Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SN65LVELT22DGK Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	301
MC100EPT23MNR4G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8DFN	1306
TWL1200YFFR Texas Instruments	TWL1200 SDIO, UART, AND AUDIO VO	624135
MC100EPT25MNR4G	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR, TRUE OUTP	46630
74AVCH1T45FW5-7 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	IC TRNSLTR BIDIR X1DFN1010-6	4899
CD40109BF3A Texas Instruments	CD40109B-MIL CMOS QUAD LOW-TO-HI	9
74LVC16T245DGGRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	1896
MC10H124FN	TTL TO ECL TRANSLATOR	2258
74VCX163245MTD	BUS TRANSCEIVER, ALVC/VCX/A SERI	3696
NTS0103GU10,115 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 10XQFN	3198
CD40109BNSR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 16SO	1118
MAX3391EEUD Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	3549
FXLA108BQX Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20DQFN	1147866000
FXLP34P5X	SINGLE BIT UNI-DIRECTIONAL TRANS	408043
74AUP1T58GF NXP Semiconductors	LOGIC CIRCUIT, CMOS, PDSO6	0
MC100EL91DWG Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 20SOIC	23
SN74AUP1T97DSFR Texas Instruments	SN74AUP1T97 SINGLE-SUPPLY VOLTAG	35000
MAX3006EUP+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 20TSSOP	1998
SN74AVC2T245RSWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 10UQFN	187199
SN74LVCC3245ANSRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 24SO	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)