MCP2150-I/SS

Controllers Overview

The MCP2150-I/SS is an IrDA standard protocol stack controller and encoder/decoder designed for Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) applications. It operates in a secondary device configuration, supporting serial baud rates of 9600, 19200, 57600, and 115200 bps via hardware selection on BAUD1:BAUD0 pins. Infrared communication supports rates up to 115.2 kbps with a 64-byte data packet size. The device implements the Physical Signaling Layer, IrLAP, IrLMP, IAS, Tiny TP, and IrCOMM protocols. It requires an 11.0592 MHz clock source and features low power consumption, drawing less than 1 mA at 3.3 V and 3 µA when disabled.

Controllers Feature Summary

• Implements the complete IrDA standard protocol stack including IrLAP, IrLMP, IAS, Tiny TP, and IrCOMM services.
• Provides bidirectional infrared encoding and decoding compatible with industry standard UARTs and optical transceivers.
• Supports programmable device identification strings and hardware-configurable serial baud rate selection.
• Operates as a secondary device in point-to-point connections with half-duplex data transmission capabilities.

Controllers Applications

• Wireless connectivity implementation for embedded systems requiring IrDA compliance
• Serial port emulation for legacy devices such as printers and modems using IrCOMM
• Data terminal equipment interfacing in portable computing environments

Controllers Procurement Notes

Verify the specific ordering suffix against official Microchip documentation to confirm package type and temperature grade. Ensure the component matches the required SSOP-20 package format. Confirm that the industrial temperature range aligns with system environmental specifications before finalizing procurement orders.

Controllers Selection Notes

Select this component for applications requiring a dedicated IrDA protocol handler without complex firmware overhead. Ensure the host system provides a stable 11.0592 MHz clock signal via crystal or external input. Verify that the application architecture supports secondary device operation and point-to-point topology constraints defined by the IrDA standard.

Controllers Part Context

The MCP2150 series serves as a specialized interface solution for integrating wireless infrared capabilities into microcontroller-based designs. It bridges standard asynchronous serial interfaces with optical transceivers, handling the physical layer modulation and higher-level protocol management required for reliable IrDA communication in consumer and industrial electronics.

Controllers Replacement Considerations

The MCP2155T-I/SS is a documented alternative within the same product family. Designers should verify pin compatibility and protocol support differences between the MCP2150 and MCP2155 variants during replacement evaluation.

Controllers FAQ

Does the MCP2150 support multi-point network configurations?

No, the MCP2150 is designed exclusively for point-to-point applications involving one primary device and one secondary device. It does not support multi-point configurations.

What is the function of the EN pin regarding power management?

The EN pin controls the device enable state. Holding it low places the device in a low-power mode where the internal state machine monitors the pin. Bringing it high returns the device to operating mode after a specified delay.

How is the serial baud rate configured on the MCP2150?

The serial baud rate is selected via hardware logic levels on the BAUD1 and BAUD0 pins. These settings determine the speed for the UART interface (TX/RX) independently of the infrared link speed negotiated during discovery.