Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SN74AVC1T45DCKR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	33461
NLSX3373MUTAG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8UDFN	362915000
MAX3376EEKA+T Analog Devices, Inc.	MAX3375 ESD_PROTECTED, 1 MICROAM	18491
SN65EPT21D Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	35
HCF4010YM013TR STMicroelectronics	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16SO	0
SN65ELT22DGK Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	205
MC100ELT25DTG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8TSSOP	2312500
MC665L	INTERFACE CIRCUIT	160
PI4ULS3V204GAEX Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12CSP	0
TC7SP3125TU,LF Toshiba Electronic Devices and Storage Corporation	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL UF6	976
74AVCAH164245VRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TVSOP	0
MAX3013ETP+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TQFN	952040
PI4ULS3V304ZMEX Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12QFN	6440
NLV14504BDTR2G	TTL/CMOS TO CMOS TRANSLATOR, CMO	19375
74AVCB324245ZKER Texas Instruments	SN74AVCB324245 32-BIT DUAL-SUPPL	238698
MC100EP90DTG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 20TSSOP	411350
TXS0102DCURG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	1
NVT2006BQ,115 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR 16DHVQFN	3360
TXBN0304RUTR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12UQFN	29418
SY100EPT20VZG-TR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	0

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)