Machine and process controls in industrial applications increasingly implement smartphones as part of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, initially released its MIPI I3C specification to its member community in January 2017. In December 2017, the Alliance announced open access to the sensor interface specification.

Developed for connecting sensors to an application processor, the MIPI I3C bus interface is a core sensor integration technology for combining multiple sensors from different vendors into end products to simplify and expedite integration and improve cost efficiencies.

With the recent announcement, all companies, including those not currently members of MIPI Alliance, may access the MIPI I3C v1.0 specification to evaluate the implementation of the specification into their sensor integration plans and design applications.

Getting Involved

To support companies that are considering using MIPI I3C in their designs, the MIPI Alliance recently published several frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the specification. Developed by the MIPI Alliance Sensor Working Group, the FAQs, provide a technical introduction to MIPI I3C as well as guidelines for implementation and interoperability testing. In addition, there is a “MIPI Whitepaper: Introduction to the MIPI I3C Standardized Sensor Interface.”

On February 7, 2018, at 11:00 am EST (8:00 am PST), the chair of the MIPI Alliance Sensor Working Group, Ken Foust, will host a webinar, “A Developer’s Guide to MIPI I3C Implementation and MIPI I3C Beyond Sensors.” To register for the webinar, go to https://bit.ly/2kats6J.