Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
NLSV4T240EMUTAG	BUS DRIVER, LS SERIES, 1-FUNC, 1	0
NTB0101GW,125 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 6TSSOP	15
SN74AVCBH164245VR Texas Instruments	SN74AVCBH164245 16-BIT DUAL-SUPP	0
TCA9800DGKT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	2109
SN74AUP1T98DRYR Texas Instruments	SINGLE-SUPPLY VOLTAGE-LEVEL TRAN	190000
GTL2014PW,118 NXP Semiconductors	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	275
74AXP1T34GWH Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 5TSSOP	53099
74FCT164245TPVG Renesas Electronics America	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48SSOP	885
SN10KHT5542NT Texas Instruments	TTL TO ECL TRANSLATOR	10881
MAX6621AUB+T Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 10UMAX	2500
NLSX5011BMX1TCG	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, PBGA6	4400
MC100LVELT22MNRG	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR	12045
MC10EPT20MNR4G	TTL/CMOS TO PECL TRANSLATOR	10000
NLSV4T3144MUTAG	BUS DRIVER, 4T SERIES, 1-FUNC, 4	1730536
MC1218L	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR, ECL	812
NLSX5012DR2G	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, PDSO8	10116
NLSV4T240EDR2G Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 14SOIC	0
MC100LVEL92DWG	PECL TO LVPECL TRANSLATOR, 3 FUN	556
SN74AVC1T45DCKRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	1757
74AVCB164245GRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	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)