Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX9372ESA Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	11084
LTC1556CGN#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20SSOP	0
MAX3341EEUE Analog Devices, Inc.	USB LEVEL TRANSLATOR	6651
ADG3231BRJ-R2 Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-CHANNEL LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2750
ADG3304SRUZ-EP-RL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	567
MAX13055EEWG+T Analog Devices, Inc.	INTERFACE CIRCUIT	60000
ADG3231BRYZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-CHANNEL LEVEL TRANSLATOR	32016
MAX13058EEWG+T Analog Devices, Inc.	INTERFACE CIRCUIT	12384
MAX13013EBT Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2121
MAX3373EEBL+ Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	0
ADG3308BCPZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20LFCSP	1465
MAX13043EEBC+T Analog Devices, Inc.	IMPROVED HIGH-SPEED LLT	12500
LTC1555CGN#TRPBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16SSOP	0
MAX3379EEBC Analog Devices, Inc.	QUAD LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	1615
MAX3378EEUD Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	0
MAX3023EUD Analog Devices, Inc.	QUAD-LEVEL TRANSLATOR	0
ADG3300BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20TSSOP	706
MAX3395EEBC+ Analog Devices, Inc.	LEVEL XLTR WITH SPEED-UP	2820
MAX9374ESA Analog Devices, Inc.	LVPECL-TO-LVDS TRANSLATOR	13342
MAX13032EEBE+T Analog Devices, Inc.	6-CH LOGIC-LEVEL TRANSLATOR	5000

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)