Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SN74AVCH1T45DCKT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	1792
SY89328LMG-TR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8MLF	0
HEF4104BT,653 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16SO	3951
SN74GTL2003PW Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	118
74AVC20T245DGGRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 56TSSOP	0
NVT2010BS,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRANSLATOR BIDIR VOLT 24HVQFN	1585
FXMAR2104UMX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12MLP	112
MC10H601FNR2G	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	3207
MC10ELT28DTG	PECL-TTL/TTL-PECL TRANSLATOR	12187
SN74AVC2T45DCTRE4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SM8	0
SN74GTL2007PW Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 28TSSOP	300
74LVC2T45GF,115-NXP NXP Semiconductors	FUNC, 2 BIT, TRUE OUTPUT, CMOS,	0
SY100H600JZ Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 28PLCC	276
TXS0202YZPR Texas Instruments	A INTER CHIP-USB VOLTAGE LEVEL T	0
74AVC4TD245GU,115 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16XQFN	4970
PI4ULS5V201TAEX Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SOT23-6	8341
MC100LVELT23DR2G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	1212
SN74AUP1T97YZPR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 6DSBGA	3769
GTL2002DC,125 Flip Electronics	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, PDSO8	0
MC14504BD	TTL/CMOS TO CMOS TRANSLATOR	4336

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)