Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
ADG3300BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	706
74LVCH1T45GF,132 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6XSON	2667
NTB0104GU12,115 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12XQFN	4645
TXS0102DCTR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SM8	0
74AVC4T774RGYRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16VQFN	0
MC10ELT21DTG	PECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	2752
MC100LVEL92DWR2G	PECL TO LVPECL TRANSLATOR, 3 FUN	1023
TXS0108EPWRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	0
SN65ELT21D Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	103
NB100LVEP91DWG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 20SOIC	281862
MAX3395EEBC+ Analog Devices, Inc.	LEVEL XLTR WITH SPEED-UP	2820
MC74LVXC3245DT	BUS TRANSCEIVER	0
MAX3002ETP+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TQFN	37
SN74GTLP21395DW Texas Instruments	SN74GTLP21395 TWO 1-BIT LVTTL/GT	43087
TCA9802DGKT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	82
74AUP1T34GM,132 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 6XSON	0
SN74AVC20T245GQLR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	18374
NB6L16DR2G	LOW SKEW CLOCK DRIVER	12177
MC100EPT22DG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	184
74AVC4T774BQX Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR 16DHVQFN	1717

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)