
Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter
TP240141
The Aardvark™ I2C/SPI Host Adapter is a fast and powerful I2C bus and SPI bus host adapter. It allows developers to interface a Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X PC via USB to a downstream embedded system environment and transfer serial messages using the I2C and SPI protocols.
I2C
- Operates in master or slave mode
- True 800 kbps† performance over higher bandwidth USB
- Supports standard mode (100 kbps) and fast (400 kbps) mode as well as various speeds ranging from 1 kHz to 800 kHz†
- Supports multi-master and inter-bit and inter-byte clock stretching
- Master transmit and receive
- Asynchronous slave transmit and receive
- Software configurable I2C pull-up resistors
- Software configurable target power pins to power downstream devices
- Repeated start, 10-bit slave addressing, and combined format transactions
† Actual system bus speed may vary as a function of capacitance.
SPI
- Operates in master or slave mode
- Up to 8 Mbps master signaling rate
- Up to 4 Mbps slave signaling rate
- Full duplex master transmit/receive
- Asynchronous slave transmit/receive
- Software configurable target power pins to power downstream devices
- Software configurable Slave Select (SS) polarity in master mode
GPIO
- Repurpose I2C and SPI pins for more general use as custom signals on target systems
- Combine GPIOs with I2C or SPI to interact with your target system
- GPIO configuration is cached internally to preserve settings between operational modes
Prototyping I2C Systems with an I2C Host Adapter and Protocol Analyzer
This video demonstrates how the Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter and the Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer can be used to quickly evaluate and prototype an I2C-based system that uses a 3-axis accelerometer.
Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter Unboxing and Quick Start
In this video, we will be unboxing the Aardvark™ I2C/SPI Host Adapter and showing how to quickly get started using this tool, including setting up I2C and SPI master and slave modes.
I2C/SPI Product Guide
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Part Number | TP240141 | TP280121 | TP500110 | TP320121 |
User Manual | HTML | HTML | HTML | HTML |
Datasheet | ||||
RoHS Compliant | ![]() |
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I2C Master | ![]() Up to 800 kHz 1 |
![]() Up to 3.4 MHz |
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I2C Slave | ![]() Up to 800 kHz 1 |
![]() Up to 3.4 MHz |
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SPI Master | ![]() Up to 8 MHz 2 |
![]() up to 40 MHz+ 3 |
![]() Up to 80 MHz |
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SPI Slave | ![]() Up to 4 MHz 2 |
![]() Up to 20 MHz |
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GPIO | ![]() |
![]() Up to 16 |
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I2C Monitor | ![]() up to 4 MHz |
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SPI Monitor | ![]() up to 24 MHz |
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Windows, Linux & Mac OS X | ![]() |
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USB Bus Powered Device | ![]() Full-Speed |
![]() High-Speed |
![]() High-Speed |
![]() High-Speed |
Software GUI | ![]() |
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Development API / DLL | ![]() |
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LabVIEW Driver | ![]() |
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Dimensions | L: 3.5″ (8.9 cm) W: 1.6″ (4.1 cm) D: 0.9″ (2.2 cm) |
L: 3.5″ (8.9 cm) W: 1.6″ (4.1 cm) D: 0.9″ (2.2 cm) |
L: 4.55″ 11.6 cm) W: 3.05″ (7.7 cm) D: 1.15″ (2.9 cm) |
L: 4.6″ (11.7 cm) W: 2.75″ (7.0 cm) D: 1.1″ (2.8 cm) |
1Actual system bus speed may vary as a function of capacitance.
2The quoted values are intra-byte speeds. Please refer to the datasheet for timing restrictions.
3Customers have successfully over-clocked the Cheetah SPI adapter to 50MHz.
Total Phase also has a number of accessories that can be used in conjunction with the products above.
