Total Phase Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter
Host AdaptersTotal Phase Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter, a fast, USB-powered I2C and SPI host adapter with master and slave emulation, I2C up to 800 kHz, SPI up to 8 MHz, 6 GPIOs, and a cross-platform API (C/C++/C#, Python, .NET, VB, LabVIEW). Available in India from GSAS Micro Systems with application engineering and local support.
I2C
Master/Slave, up to 800 kHz
SPI
Master up to 8 MHz, Slave to 4 MHz
GPIO
Up to 6 configurable pins
Host Interface
USB 1.1, Type B, bus-powered
APIs
C/C++/C#, Python, .NET, VB, LabVIEW
Part Number
TP240141
Overview
About Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter
The Total Phase Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter is Total Phase’s most popular product and a widely used USB to I2C/SPI development tool. Described in the official datasheet as “a fast and powerful USB-to-I2C/SPI bus host adapter,” it lets developers connect a Windows, Linux or macOS PC over USB to a downstream embedded system and transfer serial messages using the I2C and SPI protocols. With I2C master/slave emulation up to 800 kHz, SPI master up to 8 MHz, up to 6 configurable GPIO pins and a cross-platform API, it handles a wide range of serial-bus development, programming and test tasks out of the box.
An I2C host adapter and SPI host adapter in one USB device
The Aardvark emulates both ends of the bus. As an I2C host adapter it acts as an I2C master or slave at 1 kHz to 800 kHz; as an SPI host adapter it runs as an SPI master from 125 kHz to 8 MHz or as an SPI slave from 0.1 MHz to 4 MHz. The target bus connector is a 2×5 IDC female header (2.54 mm pitch) carrying SCL, SDA, MISO, SCLK, MOSI and SS, with up to six of those lines reusable as GPIO (pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9). On the target side it can supply +5 V at up to 25 mA and drives I2C/SPI signals at 3.3 V, 10 mA. The host interface is USB 1.1, Type B, bus-powered: no external power adapter is needed, and the whole unit weighs just 64 g (55.6 × 22.2 × 89 mm), so it fits in a laptop bag for bench and field work alike.
Protocol support
| Protocol | Mode | Path |
|---|---|---|
| I2C | Master + Slave | Native, up to 800 kHz |
| SPI | Master + Slave | Native, master to 8 MHz / slave to 4 MHz |
| SMBus | via I2C | System Management Bus on the two-wire interface |
| PMBus | via I2C | Power Management Bus on the two-wire interface |
| SBBus | via I2C | Smart Battery Bus on the two-wire interface |
| DDC | via I2C | Display Data Channel on the two-wire interface |
| IPMI | via I2C | Intelligent Platform Management Interface |
| TWI | via I2C | Two-Wire Interface |
| GPIO | Up to 6 pins | Configurable digital I/O |
Cross-platform API and free software suite
The Aardvark ships with a complete software suite at no extra licence cost:
- Control Center Serial Software: a streamlined GUI to configure I2C, SPI and GPIOs at the click of a button, save and load messages, and automate repetitive reads/writes with XML-based batch scripting.
- Flash Center Software: one-click programming, reading and verification of I2C- and SPI-based EEPROMs and flash memory, with an extensible XML parts library.
- Aardvark Software API: 32- and 64-bit bindings for C/C++, C#, Python, .NET, VB.NET and VB6 to build custom test and automation applications, with example files included.
- Aardvark LabVIEW Driver: instrument VIs for integration into LabVIEW and TestStand-based test frameworks.
Cross-platform support spans Windows 7/10/11 and later, Linux (Red Hat, Ubuntu, Fedora, SuSE) and macOS 13 and later, in both 32-bit and 64-bit builds.
Applications
The Aardvark’s master/slave flexibility and free software make it well suited to:
- Board bring-up: read and write I2C/SPI registers on sensors, PMICs and EEPROMs to validate power sequencing and peripheral initialisation before firmware is ready.
- EEPROM and flash programming: use Flash Center for one-click in-system or stand-alone programming of I2C and SPI memory without writing code.
- Automated production testing: script repeatable I2C/SPI sequences in Python or LabVIEW for end-of-line verification, calibration-data writing and golden-image programming.
- Sensor and peripheral evaluation: emulate a master to poll accelerometers, pressure, temperature and light sensors and exercise audio converters and signal-processing ICs.
- Protocol bridging: act as a USB-to-I2C/SPI bridge for host software that must talk to embedded peripherals during development or field diagnostics.
Hardware, ordering and compliance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number | TP240141 |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Export classification | ECCN EAR99 (HTS 8543200000) |
| Warranty | One year |
| Operating temperature | 10 to 35 °C (50 to 95 °F) |
| Compliance | CE, REACH, RoHS |
| Manufacturing quality | ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100C, ITAR |
The Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter ships with a 6 ft USB-A to USB-B cable and a 10-pin ribbon target cable (1.27 mm pitch).
Watch the Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter introduction
Buy the Total Phase Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter in India
GSAS Micro Systems is the authorized Total Phase engineering partner in India. We supply the Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter (part number TP240141) with technical pre-sales guidance on protocol and host-adapter selection, applications-engineering support for teams integrating the adapter into automated test workflows, GST-compliant quotations and post-sales support. Engineering and test teams across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Delhi NCR rely on GSAS for fast access and local support. Contact GSAS or request a quote to get the Aardvark price in India and order with delivery nationwide.
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Common questions about Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter
What is the Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter price in India?
Does the Aardvark work as both an I2C host adapter and an SPI host adapter?
Which protocols does the Aardvark support beyond plain I2C and SPI?
What programming languages and software ship with the Aardvark?
Does the Aardvark provide power to the target board?
How do I buy the Total Phase Aardvark in India?
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