Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
830S21AMILF Renesas Electronics America	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	65
CD4504BPWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 16TSSOP	75452
TXS0102DQER Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8X2SON	0
100390QI	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	1477
MC100ELT21DR2G	PECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	6121
SN74AVC16T245DGVR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TVSOP	10320
74AVC32T245EC,518 NXP Semiconductors	74AVC32T245 - 32-BIT DUAL SUPPLY	10099
FXLA0104QFX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12MLP	5488
SN74AUP1T57YFPR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 6DSBGA	3000
TCA9803DGKT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	3371
LTC1045CSW#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 20SOIC	896
MC10ELT22DT	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR	1605
ADG3123BRUZ Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 20TSSOP	0
MC10H351MG	TTL/NMOS TO ECL TRANSLATOR	2371
TXS0206YFPR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20DSBGA	6413
MC100ELT25DT	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	3471
CD40109BPWRE4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 16TSSOP	0
CD4504BME4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16SOIC	0
SN74AVC1T45DBVT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SOT23-6	3380
MC100LVELT23DG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	23

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)