simple table breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages – and other specifications – between SPI, I2C, and the Sensor Work Group’s I3C standardized sensor interface, announced in a whitepaper (link at bottom) late last year and made official earlier this month. You need to be a MIPI member to gain access to the full specification but the at-a-glance is useful for anticipating forthcoming sensor-based development.

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is one of the most commonly used serial bus for interfacing sensors and other chips, and use two signals (Clock and Data) to control up to 128 chips thanks to its 7-bi address scheme. After announcing it was working of a new I3C standard in 2014, the MIPI Alliance has now formally introduced the MIPI I3C (Improved Inter Integrated Circuit) Standardized Sensor Interface, a backward compatible update to I2C with low power consumption, and higher bitrate allowing it to be used for applications typically relying on SPI too.

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