires — SDA and SCL — and is backward-compatible with I2C devices on the same bus, allowing mixed-protocol deployments during a transition period.
Beyond the I2C-compatible Single Data Rate (SDR) mode at up to 12.5 Mbps, I3C adds higher-throughput modes: HDR-DDR (Double Data Rate), HDR-TSP, and HDR-TSL. SDR uses I2C-style open-drain signaling at low speeds and switches to push-pull above the legacy threshold; HDR modes use push-pull throughout.
Beyond raw bandwidth, the protocol layer adds in-band interrupts (IBI), dynamic address assignment, hot-join, and a structured set of Common Command Codes (CCCs) for device configuration. These features are most often cited in sensor-aggregation, memory (JESD300-5 SPD), and platform-management (NVMe-MI / MCTP over I3C) applications.
at a glance
- max rate
- 12.5 Mbps SDR
- spec
- MIPI I3C Basic v1.0, v1.1.1, v1.2
- topology
- 2-wire (SDA + SCL)
- modes
- SDR, HDR-DDR
- addressing
- dynamic
- features
- IBI, hot-join, CCCs
// product support
I3C on the Binho lineup.
Current support status for each Binho USB host adapter. Specifications below are taken directly from each product page.
Binho Supernova
SupportedUSB host adapter with full MIPI I3C support, plus I2C, SPI, and UART.
- versions
- v1.0, v1.1.1, v1.2
- role
- Controller or Target
- modes
- SDR, HDR-DDR
- features
- IBI, HotJoin, all CCCs
- voltage
- 0.8V to 3.3V
Binho Pulsar
Not supportedMulti-protocol USB host adapter for I2C, SPI, UART, RS-485, CAN-FD, 1-Wire.
Binho Pulsar does not support I3C — see the Binho Supernova for I3C support.
Binho Nova
Not supportedFirst-generation multi-protocol USB host adapter for I2C, SPI, UART, 1-Wire.
Binho Nova does not support I3C — see the Binho Supernova for I3C support.
// protocol analyzer
For decoding the bus,
a dedicated I3C analyzer.
Binho's I3C Protocol Analyzer Plugin for Saleae Logic decodes every I3C transaction — SDR, HDR-DDR, CCCs, IBI, hot-join — inside the logic-analyzer tool your engineers already use.
I3C Protocol Analyzer Plugin
Plugin for Saleae Logic. Full I3C spec coverage (v1.0, v1.1, v1.1.1, v1.2). SDR at 12.5 MHz and HDR-DDR. Direct + broadcast CCCs, IBI, hot-join. JESD300-5 SPD, NVMe-MI / MCTP over I3C, and Debug over I3C extensions.
View the analyzer// mipi alliance
Binho is a MIPI Alliance
Contributor Member.
Active in the I3C Working Group since 2023. Our founder, Jonathan Georgino, currently serves as co-vice chair of the I3C Working Group.
Our tools have been verified at the past four MIPI I3C Plugfests — interoperability events where vendor I3C implementations are tested against the spec and against each other.
- Contributor Member since 2023
- I3C Working Group co-vice chair
- Verified at the past 4 MIPI I3C Plugfests
Questions about I3C?
Talk to us.
From product selection to integration details — our team works with I3C daily and is happy to help.