Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
NLVSX4373MUTAG	BUS DRIVER, 4000/14000/40000 SER	6000
SN74GTLP1394PW Texas Instruments	SN74GTLP1394 2-BIT LVTTL-TO-GTLP	0
74LVC4245AD,118 Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 24SO	6817
SY100ELT25ZG-TR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	0
MC100H604FNG	TTL TO ECL TRANSLATOR	1254
FXMA2104UMX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12MLP	4846
SY100EPT20VKG Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8MSOP	0
SN65CML100D Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	232
NLSX5012MUTAG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8UDFN	3665
74ALVC164245GRDR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	7660
MC100EPT622FAR2	LVTTL/LVCMOS TO LVECL TRANSLATOR	20000
MC100H607FNR2G	PECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	2500
HPC46003V20/63 Texas Instruments	IC BUS LEVEL TRANSLATOR	0
NLSV22T244MUTAG	BUS TRANSCEIVER, LS SERIES, 2-FU	68692
MC10H680FNR2G	TTL TO ECL TRANSCEIVER	2098
MAX9376EUB+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 10UMAX	621150
LTC1555IGN#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16SSOP	217
SN74AVCB324245KR Texas Instruments	SN74AVCB324245 32-BIT DUAL-SUPPL	19658
100391PC	TTL TO ECL TRANSLATOR	2395
ADG3308BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	908

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)