Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SY55857LKG-TR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 10MSOP	1518
MC100H607FN	PECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	450
MAX3391EEUD+T Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 14TSSOP	7500
LTC1556CGN#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20SSOP	0
74ALVC164245DGGRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	1423
74AVC4T774RSVRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16UQFN	0
TXB0104PWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	750
MC100LVELT20DR2G	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR, COM	16910
74LVC1T45FX4-7 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR X2DFN1409-6	120000
LSF0204YZPR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12DSBGA	3518
MAX13003EEUE+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16TSSOP	5472
TXB0104D Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14SOIC	608
SN74LVC1T45YEPR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	6000
NCN6011DTB	ANALOG CIRCUIT, 1 FUNC, PDSO14	12871
SN10KHT5543NT Texas Instruments	TTL TO ECL TRANSLATOR	8569
SN10KHT5574NT Texas Instruments	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	39976
74VCX163245MTDX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	0
MAX3002EUP+T Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	980
MC10H603FN	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	556
CD4504BMT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16SOIC	307

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)