Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX13005EEBE+ Analog Devices, Inc.	LOW-VOLTAGE LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2025
MAX9370EUA Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	9676
MAX9371ESA Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	3396
MAX3372EEBL+ Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2450
MAX9372EKA+ Analog Devices, Inc.	LVTTL/TTL-TO-DIFFERENTIAL LVPECL	607
MAX13043EEBC+ Analog Devices, Inc.	IMPROVED HIGH-SPEED LLT	1460
MAX3390EEBC Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	1114
MAX3370EXK-T Analog Devices, Inc.	LOW-VOLTAGE LEVEL TRANSLATOR	8632
MAX3395EEBC+T Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL-/QUAD-/ OCT-LVL XLTR	96586
LTC1045CN#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 20DIP	100
MAX3340EEUD Analog Devices, Inc.	ESD PROTECTED LEVEL TRANSLATOR	11589
MAX9423EHJ Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	1016
MAX3374EEKA-T Analog Devices, Inc.	MAX3374 ESD_PROTECTED, 1 MICROAM	15000
MAX9377EUA-T Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2500
MAX3373EEKA-T Analog Devices, Inc.	DUAL LOW-VOLT LEVEL TRANSLATOR	91064
MAX9377EUA Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	2350
MAX13002EBE-T Analog Devices, Inc.	LOW-VOLTAGE LEVEL TRANSLATOR	5000
MAX9391EHJ Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	371
MAX9372EKA-T Analog Devices, Inc.	LOGIC LEVEL TRANSLATOR	0
MAX9374EKA-T Analog Devices, Inc.	LVPECL-TO-LVDS TRANSLATOR	250

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)