PCA9685
16-Channel 12-Bit PWM Controller · I²C · 24–1526 Hz · 2.3–5.5V · TSSOP-28 · NXP Semiconductors
| Part Number | PCA9685 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | NXP Semiconductors |
| Device Type | 16-Channel, 12-Bit PWM Controller (LED/Servo Driver) |
| PWM Channels | 16 independent channels |
| PWM Resolution | 12-bit (4096 steps per cycle) |
| PWM Frequency Range | 24 Hz – 1526 Hz (programmable prescaler) |
| Duty Cycle Range | 0% – 100% (0 – 4095 counts) |
| Output Drive | 25 mA sink / 10 mA source per channel (5V-tolerant open-drain) |
| Output States | ON, OFF, or PWM with individual delay control per channel |
| Package | TSSOP-28 (9.7 × 4.4 mm) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V – 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | −40°C to +85°C |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V – 5.5 V |
|---|---|
| Active Current | ~5 mA typical (internal oscillator active) |
| Standby Current | < 10 µA (oscillator off, all outputs high-Z) |
| Output Low Voltage (VOL) | 0.4 V max @ 25 mA sink |
| Output High (open-drain) | Pull-up to external voltage ≤ 5.5V |
| Output Edge Rate | Programmable: fast (~10 ns) or slow (~100 ns) |
| Internal Oscillator | 25 MHz (trimmed to ±5%) |
| External Clock Input | Supported (up to 50 MHz) |
| Output Enable (OE) Pin | Active-low, hardware shutdown of all outputs |
| Output Not Enable Time | Asynchronous, <1 µs response |
| Digital Interface | I²C (2-wire: SDA, SCL) with Fast-mode Plus (Fm+) support |
|---|---|
| I²C Clock Rate | up to 1 MHz (Fast-mode Plus) |
| I²C Address | Programmable: 0x40–0x7F (6 hardware address pins) |
| I²C Address Pins | A0–A5: 6 hardware-addressable pins → 62 unique addresses |
| Multi-Device Support | Up to 62 devices on single I²C bus (992 PWM channels total) |
| Register Map | Auto-increment addressing for efficient burst writes |
| Output Control | Per-channel: ON/OFF/TOGGLE via I²C registers |
| Interrupt Output | Open-drain interrupt pin, optional |
| GPIO Mode | Channels can be used as general-purpose outputs |
| Pins | 28-pin TSSOP (SDA, SCL, A0–A5, OE, LED0–LED15, VDD, VSS) |
| Part Number | PCA9685 |
|---|---|
| Orderable Qty | 1 pcs – 10,000+ pcs |
| Price (1–9 pcs) | Contact for quote |
| Price (10–99 pcs) | Contact for quote |
| Price (100–499 pcs) | Contact for quote |
| Price (500+ pcs) | Best pricing available |
| Lead Time (stock) | 3–7 business days |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T&R) |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes (Pb-free) |
Please confirm exact parameters with manufacturer datasheet.
The PCA9685 is a 16-channel, 12-bit PWM controller from NXP Semiconductors, designed for applications requiring precise, multi-channel pulse-width modulation control. With 4096-step resolution and a programmable frequency range of 24 Hz to 1526 Hz, it is the ideal chip for generating ESC control signals, driving servo gimbals, and controlling LED brightness in multi-rotor drones and robotics platforms.
Communication is handled via a standard I²C interface supporting Fast-mode Plus at up to 1 MHz, allowing low-latency updates even with multiple devices on the same bus. The chip features 6 hardware-addressable pins (A0–A5), enabling up to 62 unique I²C addresses and the theoretical capability to control up to 992 PWM channels from a single I²C bus — more than sufficient for the most complex drone control systems.
Each channel's output is an open-drain, 5V-tolerant driver capable of sinking 25 mA, making it directly compatible with standard servo and ESC signal inputs without level shifting. The Output Enable (OE) pin provides a hardware-level shutdown of all outputs simultaneously — a critical safety feature for drone applications where you need to instantly disarm all motors or servos in an emergency. The PCA9685 is widely used with Raspberry Pi and Arduino platforms and has extensive library support in Python (Adafruit_CircuitPython_PCA9685) and C++ (Adafruit_PWMServoDriver).
Key Features
- 16 independent PWM channels with 12-bit (4096-step) resolution per channel
- Programmable PWM frequency from 24 Hz to 1526 Hz via internal prescaler
- I²C Fast-mode Plus interface up to 1 MHz for low-latency multi-channel updates
- 6 hardware address pins (A0–A5): 62 unique addresses, up to 992 total PWM channels
- Open-drain outputs, 5V-tolerant, 25 mA sink per channel — direct servo/ESC compatible
- Hardware Output Enable (OE) pin for emergency all-channel shutdown
- Auto-increment register addressing for efficient burst writes over I²C
- Programmable output edge rate control (fast/slow slew rate per channel)
- Internal 25 MHz oscillator with ±5% accuracy, external clock option available
- Ultra-low standby current <10 µA for battery-powered drone applications
Need PCA9685 for Your Drone ESC or Servo Project?
Get competitive pricing and fast delivery from UAVCHIP. Stock available for immediate shipment worldwide.