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Telos
Connii MM * |
Telos
Tracii 400 * |
MCC
iPort/AFM * |
MCC
iPort/USB * |
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USB | ![]() |
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RS-232 | ![]() |
Bus Powered | ![]() |
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no | no | no |
I2C Master | ![]() 800 kHz 2 |
![]() 400 kHz |
![]() 400+ kHz |
![]() 400 kHz 1 |
![]() 400 kHz 1 |
I2C Slave | ![]() 800 kHz 2 |
no | ![]() |
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I2C Extended Features 3 | ![]() |
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some | some |
SPI | ![]() |
no | no | no | no |
GPIO | ![]() I2C and SPI lines |
no | no | ![]() I2C lines |
no |
Windows Support | ![]() |
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Linux Support | ![]() |
no | ![]() |
RS-232
(no API) |
no |
Mac OS X Support | ![]() |
no | no | no | no |
Software GUI | ![]() |
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Development API / DLL | ![]() |
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+ $299 | + $225 | + $225 |
LabVIEW Driver | ![]() |
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+ $370 | + $750 | + $750 |
Base Price | $330 | $433 | $903 | $425 | $425 |
Final Price | $330 | $433 | $2137 | $1400 | $1400 |
Final Price is the total cost for a host adapter (where applicable), bus monitor (where applicable), software, development API, and LabVIEW driver. An exchange rate of 1.3 was used to convert prices from Euros to US Dollars.
(*) All competing products were researched from the websites and specification notes of their respective companies. Features and prices may have changed since this comparison was made. Please refer to the respective product websites and datasheets before making a final decision.
1 Bitrate is quoted at 400 kHz, but maximum average bitrate is limited to 115.2 kbps by the published specifications.
2 Actual system bus speed may vary as a function of capacitance.
3 I2C extended features include repeated start, multi-master, 10-bit addressing, combined format, and general call addressing. Telos Conii includes repeated start and 10-bit addressing. MCC iPort/AFM includes repeated start, multi-master, and general call addressing.
All product and company names mentioned on this page may be trademarks of their respective owners. Total Phase bears no affiliation with any of these other products and companies.
Tech Specs
Bit Rate
- I2C Master: 1 kHz – 800 kHz
- SPI Master: 125 kHz – 8 MHz
- SPI Slave: 0.1 MHz – 4 MHz
Target Bus Interface
- I2C Master/Slave
- SPI Master/Slave
- Up to 6 GPIO pins
Target Bus Cable
- 10-pin ribbon cable
- 1.27 mm (0.05″) pitch
- 130.175 mm (5 1/8″) length
Host Bus Interface
- USB 1.1/Full-speed
- Standard-B receptacle
Target Bus Connector
- Type: 2×5 IDC female, 2.54 mm (0.10″) pitch
- Pinout
- Power Pins: GND (Pins 2, 10), NC/+5V (Pins 4,6)
- I2C Pins: SCL (Pin 1), SDA (Pin 3)
- SPI Pins: MISO (Pin 5), SCLK (Pin 7), MOSI (Pin 8), SS (Pin 9)
- GPIO Pins: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9
DC Characteristics
- Target Power: +5V, 25 mA max
- I2C/SPI Signal: 3.3V, 10 mA
Operating Temperatures
- 10 to 35oC (50 to 95oF)
Compatible
- Display Data Channel (DDC)
- System Management Bus (SMBus)
- Power Management Bus (PMBus)
- Smart Battery Bus (SBBus)
- Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI)
- Two-Wire Interface (TWI)
Hardware
- Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter
- 6 ft USB-A to USB-B Cable
- One Year Warranty
Software (web downloads)
- Control Center Serial Software
- Flash Center Software
- Aardvark Software API
- Aardvark LabVIEW Driver
- USB Drivers
- Linux USB Hot Plug Configuration files
Minimum Hardware Requirements
- Intel or AMD processor operating at 2 GHz or faster
- 1 GB physical RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- 2 GB or more available hard disk space
- Full-speed USB port
- VGA capable of 1024 x 768 or higher screen resolution
- Internet access is helpful
Available Software
- Control Center Serial Software
- Flash Center Software
- Aardvark Software API
- Aardvark LabVIEW Driver
Required Software (Windows & Linux)
- USB Drivers
PC Requirements & Supported Operating Systems
- Windows: 7, 8, 8.1, 10
- Linux: Red Hat, SuSE, Ubuntu, Fedora
- Mac OS X: 10.7 – 10.14
Dimensions and Weight
- Dimensions: 55.6 mm x 22.2 mm x 89 mm (2.19″ x 0.87″ x 3.5″)
- Weight: 64 g (0.14 lbs)
Quality
- CE
- RoHS
- One Year Warranty
- Manufacturing
- ISO 9001
- ISO 13485
- ITAR