Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX3370ELT+T Analog Devices, Inc.	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, BICMOS, PDSO6	15000
100393QCX	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	4108
74LVCH1T45GM,132 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6XSON	1061
ADG3308BCBZ-1-RL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20WLCSP	0
MC100H601FNG	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	183
74AXP2T45DCH Nexperia	74AXP2T45DC/SOT765/VSSOP8	0
74LVX3245MTCX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 24TSSOP	3596
CD40109BPWG4	BUS DRIVER	0
LSF0204PWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	2506
FXLP4555MPX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16MLP	231118000
NTS0104GU12,115 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12XQFN	8878
SN74LVC1T45DCKT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	12448
SN74AXC1T45QDRYRQ1 Texas Instruments	6 PIN TRANSLATOR RTM FEB2020	3796
MAX3012EUP Analog Devices, Inc.	8-CH LEVEL TRANSLATOR	0
SN74AVC2T45DCUT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL US8	579
ADG3233BRMZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATION SWITCH	29700
MC100EPT21MNR4G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8DFN	4692000
MAX3393EEUD+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 14TSSOP	3746432
TXB0101DRLT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6SOT	637
SY100EPT20VZG Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	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)