The IO16 module is a 16 GPIO pin expansion unit that connects via your Bi2C connector on your Challenger board.

The IO16 adapter is based on the SX1503 GPIO expander chip from Semtech and has 16 general purpose IO pins that you can use for both input and output.

Each GPIO pin is programmable via 8-bit configuration registers. Data registers, direction registers, pull-up/pull-down registers, interrupt mask registers and interrupt registers allow the system master to program and configure the 16 pins using the standard Bi2C interface. The SX1503 also offers a unique fully programmable logic functions like a PLD to give more flexibility and reduce external logic gates used for standard applications. More information on these features can be found in the datasheet for the device.

The SX1503 have the ability to generate mask-programmable interrupts based on falling/rising edge of any of its GPIO lines. A dedicated pin indicates to a host controller that a state change occurred in one or more of the GPIO lines. To use this function a cable has to be soldered from the interrupt pad on the IO16 module and then connected to the pin that you intend to use as an interrupt pin.

The module comes with a 10cm flex cable that connects the adapter board with the MCU board. You can read more about our Bi2C system here