BMI160 I2C error when powered down

[tmeeusen]

Dear,

I have a technical question related to the IMU BMI160. We are currently in a development phase and discovered that powering down the IMU sensor while the sensor is still connected to the active I2C bus (pulled high via 10k to 1.8V), causes a leakage path of current via the I2C pin outs to GND and therefore, causing the I2C bus to be pulled to a lower voltage level (0.9V) and hence, no communication with other devices on the board is possible. 

Is it possible to discuss and try to understand what is causing this issue?
Do you have any recommandation in order to solve this?

Thanks in advance,
Kind regards,
Tom

[Vincent · Accepted solution]

It is forbidden for BMI160 to keep IO level as high but turn off the VDDIO. 

Because of the internal registier,  you will see this leak current and it is also potential to damage the sensor.

In order to keep BMI160 off and not affect the bus communicaiton, i suggest to turn off the VDD of BMI160 but still keep VDDIO of BMI160 as same level of IO pins.

BMI160 will be power down if VDD is off.