Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX3376EEBL Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	841
MAX13043EETD+ Analog Devices, Inc.	IMPROVED HIGH-SPEED LLT	442
MAX9425EHJ+ Analog Devices, Inc.	LOWEST JITTER QUAD PECL-TO-ECL D	3604
ADG3123BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIR 20TSSOP	29
ADG3304BCBZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 12WLCSP	2525
ADG3304WBRUZ-REEL Analog Devices, Inc.	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, CMOS, PDSO14	10624
ADG3304BCPZ-REEL Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20LFCSP	0
LTC1556IGN#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20SSOP	0
LTC1555IGN#TRPBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 16SSOP	0
MAX3005EBP Analog Devices, Inc.	MAX3005 8-CH LEVEL TRANSLATOR	290
MAX3341EEBE Analog Devices, Inc.	LEVEL TRANSLATOR WITH USB DETECT	3365
MAX3373EEBL Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	5992
MAX3375EEBL+T Analog Devices, Inc.	INTERFACE CIRCUIT, BICMOS, PBGA9	14160
MAX3374EEBL-T Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	5000
ADG3304BRUZ-REEL7 Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14TSSOP	0
MAX13013EBT-T Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-LEVEL TRANSLATOR	19398
MAX3006EUP Analog Devices, Inc.	8-CH LEVEL TRANSLATOR	1180
ADG3231BRJZ-REEL Analog Devices, Inc.	SINGLE-CHANNEL LEVEL TRANSLATOR	47297
MAX13014EBL-T Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL-LEVEL TRANSLATOR	4888
MAX9181EXT Analog Devices, Inc.	LVPECL-TO-LVDS LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2080

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)