Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX3377EEUD+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	28618816
GTL2002D,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8SO	3479
FXLA101L6X Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR 6MICROPAK	411760000
SN65CML100DGKRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	0
74LVC2T45GD,125 NXP Semiconductors	BUS TRANSCEIVER	0
SN74GTLPH1645DGGR Texas Instruments	SN74GTLPH1645 16-BIT LVTTL-TO-GT	5172
74AVCH1T45DBVRE4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SOT23-6	0
NLSX3012DMR2G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR 8MICROPAK	0
SN74LVCH16T245DGVR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TVSOP	2017
MAX3370EXK+T Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-5	4481
FXL4TD245UMX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16MLP	659070000
SN74LVC1T45DBVRE4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SOT23-6	3000
CD40109BE Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16DIP	4370
PCA9306DC,125 NXP Semiconductors	IC LEVEL TRANSLATOR 8VSSOP	113003
MAX3377EEUD Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	8781
SN74ALVC164245KR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	96266
74AUP1T57GW,125 Nexperia	IC LP CONFIG GATE V-XLATR 6TSSOP	4581
74LVCH2T45DC-Q100H Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	1116
SN65LVELT22D Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	157
74LVC4245AD-Q100J Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 24SO	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)