Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MC100ELT20DT	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR	149
NCA9306DCH Nexperia	NCA9306DC/SOT765/VSSOP8	0
SY100ELT22ZG Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	199
74LVC2T45GT-Q100X Nexperia	DUAL-BIT DUAL-SUPPLY VOLTAGE LEV	4334
NTB0101GS,132 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6XSON	3700
74LVCH1T45GW,125 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6TSSOP	2918
74LVCH2T45GM,125 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8XQFN	475
PCA9306D,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8SO	17836
74LVC1T45Z6-7 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SOT563	23610
PI4GTL2014LE Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	INTERFACE ULS TSSOP-14 TUBE 60PC	0
MAX13013EBT-T Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-LEVEL TRANSLATOR	19398
74ALVC164245DGG-QJ Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	0
SN74AUP1T97DRYR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 6SON	1694
TCA9406DCTR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SM8	0
MC10ELT20D	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR	2174
NLSX3018DTR2G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	409315000
SN10KHT5540DW Texas Instruments	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR, 8 FUNC	765
85320AMILF Renesas Electronics America	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	0
MAX3006EUP Analog Devices, Inc.	8-CH LEVEL TRANSLATOR	1180
SN74GTL2107PW Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 28TSSOP	300

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)