Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SN74AVC2T45DCUTG4 Texas Instruments	SN74AVC2T45 DUAL-BIT DUAL-SUPPLY	0
MC100EPT25DR2G	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR, TRUE OUTP	11571
MC100ELT23DTG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8TSSOP	100
MC100ELT22DR2G	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR, 2 F	3896
MC100ELT22DTG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8TSSOP	204000
SN74GTL2107PWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 28TSSOP	1705
TCA9617ADGKR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	19166
SN74ALVC164245DL Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48SSOP	0
NVT2010PW,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 24TSSOP	3027
SN74GTLP21395PWR Texas Instruments	SN74GTLP21395 TWO 1-BIT LVTTL/GT	0
NLSX3378BFCT1G	BUS DRIVER, FCT SERIES, 4-FUNC,	99000
TXS0104ERGYR Texas Instruments	4-BIT BIDIRECTIONAL VOLTAGE-LEVE	18077
MC10H125MG	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	762
MC100H680FN	IC TXRX 4BIT DUAL ECL-TTL 28PLCC	344
MAX9372ESA Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	11084
SY100EPT23LKG-TR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8MSOP	1585
MAX9372EUA+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8UMAX	80
CAVCB164245MDGGREP Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	106
SN74AVCH2T45DCTT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SM8	454
74AUP1T34GN,132 NXP Semiconductors	74AUP1T34 - LOW-POWER DUAL SUPPL	94009

Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

1. Overview

Logic translators and level shifters are semiconductor devices that enable signal compatibility between circuits operating at different voltage levels. These ICs ensure reliable data transmission by converting logic signals from one voltage domain to another, maintaining signal integrity in mixed-voltage systems. Their importance has grown with the proliferation of low-voltage CMOS technologies and multi-rail power architectures in modern electronics.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Single-direction translators	Unidirectional voltage conversion with isolation	SPI interface between 3.3V FPGA and 1.8V sensors
Bi-directional translators	Automatic direction detection, dual-voltage I/O	I2C bus bridging between 5V microcontroller and 2.5V EEPROM
Multi-channel level shifters	Parallel conversion of multiple signals (4-32 channels)	Memory interface between SoC and DDR4 SDRAM modules
Direction-controlled translators	External control pin for signal direction selection	UART level conversion in industrial communication modules

3. Structure and Composition

Typical devices feature a monolithic CMOS structure with dual power supply inputs (VCCA and VCCB). Physical components include:

Dual-supply MOSFET pairs for voltage translation
Integrated clamp circuits for ESD protection
Direction control logic (for bidirectional types)
Channel-specific enable/disable circuitry

Common package types: TSSOP (14-48 pins), QFN (20-64 pins), WLCSP (1.5 1.5mm ultra-compact).

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Significance
Voltage range (1.2V-5.5V)	Determines compatibility with different logic families
Conversion rate (100Mbps-1.2Gbps)	Limits maximum operating frequency
Channel count (1-32)	Impacts system integration density
Propagation delay (2-20ns)	Affects timing critical applications
Quiescent current (1-100 A)	Power efficiency in battery-powered systems

5. Application Areas

Key industries include:

Telecommunications: 5G baseband processors interfacing with RF front-ends
Industrial automation: PLC modules connecting 24V sensors to 3.3V MCUs
Consumer electronics: Smartphone PMIC to application processor communication
Automotive systems: CAN-FD transceiver voltage adaptation
IoT devices: Sensor hub interfacing between different voltage rail components

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
TI (Texas Instruments)	TXB0108	8-channel, 1.2-3.6V to 1.65-5.5V translation, auto-direction detection
NXP Semiconductors	LTC2850	3.3/5V dual supply, 15kV ESD protection, RS485/UART interface
ON Semiconductor	NXU408	4-channel, 0.9-5.5V range, sub-1ns propagation delay
STMicroelectronics	L6470	Stepper motor driver with integrated level shifting for industrial automation

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match supply voltage ranges with source/target systems
Ensure conversion rate meets timing requirements
Choose appropriate channel density to minimize PCB area
For bidirectional buses, select devices with automatic direction sensing
Consider thermal performance for high-current applications
Evaluate ESD protection levels for industrial environments

8. Industry Trends

Development directions include:

Voltage scaling down to 0.8V core operation
Integration with signal conditioning functions
Increased adoption of capacitive isolation technology
Advanced packaging (3D TSV, fan-out WLP)
Protocol-aware smart translation (I3C, PCIe 6.0)