Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
74LVXC3245QSC	BUS TRANSCEIVER	6735
SN74AUP1T57DSFR Texas Instruments	SINGLE-SUPPLY VOLTAGE-LEVEL TRAN	0
SN74LVC2T45DCUR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL US8	20551
SY100EPT21LZG-TR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	529
SN74AVC1T45DCKTG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SC70-6	0
TC74VCX164245ELF Toshiba Electronic Devices and Storage Corporation	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	0
NLSX3012DR2G	BUS DRIVER, 3012 SERIES, 2-FUNC,	18077
MC1017P	TTL TO ECL TRANSLATOR, ECL	294
TXS0102DCTTG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL SM8	0
MAX3004EUP+ Maxim Integrated	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 20TSSOP	2026142
MC10ELT28DG	PECL-TTL/TTL-PECL TRANSLATOR, 2	0
NCN6011DMR2	ANALOG CIRCUIT, 1 FUNC, PDSO10	8000
74AUP1T34GW-Q100H Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 5TSSOP	0
SN74GTLPH32945ZKER Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	3000
74AVC2T45DP-Q100H Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8TSSOP	0
74AXP1T34GSH Nexperia	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 6XSON	338
ADG3231BRJ-R2 Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-CHANNEL LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2750
TXB0102DCUTG4 Texas Instruments	2-BIT BIDIRECTIONAL VOLTAGE-LEVE	1250
100325QCX	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR	2451
ADG3304SRUZ-EP-RL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	567

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)