Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX9425EHJ+ Analog Devices, Inc.	LOWEST JITTER QUAD PECL-TO-ECL D	3604
74LVC2T45GF,115 Nexperia	FUNC, 2 BIT, TRUE OUTPUT, CMOS,	0
ST4G3235BJR STMicroelectronics	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 11FLIPCHIP	0
PCA9306DCTTE4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SM8	0
ADG3123BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 20TSSOP	29
MAX9376EUB+T Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 10UMAX	0
SN74GTL2107PWRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 28TSSOP	0
NLSV8T244DWR2G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 20SOIC	925
SN74LVC16T245GQLR Texas Instruments	SN74LVC16T245 16-BIT DUAL-SUPPLY	35737
MC14504BFR1	TTL/CMOS TO TRANSLATOR, 6 FUNC,	2000
NLSX3378FCT1G	BUS DRIVER, FCT SERIES, 4-FUNC,	14326
SN74AVC1T45DRLR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6SOT	9939
GTL2003BQ,115 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR 20DHVQFN	6817
MC100LVEL92DW	PECL TO LVPECL TRANSLATOR	10586
FXL2TD245L10X Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR 10MICROPAK	15369
NB100LVEP91DW	PECL TO ECL TRANSLATOR	10841
SN74AVC20T245DGVR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 56TVSOP	1663
SN74AUP1T34DCKR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL SC70-5	0
74AUP1T34GF,132 Nexperia	BUFFER, AUP/ULP/V SERIES, 2 FUNC	0
SN74GTLPH16945VR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	8000

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)