Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MC14504BDTR2G	TTL/CMOS TO CMOS TRANSLATOR, 6 F	51878
MC10ELT20DTR2G	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR	397
74AXP1T45GWH Nexperia	74AXP1T45GW/SOT363/SC-88	2519
MC100ELT28DR2G	PECL-TTL/TTL-PECL TRANSLATOR	1949
MAX3375EEBL+T Analog Devices, Inc.	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, BICMOS, PBGA9	14160
TCA9406YZPR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8DSBGA	0
NXS0108PW-Q100J Nexperia	NXS0108PW-Q100/SOT360/TSSOP20	2389
CD4504BE Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16DIP	1795
MAX3374EEBL-T Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	5000
ADG3304BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	0
MC14504BFL1	TTL/CMOS TO TRANSLATOR, 6 FUNC,	2948
LSF0204GU12X Nexperia	LSF0204GU12/SOT1174/XQFN12	3900
ST2129BQTR STMicroelectronics	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8QFN	0
74LVC2T45GT,115 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8XSON	32302
SN74LVC1T45DCKTG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	2733
SN74AVC4T774PWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16TSSOP	0
CD40109BEE4	BUS DRIVER	0
MC100EPT24DR2	LVTTL/LVCMOS TO LVECL TRANSLATOR	2500
74LVCH1T45GS,132 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6XSON	0
74AVCH1T45DCKTG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	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)