The IS3715 is dead simple to use. It performs one job: sending DMX data for you.

Just grab your microcontroller, FPGA, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or pretty much anything with I2C, and write your DMX data directly into its internal memory map. Want to send a DMX value of 128 on channel 8? Easy. Just write 128 to address 8 on the IS3715. That’s it.

Since data is written via I2C, you don’t need any special DMX libraries. Just use your regular I2C functions. Forget about DMX timing, frame building, or protocol headaches — the chip handles all that.

The IS3715 buffers and streams the DMX data internally, so you only need to update what changes. Your microcontroller can chill— save a timer, save flash memory, save RAM. Let your microcontroller focus on the cool parts of your project, not reinventing the DMX wheel.

Bonus: using I2C means you don’t need to sacrifice a UART. Plus, I2C is a shared bus, so you can hook up other devices too. Speeds? Works at 100 kHz, 400 kHz, and 1 MHz. And yes, the I2C pins are 3.3 V and 5 V tolerant, so go ahead and use whatever MCU voltage you like.

It supports up to 512 DMX channels— full universe addressable.

Its output is TTL level, so just pair it with your favorite RS485 transceiver to make it DMX-compatible. There are tons of RS485 chips out there — cheap ones, industrial ones, 3.3 V, 5 V… they all work. We like the THVD1500 — rugged, reliable, and affordable.

Using the IS3715 chip helps you create reliable DMX products faster, with shorter prototyping cycles and quicker time-to-market.

The IS3715 comes in an easy-to-solder SO8N package.

To recap: Connect your microcontroller (3.3 V or 5 V) via I2C to the IS3715, and the IS3715 to an RS485 transceiver (3.3 V or 5 V). Done. DMX sorted. Now focus on the fun, innovative parts of your project.

(Oh, and yeah — 5V RS485 transceivers do get you a bit longer cable runs than 3.3 V. We like those.)

We’ve also made two evaluation boards so you can test and play with our chip: one Arduino shield, and one Raspberry Pi hat.

Examples and Documentation

Download Documentation

• 📄 IS3715 Datasheet

Firmware Examples

• IS3750 DMX Controller Example for Arduino

• IS3750 DMX Controller Example for Nucleo-STM32

• IS3750 DMX Controller Example for Raspberry Pi

Hardware Examples

• IS3715 DMX Controller Schematic

How it Works?

The chip has two ports:

• An I2C interface that connects to your microcontroller, FPGA, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc. This is where you write the DMX data.

• A UART output that connects to your favorite RS485 transceiver. This is where the DMX data is sent to the RS485 transceiver.

The chip’s internal memory consists of 512 registers, mapped like this:

Register 1 → DMX Channel 1
Register 2 → DMX Channel 2
...
Register 512 → DMX Channel 512

Just write the channels you care about via I2C — and you’re good to go.

Advantages and Features

Firmware Advantages

• 🛠️ Forget about DMX protocol handling: No need to deal with frame parsing, timings, or UART interrupts

• ❌ No libraries needed: Just use standard I2C functions

• 🧠 Buffers all 512 DMX channels (a full DMX universe) — no need to refresh DMX data

• ⚡ Perfect for heavily loaded CPUs or ISR-heavy applications

• 📝 Arduino, STM32, and Raspberry Pi examples available

• 🧪 Evaluation board available to make some tests

• ⏱️ Save firmware engineering time

Hardware Advantages

• 🔌 Save pins on your microcontroller: No need to sacrifice any UART pins as it uses I2C, a shared interface

• 🧘 Reduce the CPU load of your microcontroller

• 💾 Reduce Flash and RAM memory footprint

• ⚙️ Save microcontroller resources (UART, Timers, etc.)

• 🗂️ Schematic design examples available

Compatibility Advantages

• 🔄 Great for non-deterministic systems (like Raspberry Pi and single-board computers)

• 💡 Compatible with 5V I2C serial interfaces

• 🔋 Compatible with 5V RS485 transceivers

• 🏎️ Supports I2C speeds: 100kHz, 400kHz, and 1MHz

• 🖥️ Ideal for FPGA designs

Production Advantages

• 🧷 Easy-to-solder SO8N package

• 📦 Reels available for pick-and-place machines

Commercial Advantages

• 🚀 Speeds up development

• ⚙️ Faster prototyping

• 🏁 Shorter time-to-market

Pick'n'Place

📦 Reels available at lower prices for high-volume orders. Contact us.

Questions?

💬 Contact us anytime for support.

www.inacks.com

This company and the products provided herein are developed independently and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any official protocol or standardization entity. All trademarks, names, and references to specific protocols remain the property of their respective owners.

We ship all products from Barcelona via Correos within 1 to 3 business days, with a tracking number.

Delivery usually takes a few days to a week within Europe, and around one week for the rest of the world.